Blueeyedgirl

I am leaving Vashon Island the first of July and meeting a friend in Vancouver for 4 nights. #1-How can I get from Vashon to Vancouver and #2 - Where to stay in Vancouver that is reasonable (we will have a car). Also, what is a must do, if it is your first time in Vancouver, and we are only there 3 full days?

Carmanah

I'm not familiar with Vashon Island, other than it's in the San Juan Islands. Ideally you'd want to get back to the Washington state mainland via a Washington state ferry - likely you'll end up in Anacortes. Once in Anacortes, drive north along I-5 (approximately one hour drive), cross the border, and Vancouver's about a 45 minute drive north of the border.

If you have 3 days in Vancouver, you can spend it a variety of ways, but my must see's would be Stanley Park & the seawall (this can easily eat up one entire day), Granville Island (2-3 hours), the Museum of Anthropology (2-3 hours), and Lynn Canyon (1-2 hours). In terms of neighbourhoods to explore, around downtown you can explore everywhere on foot - English Bay, Denman Street, Robson Street, Yaletown, Gastown, Chinatown.

Carmanah

Oh man, I am silly - Vashon Island's not in the San Juans at all. It's closer to Seattle at the south end of Puget Sound. Ignore what I previuosly said about taking a ferry to Anacortes.

You'd still need to take a ferry over to the mainland and drive up I-5. The drive from the mainland to the USA-Canada border will probably take 2 hours (possibly more if you hit Seattle rush hour).

NWWanderer

Yes, you'll take a ferry from Vashon to Fauntleroy (West Seattle), then drive a straight shot from the ferry to I-5 north (you stay on the same road, it's very easy). It'll take about 3 hours from West Seattle to downtown Vancouver, unless you run into a long wait at the border (more than 10-15 minutes).

Lots of previous posts about things to do and reasonable places to stay so you might want to read through some and then post more specific questions.

leuk2

What do you consider reasonable?

NorthwestMale

Why do I get the feeling that Blueeyedgirl will forget all about this post?


A - go to Seattle
B - go up the freeway 110-ish miles to Canada
C - go about 30 more miles to Vancouver

D - if there for 3 days/4 nights... you can have a great time without even leaving the downtown area. (I have no idea where you're staying - in a hotel or with the friend) There is lots of shopping, lots of restaurants, and a whole variety of scenery visible from within the downtown area. Tour around the adjacent park called "Stanley Park" and hang out in the various little neighborhoods during the day or night.

You'll have a great time!

Blueeyedgirl

Now that I have more information......I can leave from Vashon Island or Seattle, but I will not have a car. I need to get to Vancouver or Antacordes. Any thoughts on choices of how to get from Vashon or Seattle to Vancouver or Antacordes?

Also, we are staying at the Hampton in downtown Vancouver. Suggestions on casual, (local favorites) yummy places to eat and places to see or do?

NWWanderer

I just responded to your post on the US forum about taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver...is that your plan? Not sure where Anacortes comes into play in getting to Vancouver.

Sam_Salmon

"<i>. Suggestions on casual, (local favorites) yummy places to eat and places to see or do?</i>"

Robson Street <u>heaves</u> with the kind of place you're looking for too many choice to mention although the best choices are Asian of all stripes.

http://dinehere.ca/

Walk west to the foot of Robson @ Denman-head north & look for bicycle rentals and circumnavigate Stanley Park.