Gardyloo

The only question that I have at this point is if a day in each city would be enough for visiting Seattle and Vancouver?

You'd really have the same amount of time in Seattle as you would have had in your first plan; I'd head to Mukilteo at the end of the day on the 23rd. It's only around half an hour, give or take. Remember sunset will still be fairly late, so you'd have lots of time in Seattle if you want.

As for just a day in Vancouver, it's really a tradeoff between an extra day in Victoria vs. somewhere else. To be frank, in my view you could cut out the whole Victoria/Vancouver Island part of the trip and use those days elsewhere. Downtown Victoria is certainly pretty, what with the BC legislative buildings ("Parliament") and the Empress Hotel overlooking the harbor, but there are so many other beautiful or interesting places in the region where you could spend the same time, it comes down to some tough choices. Victoria in late July is mobbed with tourists, particularly when the Seattle-based Alaska cruise ships come in for their mandatory Canadian stop.

If it were me, I'd skip Victoria and use those days somewhere on the mainland - around Vancouver, say, or even crossing through the North Cascades on the way back south.

As for places to stay on San Juan Island or in Victoria, I don't have any particular favorites. There are lots of hotels and B&Bs in both locations; maybe use Fodor's or Tripadvisor for leads.

PerfectStranger

Gardyloo, it looks like Deception Pass is a nice area totally overlooked by me. Thanks for the great tip! Based on what I've read the park has some good hiking trails with fantastic views. How much time would you spend there?

Gardyloo

Couple of hours max, more if you want to hike. But it's also a great place to picnic (lots of places to pick up lunch in Oak Harbor, just south.)

sunbum1944

If you look on the Hello BC site under deals- you will find some hotel packages in Vancouver and Victoria.

Are you looking to stay in a high end hotel in Victoria on the inner harbor or something less expensive?

My favorite place in Victoria is the Surf Motel- its small, not on the inner harbor, has a kitchen and parking included. Its a little dated but- it is right across the street from the water- open your curtains in the AM and there is the ocean- or maybe a cruise ship - right outside your window.
Across the street is access to a walking trail that goes for miles along the waterfront- stop for a snack and beer at Ogden Point. You can also walk to the inner harbor- sounds like you are hikers so should not be a problem.

If you want more high end- of course the inner harbor has many places to stay and is in the heart of the tourist area.

PerfectStranger

Thanks sunburn1944. Surf Motel seems to be very nice and affordable place. The only thing that prevents me from booking it now is lots of noise from passing buses mentioned by some reviewers. I'm a light sleeper. I'll keep it in mind though.

PerfectStranger

To snowgirls. Thanks for the tip. Edgewater Hotel is an excellent option. Too bad it's fully booked for July and August.

sunbum1944

The Surf Motel might be a bit noisy for some- did not bother me as I am a sound sleeper-
loved being able to sit in bed in the AM with my coffee and look out across the water and loved the walking trail just across the street.

Don't know your budget - might look into the Delta Hotel- not in the inner harbor but across the harbor- the restaurant Lure in the same hotel has fabulous views and I thought, great food.

In Victoria, rather than high tea at the Empress, I prefer going to Bengal Room for drinks in the evening or their curry bar .

snowgirls

Having travelled for three weeks to all the places you want to see, I am with Gardyloo- skip Victoria and Vancouver Island. One day each in Seattle( and especially Vancouver) is not enough.More time there means enjoying what each city has to offer instead of extra days spent packing up and moving. If you do the San Juan trip, you will have already been on the water and did the ferry boat/island day. No need to repeat to Vancouver island.

mariya

Sorry for jumping in. I also plan Seattle - Vancouver itinerary. So found interesting idea of a loop with a car. My concern is that I've read it's long up to 2 hours wait for ferry with car, let say from Anacortes to Friday Harbor. It's kind of very annoying, what to do during those 2 hours? You have to stay in a car?
Thanks,
Mariya

PerfectStranger

All right, here is a completely revised itinerary:
July 22 - flying to Seattle in the afternoon, picking up rented car in the airport, checking in Silver Cloud-Union Lake.
July 23 - sightseeing Seattle: the Waterfront with Olympic Sculpture Park,
Pioneer Square , Pike Place Market, possibly taking a boat tour on Lake Union,
late in the evening driving to Mukilteo and checking in Staybridge Suites.
July 24 - Mukilteo to San Juan Island via Whidbey Island and Deception Pass:
Ferry to Whidbey, driving to Deception Pass, spending couple hours in Deception Pass area, driving to Anacortes, ferry to Friday Harbor, checking in Discovery Inn.
July 25 - full day on San Juan Island – Lime Kiln, English Bay, Roche Harbor, maybe some whale watching.
July 26- ferry to Victoria, checking in Delta Victoria (not the cheapest accommodation by any means but it seems to be very convenient logistically), spending evening in Victoria.
July 27 - full day in/around Victoria: Inner Harbour, Butchart Gardens (I know, I know, CAD77 for 3 of us but …), possibly moonlight tour on mini-ferry.
July 28 - ferry to Tsawwassen for Vancouver, checking in Ocean Breeze B&B in North Vancouver, rest of the day in Vancouver/N. Vancouver
July 29 - sightseeing in Vancouver: downtown, Stanley Park, Seawall, Granville Island, Kitsilano.
July 30 - sightseeing in N. Vancouver area: Capilano or, most likely, Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, Skyride gondola to Grouse Mountain.
July 31 - early departuring East on the Trans-Canada Hwy, crossing the border at Sumas (shorter waits than on the main highway.) Possibly visiting Artist Point at the end of SR 542 for views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan and having lunch/picnic before continuing South on WA SR 9 back to the Seattle area.
July 31 - staying overnight in some airport hotel
August 1 - flying home

I wanted to stay more in the Vancouver area so I dropped Mt. Rainier for next time.

Many thanks to everybody (sunburn1944, happytrailstoyou, curiousgeo, snowgirls, CascadeBob, tomfuller)for your great advice and especially to Gardyloo for "highjacking" my original plans and giving me the guidance and a food for thoughts.
This itinerary is not final but very close to being it, so any input will be appreciated as always. Thanks again.

sunbum1944

When you are staying in the N Vancouver area, you might check out this restaurant- had lunch there a couple of months ago- very nice setting

http://www.thebeachhouserestaurant.ca

In the downtown Vancouver area ( Yaletown) I enjoyed the Flying Pig

PerfectStranger

Thank you. Both of them look quite interesting especially The Beach House with its nice location/views.

sunbum1944

Another N Vancouver explore option is Deep Cove- so beautiful! And if kayaking interests you, you can rent kayaks there. There were people out the day I was there and I was so envious but we had not come prepared

http://www.deepcovekayak.com

PerfectStranger

Thanks, sunbum1944. Deep Cove looks like a nice village which we will consider visiting. Kayaking is not our kind of thing though.

annadowny

Thanks everybody, spent a great weekend in Vancouver thanks to your advice. Sort of repeated what you may read here, found Vancouver oriented http://tribear.com really useful, they also show most of the things mentioned here on a map.