ferry – KotsuKotsuLife

Day 2: Bainbridge to Seattle

The Quality Inn had breakfast included so we ate and checked out by 8:00am.

We lined up for the Bainbridge to Seattle ferry. If one’s car is under 14’ one gets to pay the cheapest fare for a car. The Honda Fit I was driving is under 14’.

The ferry was delayed because of the foggy conditions on the water, once on the Seattle side there wasn’t any fog.

Once off the ferry we headed to the Museum of Flight… I just have to say, driving on American highways is scary…they go much faster than we do on Vancouver Island.

We could have spent the whole day at the museum of flight. The docents were all very knowledgeable, and it seemed like they had all been part of the aviation industry before retiring and becoming docents.

In the aerospace section they had displays of things worn and listened to…I wonder if the creators of Guardians of the Galaxy came to this museum for inspiration?

We had lunch at the cafe at the museum, and then headed off to Seattle centre to check into our hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center. We left our car in the hotel parking garage and walked to Chihuly Garden and Glass (about 15 minutes)

If you can’t see the Space needle fully please click on picture

After the Gardens we took the monorail the one stop (it only has the two stations) to Pikes Place ( he fish market). The idea was to have dinner at the market… but I guess I didn’t research it enough to realize that the market closes at 5pm and so do all the restaurants in the market!

We ended up eating at a cute little French restaurant near the fish market: Cafe Campaign

After that we headed back to the hotel. End of day 2

Day 3: Seattle to Victoria

This day consists of a lot of driving and many ferries. I was exhausted and didn’t remember to take any photos.

Again we started out early leaving the hotel at 7:45am.

The first ferry we took was the Mukilteo to Clinton ferry. This ferry didn’t have a long line and we didn’t have long to wait.

We then drove from Clinton to Coupeville to catch the next ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend. For this ferry I would recommend making a reservation. I did while planning this trip and I’m glad I did as there was a long queue for cars on standby.

We had lunch in Port Townsend at Doc’s Marina Grill. I didn’t realize that the Thursday we arrive was the beginning of the 3 day wooden boat festival and the area where I had planned our lunch was the location for all the kinks and food tents.

After lunch we headed back to Port Angeles to catch the Coho Black Ball ferry back to Victoria. This time I did have a reservation for the ferry… and again it was a good thing I did as it was the last ferry snd the queue for the cars on standby was long.

I think we could have done the whole trip on one tank of gas, but I get nervous when the tank only has a quarter of a tank left… so we did fill up once.

Also would recommend getting a toll road pass before going to Seattle (if one is driving) as it saves $1.75 for each toll road.

This past week, I travelled to Washington State with my parents for 3 days. I’m braking up the trip to two blogs.

Day 1: Victoria to Bainbridge.

The day started off really early for me. I was not able to book a reservation for the 10:30am Black Ball Ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles. I had to get to the ferry terminal just after the first ferry left at 6:10am and line up to be put on standby. I got there at 5:35am, but did not line up as I would have been told to turn around and come back, so I parked the car and waited until 6am when I noticed 2 cars were not told to turn around I joined the queue. (I was told that the first 5 cars on standby are guaranteed a place on the ferry-I was car number 3).

At 8:30am my parents joined me at the ferry terminal 9:00am we went through customs, and we set off at 10:30.

I drove my parents’ Honda Fit because 1) it has a GPS map, and 2) it is under 14’ (the cheaper fare for the Washington State Ferries)…my 2008 Nissan Versa does not have GPS, and it is 14.09’

Once in Port Angeles, we drove to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains. We were worried about the weather because when we started on our journey it was heavily overcast, but as we ascended the mountains it started to clear up and the views were spectacular. Note: I purchased a National Parks Pass before departing Victoria.

After having a picnic lunch, we headed down the mountain and drove to Bainbridge Island. It took longer than expected because of all the construction on the roads.

Our destination was the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. The memorial is located where the first Japanese Americans were forcibly taken from the island to be brought to internment camps on the mainland during WWII.

We then headed into the town of Bainbridge and had dinner at the Harbour Public House . Dad and I had the Ribollita, which was good, and my mom had the salmon Pub Famous Chowder… she said it was only “okay”.

We ended the day at the hotel I booked on Expedia. (Quality Inn & Suites Bainbridge Island). It was clean and quiet… except for the snoring that came from my family 🙂

Please note: I do not get paid for mentioning any of these places in my blog.

Tag: ferry

Washington State:Part 2

Washington State: Part 1