Olympic national park or Torfino Vancouver island?
Jul 5th, 2013, 03:35 PM
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Olympic national park or Torfino Vancouver island?
Planning a trip from Seattle with husband, 14 year old daughter and my West Coast brother. We will definitely be going to Whistler for four nights. I have 6 more nights to plan. Would like to limit ferry crossings. We want to do a whale trip and enjoy beautiful scenery. I Love the idea of rustic luxury! Original plan was land at noon Seattle drive to Olympic national park for one night, take ferry at Port Angeles to Victoria, one night in Victoria then drive over to Torfino for one night then long drive to Whistler four nights , Vancouver then back to Seattle. I have a few free nights at Fairmont that we will be using., any suggestions regarding itinerary and places to stay will be greatly appreciated..
Jul 5th, 2013, 03:59 PM
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Consider 2 nights in Tofino to be the absolute minimum. You will spend all day driving from Victoria to Tofino, and then all day the next dady getting to Whistler. I recommend 3 nights. While you're there, do a whale watching trip. For rustic luxury, consider Middle Beach Lodge.
We've found that it takes a bit to get out of the SeaTac airport. By the time you get your luggage, take the shuttle to pick up your rental car, etc., it's probably at least an hour. Then add a few hours to get to the Olympic National Park area, and you are out of time to do anything that day. So, this would be best for 2 nights.
1 night in Victoria should be fine, unless you want to add on Buchart Gardens or other excursions. Then you might add on another night, but not absolutely needed.
You didn't say what your interests are or the time of year you will be going. If it's this summer, you will have a very challenging time with lodging in Tofino at this point.
Hard to say how you plan to spend your time in Whistler, but personally, I think 4 nights is 4 too many. Well, ok, you might enjoy 1 night. If you do have outdoorsy interests that match Whistler, then 2 nights.
We've found that it takes a bit to get out of the SeaTac airport. By the time you get your luggage, take the shuttle to pick up your rental car, etc., it's probably at least an hour. Then add a few hours to get to the Olympic National Park area, and you are out of time to do anything that day. So, this would be best for 2 nights.
1 night in Victoria should be fine, unless you want to add on Buchart Gardens or other excursions. Then you might add on another night, but not absolutely needed.
You didn't say what your interests are or the time of year you will be going. If it's this summer, you will have a very challenging time with lodging in Tofino at this point.
Hard to say how you plan to spend your time in Whistler, but personally, I think 4 nights is 4 too many. Well, ok, you might enjoy 1 night. If you do have outdoorsy interests that match Whistler, then 2 nights.
Jul 5th, 2013, 06:04 PM
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I am totally stumped how you will "limit ferry crossings" given the itinerary listed above.
You do need to plan ahead for ferries Seattle to Olympic Peninsula (unless you drive around thru Tacoma), Port Angeles to Victoria, Victoria to Vancouver.
The only other way to limit ferries is to not go to Port Angeles/Victoria at all. I.E. drive straight from Seattle to Vancouver BC/Whistler. )or you could catch a float plane
Passports are needed to cross the US/ Canada border. And if anyone in the group has had a DUI, you won't get into Canada.
You do need to plan ahead for ferries Seattle to Olympic Peninsula (unless you drive around thru Tacoma), Port Angeles to Victoria, Victoria to Vancouver.
The only other way to limit ferries is to not go to Port Angeles/Victoria at all. I.E. drive straight from Seattle to Vancouver BC/Whistler. )or you could catch a float plane
Passports are needed to cross the US/ Canada border. And if anyone in the group has had a DUI, you won't get into Canada.
Jul 5th, 2013, 06:21 PM
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1JAR - yes, a float plane might be the answer. Although...I suspect the luggage weight limitations might be a consideration...
If you wanted to limit ferry crossings to just 2 (to/from Vancouver Island), then you would need to drive around the peninsula as 1JAR suggested, or drive on up into Vancouver and then go on from there. You could either take Tsawwassen (just south of Vancouver, docks about 30 minutes north of Victoria) or Horseshoe Bay (docks at Nanaimo and is the route to go to Tofino, or from Nanaimo to go up to Whistler).
Why the reluctance for the ferry? You might want to cut out the Victoria/Tofino leg altogether. However, my other ideas don't exactly give you 4-5 star luxury Fairmont accommodations, unless you stay in Vancouver (a wonderful place on its own merits).
Also, Black Rock Resort in Ucluelet (south of Tofino a bit) is not quite rustic by my measure, but might also fit your vision: http://www.blackrockresort.com/
If you wanted to limit ferry crossings to just 2 (to/from Vancouver Island), then you would need to drive around the peninsula as 1JAR suggested, or drive on up into Vancouver and then go on from there. You could either take Tsawwassen (just south of Vancouver, docks about 30 minutes north of Victoria) or Horseshoe Bay (docks at Nanaimo and is the route to go to Tofino, or from Nanaimo to go up to Whistler).
Why the reluctance for the ferry? You might want to cut out the Victoria/Tofino leg altogether. However, my other ideas don't exactly give you 4-5 star luxury Fairmont accommodations, unless you stay in Vancouver (a wonderful place on its own merits).
Also, Black Rock Resort in Ucluelet (south of Tofino a bit) is not quite rustic by my measure, but might also fit your vision: http://www.blackrockresort.com/
Jul 6th, 2013, 11:45 AM
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In reading the OP, I just get the feeling that this is someone who is not at all familiar with the Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler area.
I.E. if they think the Whistler drive is long, they have no clue about the loooooong drive to/from Tofino!
I.E. if they think the Whistler drive is long, they have no clue about the loooooong drive to/from Tofino!
Jul 13th, 2013, 04:19 AM
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Thank you for your Help. Clearly not familiar with the area - that is the beauty of this forum. Plan is land in Seattle, drive to Vancouver for a night then head to whistler. Whistler has golf and horseback riding, zip line and mountain views that I don't get on the east coast.
Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria for two nights. Whale watching, garden and concert
Ferrying from Victoria to Olympic national park for a night then to willows lodge near Seattle to end trip,
I am over the ferry fear ( it is not as time consuming as I thought )
I will have to save Tofino area for another time as I could not get a reservation for early August and won't have to worry about the looooooong drive!
Thanks again!
Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria for two nights. Whale watching, garden and concert
Ferrying from Victoria to Olympic national park for a night then to willows lodge near Seattle to end trip,
I am over the ferry fear ( it is not as time consuming as I thought )
I will have to save Tofino area for another time as I could not get a reservation for early August and won't have to worry about the looooooong drive!
Thanks again!
