Seattle/Vancouver Trip Planning Help
Mar 13th, 2007, 08:16 AM
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Seattle/Vancouver Trip Planning Help
My girlfriend and I are planning a 9-day trip to Seattle and Vancouver for the week of Memorial Day.
In my research so far, I have a rough outline of things we'd like to see/do:
Seattle
- Pike Place Market
- Space Needle / Seattle Center
- Bainbridge Island
- Snoqualmie Falls
- Mt. Rainier (day trip)
Vancouver
- Stanley Park
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Whistler (day trip)
- Victoria (day trip)
I realize this is a lot to pack in 8 ~ 9 days. Can we reasonably expect to do all these things?
We plan to have a car with us the whole time. What's the simplest and best way to route the Seattle - Victoria - Vancouver triangle? We're flying into and out of SEA.
Our preliminary itinerary is as follows:
- Fly into SEA on Fri, 5/25. Our flight arrives at night, so this is just a sleeping night.
- Sat, 5/26 in SEA. Seattle sightseeing.
- Sun, 5/27, drive SEA -> YVR.
- Mon - Thu, 5/28 - 5/31, YVR. Vancouver sights. Day trips to Whistler and Victoria.
- Fri, 6/1, drive YVR -> SEA.
- Sat - Sun, 6/2 - 6/3, SEA. Bainbridge Island, Snoqualmie Falls. Day trip to Mt. Rainier.
- Mon, 6/4, departure.
This essentially gives us 2 full days each to exploring Vancouver and Seattle. 3 day trips to Victoria, Whistler, and Mt. Rainier. I figure that since drive time between Seattle and Vancouver is not that long, we could do some additional sightseeing on those days where we see fit.
We are mainly looking for natural beauty and city wandering. Thanks in advance for any help and advice!
In my research so far, I have a rough outline of things we'd like to see/do:
Seattle
- Pike Place Market
- Space Needle / Seattle Center
- Bainbridge Island
- Snoqualmie Falls
- Mt. Rainier (day trip)
Vancouver
- Stanley Park
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Whistler (day trip)
- Victoria (day trip)
I realize this is a lot to pack in 8 ~ 9 days. Can we reasonably expect to do all these things?
We plan to have a car with us the whole time. What's the simplest and best way to route the Seattle - Victoria - Vancouver triangle? We're flying into and out of SEA.
Our preliminary itinerary is as follows:
- Fly into SEA on Fri, 5/25. Our flight arrives at night, so this is just a sleeping night.
- Sat, 5/26 in SEA. Seattle sightseeing.
- Sun, 5/27, drive SEA -> YVR.
- Mon - Thu, 5/28 - 5/31, YVR. Vancouver sights. Day trips to Whistler and Victoria.
- Fri, 6/1, drive YVR -> SEA.
- Sat - Sun, 6/2 - 6/3, SEA. Bainbridge Island, Snoqualmie Falls. Day trip to Mt. Rainier.
- Mon, 6/4, departure.
This essentially gives us 2 full days each to exploring Vancouver and Seattle. 3 day trips to Victoria, Whistler, and Mt. Rainier. I figure that since drive time between Seattle and Vancouver is not that long, we could do some additional sightseeing on those days where we see fit.
We are mainly looking for natural beauty and city wandering. Thanks in advance for any help and advice!
Mar 13th, 2007, 08:41 AM
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Even if you're going to Pike Place Market, you might also want to check out Vancouver's Granville Island as well - www.granvilleisland.com. I always put it as a must-see on a short trip to Vancouver.
Capilano Suspension Bridge is cool, but it's expensive ($28 per adult) for admission. If you already have a car, I'd suggest looking into the *free* Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. It's less touristy and more natural, as it's a regional park, and not a tourist attraction. Here's their website: http://www.dnv.org/ecology/see_do/see_do.html
As for your itenerary - sounds good. When you take the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria (via BC Ferries www.bcferries.bc.ca) - I'd highly recommend making a reservation. I forget when Memorial Day is (we have a Remembrance Day in November) - I think it falls on a Canadian long weekend... and taking a ferry on a long weekend can be hellish due to longer-than-normal waits.
Capilano Suspension Bridge is cool, but it's expensive ($28 per adult) for admission. If you already have a car, I'd suggest looking into the *free* Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. It's less touristy and more natural, as it's a regional park, and not a tourist attraction. Here's their website: http://www.dnv.org/ecology/see_do/see_do.html
As for your itenerary - sounds good. When you take the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria (via BC Ferries www.bcferries.bc.ca) - I'd highly recommend making a reservation. I forget when Memorial Day is (we have a Remembrance Day in November) - I think it falls on a Canadian long weekend... and taking a ferry on a long weekend can be hellish due to longer-than-normal waits.
Mar 14th, 2007, 12:17 PM
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Go through Victoria on your way to or from Seattle Vancouver.
The best way is to take the ferry from Washington State to Victoria, and then the ferry from Sydney (Vancouver )Island, or go up the side of Vancouver Island and take the ferry across to Horseoe Bay.
If you do this (Horsehoe Bay) you are already part way to Whistler.
Then go from Whistler to Vancouver, stay there a while, and head south back to Washington State.
There used to be an early morning ferry from northern Washington State to Victoria; oribablky still is.
BAK
The best way is to take the ferry from Washington State to Victoria, and then the ferry from Sydney (Vancouver )Island, or go up the side of Vancouver Island and take the ferry across to Horseoe Bay.
If you do this (Horsehoe Bay) you are already part way to Whistler.
Then go from Whistler to Vancouver, stay there a while, and head south back to Washington State.
There used to be an early morning ferry from northern Washington State to Victoria; oribablky still is.
BAK
Mar 14th, 2007, 02:57 PM
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Just a word of caution before you firm up your plans re Mt Ranier. The roads are still closed due to the severe flood damage. I know they anticipate opening some of them May 15th. There is a website you can google that gives more information regarding opening dates etc. Just google Mt Rainier closure and you can find it.
Apr 30th, 2007, 08:16 AM
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Of course Pike Place Market is a must for visitors, but if you don't get there when they open the crowd will prevent you from enjoying the scenery.The local farmer's markets are smaller but amazing, and the Granville Farmer's Market in Vancouver is less crowded.
Apr 30th, 2007, 06:02 PM
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What? "...when they open"??
Pike Place Market is always accessible on foot, and it is not as if there are admission gates or "crowds" to prevent some from wandering up at any daylight hour and seeing at least something.
Just what "scenery" cannot be enjoyed from/at Pike Place Market due to crowds?
To the original poster: Everything in your plan looks doable with the time you have, but if you need to cut back, I think that Victoria might not give you as much satisfaction during a "day trip" when the ferry ride there is so long each way.
Pike Place Market is always accessible on foot, and it is not as if there are admission gates or "crowds" to prevent some from wandering up at any daylight hour and seeing at least something.
Just what "scenery" cannot be enjoyed from/at Pike Place Market due to crowds?
To the original poster: Everything in your plan looks doable with the time you have, but if you need to cut back, I think that Victoria might not give you as much satisfaction during a "day trip" when the ferry ride there is so long each way.
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