Greetings Fellow Travelers!

We are planning a trip to Tofino in December/January and are planning to fly to Seattle, then drive the rest of the way. Having never been to either place I have several questions:

1. How long (on average for that time of year) will it take to make this drive?
2. Is a 4WD necessary for this area at that time of year or is front-wheel drive sufficient?
3. Since we will be driving, is there anywhere we should consider stopping and spending some time between these two points?
4. Have any of you ever stayed at the "Snug Harbour Inn" in Ucluelet?

Now, before I get repremanded for posting a largely Canadian query on the U.S. board, I have two things to say in my defense. First, even though I may have used it as a "back door" to post this on this board, my trip DOES begin and end in the U.S. and, second, the Canadian board tends move about as quickly as treacle in January.

I greatly appreciate you assistance!

Strive

The time depends on how you plan to cross over to Vancouver Island. I'd expect the following would hold, generally: Seattle to Canada border, 2 hours. Delay at border (northbound) say 20-30 min. Drive to BC ferry dock at Tsawwassen, another 30 min. Wait for ferry, who knows, allow an hour or more. Ferry, two hours more or less (the Tsawwassen-Nanaimo run is the most convenient but less frequent than the Swartz Bay/Victoria run.) Drive to Tofino, allow 3 hours from Nanaimo, 4 1/2 from Swartz Bay. Total elapsed time, roughly 9-11 hours. Shocked?

Can I offer a silly sounding idea? Fly on a Kenmore Air float plane to Victoria (45 min. from Seattle), then rent your car there, drive to Tofino, repeat in reverse at the end. The plane cost will be partly offset by the savings on car rental, ferry, aggravation, and you will relish the experience of flying in a seaplane. www.kenmoreair.com

You can also do something similar via Vancouver on Harbour Air or West Coast Air. They're a little cheaper than Kenmore but of course you have to get to Vancouver in the first place.

Otherwise I would strongly suggest you consider overnighting in Victoria en route, so that you don't have to drive in the dark to/from Tofino.

The Snug Harbour Inn has a pretty good rep although we haven't stayed there.

A 4WD shouldn't be necessary. Effective windshield wipers will be.

1. It is a long drive, primarily because of the required ferry run(s) and the slow twisty road up the west coast of Vancouver Island. There are several ferry choices, but the quickest choice is drive to Tsawwassen, B.C. (just south of Vancouver), then take the ferry over to Nanaimo(http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/m...p-current.html). Allow 3 hours to drive to Tsawwassen, 2 hours for the crossing, then 3 hours to drive from Nanaimo to Tofino (8 hours total).
2. While twisty, the roads are of good quality, and snow fall rarely. When it does, it usually doesn't stick around for long. A front-wheel drive car will be fine.
3. Vancouver is an interesting cosmopolitan city that is definitely worth a visit. Another choice would be to visit the colorful city of Victoria. If you want to do that, you should take a different ferry; either the Washington State ferry from Anacortes to Sydney (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/sche...?route=ana-sid), or the B.C. ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. I really like the former, which winds its way through the San Juan Islands (a nice overnight stop in its own right).
4. I've never stayed at A Snug Harbour Inn, but I know people who have. They say that the view is spectacular, the room neat and clean, and the hosts are friendly.

Thanks for your help and suggestions. Do either of you (or anyone else) know of a ferry which travels from just north of Seattle directly to Vancouver Island? Last night a friend of mine said he thought such a thing existed and only took about three hours.

Is this a reality?

Thanks again,

Strive

There are four ways to get to Vancouver Island by ferry, or at least watercraft. BC Ferries (leaves from Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay N. of Vancouver); Washington State Ferries, from Anacortes (2 hrs. N. of Seattle, then a 3 hour trip); Black Ball Ferry (the Coho) from Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula (2 1/2 hrs. from Seattle then a 90 min. crossing), and lastly the Victoria Clipper passenger-only high speed ferry from central Seattle to Victoria, around 3 hours unless the water is too big, then longer, urpier, or not at all (depending.) Note passengers only, no cars.

The Anacortes ferry is one-a-day (except not this week, zero-a-day due to mechanical gremlins) and the Coho is a few times a day. The BC boats run hourly. Remember Tofino is 3-4+ hours from any ferry dock.