Hi there,

My husband and I will be traveling in the end of July for a wedding in Whidbey Island, WA. We are flying in to Seatlle, and will have 2 nights before we need to be in Whidbey Island for the wedding festivities. After the wedding we will have Sunday and all day Monday to visit Seattle.

My question is what is the best way to get around and what are the highlights not to miss with the time we have. We will fly in around 1 on a Tuesday. Our plan was to rent a car and drive to Vancouver, and stay there two nights. We would then drive to Whidbey Island on Thursday morning for the wedding events. On Sunday we would then drive back to Seatlle, see the highlights there and fly out late Monday.

Any ideas, suggestions are appreciated. We are coming from Texas and want to take in all we can of the Northwest.

Thank you!

Its about a 3hour drive from Seattle airport(seatac) to vancouver. Crossing the border can sometimes take an hour or two, depending on volume. I wouldn't expect it to be busy on a tuesday though. I believe there is a ferry that leves from the south part of Whidbey to Everett or Seattle. Your plans sound O.K.

Thanks for your help, and I see I misspelled Seattle twice...oops!

Sounds like a good plan. As you approach the Canada border on I-5, you will see a sign that specifies the current wait time to get through the border crossing. They also show an alternative route (the 'truck' crossing), which is hardly out of your way at all. I've found that you can commonly save time by going through the truck crossing. If there is more than a 10-minute difference, I'd definitely do that.

I don't know where the wedding is on Whidbey - most seem to be in the town of Langley. If you do end up in the southern end of the island, it would be easier and more scenic to take the Clinton ferry to Mukilteo and then on down to Seattle.

It would be a shame if you don't get to the north end of the island. Deception Pass State Park is wonderful, particularly the high bridge that links Whidbey with Fidalgo Island. This will presumably be the way you will be driving to Whidbey from Vancouver, via Route 20.

Also, if you have the time, there is a spectacular lookout on Fidalgo Island, about 10-15 minutes north of the Deception Pass bridge. It is called Mt. Erie and on a good weather day you can see all the way to Mt. Rainier, Vancouver Island and Mt. Baker. Turn west off Rte 20 onto Campbell Lake Rd, then turn right at the Erie Store onto Heart Lake Rd. After a few miles, you will see a small sign on your right directing you up to Mt. Erie. It is a very steep winding road, but it is well-paved and there is a good parking lot at the top.

Thank you ALF for the information, I greatly appreciate it!