Seattle / Vancouver

[ohhawk]

Taking a week's vacation in this area during 9/13-9/20. Going with another couple (no kids). Would welcome recommendations on the suggested sites, restaurants, hotels or bed & breakfast. How many days in Seattle vs. Vancouver? Would you even rent a car or not?

Thanks.

[mockingbird812]

Dick,

My boys convinced us to vacation in Seattle/Vancouver area last summer (04). Their motive was to trace the roots of Curt Cobain and Jimmy Hendrix - ours was to relax and exlore the beautiful Northwest. It was a wonderful experience for all. 7 days in Seattle/7 days on Vancouver Is. nr Victoria. We stayed in Seattle Westin - nice hi rise w/ great views as my sister is an employee of this chain and we got a nice discount. Pie shaped rooms very nicely appointed and comfortable. It is nicely situated for exploring Seattle. Betw. monorail and bus system (taxis as necessary), don't think you need a car and wld not recommend it. BTW, if you stay in that area there is an interesting "car" shop w/i 2 blks (to the south?) w/ some neat vintage rides in an old show room. Nice folks let me poke around - no muscle but cool vintage foreign cars and some domestic. This area of Seattle puts you near a bunch of excellent sites: the "Public Market" aka the fish market can't be missed. There is a terrific art museum w/ different themes over time. The space needle and right at the base of it is the newly opened EMP (Experience Music Project) - totally interactive and enjoyable. Aquarium is worth a visit. Nicely done.


Next we headed north in our rented SUV to V. Island (couple of ferry options to get there) and stayed in a great little place just outside Victoria (Cedarwood Retreat). The transplanted British Family had just coverted a barn into an apartment and did a fabulous job. You have everything you need, including warm inviting ambiance (sp?), to prepare meals -nice kitchen. There is a wonderful local hike to "their" mountain. ( I sited a 68or 69 396 Beaumont at the foot of their access road, but never hooked up with the owner). Victoria is a great little town with plenty of sites. Don't miss the Empress Hotel and take High Tea in the afternoon - pricey but an awesome experience. There are sea planes landing and t/o every 10 minutes for site seeing. Old town w/ lots of charm. Bike riding is a neat way to explore the local sites. Great restaurants, shopping (blech), sites. You are near Buchard Gardens. Awesome drives to the north and toward the Pacific Ocean. Deserted beaches that send you back to prehistoric times, etc. Wld recommend a car to get out into the rural areas.



Good luck, enjoy, and contact me for more specifics.

Sam

[ohhawk]

Sam, thanks for the response with pictures and recommendations. As we move closer to putting a game plan together I may take you up on your invitation to contact you. Appreciate the help.

[CamarosRus]

Hello, I am a Seattle native who lives in the burbs these days. I work "on the waterfront" unloading the container ships where you see those HUGE Orange cranes in above picture. If I can be of any help in suggestions or opinions , please communicate.
If you have it decided to go to Vancouver,BC and Seattle so be it.......but you might want to consider the dramatically scenic Oregon Coast, Columbia river gorge(voted in top ten scenic drives in America) Mt St Helens volcano viewing and Mt Rainier Natl park.......as well as all the stuff in metro seattle to include The Museum of Flight, Boeing factory tour in Everett,Wa, ete, etc....I'd suggest yo find web site for Seattle-King County visitors/cconvention bureau and also Wash state visitors info...........

Chuck Sharin

[Xplantdad]

If you go to the Columbia River Gorge...tour Bonneville Dam and check out the Multnomah Falls Scenic route, too! It's worth the drive!

[Canucklehead]

If your in the Vancouver area you have to hit Whistler, very nice spot settled right smack dab between the mountains!!

[cdn454LS6]

Dick
If you have the option to go a little earlier, like 09/10th there is a huge car show in Langley B.C. Called the.. Langley Good Times Cruise-in. It is a huge event with no less than 3500 cars, Dennis Gage from My classic car was here 3 years ago to tape a show. And the show has even gotten bigger since then. Langley is 10 min from the border where you cross from WA. state to go to Vancouver B.C.
Your best bet would be to rent a car in Seattle and drive up the I5 straight to Vancouver 1 1/2 hours drive. Once you reach the border Langley is 10 min, Vancouver is 30min , Whistler is 2 hours.
If you would like more info, I would be happy to help.
Ken

[ohhawk]

Thanks to all for some input.

Ken, oh how I wish I would have known about this car show! Probably won't be able to swing it with flights already in place. Sounds like an amazing show. Hope you take some pictures and share on this site.