My husband and I will have a total of 8 days/7 nights to play in the Northwest. Currently we are flying into Portland to see family and would like to spend at least 3 days there, however, we can't determine where we should spend the other 5 days. However, I flight leaves at 10:30pm from Seattle on the last day.

We keep hearing we have to go to Vancouver, but we don't know if we need to spend more than 3 days there.

HELP!

I think 5 days (actually closer to 4 with driving), you could do both. It would be a little hectic, but doable.

Seattle and Vancouver are beautiful cities, and it would probably be possible to cram them both into the short time you have.

If you've already been to the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Rainier, and the Olympic National Park, why not go for it?

No reason you can't spend 2-3 days in each city for the remainder of your time. It's approx. only a 3 hour drive between the two. I'm not one for rushing around, but you could definitely do these two in the time you have.

We spent 8 days in Whistler, Vancouver and Seattle. I enjoyed my time in Whistler the most. vancouver is a great city but there is not that much to do there. Two days at the most. It does have beautiful park worth spending some time in. Three days in Seattle is plenty. We took the Boeing tour (about an hour from Seattle and went to two wineries on the way back from Boing. There is also ballard locks (check actual name) where you can watch Salmon from below water. it was very enjoyable. You may decide to take a day trip by Ferry to some of the towns across the bay.

MRT - could you share some of the things that you enjoyed doing in Whistler during the daytime? Any restaurants that you would visit a second time? We will be in Whistler for 2 days in August & are hoping for a hotel or B&B where we could have a great view for the nighttime Perseid meteor showers.

If you have only four night, I believe they would be more enjoyably spent if you don't go all the way to Whistler--or even Vancouver.

Rather, I suggest you concentrate on Seattle and the many places of interest near Portland and Seattle.

If you don't know what the places of interest are, let us know.

I really don't have up to date restaursnt information. During the day you may want to consider renting bikes. There are extensive paved and gravel trails. There are two area lakes that rent canoes. The parking areas are a little hard to find (you have to go through some side streets to get there. The larger which may be named Green Lake is much prettier.

There are many trails (get a trail guide) for hiking depending upon your skill level.

Not that far is an area were Bald Eagles congregate in mass, near a river. You can hike get information to drive and hike to the area.

There is a Jack Nicklaus golf course next to town if you golf.

There is also rafting and horseback riding butI cannot tell you anything about either activity.

There is an alpine slide inBlackcomb, the sister ski resort (ten munute walk.

After doing Fodors detective work to find that you are native NYer's and living in Florida... you should definitely GO to Vancouver (simply because it is so far away from your routine).

Perhaps you'll discover why Vancouver was the only North American inclusion among "The 20 most livable cities on earth" (or at least you'll have fun trying to figure it out).

You've already done the important part - in planning the strategic departure FROM SEATTLE, instead of from Portland. A 10:30pm departure time allows you to take full advantage of that last day too!

So, lets pretend you're flying into Portland on the 15th of some imaginary month and leaving Seattle late on the 22nd of that same month.

Stay in Portland for an extra day, juuuuuust because it's "family"... maybe take a side trip with them to Mount St. Helens volcano during the middle of that time, and/or (a 2nd trip) to the Oregon Coast.

So then head north on the 19th, perhaps arriving in downtown Seattle at perhaps 2:00pm. Spend (ALL OF) rush hour roaming around downtown Seattle... visit Pike Place Market, go to the Space Needle if you want to (did I read that it is $16 per person these days? - thinking to self).

AFTER rush hour is completely over... maybe depart downtown Seattle at 7pm after having dinner somewhere... drive north to Canada (110 freeway miles from downtown Seattle to the border... then another 30-ish to Vancouver)

So if you arrive at 10:00pm with hotel reservations already made (I really recommend using Priceline for good rates on downtown Vancouver hotels)... then you could stay there for 3 nights, these being the 19th, 20th, 21st.

Vancouver will offer plenty to do to fill your days there, and on the final day, you'd probably want to leave Vancouver by noon-ish to assure being at Sea Tac airport in plenty of time for your late flight.

(*** IF that final day (the '22nd of some imaginary month) is a Sunday, then you should leave a LOT earlier given the border traffic coming back to USA on Sundays)

With this schedule, you'd have already given yourself a taste of Seattle, and could alter that final day as you wish, to take-in some extra elements of Seattle.

Granted that "19th" will make for a long day... awakening in Oregon, exploring Seattle, and driving to Vancouver late, but then you'll be ready for 3 nights in the same spot and days without particular demands on your time, so it seems reasonable.

(the miles to be covered on that day are approximately 310-320, FYI)

More details later once you decide if you'll be going to Vancouver, or staying in Seattle.

THanks NorthwestMale. This is an excellent suggestion, one in which I am definitely leaning towards.
I made myself a promise that I would visit another country every year so going to Vancouver would satisfy this, plus I do hear it is beautiful.

I just found out I have one less day in Portland to add to the Seattle portion. Seems my sister in law wants to go to Seattle for some R/R so we are all going to go together.

I will keep you all posted

Hi again!

So now I'm interpreting that to mean 2 or 3 days in Portland, now a day or two IN Seattle, then parting ways with your Oregon family??

Hey, wait, wow... you may not even NEED a rented vehicle unTIL you leave Seattle for Vancouver, is that right?

Suddenly you can save money on rental TIME, and also save costs by doing a round-trip rental from Seattle, and then returning it in Seattle on the rebound (after Vancouver).

Depending upon whether cost or convenience is most important, you would either rent a car round-trip FROM downtown Seattle, then return it there, and take an airport shuttle service to the airport, OR have your family drop you at the airport on their way back to Oregon, where you pick up your rental car for your Vancouver leg.

Renting at the airport they KILL YA with taxes and surcharges, and if willing to take that one shuttle-bus ride from downtown Seattle to the airport... (12-ish miles, very convenient) you can save plenty.

(at least price the various rental charges... and don't draw conclusions until you see the TAX area of your rate quote)

Perhaps the amount of time you'll have for your Vancouver trip won't be any more this way, BUT you won't feel as bad that you 'missed' Seattle when essentially passing right through it. Plus it makes that one day I mentioned a lot less "full".

Let us know if there are any other 'tricks' or things that you are wondering about...