Hello fellow Fodorites! I have been to the city of Vancouver before and to the Canadian Rockies, but have not been to Victoria/VI or anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest/British Columbia (have explored Toronto, Quebec, Nova Scotia, & PEI on other trips -- I love Canada!). I'll be coming from DC & have a free ticket on Southwest Airlines that will get me as far as Seattle, and I was thinking of spending a day or two there, then renting a car, going to Victoria for a day or two and spending the rest of the week exploring as much as possible of Vancouver Island. This will probably be a solo trip as DH can't take off work then. Any ideas or suggestions for a fun week-long itinerary for a solo 30-something female, timeframe early July? I want to go whale watching, visit wineries, do some hiking, see Tofino, peruse galleries and shops, see spectacular scenery and take lots of photographs, learn a little something of the indigenous culture, eat yummy food, maybe find a lovely beach, and generally just RELAX and not think about work for a while. I will probably Priceline hotels in Seattle and Victoria to save a little money; would like to keep accommodations under around $150 CDN per night if possible, but am a bit flexible. All suggestions welcome in terms of accommodations, restaurants, wineries, parks, routes, activities, "don't miss" etc. Would love any thoughts or ideas you all might have. Thanks in advance.

I think I would go to Victoria first, then rent a car. You can get to Victoria on the Clipper (which my sister says she will never take again) or float plane.
http://www.victoriaclipper.com/victo..._ferry_service
http://www.kenmoreair.com/

Someone I know stayed at the Days Inn on the Harbour recently. It has to be the best deal in town - at this time of year anyway ($80! Unfortunately about double that in the high season). The room was not large but clean with an iron, free bottled water, newspaper, continental breakfast and, best of all, a good view of the harbour. Location is about as good as it gets - safe, close to downtown and only about a block from the museum.
http://www.daysinnvictoria.com/home.html
http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/

Why didn't your sister like the Clipper?

Lisa, if you spend two days each in Seattle and Victoria, that leaves you four days left for exploring the rest of the Island. Plus you'll need additional time to get back to Seattle to fly home.

Vancouver Island is VERY large, so I'd spend the four days in the Tofino area. That will tick whale watching, wineries (as you're driving north from Victoria to Nanaimo en route to Tofino, spend an hour or two at a Cowichan Valley winery), hiking, spectacular scenery, photography, indigenous culture, good food, and fabulous beaches off your must-do list.

Visit galleries and shop whilst in Seattle and Victoria. Tofino has a small gallery and some tourist shops. Relaxing in Tofino is verrry easy.

Your price range for accommodation in high season might be tricky (and if you do choose Tofino you should book NOW), but check out Middle Beach Lodge, Pacific Sands Lodge, Tin Wis (sp?) Lodge, and check this site for the many, many Tofino/Ucluelet postings (lots of which are about accommodation recommendations).

Have a great trip.

Linda

Lisa, Clipper trips can be rough as it was the day my sister took it. Lots of people were getting sick.

Thanks for the responses so far.
I am curious to know about how long it will take me to drive from Tofino back to Victoria at the end of my trip (then take the ferry from Victoria back to Seattle for my flight home) on the last day. I am taking a redeye home which leaves around 10:30pm out of Seattle. It looks like there is a Victoria Clipper that leaves Victoria at 5:30 pm and gets into Seattle at 7:30 pm, and then I guess I'd take a cab to the airport? Does it sound doable to get up that morning, drive from Tofino to Victoria and return the rental car and make the 5:30 pm Victoria Clipper?

I actually have 9 days total. I will arrive in Seattle around 2:30 pm on the first day and fly back out of Seattle 9 days later at 10:30 pm. Here is what I am thinking now:

2-3 days Seattle (Hotel Andra?)
Victoria Clipper to Victoria
2 nights/3 days Victoria (Priceline hotel)
Rent car on last day in Victoria
Visit wineries en route to Tofino
3-4 days Tofino (Middle Beach Lodge?)
Drive back to Victoria, return car, catch Clipper back to Seattle for flight home.

How does that sound?

It's certainly do able but IMO the less time in Seattle the better.
If you've seen one large US city-or live in one-you've seen what Seattle has to offer.
Ditto Victoria-one day is lots.
In an overpriced market like Tofino look to a B&B for accommodation.

http://www.islandwineries.ca/
http://www.quwutsun.ca/ the link seems to be broken at the moment but do stop at the Native Cultural Centre in Duncan.
There is so much more to Vancouver Island than the well worn tourist track from Victoria to Tofino.
http://www.atbc.bc.ca/
http://www.coastalbc.com/

It is doable but one can't always guarantee getting off the island. I would want to get onto the mainland a day before a flight out.

this sounds kinda similar to what I'll be doing, at the same time even. although I'm going to Vancouver first, then Victoria/Van Island, then Seattle last.