Seattle family trip in July
 

We are going to Seattle in July (2 adults and 3 kids ages 14,11,8) and want to visit Victoria and Vancouver. What is the best routing and means of transportation? We are planning on NOT renting a car.

Thanks,

Clau

One option is a Victoria Clipper from Seattle then another ferry from Victoria to Vancouver and then the train back to Seattle's King Street Station near downtown.

The ferry from Victoria to Vancouver actually runs from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen -- the docks are about 30-45 minutes outside each city (by car.) It is a beautiful 90 minute ride, but you'd need a connection (cab or bus) at both ends. Can take up most of a day.

The Victoria Clipper runs from downtown Seattle to downtown Victoria, and is about $100 a person (RT). Another option is a float plane -- Kenmore Air flies from South Lake Union in Seattle to Victoria harbour for about twice the cost of the Clipper.

Unless you have a lot of time, I would do Victoria or Vancouver, but not both. Without a car, I think Victoria is a good day trip -- it is small, but the downtown core is more touristy than I like. I run out of things to do.

Vancouver, on the other hand, is one of my favorite cities anywhere. Great food, beautiful setting, and always another interesting neighborhood around the corner. But I like big cities -- I've had friends who were completely overwhelmed by Vancouver.

Without a car, Amtrak is the best way to get from Seattle to Vancouver and back.

You could also rent a car just for this part of the trip, and drive out to the Olympic Penninsula. Spend part of a day in the rain forest, then leave the car in Port Angeles and walk on the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria. (If your teens are Twilight fans, this might be a cool side trip.)

Here are useful links for boom-boom's suggestions:

Seattle-Victoria: http://www.clippervacations.com/
Victoria-Vancouver: http://www.pacificcoach.com/
Vancouver-Seattle: http://www.amtrakcascades.com/

You could, of course, also travel Seattle-Vancouver-Victoria-Seattle.

HTTY

If you choose the Amtrak option from Seattle, be sure to get on the 7:40 AM train. The next three trips to Vancouver are by bus and cost slightly more. The evening train gets into Vancouver about 11 PM.
Be sure to see the updated Stanley Park. I've heard it is even better since the 2010 Winter Olympics.