Vancouver, BC, to Seattle, WA: Go West by Car and Ferry

Start your dual-country adventure in Vancouver, where rainforest-and-ocean settings meld with multicultural menus, rich cultures, and outdoor play. You can rent a bike and pedal the 10-km (6-mi) Stanley Park Seawall or join Talasay Tours for an interpretive forest walk with Indigenous guides. In the distance, the North Shore Mountains rise, calling adventurists to all-weather trails and natural vistas just 20 minutes from the city’s downtown. (Tip: Test your mettle on the North Shore’s Grouse Grind, a.k.a. Mother Nature’s Stairmaster, a 2.5-km/1.5 mi trail up the face of Grouse Mountain.)

In the City of Glass, MICHELIN-starred restaurants are legion, serving everything from curated plates to hand-pulled noodles, and cultural experiences prove equally satisfying, thanks to major draws including the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, and the Museum of Anthropology. 

For the next stop on your adventure, head south along Highway 99 to the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen and journey to Swartz Bay (a one and a half hour sailing), where you’ll make your way to downtown Victoria.

BC’s capital sits snugly between Vancouver Island rainforests and the Salish Sea—a stately beauty that blends gardens and ocean-going adventure with farm-to-table menus and local wines, craft breweries, and spirits. The Inner Harbour makes for a good starting point; here, visit the Royal BC Museum to learn about the province’s natural and human history, including Indigenous cultures, walk through historic neighbourhoods, including Old Town and Chinatown, or sign on for a food & drink tour, like Off the Eaten Track tours, the Pedaler cycling tours, or Victoria Food Tours.

If the weather’s fine, join one of Victoria’s many guided tours or opt for an eco-tour off the coast of southern Vancouver Island to view marine life in their natural habitat. Back on land, visit a national historic site such as The Butchart Gardens, blooming with exotic plants and spectacular themed gardens (tip: stay for afternoon tea), or Craigdarroch Castle, a mansion built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir during the reign of Queen Victoria. Before you snuggle in at a boutique hotel (the Fairmont Empress is a favourite), seek out one of the many local brewpubs and raise a glass to the city’s designation as the Craft Beer Capital of Canada. 

From Victoria, enter the U.S. via a 90-minute crossing on the Black Ball Ferry Line to Port Angeles in Washington State.

Tucked between the mountains and coast, Port Angeles sits just outside Olympic National Park, a hiker’s paradise of rainforest and lush moss-covered evergreens. You’ll be spoilt for choice at this Olympic Peninsula hot spot, with kayaking and paddleboarding on Lake Crescent and plenty of culture in town.

Explore a network of underground tunnels and old storefronts as you dive into the history of this seaport town on an Underground Heritage Tour. More history awaits at the Elwha Klallam Museum at the Carnegie, where you can learn about the contemporary culture of the area’s first residents, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Reward your day’s discoveries with fish tacos, crab cakes, or a juicy burger at Next Door Gastropub.

East of Port Angeles and about two hours from Seattle, charming Port Townsend is home to Victorian architecture, a vibrant food scene, and easy access to popular Fort Worden Historical State Park, set on Admiralty Inlet. Stroll the park’s beaches and forests and be sure to visit the historic batteries and lighthouse. 

Walk or bike along the čičməhán Trail—developed with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to share the stories of the area’s Indigenous Peoples—or choose from a self-guided architecture tour or a guided history tour with the Jefferson County Historical Society. Contemporary Pacific Northwest cuisine at Finistère promises a winning finish, while the idyllic Finnriver Farm & Cidery in nearby Chimacum showcases ciders made with estate-grown apples. At the latter, stroll along the the orchard and gardens or grab a spot at the picnic tables to enjoy live music.

From here, Washington State Ferries takes you to Coupeville on Whidbey Island, a 36-minute crossing. If you’re visiting in summer, be sure to make vehicle reservations well in advance as standby space is limited.

The largest island in Washington, Whidbey Island is home to state parks, panoramic beaches, and charming small towns. Here, hikes and guided kayak paddles in Deception Pass State Park on the island’s northern tip promise fewer crowds mid week. Reward your efforts with an ice cream scoop in historic Coupeville, choice vintages at one of the island’s many local wineries, or farm-fresh tasting menus at Orchard Kitchen, where meals are served at the chef’s counter or inside a historic barn. South of Coupeville, the town of Langley offers additional boutiques, restaurants, and lodging options.

From the south end of the Whidbey, take the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry 20 minutes to the mainland, then drive south to catch another 20-minute ferry from Edmonds to Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula. Reservations are not needed for these crossings, but plan to arrive ahead of your desired sailing time.

Poulsbo, known as “Little Norway,” sits at the heart of the Kitsap Peninsula. A small town with big Norwegian history, this spot offers a pretty waterfront and a downtown filled locally owned shops, cafes, and art galleries.

Check out Poulsbo Maritime Museum and Poulsbo Heritage Museum for insight into the history and culture of the surrounding areas, hike through Fish Park, or go for a paddle with help from Olympic Outdoor Center Poulsbo Rentals. (In summer, take an evening guided tour through the Hood Canal to witness a vivid bioluminescence display.) Satisfy your appetite with a hearty helping of seafood at The Loft, and don’t forget to load up on Scandinavian treats at Sluy’s Bakery (the cardamon braid and the apple walnut bundough are standouts).

Eclectic art, boutiques, restaurants, Japanese American history, and more define Bainbridge Island. In the charming downtown core of Winslow, grab a latte from Pegasus Coffee or lunch from Vietnamese restaurant Ba | Sa. Wander through the spectacular gardens at the Bloedel Reserve or hike through the Grand Forest before snapping a selfie with Pia the Peacekeeper, the island’s beloved troll crafted by Copenhagen-based artist Thomas Dambo. Finish indoors with a wander through the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.   

Toast the day’s adventures at Bainbridge Organic Distillers with sustainably crafted whiskey, gin, and vodka, or dine at Café Hitchcock for seasonal menus inspired by ingredients grown on the island and nearby farms.

From Bainbridge, sail to Seattle in 35 minutes via Washington State Ferries.

End your adventure in Washington’s largest city and vibrant urban core, where you’ll find plenty of outdoor adventures, a thriving arts scene, rich coffee culture, and top-notch dining. Take a wander at Pike Place Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country. Today, hundreds of makers and artisans share space with fresh produce stands and restaurants (head to Lowell’s for lunch with prime waterfront views). 

For skyline views, stroll or bike through the remains at Gasworks Park, a former gasification plant along South Lake Union, or make your way to the observation deck of the iconic Space Needle. While there, duck in next door to peek at the colorful Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibits.

Dining is no less adventurous in the Emerald City, where local seafood and an outdoor fire pit beckon at Westward, authenticity is on the menu in the Chinatown-International District, and spirits at Fremont Mischief’s rooftop cocktail garden will raise your spirits.

Header image: Fort Worden in Washington State | Greg Balkin