Linda

my family of five, all avid outdoors folk (hiking, surfing, sailing, walking, etc., etc.) have about 7-8 to fly into seattle and head north, but have to return to seattle to fly back to florida. any great iteneraries, sights recommendations, which city to explore, good day hikes, ferries to take with a car, or rent a car once in victoria. do you recommend taking a ferry vs. the 2-3 hour drive into canada. we love to explore and see the best of sights. what is the weather like in june (first weeks). is the hiking safe with wildlife and wher to go? i imagine the vancouver island coast is great. penny for your thoughts!

Faina

Don't miss Mt. Rainier, go all the way up to the glacier. It's sooooo beautiful there! When are you going? I was there at the very end of May last year, and some roads were still closed due to the snow.

linda

we were in seattle 4 years ago, and did the south of seattle route, and dis the mt. ranier trip. you are right, it was so awesome. we saw snow, something we dod not see in florida. any north of seattle tips?

jeanne

hey linda

you definitley have to go to the west coast of the island. the forests are amazing. trees with trunks so big that 10 people can stand around them holding hands. i think your best bet is to take the ferry from seattle to victoria, explore the island (tofino, strathcona national park) and then ferry over to vancouver. vancouver is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. 7-8 is pretty short but still worth it. i've travelled pretty extensively and have not visited any other place that i would want to live (yes, i am a lucky vancouverite). the weather in june should be pretty good. august is best tho'. hope this helps you out. have fun!

LordBalfor`

If you are planning on renting a car and taking it into Canada, check carefully with your car rental agency to see what limitations you may encounter. We've run into this issue trying to rent a car in Connecticut and take it into Quebec. We've found there are some strange rules that made it more trouble than it was worth.

Ken

tbone

how about this for itinerary:
Day 1- Seattle
Day 2- Seattle
Day 3- Kalaloch Lodge or Forks, WA.
Day 4- Port Angeles
Day 5- Victoria, Canada
Day 6- Victoria, Canada
Day 7- Friday Harbour( San Juan Islands)
Day 8- Seattle

Highlights:
Pacific Ocean, Beaches, Hoh Rain Forest,
Inner Victoria Harbour, Sidney Spit, East Sooke Regional Park, Royal Museum of BC, San Juan Islands.

This route requires you to travel by ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria,BC and From Victoria to Friday Harbour, WA to Anacortes,WA.

Total distance of this trip approx. 500 miles.

Don't like this one? how about Mount Rainier-Mount St. Helens- Columbia River Gorge- Cannon Beach.

Washington Towns of interest are:
Leavenworth (bavarian town).
Port Townsend (Victorian).
La Conner