Seattle/Vancouver and ? in 7 days
Aug 28th, 2000, 06:10 AM
#1
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Seattle/Vancouver and ? in 7 days
My husband and I are going to Seattle for 7 1/2 days Oct. 15-23 (coming in 15th, leaving 23). We were planning to go to Vancouver for half the time and Seattle the other half, but as I read old posts on this board, I've been thinking that we plann on spending time out of the city. This is our first visit to the area. I was thinking about flying in, driving part way to Vancouver -- stopping at someplace like Everett (or maybe the Salish resort?), spending two or three days in Vancouver (have a room booked at Sutton Hotel, although I'm very interested in Hotel Vancouver), driving and spending three days in Seattle (have a room booked at Pacific Plaza). BUT, I was wondering if we shouldn't take a day off the Vancouver and Seattle end and spend a two days in the mountains -- so should we spend them in Olympic National Park, or on our way up to Vancouver, spend them in the north Cascades or Snolquamie? We like to hike, but are not skiers or huge outdoorspeople, we just simply love the landscapes of mountains and such.
Also, on the way back from vancouver, should we try to wind our way back through the islands by ferry or just drive on back? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Pam
Also, on the way back from vancouver, should we try to wind our way back through the islands by ferry or just drive on back? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Pam
Aug 28th, 2000, 06:30 AM
#2
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Pam, your idea is a good one; here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Western loop: west from Seattle to the Olympic peninsula, visit Port Townsend, Hurricane Ridge (near Port Angeles), then ferry across to Victoria BC, then on to Vancouver via the BC ferry to Tsawwassen (on the mainland). As an alternative you could get to Victoria via the San Juan Islands.
2. Eastern loop: east from Seattle via US Hwy 2 across the Cascades at Stevens Pass (very scenic) then north through Omak to Osoyoos BC, then east back across BC to Vancouver. The Cascades, red rock vistas in N. Central Washington (very old west - looking) and the fall scenery you'll get heading back west through the Okanagan country (fruit growing areas on the east slope of the Cascades) will be grand.
3. Northern loop: from Vancouver take a day or two and head up to Whistler, via the "sea to sky" highway, one of the most beautiful roads anywhere. There are many attractions in the Whistler area.
Any of these alternatives can take up one or two nights (two more likely in the Victoria scenarios) and introduce you to this wonderful region.
Of course many of these things can be done as day trips from Sea. or Van. too.
Happy planning!
1. Western loop: west from Seattle to the Olympic peninsula, visit Port Townsend, Hurricane Ridge (near Port Angeles), then ferry across to Victoria BC, then on to Vancouver via the BC ferry to Tsawwassen (on the mainland). As an alternative you could get to Victoria via the San Juan Islands.
2. Eastern loop: east from Seattle via US Hwy 2 across the Cascades at Stevens Pass (very scenic) then north through Omak to Osoyoos BC, then east back across BC to Vancouver. The Cascades, red rock vistas in N. Central Washington (very old west - looking) and the fall scenery you'll get heading back west through the Okanagan country (fruit growing areas on the east slope of the Cascades) will be grand.
3. Northern loop: from Vancouver take a day or two and head up to Whistler, via the "sea to sky" highway, one of the most beautiful roads anywhere. There are many attractions in the Whistler area.
Any of these alternatives can take up one or two nights (two more likely in the Victoria scenarios) and introduce you to this wonderful region.
Of course many of these things can be done as day trips from Sea. or Van. too.
Happy planning!
Aug 28th, 2000, 07:14 AM
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Hi Pam, John's given you some excellent suggestions to consider. My suggestion would be to head straight to Vancouver from Seatac (3-4 hours) if your flight gets in early enought--the Salish is straight east from Seattle, so it doesn't really get you in the right direction, and Everett is a nice place to live but I'm not sure about an overnight stay there...If you need to make a stop, then how about a neat small town like La Conner?
Definitely stick with the Sutton Place over Hotel Vancouver! I think it's the best hotel in town.
If you can take the two extra days, then I'd suggest spending two nights in the North Cascades. From Vancouver, take the North Cascades highway...it SHOULD still be open then, but check typical closure dates before making your plans. There's a great small inn in Mazama called the Freestone. Great place to do some hiking and see spectacular mountain scenery.
Then complete the Cascade Loop by coming back to Seattle via Rt. 2.
Interesting choice of the Pacific Plaza, as it's a big contrast to the Sutton Place! The Pacific Plaza is a great budget hotel in a central downtown location, but it's definitely NOT in the same category (or even close) to the Sutton.
Definitely stick with the Sutton Place over Hotel Vancouver! I think it's the best hotel in town.
If you can take the two extra days, then I'd suggest spending two nights in the North Cascades. From Vancouver, take the North Cascades highway...it SHOULD still be open then, but check typical closure dates before making your plans. There's a great small inn in Mazama called the Freestone. Great place to do some hiking and see spectacular mountain scenery.
Then complete the Cascade Loop by coming back to Seattle via Rt. 2.
Interesting choice of the Pacific Plaza, as it's a big contrast to the Sutton Place! The Pacific Plaza is a great budget hotel in a central downtown location, but it's definitely NOT in the same category (or even close) to the Sutton.
Aug 28th, 2000, 05:51 PM
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You've gotten some very good advice. I would reiterate that Victoria is wonderful. the Royal British Museum is not to be missed. The Empress is a beautiful old hotel. If you don't stay there, visit and have tea. The gardens the previous poster referred to are likely Buchart Gardens. Whistler is incredibly beautiful, as is the ride up there. If you pick Whistler, stay in the part of the village that is central to all hotels and restaurants--they are connected by a common walkway. The Chateau Whislter and the Delta Whistler come to mind for accommodations. Good luck!
Aug 29th, 2000, 06:04 PM
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Thanks everyone for the great advice -- I figured I'd get that reaction when I said we are staying at the Sutton and then the Pacific Plaza -- but I gotta save money somewhere.
Would it be possible to do scenarios No. 2 and 3, maybe a condensed tour through the cascades on the way up to Vancouver, and then come back through Victoria?? We do need to spend a night somewhere after we get in, becuase it is going to be a LONG day for us -- flight leaves at 6:30 a.m. and we're inNew Orleans -- LaConner sounds like a good choice, I had looked there too.
I have another question -- are the San Juans mountainous??
Would it be possible to do scenarios No. 2 and 3, maybe a condensed tour through the cascades on the way up to Vancouver, and then come back through Victoria?? We do need to spend a night somewhere after we get in, becuase it is going to be a LONG day for us -- flight leaves at 6:30 a.m. and we're inNew Orleans -- LaConner sounds like a good choice, I had looked there too.
I have another question -- are the San Juans mountainous??
Aug 29th, 2000, 09:03 PM
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No, the San Juans are islands to the northwest of Seattle.
You CAN do the N. Cascades loop in two days, one night, but since you're hikers, I think it would be REALLY frustrating, because you won't really have time to do a good full day hike that way.
I really wouldn't recommend making more than three, maybe four stops with a week, but my personal preference is not to rush on trips. I like a good balance between seeing a lot and savoring time in a particular area.
You CAN do the N. Cascades loop in two days, one night, but since you're hikers, I think it would be REALLY frustrating, because you won't really have time to do a good full day hike that way.
I really wouldn't recommend making more than three, maybe four stops with a week, but my personal preference is not to rush on trips. I like a good balance between seeing a lot and savoring time in a particular area.
Aug 30th, 2000, 07:19 AM
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I live in a south suburb of Vancouver, and on the coast you can see the San Juans from here - yes, they seem to be mountainous - some more than others. Though I haven't been to the San Juans yet, I've been to the Gulf Islands, which are simply the San Juans, but on the Canadian side of the border.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
Aug 30th, 2000, 07:25 AM
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About the drive from Seattle to Vancouver - the most direct way to drive it is along Interstate 5, which takes about 2 hours to get from Seattle to the Canadian border, and then another 45 minutes to drive into the heart of downtown Vancouver.
There will always be mountains off in the distance during the drive to Vancouver. Just before you enter Bellingham, you'll be driving through a mountainous area. You could always take the Chuckanut Drive scenic detour - I believe in the La Conner area, there's a sign on I-5 pointing out the Chuckanut Drive turnoff. The road leads up a mountain, along some cliffs with a handful of parks and lookout points, where you can look across the water to the mountainous San Juans, to the Gulf Islands and to Vancouver Island. Chuckanut Drive ends in Bellingham, a tiny city which is only about a 15 minute drive away from the border. Chuckanut Drive itself isn't that long of a drive, but it's definitely one of the most scenic detours to get to Vancouver without cutting away at the time to get there.
Hope this helps! Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions.
There will always be mountains off in the distance during the drive to Vancouver. Just before you enter Bellingham, you'll be driving through a mountainous area. You could always take the Chuckanut Drive scenic detour - I believe in the La Conner area, there's a sign on I-5 pointing out the Chuckanut Drive turnoff. The road leads up a mountain, along some cliffs with a handful of parks and lookout points, where you can look across the water to the mountainous San Juans, to the Gulf Islands and to Vancouver Island. Chuckanut Drive ends in Bellingham, a tiny city which is only about a 15 minute drive away from the border. Chuckanut Drive itself isn't that long of a drive, but it's definitely one of the most scenic detours to get to Vancouver without cutting away at the time to get there.
Hope this helps! Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions.
Aug 30th, 2000, 07:26 AM
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Oh, gosh, of course you said "mountainOUS"--sorry. I read it too quickly and too late at night ;-).
I would say that the San Juans are hilly rather than mountainous. The highest point in the San Juans, Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island, is 2,400 ft, compared to, say, the North Cascades, where most of the peaks are in the 6,000-10,000 foot range.
The drive from Seattle to Vancouver is straight freeway. You can *see* the Cascades to the east, but you don't get up into them unless you drive about an hour east of the freeway.
I would say that the San Juans are hilly rather than mountainous. The highest point in the San Juans, Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island, is 2,400 ft, compared to, say, the North Cascades, where most of the peaks are in the 6,000-10,000 foot range.
The drive from Seattle to Vancouver is straight freeway. You can *see* the Cascades to the east, but you don't get up into them unless you drive about an hour east of the freeway.
Sep 15th, 2000, 01:19 AM
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I see that topper is back to her looniness. Oh well. Bellingham is a "tiny town"??????? Give me a break.
In 1990 the population was 71,000. And it's grown at a large rate since then. That's tiny? I wouldn't want them in my living room at the same time.
In 1990 the population was 71,000. And it's grown at a large rate since then. That's tiny? I wouldn't want them in my living room at the same time.
Sep 18th, 2000, 10:37 AM
#16
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Chuck, were you referring to my "tiny city" comment? I wasn't implying it was a tiny town, only a tiny "city". Emphasis on the word "city". Pam will be travelling between Seattle and Vancouver where the populations and the suburbs of those cities are anywhere from 125,000 to 500,000+ (entire metropolitan areas holding population over 1.5 million).
Oct 8th, 2000, 09:03 PM
#17
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Thanks for everyone's help -- we decided to do a loop in the cascades, stay a couple of days each in Vancouver and Seattle -- we're going to spend a night in Leavenworth, in Stekhin and perhaps Rockport (anyone know anyplace good around that area?) And then spend two nights in Vancouver, at the Sutton, take the ferry down to Seattle and spend three nights there -- at the Westin.THanks again for everyone's help.
Oct 8th, 2000, 09:50 PM
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We just returned from a similar but longer trip. Highly recommend the Northern Cascades Loop. Do pull over and enjoy the view at Washington Pass and at Diablo Lake. Three nights should be plenty in Seattle. I can't speak for Vancouver because we opted to skip that part. We did drive to Whistler (scenery over-rated if you have taken the Northern Cascades Loop and there is nothing at Whistler when you get there.)
Oct 8th, 2000, 10:09 PM
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Pam, there's really not much at Rockport by way of accommodations but I have heard a couple good reports about a place there called, of all things, "a cab in the woods" (apparently there is or was a cab on the grounds). It's a set of cabins--not supposed to be anything fancy, but a good value. As I mentioned before, my recommendation would be the Freestone in Mazama. Especially if you are just coming back from Stehekin that morning then driving up to Rt 20, you won't be able to do the N. Cascades Highway justice and make it to the west side that day, IMO.
Polly, "nothing at Whistler"???? Um, what were you expecting? My mind boggles at Whistler being called "nothing". And while I do prefer the North Cascades Highway, the Sea to Sky is still spectacular. Did you do the drive on a clear day?
Polly, "nothing at Whistler"???? Um, what were you expecting? My mind boggles at Whistler being called "nothing". And while I do prefer the North Cascades Highway, the Sea to Sky is still spectacular. Did you do the drive on a clear day?
