Paulalee

We're traveling to the Seattle/San Juan Islands in August. Here is our tentative itinerary. I would appreciate feedback from those of you who know that area.
We arrive in Seattle on a Monday...will stay there two nights - drive to Anacortes on Wednesday and take the ferry to Orcas Island. Stay on Orcas 4 nights (day trips to Victoria and Friday Harbor) then take ferry back to Anacortes...drive up to Vancouver for two nights, then back to Seattle.
Question - is this a logical route? What are the do not miss things to do in these areas? How expensive are the ferries to ride with a car?
Thanks for your response!

beanweb24

For pricing:

https://secure4.gatewayticketing.com...spx?CG=21&C=74

happytrailstoyou

Here are some ideas to consider.

Since there is public transportation on San Juan Island, we park our car at the Anacortes ferry and use the bus to get around on the island.

Amtrak is a good way to travel between Seattle and Vancouver.

Victoria can be visited by "clipper" from Seattle or by ferry from Port Angeles. A night in Victoria is a good thing.

http://www.clippervacations.com/
http://www.cohoferry.com/main

If I were to do this trip by car my choice of itinerary would be Seattle-San Juan Island-Vancouver-Victoria-Port Angeles-Olympic NP-Seattle.

http://www.bcferries.com/

HTTY

islandaze

You could avoid the back-tracking by taking a ferry directly from Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Vancouver (Tsawwassen), but I don't know what that does to fares, since you'd be using both Washington State and BC Ferries.

The popular sights and activities in this area will be obvious: whale-watching tours, Mount Constitution, Roche Harbor, Butchart Gardens, high tea at The Empress. But my "do not miss" activity in the San Juans is kayaking; in Victoria, it's drinks in any one of several pubs.

happytrailstoyou

Here is a transportation link that may interest you for Victoria-Vancouver: http://www.pacificcoach.com/

HTTY