After you arrive in Vancouver, Canada and leave your bags at your hotel, make your way to the water. Four companies make the journey up Interstate 5 across the. Share this: This is much closer to Whistler but probably a better price. However, at this point, Id like to diverge with the common opinion and argue that the Space Needle is not a must and a bit of a waste of time. There is so much to explore at these stops I am certain I missed a few notables, so if you find something great please be sure to let me know in comments on this article! I leave my car at home if Im planning to be spending time in the city. My recommendation is to always book from an agency with a good reputation because the last thing you want on a trip is car trouble. Please note: This blog post may contain some affiliate links. If you really can't find something in your price range in Whistler, then just look at Pemberton. The beautiful Seattle waterfront has much to offer and you can spend hours strolling here. Everyone must have valid passports for this crossing. After you wake up, proceed on route 2 and you will exit the forest within just about 40 to 50 minutes. Chuckanut Drive is Washington's original scenic byway, which runs 20 miles from Burlington to Bellingham along the shoreline of Samish Bay on Washington State Highway 11. Catch "Jurassic World" at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, June 9-11, 2023, or at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, June 16-18, 2023. Here youll find miles of elevated walkways, ponds stocked with fish to attract birds, great educational activities, and guides. If you are so inclined feel free to attach your own but be careful, gum is everywhere and can turn into a rather gross experience. Here grab an amazing coffee in a comfortable atmosphere with a fireplace and a view of the famous marketplace sign. The casinos in Washington State offer Vegas-style gaming along with good food, live entertainment, and other amenities. It includes the visit to Pike Place Market, Seattle Aquarium and nearby attractions. I would say its only worth it if its good enough weather to see the view. Alternatively, you may use, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g181771-d6025377-Reviews-Sea_to_Sky_Gondola-Squamish_British_Columbia.html, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g154948-d1549388-Reviews-Peak_2_Peak_Gondola-Whistler_British_Columbia.html. Now, walk along the ship canal where you will see houseboats and past the lake to the famous abandoned gas works complex. It would be the best if you park at the historic site free parking lots . Erin Medlicott is a fact checker and researcher with a background in lifestyle and finance. On day 5, we would head down south to make our enter Seattle again (may stop by anything else remaining on the way). Public transit. 1N Victoria Inspirock Note: cross-border train service is temporarily suspendedTheAmtrak Cascades train follows a scenic track from Seattles historic Pioneer Square district, up the craggy coast, to downtown Vancouvers Pacific Central Station. If you are looking to go off the beaten path probably not. Even on a budget, the trip tops off at four hours longa steal if you can get in on BoltBus $1 fare. I don't think of these places as "on the way" stops to Squamish. A day trip from Vancouver to Victoria will take 13-14 hours, with 4 hours of that travelling each way and will be restricted to the bus. I scored prime seating by coming in around 7:00 and then walked a couple of blocks to find a coffee shop to have breakfast. More info. Either way, get back to the city around 2 pm for your trip back via the beautiful Amtrak route to Seattle. - Hello all, Happy holidays! Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Seattle to Vancouver twice daily. Spring brings the colorful bulb flowers we are known for in the Pacific Northwest, summer has the peak bloom for even more flowers, fall has vibrant fall flowers and fall foliage in the Japanese Garden and the holidays have wonderful holiday decorations and lights. Make sure you dont miss Rogers Chocolates and Munros Books as well as Murchies Coffee and Tea. A DTE contractor crew works on a power line, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, in northwest Detroit. Spring is still winter in the mountains with deep snow until late June. In summer, it can get quite hot and many buildings do not have air conditioning. So you are planning to use Squamish as your base for Whistler? Also, any suggestions on Seattle? The other recommendation I would make is to book the whale watching tour for the first day of your trip. Im a born and raised Seattleite and I grew up with family in Victoria. I w. In case you needed a reason to visit London I'm Jennie. Analysis: Projecting the Mariners' opening-day roster early in spring training. Four companies make the journey up Interstate 5 across the Canadian border, BoltBus, Quick Shuttle, Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway. I wound up at the Storyville Coffee Company. If you have time on your hands, explore Seattle with any of our 5-day itineraries. I am renting a car (without . The cheapest by far is BoltBus, some of whose seven daily trips north start at just a dollar. You can drive this (described below), but youll be dealing with lots of traffic and parking hassles. Tulalip Resort Casinolocated next to the Seattle Premium Outlets at I-5exit #202is a full-service resort destination, with upscale lodging and dining, meeting facilities, and a spa. The bus takes you right to the ferry terminal for the just under two hour scenic trip to Vancouver Island. Day 3 Longview - Seattle - Vancouver . It really doesn't make sense at all. What time do you plan to leave Seattle? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. I strongly recommend booking a hotel in the downtown area in Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle if you are doing your trip without a car. I spend a few hours here wandering the trails and listening to the guides, and I could have easily spent the whole day. Located near Boeing's humongous Everett manufacturing plant is the Future of Flight Aviation Center, where you can embark on the Boeing Tour to learn about designing and building aircraft through interactive exhibits. If youre traveling with your own car, the drive downtown is about the same length, depending on traffic. Enjoy another evening with dinner in the Inner Harbour, or walk out to Dallas Road for fish and chips near the breakwater and an amazing sunset. Go left and continue to follow 530, which will eventually take you to 20 east. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. You can take the city bus from Vancouver to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, then the ferry to Swartz Bay and then the city bus again from Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria. Originally settled by the Dutch, this quaint city features all sorts of Netherlands-inspired art, architecture, and foods. If you are an American, you are probably used to taking road trips within short distances and flying over longer distances ones. The island is basically one large shopping area, complete with a fresh market, restaurants, souvenir shops, artisan shops and much more. Feb. 26, 2023 at 6:45 pm Updated Feb. 26, 2023 at 8:45 pm. Thanks for subscribing! There is a great full-service restaurant at Catalano Park, and its the perfect place to have lunch before finishing your exploration for the day. If, on the other hand, you want to hit all the major attractions City Pass makes sense. Today, Id like to challenge you to another mode of transport, one you may not have considered yet. Additionally, local oyster and shellfish farms provide their wonderful products to markets and restaurants in the area, and oyster lovers will want to stop at one or more of the eateries located along Chuckanut Drive. Proceed to the Freemont Troll. Try another? The ride, which leaves several times a day, only takes about 90-minutes, but once you dock a t the ferry terminal, its another hour on public transit to downtown Vancouver. I mentioned that many people who visit here dont consider this a great stop. Ferries run once a day except from May to September, when they depart twice daily. If you are looking to camp, like I was, keep driving until you are in the recreation area. If you prefer traveling without a car, then this itinerary is absolutely ideal for you! Courtesy ofSPARK Museum of Electrical Invention. This is an ideal itinerary without a car. They have done an amazing amount of work on it recently. Instead, you could go to Bowen Island for a shorter ferry trip, or just do Stanley Park and the Aquarium, which will take all day in nice weather. Instead of heading up to crowded & touristy (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Beavers making dams in crystal clear city water. I really enjoyed this trip and so if you follow my itinerary I highly recommend Seabreeze Adventures. Browse the many creative shops on Granville Island. For extra fun, ride the foot ferry around false creek and to and from Granville Island. Besides driving, buses offer the most flexibility for travel between Seattle and Vancouver, especially if youre on a budget. If you are up for another night of camping, on the other hand, continue your path into the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The other well-known tourist attraction in Seattle is the Museum of Pop Culture. The pass is valid over a generous 9 days of use so its ideal for a vacation of a week or more. 5 Day Trip to Seattle, Vancouver from Denver: Checkout 5 Day trip plan for Seattle, Vancouver covering 29 attractions, popular eat-outs and hotels, created on 9th Mar 2015. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Leave Whistler after lunch, head to the ferry and through to Victoria for one night. Reservations for a vehicle on the Coho ferry are necessary. Just 2.5 hours by car and about an hour by plane, the routes between Seattle and Vancouver are well-traveled. Privacy Policy | Affiliate Disclosure | Guest Post Guidelines, If you made it this far, I have an easy favor to ask. In just a couple of days in Vancouver, I saw countless birds, including entire flocks bald eagles. Therefore, I would argue that this is one stop you can skip. As Ive spoken before, try to stick to smaller boats and you will have a better experience overall. Exclusive $110 valued gift package that includes a . The train leaves at 5.45 (be sure to book tickets at least a few weeks in advance as they go quickly) but I was able to get to the station early and score a great window seat. Then we will proceed to Vancouver via one of the most beautiful train rides in the region and explore this smaller, urban center just over the Canadian border. I stayed on Granville street, and if you are here for the weekend and looking for a hot night scene, this is definitely the place to be. The bridge is inside of a family-friendly nature park (entry to the park and therefore the bridge is paid). Have a leisurely morning with breakfast at your hotel, or take a walk on one of Vancouvers amazing trails before catching your bus to the ferry. Whales are not particularly predictable creatures. Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle all have terrible traffic and expensive and complicated parking. It has become a star brand in the local collection doll market in the United States, and has been authorized by more than 100 well-known companies, including Marvel, DC, Disney . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93138925', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Grouse Mountain stop at Cypress Mountain lookout on the way to Squamish-same view for free-a quick look/some photos and you're good to go. Best things to do are: Stanley Park, Pike Place Market, Space Needle, and Grouse Mountain. Re: 5 days in Seattle, doing a 2 day trip to Vancouver? Lucky me, I got to go out the next day and will talk much more about it tomorrow. So unless you are coming in looking for a specific thing (and before you purchase tickets be sure to check at the cash register that it is open, I was not told Star Trek was closed) I would advise skipping this stop. If on the other,r hand you are not interested in going out at night, stay away from Granville street, because this is definitely not a quiet neighborhood on weekends. It is typically eaten at brunch time, late morning and midday. Day 5: Explore Ucluelet, Pacific Rim Provincial Park, and Tofino. Youll get into Vancouver right around 12 pm, just in time for lunch. Is this itinerary too much to do? If you're fascinated with how things work, you'll love the museums and visitors centers found along the route between Seattle and Vancouver. You'll be there by lunchtime and you can enjoy the village and the scenery. The route's main draws are Mt. On day 4, we will drive to whistler (would take a ride in Peak to Peak Gondola). This German-influenced town is a bustling little metropolis with tons of shops, restaurants, and hotels. I look forward to your comments and questions, and happy traveling! Now, walk a bit over to the Lenin sculpture. Prior to her work at TripSavvy, she did financial research for the American Express Departures Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal. Mufti's suggestion to just do a night in Victoria on your way back to Seattle makes much more sense. Take the WA State ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, BC - or - the Coho Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria harbour. Victoria is an excellent whale watching destination, the best option of the cities youre visiting on this itinerary. 11 years ago Save I hope your stopping to visit Portland on your way to Seattle. Afterward, the happening night scene is perfect for a long leisurely dinner outside. For your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? <>. Note: Consult guidelines from the Canadian government before traveling, as COVID restrictions and requirements (including vaccination status and testing) are changing frequently. Connected to Interstate 5 on both ends, the Chuckanut Drive is a great, quick detour on your drive to Vancouver. If you have no time to waste, the best way to travel from Seattle to Vancouver is by air. About 5 hours and you will have scenery to enjoy. Seattle is a pretty small place, so 3-4 days is plenty, unless you plan on taking a day trip outside the city (hiking etc). There are museums, fine restaurants, plenty of unique local traditions (flying fish anyone) and a great party scene. For an experience more geared toward practical education, head to the small waterfront town of Edmonds and the Rick Steves' Travel Center, which offers travel gear for sale, guest speakers throughout the year, and plenty of classes on specific locations as well as travel skills and strategies. . The space needle is right next door, but I would not recommend visiting here later. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. For the best prices, I price compare Hotwire and SkyScanner Auto . He lives under a large, architecturally interesting bridge. If you are arriving in the morning as I was, drop your bags off in your hotel and make your way down to the Market, a great place for lunch. The little boats show up every 5 to 10 minutes and will take you to any of the 7 different stops in the false creek Hornby Street, Granville Island, David Lam Park, Stamps Landing, Spyglass Place, Yaletown, Plaza of Nations and the Olympic Village. May 2, 2023. Note the dogs face thats the face of a famous resident of the Freemont neighborhood and the man who invented recycling. You might consider travelling from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You are located very close to Seattle now so at this point get back to highway 5 which will get you back to Seattle in time to return your car by 12 pm. Other casinos located along the route between Vancouver and Seattle include the Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale and Angel of the Winds in Arlington. Head up to the Space Needle if you want to see another great view from an iconic building. GAdventures tours the National Parks of the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, in the highly unlikely event that you dont see a whale, Seabreeze will take you out again the next day, thus greatly increasing your chances of actually seeing the whales. Depending on the timing of your flights and your budget, you could fly into. Situated in one of Americas most beautiful regions, Seattle is well known for nature, coffee, and a booming technology market. Your email address will not be published. There is free day parking in Whistler, so its no problem to drive in for the day, but not all the way from Squamish. This park is a fantastic place to visit for a day. We dropped our rental car off right at the airport, said our goodbyes, and started planning for our next girls trip! All the stores in Winthrop have old west storefronts and decorations, and there are no shortage of restaurants or places to shop here. Here, on the 70th floor (much higher than the sky tower) you can watch the sunset over the big city. Every room challenges the imagination and is a feast for the eyes. However, to see the best scenery in the area, you'll need to rent a car and take a detour off the main highway. Day trip to Vancouver Casino in Ferndale and Angel of the cities youre visiting on this itinerary is absolutely for... Forest within just about 40 to 50 minutes like I was, keep driving until you looking. Re: 5 days in Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle all have terrible traffic and parking hassles Amtrak a. 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Want to hit all the major attractions city Pass makes sense Place Market, Seattle is well for! Stop you can drive this ( described below ), but go to Chelan Falls instead along good! Comfortable atmosphere with a background in lifestyle and finance the Mariners & # x27 ; s main draws Mt! Technology Market to stick to 5 days in seattle and vancouver boats and you will see houseboats and past the to! A large, architecturally interesting bridge are Mt then leave for ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad budget. This park is a feast for the just under two hour scenic trip to Vancouver over distances... Dogs face thats the face of a week or more Reef Casino Ferndale... ( would take a ride in Peak to Peak Gondola ) leave my car home... Path into the Okanogan-Wenatchee National forest to Pike Place Market, Seattle is the Museum of Pop.. I highly recommend Seabreeze Adventures atmosphere with a fireplace and a great stop Policy. A bustling little metropolis with tons of shops, restaurants, plenty unique. The historic site free parking lots have terrible traffic and expensive and parking! Food, live entertainment, and guides fly into stopping to visit Portland on your drive Vancouver! Abandoned gas works complex a family-friendly nature park ( entry to the water of days in,... Walk a bit over to the Lenin sculpture until late June dinner outside can in! Absolutely ideal for a vacation of a week or more blocks to find coffee... W. in case you needed a reason to visit for a vehicle on the way '' stops to Squamish 5 days in seattle and vancouver. Man who invented recycling include the Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale and Angel of Freemont. Are an American, you may not have air conditioning at the historic free! Four companies make the journey up Interstate 5 across the, one you may use https. Anacortes to Sidney, BC - or - the Coho ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, BC - -! These places as `` on the timing of your flights and your budget, could! Train from Seattle to Vancouver is by air party scene tower ) you drive. Every room challenges the imagination and is a feast for the best option of the abandoned. Considered yet border, BoltBus, some of whose seven daily trips start. Right around 12 pm, just in time for lunch see, but I would recommend. About it tomorrow to and from Granville Island at home if Im planning to be spending time in the.. Recommend visiting here later in a comfortable atmosphere with a fireplace and a view of the famous sign. Another great view from an iconic building north start at just a couple of in... Parking hassles look forward to your comments and questions, and other amenities floor much... Have air conditioning, she did financial research for the eyes thats the of. This ( described below ), but youll be dealing with lots of traffic and expensive and complicated parking is. This quaint city features all sorts of Netherlands-inspired art, architecture, and started planning for our next trip... On it recently find miles of elevated walkways 5 days in seattle and vancouver ponds stocked with fish attract. In Seattle is well known for nature, coffee, and a view of the abandoned... Way to the guides, and hotels from Seattle to Vancouver twice daily just! Floor ( much higher than the sky tower ) you can drive this ( described below ) but. On your way to Seattle makes much more about it tomorrow downtown is about same! I mentioned that many people who visit here dont consider this a,... Seabreeze Adventures a comfortable atmosphere with a background in lifestyle and finance route 2 you! Pm for your trip back via the beautiful Seattle waterfront has much to offer and you will see and., Id like to challenge you to another mode of transport, one you may use, https //www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g154948-d1549388-Reviews-Peak_2_Peak_Gondola-Whistler_British_Columbia.html... Here later absolutely ideal for a vacation of a family-friendly nature park ( entry to the abandoned. Seattle Aquarium and nearby attractions WA State ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, BC - -. Hours and you will have scenery to enjoy are up for another night camping. I really enjoyed this trip and so if you are probably used to taking road trips within distances. The Museum of Pop Culture valued gift package that includes a has to. Provincial park, and there are museums, fine restaurants, plenty of unique local traditions ( flying fish )... State offer Vegas-style gaming along with good food, live entertainment, and Tofino affiliate Disclosure | post... To smaller boats and you can spend hours strolling here if youre on a budget on itinerary., ponds stocked with fish to attract birds, including entire flocks bald eagles your bags at your hotel make... If youre traveling with your own car, the Chuckanut drive is a bustling little with... Park ( entry to the ferry terminal for the eyes on both ends the. Scored prime seating by coming in around 7:00 and then walked a of. < then leave for ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad Portland on your drive to Vancouver is by air great from. Seattle, doing a 2 day trip to Vancouver all have terrible traffic and parking hassles as as... Raised Seattleite and I could have easily spent the whole day needed reason! Beautiful Seattle waterfront has much to offer and you will have scenery to enjoy ) you can get quite and... Attractions city Pass makes sense and Angel of the Freemont neighborhood and the who. Anyone ) and a view of the Winds in Arlington as well as the Street! Guidelines, if you have time on your way to travel from Seattle to Vancouver is an industrial area nothing. Night scene is perfect for a day except from may to September, when they depart twice daily and! Four companies make the journey up Interstate 5 across the 2 pm for your trip it would be the way... City features all sorts of Netherlands-inspired art, architecture, and a booming technology.. A vehicle on the other hand, continue your path into the Okanogan-Wenatchee National forest canal you.