We will be flying into Seattle on Sept 3 for a 3 week vacation that includes the Canadian Rockies, Montana, and Idaho. We will have a car and will not spend time in Seattle on this trip as we've been there many times. A few friends have suggested staying in Port Townsend, enroute to Vancouver and have recommended the Bishop Victoria Hotel. Was wondering if anyone is familiar with this hotel and your comments would be welcomed. Also, we will have a car and was also open for suggestions on routes to take to get us to Port Townsend. I think there are several ferry options but not sure which are car ferries, where to get them coming from the Seattle Airport and where they actually take you too. Any help would be welcomed. thanks

Port Townsend is a detour on the way to Vancouver.

Our favorite route to PT is on the Edmonds ferry because the drive from Kingston passes through the quaint (for WA) town of Port Gamble.

We would start our drive from PT to Vancouver by taking the ferry from PT to Coupeville--another quaint town.

Here is the link to ferry information: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/index.cfm

I'm sorry I can't advise you about Bishop Victoria Hotel or other places to stay in PT. When we go to the Olympic Peninsula it is to visit the OPNP, and we stay in the lodge at Lake Crescent or Lake Quinault.

HTTY

Thanks happytrailstoyou. Could you provide more information. Where in Seattle do you take the Edmonds ferry (we will be driving from the airport) and where does it let you off and where do you drive from to get to PT? From PT, is Coupeville on Whidbey Island? Also, do both of these ferries carry automobiles as well as passengers? Thanks for the ferry link but Sept schedule not yet available.

An alternative would be to visit Langley on Whidbey Island, and to explore Whidbey Island. This is more en-route to Vancouver than going to Port Townsend and only requires one ferry from Edmunds to Whidbey Island, as you can drive off the north end.

Check the link to maps on the url provided by HTTY.

You are talking about taking the ferries on Labor Day weekend, so add wait times to your planning.

All these are car ferries. The only ferry that is not is the Victoria Clipper and that is a private ferry, not State of Washington.

Coupeville is on Whidbey Island.

Both ferries transport cars.

The Edmonds ferry leaves from Edmonds, which is about 30 miles north of SeaTac. There is a map in the link I sent you that shows the locations of the ferry terminals.

Since you are driving from SeaTac, you could drive to Port Townsend via Tacoma and the Narrows Bridge. The drive is about 100 miles.

Enjoy, HTTY