Travel Advice/Opinion - Vancouver/Seattle

[WhisperingWasp]

Hi PHers. After a bit of a steer.

Inherited a bit of money from my grandad recently and want to do something with it. Initial thoughts were toward a(nother) watch or a(nother) motorbike! Still not ruled out entirely (this is PH after all) but I am thinking about a holiday instead.

Vancouver was my grandad's favourite place and we've never been to Canada. Seattle is because a) it is nearby and b) we are HUGE Frasier fans (I know only one episode was actually filmed there but still).

So I'm thinking 10 days (don't want to do more because of pets, would do 8 or 9 if could justify it with the level of travel). But let's say 10. Looking at flight prices it makes sense to go into Vancouver and out of Seattle (Seattle to Heathrow on Virgin looks mega cheap). But otherwise the way around doesn't matter. Also thinking train in between as it sounds like a scenic route and I don't think we'd need a car in either city and wouldn't want to hire a car for just one trip. Could fly of course but more than happy to get the train.

Thinking 5 days in each, but this is just an initial assumption - happy to be steered.

So who has experience of either/both? Enough to do for 5 days in each? Thinking next April (wife's birthday) or could be May or June, but definitely avoiding school holidays.

All thoughts welcome

[WhisperingWasp]

Anyone?

[K50 DEL]

Can't help you with Vancouver I'm afraid, but here's my notes from the day we spent in Seattle

I've never tried travelling in the US without a car, can't imagine it'll be much fun, most places aren't really set up for tourism by public transport (with obvious exceptions before anyone mentions NYC)

Boeing Tour - this was amazing, lots of interesting detail and a really good tour (it's in Everett rather than Seattle proper)
Microsoft Tour - again, really interesting, even if you're not an IT person (this is in Redmond, again just outside Seattle proper)
Open top bus tour - I take these wherever I go, a great way of seeing more of the city, this one stops at the
Space Needle - good views
Seattle Underground Tour - this was one of my favourite things on the trip, as it notes, an underground tour of "historical" Seattle

I don't think you need as long as 5 days to be honest, we did all the above in one.

[zbc]

Also only have experience of Seattle - can't help with Vancouver. I was there for work but spent some time sight seeing. The countryside around is quite stunning in places and whale watching can be fun, vineyards are also worth a look but I spent most of my time just walking the streets and really enjoyed it.

Space needle was a good place to start. Jeff's balls, sorry Amazon spheres, are worth a look. They do have some public openings or track down a friendly Amazonian. Pike Place was also good for a wander but honestly the city itself is a couple of days only. If you're there for longer you'll want to get a car or do some tours at least.

[MrBig]

Vancouver is awesome. One of my favourite cities. What time of year are you going? That will have a big impact on what you might want to do.

We went in late March. Had a couple of days in t-shirts in 18-19C weather but still plenty of snow in the mountains.

Have a night round Gastown and see the clock. Hire a bike and cycle round Stanley park for the stunning views. Go the market on Granville Island, Canada Place to see the Seaplanes and take a ride on one if you fancy it.

Head up the cable car to Grouse Mountain, loads to do there.

We drove up to Whistler and did a snowmobile expedition, then tubing and watched the stunt show in the evening. If you can ski or snowboard then you can hit the slopes. It's a couple of hours drive up the Sea to Sky highway with some amazing places to stop and see on the way. Who can resist a trip to Furry Creek?

Downtown is worth a visit, check out The Lookout for some amazing views. The other stuff we did was more focused on families and kids so might not be relevant for you.

[BlackTails]

Vancouver is great. Stanley Park, Robson, Granville Island, try to catch a concert or game at BC place. It is also handy for Whistler (1h 30 or so by car), where you can go up the mountain for a hike or head to a lake for a picnic or just soak up atmosphere in the village.

Your other option from Vancouver is Vancouver island. Either by ferry or by floatplane (walking distance from downtown). If you do that, you’ve got a choice between a day trip to Victoria (high tea at the Empress, whale watching, Busch Gardens) or a longer trip over to Tofino.

In Seattle, I’d add the zoo to the to-do list. And give Boeing Field a big recommendation.

Tons to do in both cities. I think you’d benefit from having a car in each though. Time of year to visit is important.

[Zaichik]

both cities are great, Vancouver even more so, with lots to see and do.

I dont have any experience of getting a train from one to the other or even if that is possible, but would suggest a far better route would be to get the ferry (or a float plane) from Vancouver to Victoria (Vancouver Island), then a ferry from Victoria to Seattle - very scenic and a great way of spending a day or two.

[Bill]

Zaichik said:

I dont have any experience of getting a train from one to the other or even if that is possible, but would suggest a far better route would be to get the ferry (or a float plane) from Vancouver to Victoria (Vancouver Island), then a ferry from Victoria to Seattle - very scenic and a great way of spending a day or two.

This. Vancouver and Vancouver island are great, if you could get a boat to Seattle that'd be spectacular.

[WhisperingWasp]

Thanks for the replies all, exactly what I needed. Haven't digested everything yet but wife is out tonight so will get my pad out and jot down some notes!

Initial feel I'm getting is spend more time in Vancouver, less in Seattle (maybe 6/4, 7/3...) and to get a car. Both of which I am open to. Ferry sounds a great idea (perhaps if I don't get a car). Plenty to chew on and research later.

Please keep any thoughts coming.

[a311]

We stayed in Vancouver in April as part of a longer trip visiting family on Vancouver Island. We hired a car and drive to Whislter.

I really enjoyed Vancouver. Enjoyed a trip out to

https://www.capbridge.com/

[Fleckers]

I have only been to Seattle

lovely place, i would go back tomorrow if i could

[Ezra]

Not been to Seattle but Vancouver is really nice.

We did a lovely trip about 5-6 years ago, flew into Vancouver and spend 3 days there (loads to see in the area, but its just nice wandering around the city too), picked up a massive Chevy Tahoe (just because...only me & my wife but..) and drove over the Rockies staying a night each in Whistler, Banff and Kamloops to Calgary. Stayed there a couple of nights (timed it so the Calgary Stampede was on - absolutely awesome). You could fly back from Calgary if time is an issue.

We carried on and flew to Toronto (disappointing) for a few days and then got the train to Montreal (definitely not disappointing) and flew back from there.

[Stedman]

Vancouver and BC in general is amazing, although i'm not sure I could do the full five days there, Plenty to do outside as others above have said. The moun'ins - as they appear to be pronounced - aren't far and are beautiful!

Defo hire a tandem and cycle around Stanley Park.

Enjoy the journey!

[Type R Tom]

I've been to Seattle twice. It's not the most interesting city, but it has some fantastic countryside. Portland is only 3.5 hours away, it could be worth a trip and a night somewhere different.

However, seeing Mount Rainier in the city centre doesn't get old.

[WhisperingWasp]

Ohhhhkayyy.

Thanks again all.

So based on feedback so far ideal world would be something like this.

Fly into Vancouver Sun 20th April
Hire car whilst here*
Stay 6 nights
Sea plane to Victoria**
Ferry from Victoria to Seattle
Stay 3 nights
Fly home from Seattle Tue 29th April

• *Looked at hiring car for all 9 days but picking up in Vancouver and dropping off in Seattle (for those that even allow it) incurs a huge price penalty. As such, car whilst in Vancouver - to see all the surrounds - seems to work best as a) means an interesting way to get down to Seattle** and b) if in Seattle for only 3 night (2 full days) will probably just stay in the city***.

• **the luggage charges on the sea plane are very punitive!! Especially as we probably weigh less than the average American combined

• ***however, to Tom's point above, a trip to Portland to see a Trail Blazers game would be tempting

[BlackTails]

WhisperingWasp said:

Ohhhhkayyy.

Thanks again all.

So based on feedback so far ideal world would be something like this.

Fly into Vancouver Sun 20th April
Hire car whilst here*
Stay 6 nights
Sea plane to Victoria**
Ferry from Victoria to Seattle
Stay 3 nights
Fly home from Seattle Tue 29th April

• *Looked at hiring car for all 9 days but picking up in Vancouver and dropping off in Seattle (for those that even allow it) incurs a huge price penalty. As such, car whilst in Vancouver - to see all the surrounds - seems to work best as a) means an interesting way to get down to Seattle** and b) if in Seattle for only 3 night (2 full days) will probably just stay in the city***.

• **the luggage charges on the sea plane are very punitive!! Especially as we probably weigh less than the average American combined

• ***however, to Tom's point above, a trip to Portland to see a Trail Blazers game would be tempting

Looks like a good plan.

You’re right about the floatplane luggage charges - the bags are also subject to the dimensions limit, because they have to fit in the floats.

A suggestion: do an out and back from Vancouver to Victoria, leaving your big bags at your hotel in Van. Then drop your car back at YVR and fly from YVR to SEA. It’s a very short flight - you’ll spend more time clearing US immigration at YVR than you will in the air.

To put you in the mood, on the far right is the Whistler floatplane terminal. Centre of the shot is the runway. Taken a couple of hours ago.

[WhisperingWasp]

BlackTails said:

Looks like a good plan.

You’re right about the floatplane luggage charges - the bags are also subject to the dimensions limit, because they have to fit in the floats.

A suggestion: do an out and back from Vancouver to Victoria, leaving your big bags at your hotel in Van. Then drop your car back at YVR and fly from YVR to SEA. It’s a very short flight - you’ll spend more time clearing US immigration at YVR than you will in the air.

To put you in the mood, on the far right is the Whistler floatplane terminal. Centre of the shot is the runway. Taken a couple of hours ago.

Love how it's still called a runway! Unless that is just you doing that?!

I think what you suggest is probably the best idea. Flights from V to S are only £111 by looks of it (although not looked into baggage). Just means no scenic ferry.

Is the sea plane/Victoria visit worth it just for the sake of the visit?

[BlackTails]

That’s my naming. That’s the strip of water they use for take off and landing, but I don’t know what they call it. “The lake”, I’d imagine.

I think a day trip to Victoria is worth it. Victoria is a funny little place, worth it just for the stroll around. High tea at the Empress is quite fun if you’re into remotely into high teas.

If you want a float plane trip but wanted to skip Victoria, there are scenic trips from the harbour in Vancouver and from that lake in Whistler. The one we went on from the latter a few years ago was pretty good: sightseeing from the plane, then landing on a lake high in the mountains in the middle of nowhere for a quick bite to eat. That though was in summer, and I’d imagine the high alpine lakes would still be frozen in April (some years that lake in the picture - Green Lake - remains mostly frozen into mid late April).

Remember that Vancouver is a coastal city and that weather rolls in from the Pacific frequently. You might find that your chosen day for flying is a bad weather day so you can’t see much or the planes aren’t running. So bear in mind some flexibility is a good thing.

A longer plane trip from Vancouver Harbour would be to Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver island. That really does feel like you’re on the edge of the world, and Tofino and its beach are good for a day of wandering around.

You’re kind of spoiled for choice, TBH. Choose well but bear in mind that you may not get to see everything.

[h0b0]

We had a family trip planned for the West Coast starting in Seattle. Coincidentally, I had to go to Seattle for 48 hours for work earlier in the year.

I hated the place.

Violent aggressive homeless chasing people down the street. That’s if they are not zombies with needles sticking out of them. There’s homeless camps literally everywhere. Tent cities on every bit of grass and lines of RVs down side roads. The obvious chasm between the haves and the have not is painfully clear. I admit, I’m part of that problem. Trying to enjoy a steak dinner while protestors marched passed. With the elevated train system it’s Gotham city the night Bruce Wayne’s parents were shot.


The family vacation was cancelled before the 48 hours trip was finished. One of my vendors is based in Seattle and wanted to host a meeting there this year. I had them move it to NYC.

I found Vancouver pleasant but still don’t understand those who say it’s the best city on earth. There’s lots to do in the area though.

Snowboarding in Whistler is one of my favorite holidays and would recommend.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I liked Seattle very much, although the weather can be hit and miss, often miss. I was there in February this year for 2 days and got lucky, cold....but dry.

Pikes Place Market is good, try out some clam chowder. There's a secret lift that takes you down from the market to the shore front, ask a local where it is.

Head out to Kerry Park for amazing views of the city, especially at night. Also a boat trip around Puget Sound is nice. I did a free walking tour too (you pay what you think it's worth, normally about $20). Book that online.

I really liked the Space Needle.