Washington- Canada Road Trip
April 13, 2024
Every summer I take a long solo road trip somewhere in the country and last year I decided to explore both Washington as well as venture over to Canada. It was the trip of a lifetime so I thought I’d share my itinerary with y’all in case you’re looking to do the same type of trip.
Day 1- I flew into Seattle and stayed downtown. One thing to note is that they have a train that runs from the airport to downtown- I’ve used it several times now and it’s so easy to navigate. My first stop was to go to Pike Place Market. I know it’s very touristy but it’s still a great place to check out. I really enjoyed Metsker Maps and a shop downstairs that had some cool posters. There’s so much to see and do here. I ate some of the famous Beecher’s mac & cheese, but I really enjoyed sitting by the window, watching them make cheese.
After I grabbed a drink at Pike Place Market with a friend, I headed over to T-Mobile Park to catch a Seattle Mariners game. I’m a big baseball fan and am doing a tour of all of the MLB stadiums and I thought this one was great. They have a lot of different food options and I thought the T-Mobile ‘Pen was a great spot in centerfield to socialize and watch the pitchers in the bullpen. Also, be sure to go to the top level of the stadium for awesome views of downtown Seattle.
Day 2- I got my rental at Sixt in downtown Seattle, which ended up working great for where I was staying. I made my way to Olympic National Park, where I’d be spending the next few days. My first stop was to the Quinault Rain Forest, which is actually located in Olympic National Forest (which surrounds Olympic National Park). This trail was located about 2 hours and 45 mins from downtown Seattle.
Parking for this hike can be found at the Quinault Rain Forest trailhead (off of South Shore Rd.). The hike was perfect and really got me excited for the next few days of exploring. It goes deep into the rainforest but I also took the trail around Lake Quinault and by the Lake Quinault Lodge, which looked like a cool place to stay.
My next stop on my Olympic National Park journey was to go see the Tree of Life. It can be found at the Kalaloch Campground, which was a little over 30 minutes from the Quinault Rain Forest. Be sure to not only see the famous tree but also to walk along the beach- I saw tons of sand dollars.
Just up the road is the Big Cedar Tree in Olympic National Park. It’s located right off Hwy. 101 and is a great thing for kids to see as well. Only a few minutes past the Big Cedar Tree is Ruby Beach. I loved this spot in the park and the initial view when you first go down the trail to the beach was breathtaking. I really enjoyed seeing the fun creatures in the tide pools and some people had just seen a bald eagle.
That evening I stayed in a camping spot I found on Hipcamp that I highly recommend. The hosts were very welcoming and I felt very safe there. I grabbed a bite for dinner in downtown Forks, WA at Sully’s Drive-In. There aren’t many places to eat in Forks so plan accordingly. I then headed down to Second Beach for an evening hike. I took the Second Beach trail (under a mile) and it was so picturesque as the sun was setting (see the first picture in this article). Camping is available on Second Beach and has great views.
Day 3- The following morning I woke up early and went down to La Push Beach for a little while. It was very foggy and moody, which I kind of loved. Then I made my way to the part of Olympic National Park I was most excited about: Hoh Rain Forest. I got there fairly early and there was parking, but when I left, parking was very difficult to find so I would recommend getting there as early as possible, as this is one of the most popular areas of the park. I can’t recommend the Hoh Rain Forest enough…I had such a fun time there and was like a kid in a candy store- so many things to see.
My next stop in Olympic National Park was to the Sol Duc Falls trail, which was a little over an hour and a half from the Hoh Rain Forest. This was one of the most gorgeous waterfalls I’ve ever seen and the trail was only 1.6 roundtrip- perfect for families.
I made my way around Lake Crescent (it’s gorgeous) and went to my final hike in the park, which was the Marymere Falls trail. This was a fairly easy two mile hike. Parking can be found at the Storm King Ranger Station.
There are so many other hikes I’d love to do in Olympic National Park, but the places I visited on my two days in the park fit best with my schedule. I can’t wait to go back and check out more trails.
After I was done in Olympic National Park, I checked into an Airbnb in the town of Port Angeles and grabbed some dinner. Port Angeles has a pretty cute downtown so if you have time, be sure to check out some of the stores/restaurants there.
Day 4- I woke up bright and early to head down to the ferry in downtown Port Angeles. The Black Ball Ferry takes you (and your car) over to Canada, which was wonderful for my next stop on the trip. Be sure to make your ferry reservation online weeks in advance, as spots fill up quick. Also, you need to get there early to go through the check-in process so don’t wait until the last minute to arrive.
I was a little nervous because I had never taken a ferry with a car before, but it was a very easy process and a quick trip across to Canada.
I spent all day in Victoria, BC and I loved it. My first stop was to the Butchart Gardens, which was such a magical place- so many types of flowers and plants. I was like the Disney World of gardens.
I then went back to downtown Victoria and explored all day long. I had some good food, ventured into the shops, walked along the waterfront and really enjoyed some of the historical features. Some of my favorite things I did was take a free tour of the BC Parliament building, walk around Fisherman’s Wharf, go down Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown, and explore Beacon Hill Park (they have tons of peacocks everywhere!). Such a fun day.
That evening, I drove to Nanaimo, British Columbia, which was about an hour and a half away from Victoria. There aren’t many hotel options but I stayed at a new Courtyard in downtown Nanaimo and it was lovely and in a great location.
Day 5- I met a friend for breakfast at Gabriel’s Cafe (awesome food) and then headed out for some hiking. My first stop was to Pipers Lagoon Park, which was a great oceanfront hike where I did some exploring. I loved finding the purple starfish everywhere.
My next adventure was to explore Newcastle Island in Nanaimo. It can be accessed by a ferry that departs from Maffeo Sutton dock (downtown Nanaimo). The ferry runs every 30 minutes and only costs $15 for adults. Once on the island, I took the shoreline train and hiked around for several hours. It’s a great quiet spot to get away and see nature. I explored the tide pools, saw a bald eagle, watched kayakers and sat on a beach. I highly recommend taking a few hours to visit this unique island. They also have a campground too, if you’re looking for a good camping option while in town.
Day 6- The next morning I woke up early and took the ferry (BCFerries) from Nanaimo (Departure Bay) back to the mainland/Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay). It was a very easy trip and once again, I highly recommend booking ahead of time so you can guarantee a spot on the ferry. Once I arrived in Vancouver, my first stop was to head north to do some exploring outside of the city.
I’m embarrassed to say this but I watch the show Virgin River and the scenery in that show is so amazing, and I found out that a lot of it is shot in Vancouver and surrounding areas. One of the famous scenes from the show is in an area in Squamish so I made my way there for lunch. The views were just as gorgeous as they are on the show- I have never seen such cool blue water. The area is called Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park and during some months of the year, tons of bald eagles migrate to the area. You can even take a boat tour to look at all of them along the river. Unfortunately they weren’t there when I was visiting but I just might have to come back to see them.
Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park, Squamish, British Columbia
Not far from this area was another hike I had on my list. I read about it online and it was a little difficult to find. Mamquam Falls in Squamish, BC has some of the coolest turquoise blue water I’ve ever seen. This hike is located a few miles from the Sea to Sky Gondola (on my bucket list for when I return) and is tucked away down a gravel service road. The hike itself is only around a mile and is worth the views.
Apparently this day I decided I was hunting waterfalls because I saw them left and right. My next stop was to Shannon Falls Provincial Park, which is located right off Hwy 99. The falls are the third tallest in British Columbia and were quite impressive. A lot families were here and it’s a great quick hike to the falls so everyone can see them.
Shannon Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia
My last stop for the day before I headed into downtown Vancouver was to visit Lynn Canyon Park. While they have some hiking trails, their suspension bridge is the most popular attraction. I got there right before the park closed and was able to get some solo pictures/videos on the bridge- it’s really busy during the day so if you want to be there without anyone else, I highly recommend getting there early or late. The views were awesome and I found it to be so peaceful.
Day 7- I love looking at gardens so my first stop in Vancouver was to visit Queen Elizabeth Park. It was a little rainy that morning but if it had been a clear day, there would have been awesome views of downtown Vancouver. I still enjoyed checking out the grounds and seeing some cool plants that I don’t normally get to see in Atlanta.
I then headed to Granville Island to do a little shopping- this was one of my favorite parts of the trip. The island has a variety of shops, restaurants and stores but hands down the highlight is the public market. The market has a variety of vendors, with so many food options- be sure to come hungry because you can have a field day in here. If I lived in Vancouver, I would come here all of the time to get fresh produce and seafood. This is a must-visit spot while in Vancouver.
That afternoon I explored downtown Vancouver and did a little shopping and sightseeing. I stopped by the Gastown steam clock and while it’s a bit touristy, it was still fun to see in person. This clock is one of only a few like it in the world and chimes every 15 minutes. Downtown Vancouver was full of life and had a lot to offer. Stanley Park is also a great area with awesome views of downtown Vancouver. You can rent a bike a bike through the park or drive through and stop and look at some of the cool features.
My final stop for the day was to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. This has to be one of the main tourist attractions in Vancouver but I thought it was worth the entry price. They have one main large suspension bridge but I also really enjoyed the treetop adventure (a bunch of mini bridges- great for kids) and the cliffwalk (don’t do this if you have a huge fear of heights). I went right before they closed and timed it perfect- I was even able to get on the bridge by myself… do you see a trend with these Vancouver bridges? (Visit these famous bridges at the end of the day if you want to be there without a lot of people.)
Day 8- It’s been a great trip but time to head back to the US. I drove through customs near Blaine, Washington and then made my way back to Seattle. I stopped by to the see the Fremont troll under the bridge and then went to the Seattle Center, which has a variety of museums and exhibitions. I loved Chihuly Garden and Glass- such a colorful museum- but you can also check out the Space Needle while you’re in the area.
When visiting new cities, I always like to check out the neighborhoods- I think it’s really important to get away from the touristy areas to get a true feel for a city. I did that in Seattle this day and went to see the Amazon Spheres, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery (much larger location than their one in Pike Place Market and a really cool spot), took a walk in the Olympic Sculpture Park and finished my trip at the Ballard Locks. I loved the Ballard Locks and can’t recommend it enough- boats travel between the lakes and the Puget Sound and the locks assist with that process. They also have a lovely garden and you can see the salmon swim through the fish ladder.
Day 9- Fly home
I can’t recommend this trip enough. I got to visit a National Park, see both small towns and large cities, visited a new country and saw some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. Make this trip your next vacation!
