Seattle to Vancouver advice needed
Jul 7th, 2004, 12:23 PM
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Seattle to Vancouver advice needed
After participation in reunion meeting at Stanford University we intend to drive by car from Palo Alto up to Seattle. There we have to return the car and continue by whatever means to Vancouver where we catch our flight back to Europe.
Here is my question: Any ideas about an intelligent way to do that like by boat via Victoria Island, train...?
Unfortunately, it will already be end of October by then!
Here is my question: Any ideas about an intelligent way to do that like by boat via Victoria Island, train...?
Unfortunately, it will already be end of October by then!
Jul 7th, 2004, 12:55 PM
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Take the train from Seattle to Vancouver. When you book though (you can use the Amtrak site - http://www.amtrak.com/), note that most of the daily runs are actually by bus and that only one trip/day is actually by train. Book the train, not the bus. The train offers some nice views as it travels part of the way along the coast and therefor looks out over the San Juan Islands. The bus takes boring old I-5.
Ken
Ken
Jul 7th, 2004, 01:11 PM
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It's Vancouver island - not "Victoria Island". Victoria is the main city on Vancouver Island.
If you wanted to see Victoria (and who wouldn't?) you could take a ferry to it from Seattle. Then take the BC ferry to Vancouver - there are buslines that go from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver via the ferry. Or you could fly harbour to harbour, or even fly Victoria harbour to Vancouver airport's south terminal, then shuttle to the main terminal for you flight home.
But you haven't said what your time frame is and if you want to sightsee versus just get quickly from Seattle to the Vancouver airport. If time is more limited, then take the train.
The end of October will likely be a bit damp and possibly chilly, but not freezing cold by any means. This is the warmest part of Canada.
If you wanted to see Victoria (and who wouldn't?) you could take a ferry to it from Seattle. Then take the BC ferry to Vancouver - there are buslines that go from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver via the ferry. Or you could fly harbour to harbour, or even fly Victoria harbour to Vancouver airport's south terminal, then shuttle to the main terminal for you flight home.
But you haven't said what your time frame is and if you want to sightsee versus just get quickly from Seattle to the Vancouver airport. If time is more limited, then take the train.
The end of October will likely be a bit damp and possibly chilly, but not freezing cold by any means. This is the warmest part of Canada.
Jul 7th, 2004, 01:44 PM
#4
The northbound Amtrak train leaves at 7:45 AM and takes around 4 hours to Vancouver. It's a lovely ride, and quite inexpensive.
Two seaplane operators to look at are Kenmore Air (www.kenmoreair.com) which go from Lake Union in central Seattle to the Inner Harbour in Victoria, and Harbour Air (www.harbour-air.com) which go from the Inner Harbour to Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.
In October they often have discounted rates. It's a beautiful ride, and likely less bumpy (and lots faster) than the passenger ferry (www.victoriaclipper.com) that goes from downtown Seattle to Victoria. Note that the surface journey time between Seattle and Victoria, and Victoria and Vancouver, counting time to get to/from the ferry terminals, is around 4 hours in each case, v. 50 min. or so flying. More time on the ground in each.
You might investigate taking the train to Vancouver, flying to Victoria, then ask your airline how much it would be to rewrite your Transatlantic ticket to start in Victoria as an "open jaw" routing. Since you're not traveling till October, it's far enough in advance that it might be surprisingly affordable.
Two seaplane operators to look at are Kenmore Air (www.kenmoreair.com) which go from Lake Union in central Seattle to the Inner Harbour in Victoria, and Harbour Air (www.harbour-air.com) which go from the Inner Harbour to Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.
In October they often have discounted rates. It's a beautiful ride, and likely less bumpy (and lots faster) than the passenger ferry (www.victoriaclipper.com) that goes from downtown Seattle to Victoria. Note that the surface journey time between Seattle and Victoria, and Victoria and Vancouver, counting time to get to/from the ferry terminals, is around 4 hours in each case, v. 50 min. or so flying. More time on the ground in each.
You might investigate taking the train to Vancouver, flying to Victoria, then ask your airline how much it would be to rewrite your Transatlantic ticket to start in Victoria as an "open jaw" routing. Since you're not traveling till October, it's far enough in advance that it might be surprisingly affordable.
