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Post by HalcyonDaze on Apr 8, 2013 5:12:54 GMT -5
OK peeps, we are throwing around some ideas and I need some help.
Not sure whether it would be best to split this into two trips (a BC and Seattle to Portland one, and then San Fran to San Diego) of about 3 weeks each, or try to fit the whole lot in about 5 weeks.
I'd honestly prefer the first, but want extra ideas for where we can go around Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Portland.
Plus any other tips you can give us.
Vague ideas involve car hire at some stage, maybe some trains, a ferry from Seattle to Victoria, flights. With the southern leg, we'd probably hire a car in LA (Clipper really wants to go there, I don't, and have the horrors about driving there) and head to SF, making it a leisurely road trip. We'd also like to include side trips to Yosemite.
Help please!
Possible timing is September
(will cross post this!)
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Post by Raised_By_Wolves on Apr 8, 2013 11:11:09 GMT -5
i did the Van, BC to SD road trip twice ages ago. did not stay the night in Portland but somewhere a lot farther down (northern Calif.), then made my way to SD from there (and very briefly to Ensenada even). depends on your criteria, i myself could spend weeks on end on Vancouver island and in the woods anywhere in BC. the food, wine, beer are all fantastic to boot. i didn't do the driving so i could drink as much as i wanted. and i did lol...
ps: do lots of research. don't rule out taking the train, it could be fun.
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Post by canayangel on Apr 8, 2013 11:40:34 GMT -5
great news! reason for many pissups! I would say do six weeks, three and three. What is most important, is what time of year will it be. Septe,ber os a very good choice. it is one of our better months, and lately, has been bwetter weather than july and/or august. Costs of flights to America are high i know, bsut it may be cheaper to come via |Seattle, as its kinda mid point. I woudn't ignore Portland. I havent been there for years, but it has recently garnered a great rep as a laid back city.. and you might get to meet trixie!
If you come to the island, you will probably have places to stay, and people to tour you around, victoria! You can do a lot in two or three weeks, including a trip to Banff, or
Whistler or the wine growing region of the Okanagen... not all, unfortunately. Once you are more certain we can provide more help. A bus takes you down to Seattle, and if you rent a car there, the trip down the Oregon coast is incredible. Keep us informed with your plans.
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Post by tzarine on Apr 8, 2013 15:30:37 GMT -5
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Apr 8, 2013 16:41:52 GMT -5
How strange, I looked at flights Sydney - Seattle and it works out much cheaper with Air Canada doing that, with a flight via Vancouver, than flying direct to Vancouver from Sydney. makes no sense at all!
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Apr 8, 2013 19:55:11 GMT -5
Ok, looks like this is happening - Clipper is fine for time off with work, I'll have to renew my passport and possibly LC's (need to check if he has that 6 months validity thing) and then we are good to go.
So Vancouver to Portland.
Tips please.
Raised by Wolves, were there baggage limits for the trains? We are thinking ferry from Victoria to Seattle could be good, then get a car for a bit. Vancouver we could get a train to Whistler, and Clipper has found a tiny plane that flies back to Vancouver - just hope LC could cope with that.
Woo hoo, need to do more research!
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Post by sophie on Apr 8, 2013 20:02:05 GMT -5
Yippee..I will volunteer for some driving/guiding / even place to stay in the Victoria area..
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Post by canayangel on Apr 8, 2013 22:38:15 GMT -5
stay with Sophie, if you can... for a true log house, canadian experiencem deep in the forest - might even see a deer and it's, walking distanxe to a lake. the difference in fares is part of air canada insanity!!! you could arrive Seattle, overnight there, have a drink witih Italian, and take the Clipper over to Victoria, then head to Vancouver etc.
what dates are you thinking of?
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Post by riverhorse on Apr 9, 2013 2:53:54 GMT -5
"Take the Clipper over to Victoria" - I'm guessing that HD will be taking Clipper with her throughout the entire trip *snort*...
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Post by ozziegiraffe on Apr 9, 2013 7:39:17 GMT -5
Bookmarking, as I am planning to be in the area a year later. Need that long to save!
When I was looking at flights, one of the best deals was Korean Air via Seoul.
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Post by riverhorse on Apr 9, 2013 9:09:31 GMT -5
Definitely recommend going to Whistler - I went up (by car) just for the day from Vancouver when I was there, and it was just beautiful. Too hot and too full of bears to do the hiking that my friend and I had planned though, so there was nothing for it but just sit in the beergarden of the microbrewery all afternoon. Shucks...
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Post by canayangel on Apr 9, 2013 10:43:26 GMT -5
lol re Clipper... that's the name of the ferry between Seattle and Victoria.
if you go to Whistler, you might think you have not left Oz... so many of the workers up there are on work visas, and they mostly try to find work at the ski resorts. If you take the train one way to Whistler, you might want to take the bus back, as it goes right along the water front most of the way...sit on the right hand side, tho.
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Apr 9, 2013 16:52:42 GMT -5
Looking at the budget again it seems we got a bit overexcited with the planning, and we'll be putting this off til next year at least. Gah, it's horrible being grown up and sensible.
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