The Pacific Capitals | West Coast Cities

Days 1-3

Seattle

A direct flight from London will transport you over the Arctic into the diverse city of Seattle, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the picturesque Puget Sound, which technically is not the Pacific but a large estuary between Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula. Spend your evening wandering along the sea wall popping into one of the many restaurants and bars to replenish your energy before sinking into a comfy bed.

Your holiday includes a 24-hour hop-on/hop-off City Sightseeing tour, we suggest  you take advantage of this today. A visit to the Chihuly Garden and Museum is a “must see” as is the Space Needle and the historic Pike Place Market where you will find the original Starbucks among all sorts of interesting stalls.

If you are a coffee aficionado you will know how important Seattle is in the coffee world.  You might like to join a small group tour exploring the coffee culture of the city and Capitol Hill. Otherwise a visit to Gas Works Park, a former gasification plant that has been transformed into a park with stunning views of the city skyline and Puget Sound would be a good choice. Another option would be a day tour into the Cascade Mountains and the charming Bavarian style village of Leavenworth

3 nights Seattle

Days 4-5

Seattle to Portland

Collect your car this morning and head south down I-5 to Portland where you will spend two nights.  On the way you might want to stop in at the Boeing Museum of Flight.

Portland, called the City of Roses, for its renowned Rose Garden: it is also famous for the iconic Powell’s City of Books which is the largest independent bookshop in the world. If your visit encompasses a Saturday, do head to the weekly market, if not, fear not, the city is full of surprises and food trucks. It is worth hiking up Mount Tabor, an extinct volcano offering stunning views of the city and surrounding areas. To reward yourself after a busy day, enjoy some of the over 60 craft beers and dozens of excellent Oregon wines. If you enjoy wine, you might consider another small detour.  This time to the town of McMinnville nestled in the Willamette Valley, known for its wineries, breweries and the excellent Relais & Chateaux hotel, the Tributary.

2 nights Portland

Days 6-7

Portland to Olympic National Park

Out into the wild today as you travel north to Olympic National Park, a hidden gem stretching along the Olympic Peninsula. Its diverse landscape encompasses glacier-capped mountains, temperate rainforests, rugged coastline with long stretches of sandy beaches, rocky shores, and towering sea cliffs, and alpine meadows, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The park’s highest peak, Mount Olympus, stands at an elevation of 7,980 feet above sea level, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and the Pacific Ocean. The park’s alpine meadows, blanketed in wildflowers and lush vegetation, provide a stunning contrast to the snow-capped mountains.

Your home for the next two nights will be either Lake Quinault Lodge or Kalaloch lodge. The choice will be based both on availability and whether you would prefer to be by the ocean (Kalaloch) or in the forest (Lake Quinault).

However, before you get there, you might like to divert to the stunning Oregon coast for a night or two at Seaside or Cannon Beach where there is a lovely hotel called the Arch Cape which has a superb view of the Haystack Rock.

2 nights Olympic National Park

Day 8

Olympic National Park to Port Angeles

Olympic National Park is home to the largest temperate rainforest in the world, the Hoh Rainforest and we suggest you detour into the Visitor Center on your way north to Port Angeles or Lake Crescent Lodge.  The rainforest’s towering trees, lush undergrowth, and moss-covered rocks create a mystical and enchanting atmosphere. Hike through the rainforest’s trails and listen to the symphony of birdsong or take a moment to simply appreciate the tranquillity of this natural wonder.

Overnight either in Port Angeles or Lake Crescent, the choice is yours and subject to availability as Lake Crescent get booked up early. Lake Crescent is a glorious glacial lake where you can rent a boat or go for a hike around the lake. In the town of Port Angeles you can meander around the shops or perhaps join an Underground Heritage Tour, also well worth a visit is the Heatherton Gallery featuring local artists in a variety of medium and the Elwha Klallam Carnegie Museum for which you do need to make an appointment to visit.

1 night Port Angeles/Lake Crescent

Days 9-10

Port Angeles to Victoria

The ferry leaves Port Angeles several times a day (reservations are highly recommended) and it takes 90 minutes to sail across to Victoria. The capital of British Columbia is a charming city with a small enough downtown core to encourage you to walk around. Have tea at the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, stroll along the waterfront or visit the extraordinary Butchart Gardens formed from gravel pits, they are known for their stunning displays of flowers as well as sculptures and fountains.

A whale-watching excursion is included today.  The waters around Victoria are home to several pods of orca (killer whales) as well as minke and the occasional dolphin. This will take around 3 hours which will leave you plenty of time to visit the Royal BC Museum which gives an excellent view of the history of BC, its people, the fur trade and the gold rush.

2 nights Victoria

Days 11-12

Victoria to Vancouver

Put your car on the ferry across to Vancouver, a pretty ride through the Gulf Islands  archipelago where we would highly recommend you spend a couple to days down time between cities if you have time.  Instead of taking the ferry from Victoria across to Tsawwassen, we suggest you drive up island via the Cowichan Valley to Nanaimo from where you get the ferry to Horseshoe Bay. You can then drive into Vancouver over the Lions Gate Bridge and through Stanley Park which is a much prettier way to approach the city.

Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, cultural diversity, good food and wine plus an abundance of outdoor activities, you will never be short of something to do in Vancouver.  Your holiday will include a 24-hour Hop-on, Hop-off tour pass of the Vancouver city highlights so we suggest you use this today.  Depending on the weather, do go for a stroll in Stanley Park to admire not only the views but the totem poles, should it be raining, and it has to be said that Vancouver is in a rainforest, delve into Granville Island market.

2 nights Vancouver

Day 13

Vancouver to Whistler

An optional day trip up the very scenic Sea to Sky highway to Whistler: take the cable car into the mountains or just enjoy the alpine village with its multitudinous shops and eateries.

1 night Whistler

Day 14

Whistler to Seattle

It is a 3-hour drive to Seattle Airport. You should allow a little extra time in case of delays across the border. If you cannot quite bring yourself to come home, do ask us about extending your holiday with a few days’ complete relaxation in the delightful San Juan islands an extension of the Canadian Gulf Islands. If you would rather not drive straight to the airport, you could spend a night in Woodinville,a pretty village in the wine producing area of King County.