AmandaJane

Hello

We're going to Vancouver in mid September for two and a half weeks. I'd like to spend up to a week of that travelling through Washington State and/or Oregon. Primarily for national parks for good day-hiking and vineyards as I have a love of, and qualifications in, wine. It's all academic, honest....!

Bear in mind that I'm English and a trip of more than a couple of hours is A Frightfully Long Way so I'm not sure if this is an absurd undertaking and I should focus on a smaller area. I'm prepared to expand my parameters a bit but I don't want to spend 8 hours in the car each day.

We'd be happy to fly from Vancouver but would want to return to the same airport as we've found taking a car from one airport on a trip that ends up at another airport is ridiculously expensive - so a circular tour from an airport would be fine.

Thank you so much for your help.

Michael

Stick to Washington to lessen travel time.

Driving around the Olympic peninsula and Mt. Rainier should satisfy your national park venues. As for wineries, here's a list: http://www.gotastewine.com/

These pictures might give you an idea of what to see:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7622991196341/

Most of them are geotagged, which will give an idea of where they were taken.

thursdaysd

You can also take a train (sometimes it's a bus) from Vancouver to Seattle and/or Portland. See: http://www.seat61.com/Canada.htm#Van...toria,_Seattle and http://www.amtrak.com/home

You will need to apply for the visa waiver program, see: http://travel.state.gov/content/visa...r-program.html

I visited vineyards in Oregon a couple of years back. The tastings aren't free, and the grapes are mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There is some excellent scenery, driving along the Columbia River gorge, or on the coasts. However, there is a lot to do in and around Vancouver, especially if you include Vancouver island, you could easily spend all your time there.

janisj

Which rental agencies have you checked?

carhire3000.com is a broker (deals w/ all the majors) that normally includes drop off fees and all insurance for overseas visitors. I think novacarhire.com is similar.

NorthwestMale

From Vancouver, the first path you should take is the one that leads to Winthrop, WA, which is the North Cascades Highway.

I think even you could handle the drive to Winthrop, where you might book a night or two, if so inclined. Then perhaps drive south from Winthrop, consider visiting Leavenworth, WA... and definitely head farther south, to progress back to the west via Mount Rainier National Park.

IF in the mood for some city life, stop in Seattle and surrounds for a couple of days.

Based on your hesitation about driving too far, I too would suggest limiting yourself to Washington State (in addition to your Vancouver intentions).

Nelson

Good advice above. You could easily spend your time in Vancouver / Vancouver Island, but the Olympic Peninsula and Mount Rainier are both fantastic and unique. Mid September can be one of best times to visit, but no guarantees.

An option: Take the train to Seattle as suggested by Thursdayd. Spend a night or two there, lots to do. It's a lot cheaper to rent a car in downtown Seattle than at an airport. Just don't plan to pick up or return during the peak of rush hour.

Then do your one week road trip to Olypmic and Rainier, and hit some vineyards. I also have only toured vineyards in Oregon, but this site has Washington regions, including some near Seattle:
http://www.washingtonwinetours.com/winery-regions/

Note that Bainbridge Island is an easy ferry ride from Seattle.

AmandaJane

Thank you so much to everyone - I really appreciate your insight.

Gardyloo

Note that there are wineries near Seattle, but not many vineyards. The main body of vineyards in Washington State are around 3-4 hours' drive from the city, in the Yakima Valley, the Columbia Basin/Palouse region, and a few around Maryhill at the east end of the Columbia Gorge.

With "up to a week" you're going to have to do some editing of your itinerary. Seeing the various parts of Olympic National Park requires at least 2 1/2 or 3 days - terrific but time consuming.

Here's a "figure 8" route - https://goo.gl/maps/iUqGW - that hits a number of regional highlights. It includes a circuit of Olympic National Park that features alpine scenery at Hurricane Ridge, the don't-miss eerie beauty of the Hoh Valley rain forest, and the stunning Olympic NP coastal strip (e.g. Ruby Beach).

From there you head east to Mount Rainier National Park, then over US 12's White Pass to the Yakima Valley, home of many wineries, this time near the vineyards. Continue south through marvelous "old west" scenery to the Columbia River at Maryhill - more wineries - then west to Hood River (gorgeous orchard and emerging vineyard country, with Mount Hood looming above) and finally through the Columbia Gorge (waterfalls, vista points) and back to Seattle via I-5.

This could be done either using the train to travel between Vancouver and Seattle (relaxing, inexpensive, scenic) or by a car from Vancouver. If you drive, you can cut several hours off the time required by traveling to Coupeville on Whidbey Island (via WA 20 from I-5, stopping to gawk at Deception Pass) then by car ferry to (picturesque) Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. This avoids Seattle on the southward portion of the trip. Here's the revised map - https://goo.gl/maps/75x7a

voyager61

Although I live in Washington, I would be tempted to suggest that you fly to Portland and back from Vancouver and do that city, along with the Willamette Valley for Pinot Noirs and the Columbia Gorge, plus a trip to Mt. Rainier and back from Oregon, because I think it would be a nice contrast to the Vancouver area.

Otherwise, some of the Washington routes suggested above will be enjoyable. If you want to try to stay at Mt. Rainier or Olympic National Park, make reservations as soon as possible (it might already be difficult). Use this website: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm

The easiest way to try a lot of Washington wines is to do a wine tasting afternoon in Woodinville, where most of the major and many of the smaller wineries throughout the state have tasting rooms. You could probably also book a tour from downtown Seattle that would allow you to avoid driving. Use this website for more info: http://woodinvillewinecountry.com/

Have a great trip!

tomfuller

Once you have seen Vancouver (lovely city), take the early train or later bus) to Seattle. Rent a car in Seattle and see Mt. Rainier and or Olympic NP. Mt. St. Helens is also within range from Seattle.
If you have more time, return the car in Seattle and then take the train to Portland and rent another car to see the waterfalls east of Portland (Columbia Gorge).
From Portland you can also visit the northern Oregon coast which is a bit different from the Washington coast.

marvelousmouse

It rather depends on your budget. But if you enjoy small towns, and DIDN'T want to include Oregon, you could fly nonstop to Walla Walla WA from Seattle. I grew up in the region- in the last decade or so, wineries have become a big, big business. You could rent a car and visit wineries, or splurge on a tour:
http://www.wallawalla.org/wineries/w...portation.html

I can't help with the tours- honestly my family thinks the tourism bit is hilarious as you never know who you'll meet downtown these days But the tasting rooms are all downtown, and there are some very good local wines. Downtown itself is very walkable, and the Marcus Whitman Hotel seems popular with visitors. It will probably still be hot and sunny in September.

(Walla Walla is a four hour drive from Seattle, so possibly doable for you, but the drive is very, very boring after Ellensburg. Flying is the way to go if you don't want to drive).

Anyway, if you did that- you could spend three nights in Walla Walla before or after 4 nights in/near one of the National Parks. ONP is about 4 hours away from Seattle, but well worth the drive. Mt Rainier is about half that.

suze

How about flying to Portland from Vancouver? Rent a car and do the Willamette Valley wineries. Then drive up to Seattle, stopping at Mt Rainier along the way. A few days in Seattle, return the car, then train back up to Vancouver.

AmandaJane

So much knowledge and help here - thank you so much!