My wife and I have three days to explore the area before attending a convention in Seattle. We fly in on a Thursday morning. We plan to spend two nights in Victoria and one night in Port Townsend. I need help in planning this. I intend to rent a car and drive to Port Angeles to catch the ferry to Victoria. When we return to P.A. we will head over to P.T. for a day and night. How long will it take to drive from Sea-Tac to Port Angeles? What is the best route? Is there plenty of parking at the ferry terminal in P.A.(not taking the car to Victoria)? Is this a good plan? Would we be better off staying one night in Victoria and two on the Olympic Peninsula?

The drive from Sea-Tac to PA takes around 3 - 3 1/2 hours all in, depending on the wait for the Bainbridge Island ferry in downtown Seattle (they leave every 45 min. or so.) That is the best route; the all-land route via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is trafficky and tedious IMO, and not especially faster.

There is ample (private) parking including a patrolled lot close by the ferry terminal in PA.

Where to spend 2 nights is a tossup, and depends on what you plan to see and do in the two areas. You'll be arriving in Victoria fairly late the first day, so you won't accomplish much that evening; if you want to do the typical touristy things you'll soak up the next day, so I guess I'd suggest overnighting there and getting an early return to PA and Port Townsend the next day, detouring on your route to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic NP just south of PA before you head over to Port Townsend. That way you'll have the afternoon, evening, and part of the next day in Port Townsend, which IMO is plenty.

Plan on returning to Seattle via the Port Townsend - Whidbey Island ferry, then the Whidbey - Mukilteo ferry at the south end of the island. This way you won't have to retrace your steps and you'll enjoy Whidbey (stop for lunch in Coupeville or Langley, very cute villages on the island.)

Ditto to the above -- in case it helps to know that TWO locals are providing the same advice!

If you are returning from PT via Whidbey Is. Clinton ferry to Mukilteo I would suggest that you do not do this on a Sun. as you will have a long wait because of traffic. Ditto for the ferry from Kingston and from Bainbridge, although the latter is not quite so bad.

Thanks for the info. I did not realize it would take that long to get from SeaTac to PA. Is it a scenic drive?
Any recommendations for lodging choices in Victoria (probably don't want to pay the price of the Empress, but would like to be in town) and/or Port Townsend? Is the Waterstreet Hotel as nice at it looks on its website?

The drive to Port Angeles is somewhat scenic ... the ferry crossings (going to Bainbridge, Bremerton or Kingston) are pretty, the Hood Canal Floating Bridge is interesting -- especially if one's never been across such a structure. The drive from the bridge to PA crosses through timber land, farms, the foothills of the Olympics. Lodging in downtown Victoria ... try the Laurel Point Inn, Coast Harbourside, Admiral Inn (less expensive than the Empress, still relatively close to downtown and potential waterview)... I got a better deal than found on-line when I called them ... There are lots of other choices, but I haven't experienced them myself. Lodging in Port Townsend ... I stay at the Waterstreet occasionally, but not on vacation. It's not that nice. Try the Palace, the Bishop or the Swan. The Tides Inn, famous as a location in "An Officer and a Gentleman" is kind of pricey and away from downtown, but right on the water.