Itinerary -Seattle, Vancouver San Juan Islands, 7 days in August
May 24th, 2014, 01:46 PM
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Itinerary -Seattle, Vancouver San Juan Islands, 7 days in August
Trying to work on our itinerary for Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria and the San Juan Islands. I pretty much know what I would like to do at each destination. I've been to all except Vancouver and plan on doing what I missed my last trip 17 years ago.
We plan on landing in Seattle at 1:30 on Saturday August 9th and leave Seattle on Sunday August 17th at 1:10. I will be renting a car in Seattle.
My thought was to first drive up to Vancouver and spend a night or two (or more?). From there I'm open. I don't want to spend a lot of time in Victoria, but my son has never been there and I thought it would be nice for an overnight and possibly go to Butchart Gardens. I guess we would then go to the San Juan Islands (Orca) and do some kayaking with the whales and finish in Seattle (being a priority).
Does this sound do-able with 7 full days? I'm also a bit overwhelmed with all the different options of ferries and could use some help.
Any suggestions or ideas for our route? My son is a big foodie and I'm outdoorsy but just had knee surgery (I should be fine by August). I have made no hotel reservations and was going to figure that out based on what suggestions I get here. In order of priority, Seattle, Vancouver, San Juan Islands then Victoria.
We plan on landing in Seattle at 1:30 on Saturday August 9th and leave Seattle on Sunday August 17th at 1:10. I will be renting a car in Seattle.
My thought was to first drive up to Vancouver and spend a night or two (or more?). From there I'm open. I don't want to spend a lot of time in Victoria, but my son has never been there and I thought it would be nice for an overnight and possibly go to Butchart Gardens. I guess we would then go to the San Juan Islands (Orca) and do some kayaking with the whales and finish in Seattle (being a priority).
Does this sound do-able with 7 full days? I'm also a bit overwhelmed with all the different options of ferries and could use some help.
Any suggestions or ideas for our route? My son is a big foodie and I'm outdoorsy but just had knee surgery (I should be fine by August). I have made no hotel reservations and was going to figure that out based on what suggestions I get here. In order of priority, Seattle, Vancouver, San Juan Islands then Victoria.
May 24th, 2014, 03:20 PM
#2
You're going to have serious time management problems if you try to do the whole list. Frankly, I'd skip Victoria for this trip. The logistics are complicated, it's very crowded in August with the Alaska cruise ships arriving in the afternoon for their mandatory "foreign port" stops, and the ferries are very expensive with a car.
As for Butchart Gardens, they're very nice if pricey; however there are wonderful gardens in Vancouver itself - the Queen Elizabeth II Park gardens in particular - that are right in the city, partially built in an old quarry (like Butchart) and the price is certainly right at $0.
Instead of the time-consuming trip to Victoria, why not drive up to Whistler instead? The Sea to Sky Highway is one of the most beautiful roads in North America, and Whistler is full of cool things for kids and adults - chair lifts, mountain biking, water sports, etc. Plus, because Whistler is built mainly with the skiing crowd in mind, accommodations are plentiful and quite cheap in the summer. Check it out.
Crossing the border in a car can be VERY slow in the summer. Consider taking the train from Seattle instead, picking up a car in Vancouver for the Canadian part of your trip, then drop it and take the train back. The train is very scenic, very affordable, and you fly right through the border. http://www.amtrakcascades.com/
Alternatively, if you still want to include Victoria but make it a real hoot, fly there on a float plane from downtown Vancouver - http://www.harbourair.com/ Do your whale watching from Victoria - more options than from the San Juans, then either fly from there to Lake Union in Seattle - http://www.kenmoreair.com/ - or take the Victoria Clipper - http://www.clippervacations.com/ one way.
This would mean skipping the San Juans, but IMO one of the island experiences needs to be cut given the tight timing of your trip.
As for Butchart Gardens, they're very nice if pricey; however there are wonderful gardens in Vancouver itself - the Queen Elizabeth II Park gardens in particular - that are right in the city, partially built in an old quarry (like Butchart) and the price is certainly right at $0.
Instead of the time-consuming trip to Victoria, why not drive up to Whistler instead? The Sea to Sky Highway is one of the most beautiful roads in North America, and Whistler is full of cool things for kids and adults - chair lifts, mountain biking, water sports, etc. Plus, because Whistler is built mainly with the skiing crowd in mind, accommodations are plentiful and quite cheap in the summer. Check it out.
Crossing the border in a car can be VERY slow in the summer. Consider taking the train from Seattle instead, picking up a car in Vancouver for the Canadian part of your trip, then drop it and take the train back. The train is very scenic, very affordable, and you fly right through the border. http://www.amtrakcascades.com/
Alternatively, if you still want to include Victoria but make it a real hoot, fly there on a float plane from downtown Vancouver - http://www.harbourair.com/ Do your whale watching from Victoria - more options than from the San Juans, then either fly from there to Lake Union in Seattle - http://www.kenmoreair.com/ - or take the Victoria Clipper - http://www.clippervacations.com/ one way.
This would mean skipping the San Juans, but IMO one of the island experiences needs to be cut given the tight timing of your trip.
May 24th, 2014, 05:45 PM
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These are great suggestions! I agree with cutting either Victoria or San Juan Islands. Let me explore all these ideas. Whistler does sound wonderful and we've never been there, but we've recently spent quite a bit of time in the Colorado Rockies which we love. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.
May 25th, 2014, 06:15 AM
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I am totally intimidated by all the options. Many postings say the car is better. Some say the train.
Mode of transportation later; Here is what I'm thinking
Day 1
land in Seattle 1:30pm, head to Orcas
Day 2 Orcas head out to Vancouver
Day 3-5 Vancouver
Day 5-7 Seattle
Day 8
1pm departure from Seattle
Will this itinerary feel like I'm stuck at border crossings?
OR
Skip Orcas all together, spend an extra day in BC and go to Whistler?
Mode of transportation later; Here is what I'm thinking
Day 1
land in Seattle 1:30pm, head to Orcas
Day 2 Orcas head out to Vancouver
Day 3-5 Vancouver
Day 5-7 Seattle
Day 8
1pm departure from Seattle
Will this itinerary feel like I'm stuck at border crossings?
OR
Skip Orcas all together, spend an extra day in BC and go to Whistler?
May 25th, 2014, 06:22 AM
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I should add that all I have booked are our flights in and out of Seattle. I would like to book cars/ferries/trains/hotels very soon as in the next few days. I should also add that we could easily spend a week at each destination but time just doesn't permit.
May 25th, 2014, 06:45 AM
#6
Hopefully somebody else will chime in, but IMO one night in the San Juans doesn't justify all the hassle involved - booking, waits and expense for ferries, etc. If you just want to experience the ferry ride (which is really all you'd have time for) then park the car in Anacortes and take a day trip to Friday Harbor and back as foot passengers.
You could turn the first afternoon into a terrific introduction to the Puget Sound region like this - car from Seatac to Mukilteo (around 20 miles north of Seattle) via SR 526, the "Boeing Freeway" which will take you past the Boeing plant, biggest building in the world. From Mukilteo, take the ferry to Whidbey Island.
Drive up Whidbey, stopping briefly in Langley or Coupeville, both very pretty little waterfront villages, then continue to Deception Pass, the stunning channel between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands where the tide rushing through the narrow gap is amazing. There are wonderful views both from the bridge level and the beach level, short hikes, places for an early picnic dinner (pick up food in Oak Harbor). Then overnight in Anacortes.
The next day, do a walk-on ferry day trip to Friday Harbor (more things to see, including whale chasing if desired) then return to Anacortes and drive up to Vancouver late in the day, when hopefully the border will be quieter.
Days 3-5 Vancouver, including a day trip to Whistler.
Day 6 - Leave Vancouver as early as possible and expect a 1+ hour wait at the border; alternatively head east on the TCH and cross at Aldergrove/Lynden, which might save a little time. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/border/Map.htm
Days 6-8 - Balance of time in/around Seattle.
Map - http://goo.gl/maps/5i44H
You could turn the first afternoon into a terrific introduction to the Puget Sound region like this - car from Seatac to Mukilteo (around 20 miles north of Seattle) via SR 526, the "Boeing Freeway" which will take you past the Boeing plant, biggest building in the world. From Mukilteo, take the ferry to Whidbey Island.
Drive up Whidbey, stopping briefly in Langley or Coupeville, both very pretty little waterfront villages, then continue to Deception Pass, the stunning channel between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands where the tide rushing through the narrow gap is amazing. There are wonderful views both from the bridge level and the beach level, short hikes, places for an early picnic dinner (pick up food in Oak Harbor). Then overnight in Anacortes.
The next day, do a walk-on ferry day trip to Friday Harbor (more things to see, including whale chasing if desired) then return to Anacortes and drive up to Vancouver late in the day, when hopefully the border will be quieter.
Days 3-5 Vancouver, including a day trip to Whistler.
Day 6 - Leave Vancouver as early as possible and expect a 1+ hour wait at the border; alternatively head east on the TCH and cross at Aldergrove/Lynden, which might save a little time. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/border/Map.htm
Days 6-8 - Balance of time in/around Seattle.
Map - http://goo.gl/maps/5i44H
May 25th, 2014, 07:19 PM
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I like the itinerary Gardyloo has outlined for you.
If you visit San Juan Island as a foot passenger there is a local bus that will take you around the island: http://sanjuantransit.com
HTtY
PS If you decide to cram Victoria into your short visit, make reservations on the ferries from Vancouver to Victoria and from Victoria to Port Angeles.
If you visit San Juan Island as a foot passenger there is a local bus that will take you around the island: http://sanjuantransit.com
HTtY
PS If you decide to cram Victoria into your short visit, make reservations on the ferries from Vancouver to Victoria and from Victoria to Port Angeles.
