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Seattle, WA, Victoria, Tolfino & Vancouver, BC: Hi

We are a family consisting of 2 adults and a just-turned 3 year old. We are planning a trip a trip to Victoria, BC and then Victoria Clipper to Seattle, WA on May 18. We would like to attend the Udistrict street festival and the Seattle Children's Fest that weekend. I currently have 3 night booked at either the Ace hotel and the University Inn. Which is best for us? Are there any attractions that you would recommend? Also, I would love to do 1/2 day of outlet shopping and eat at Pike Pl Mkt. I think the University Inn has free shuttles. Is 3 night too short? Then we will ferry it back to Victoria and possibly drive to Tolfino for a day or 2. Next, I was hoping to drive to Nanaimo to ferry it to Vancouver where we will spend 1-2 nights. I would like to check out Vancouver on Sat. We have a flight back home to Toronto from Victoria, BC on May 28.

Thanks

Michelle

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hi, Michelle! Travelling with a toddler is fun, isn't it? I'm thrilled you're staying in the University District. Readers dead-set on staying downtown, or who only have a few days and want to stay near their cruises, should stay downtown. But otherwise, staying in a neighborhood like the U-District (as we call it) is the best budget option. I went to school at the University of Washington and have fond memories of the area. The best hotel there is Hotel Deca (www.hoteldeca.com). It's in the same price range as the University Inn, but is much nicer (all my out-of-town guests stayed there for my recent wedding). Your toddler will *love* those two festivals! Good choices. Three nights is perfect; you're seeing quite a bit in 10 days. For Seattle attractions, please see my answer above. As you probably know, Seattle doesn't have any outlet shopping; you'll drive 40 miles north to the Tulalip Tribes' Quil Ceda Village for that, which is perfect because it's on your way to Vancouver. Check out http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/225183_outletshop.html for some great tips.

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Huntington Beach, CA: We will be in Vancouver May 31 thru June 2 traveling from Southern California via motorcycle. Are there special events or attractions we should be sure to catch during our three days there? Also, from Seattle how early should we plan to go thru the border crossing?

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hello! I'm so glad you asked about the border crossing. During the warmer months, it can take forever. Get there as early as possible, and be prepared to inch along. (The upside is that you're in a beautiful park filled with gardens and sculptures, bordering on two bays.) The Vancouver Tourist Info Centre (www.tourismvancouver.com) and Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ca) are great for finding out about events. You'll miss two famous ones: the Vancouver International Jazz Festival starts June 22 (sorry!), and the annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival is each July. Starting on May 31, various Shakespeare plays will be performed in tents on the beach overlooking English Bay. See www.bardonthebeach.org. June is Portugese Heritage Month, with all sorts of related events: www.portuguesemonth.com.

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NYC: I like to explore as a single traveler (female). What hotels are single freindly, and can you comment overall about single travel to Seattle...hotels, sites, nightlife, shopping. Looking to travel 6/28 for 10 days. I don't know if I want to spend that many days in Seattle...What are your thoughts please?

Sally Farhat Kassab: Way to represent the single people today! I only got married a few months ago -- and used to live in NYC -- so I can totally relate. Overall, you couldn't have picked a better city. Seattle is one of those places where people will see you, a young beautiful female, and ask if they can help you. You'll hear "Are you alone?" all the time. So, yes, hang out in Seattle the entire 10 days--you'll really get a feel for all the neighborhoods and have more time to spend with the people you meet.
I am going to answer your question here, but another good person to ask is Seattle singles expert Diane Mapes. She's author of How to Date in a Post-Dating World (http://howtodate.wetpaint.com/). If you want to meet people, Space City Mixer (www.spacecitymixer.com) has tons of group events in fun places. They are incredibly popular, so sign up now for future parties. You didn't say how old you are, so let me just pick the places I'd go if I were you :-)
Hotels: The W, downtown Seattle. The bar there is a singles mecca. There's also a fun little hotel called The Inn at El Gaucho in Belltown that I really like. It's a mecca for young, male business travelers. Head to the basement of El Gaucho and you'll see quite a scene. Another fun (and cheaper!) option is to mix it up -- stay in a B & B a few days. In the Capital Hill neighborhood, there's one called the 11th Avenue Inn owned by a 30-something guy. For something even more simple, rooms at the Capitol Hill Guest House can be rented by the week. It's like staying at a friend's house.
Sites: You are arriving in Seattle during Seafair, a huge and fun festival that's famous for its hydroplane races at the end of the summer. Wonderful! I checked the calendar: On the days you're in town, check out either the wooden boat festival or the milk carton derby (www.seafair.com). You'll also be in the city for the Fourth of July -- my favorite spot to watch is from Gas Works Park (www.wamufamily4th.org).
On other days, all of the sites I mentioned in this chat are great; since you're single, hang out in two places in particular: downtown Kirkland and Belltown. (In Kirkland, the waterfront is full of singles just hanging out, and the shops are great). Check out the Third Floor Fish Café (older singles sometimes hang out in the bar; the seafood and views are great) or Wilde Rover Irish Pub & Restaurant (for a younger crowd) while you're there. My favorite thing to do is to take a picnic lunch and sit along the lake there. (*Great* people-watching!) Go to Alki Beach in West Seattle for the Seattle version of Miami's South Beach.
Nightlife: Kirkland, Belltown, and Queen Anne neighborhoods for an older crowd; Pioneer Square for a twenty-something (or younger!) group. Famous singles places are the Paragon and Tini Bigs in Queen Anne (nice bars); the Century Ballroom for salsa dancing; the Crocodile Café and Tost for live music. Tost is in Fremont, another cute neighborhood that's becoming home to more young professionals.
Shopping: Since you'll have time, besides all the other shopping areas I've mentioned today, check out all the new shops in Bellevue. Besides the popular, huge mall Bellevue Square, there's a new, also huge Lincoln Square. My favorite spot there is the The Parlor, a very upscale pool hall, home to every single man in Bellevue.
Have fun!

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Bradenton, FL: We are traveling to Seattle on May 2, 2007 for two weeks. We are spending two days in Seattle and then driving to Blaine, WA for a week at a timeshare. We will have five days after we leave the timeshare to explore Washington and Oregon. Please give us suggestions for the Vancouver area and where to travel when we come back down. We will be flying in and out of Seattle.

Sally Farhat Kassab: As you probably know, there's not much going on in Blaine, though you'll want to check out the famous Semiahmoo Resort, set on a beautiful spit with a 1,100 acre wildlife preserve. It has five restaurants, so you don't even have to cross the border! But you'll want to.

Vancouver is one of my favorite cities in the world. For my Vancouver and Seattle suggestions, please see my answers above. On your way back, I'd stick to Washington state, unless you want to spend the entire time in Portland. In Washington, depending on what you like, my vote is to head to the San Juan Islands. (Please see my response to the mom from Southborough for a sample three-day itinerary).

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Louisville, KY: When is the best time to visit the area for outdoor activities?

Sally Farhat Kassab: Great question! July and August, hands down. Seattle summers don't get too hot (just sunny and beautiful in the 70s), and people start to believe that it never rains. (It does. But just drizzle, rarely that downpour rain that the East Coast gets.)

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Naples, FL: We will be flying in and out of Vancouver, going out to Tofino, back to Vancouver via Victoria. Now we've heard about Ziptrek at Whistler. What's the best way to fit this in without too much back tracking? We'll pick up a car at the end of our Vancouver stay, there are two of us, late April-early May 2007. Thanks, Newt

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hi, Newt! On your way from Vancouver to Tofino, head up to Whistler for ZipTrek, as the Horseshoe Bay ferry dock is a half-hour north of Vancouver; that's your departure point for Vancouver Island/Tofino.

There's also an attraction similar to ZipTrek on Vancouver Island outside Nanaimo, which is more or less on the way to Tofino. It's called Wild Play Park, and is one of the original bungee places. They have 10 zip lines in the trees there. Whee!

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Valdosta, GA: I will be spending one short day in Seattle and then driving over to Spokane to look at Gonzaga University for 2 days. I have never been to Washington. What can I see in this short time?

Sally Farhat Kassab: OK, so you didn't ask, but Gonzaga is a great school! A lot of my friends went there. If you're just spending a day in Seattle, check out the Pike Place Market, waterfront, and Space Needle. Have a drink at a sidewalk table at one of the Belltown restaurants. On to Spokane. The drive from Seattle to Spokane is looong. (But some parts are just beautiful: mountains and trees everywhere). Most Seattleites have never even been to Spokane, and it's in the same state! While you're there, enjoy Riverfront Park, then stop at The Shop (www.theshop.bz) a cozy coffee shop in a former gas station. It's in the up-and-coming South Perry District (www.southperry.com) In the summer, you can watch movies in The Shop's parking lot!

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Providence, RI: I'm planning a September trip to Seattle to visit a friend of mine. We'd like to take a short road trip (one or two nights) to see the Washington wine country, maybe ending in Portland OR and then I'd like to go to San Francisco to visit another friend. I was thinking of driving (in a rental) because of the beauty of that part of the country. I'm from Texas orgininally so I don't mind a good 6 - 8 hour stretch of driving (with breaks for eating & stretching). Is this a good idea or are there other options? The whole trip should be about two weeks (I can probably add a day if necessary). I was thinking of flying into Seattle and out of San Francisco. Any tips on inexpensive accommodations, restaurants along the way, etc would also be helpful. Thanks so much!

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hello! Yes, drive! It is as beautiful as you hear, and September will be perfect. I'd hang out in Seattle three days, spend two days in Wine Country, another three in Portland, and the rest in San Francisco.
From Seattle, drive east to the Yakima Valley, Washington's Wine Country with 40-plus wineries. If you drive even farther east, you're in the town of Walla Walla, which has become a wine mecca. But since you're only there a few days, you'll probably want to stick with the Yakima Valley. Once you get there, several limo companies will map out a four-hour trip for you. One is Moonlit Ride Limousine (moonlitride.com). If you choose to drive, here's a sample one-day itinerary:
Start in downtown Yakima at Kana Winery (www.kanawinery.com) and Yakima Cellars (www.yakimacellars.com). Head south on 1-82 for nine miles and take exit 40 to Sagelands Winery (www.sagelandsvineyard.com), with spectacular views of the Yakima Valley and Mount Adams. Have a picnic lunch there. Stay on Yakima Valley Highway and drive up the hill to Windy Point Vineyards (www.windypointvineyards.com). Stop at the Piety Flats winery (www.pietyflatswinery.com); their tasting room feels like an old country store and they're famous for their peach sundaes. Good inexpensive lodgings are the Outlook Guest House (www.tefftcellars.com), in the town of Outlook, or the Vintner's Inn at Hinzerling Winery (www.hinzerling.com), in Prosser. For authentic Mexican food, try La Fogata in Sunnyside, 509-839-9019. If you're more of a meat-and-potatoes person, the Squeeze Inn in Zillah 509-829-6226 has been there since 1932. Both restaurants will cost you less than $35 for two.

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Dallas, TX: Hello,

I'm planning a trip to Seattle this summer. I heard it's got the best seafood restaurants in North America. What's your favorite?

Thanks.

Sally Farhat Kassab: I don't have one! It depends what I'm craving that day. If I want cheap, fried seafood, I stop at Ivar's Fish Bar on the pier. If it's a special occasion, I head to Canlis, for dishes like oysters live on the half shell, or wild Pacific king salmon with hazelnut-caper butter. Tourists *love* Elliott's Oyster house, right on the water. Try their Dungeness crab. In Bellevue, Seastar is delicious.

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mokena Illinois: This July my husband and I are planning 2 three day adventures with our 2 year old grandson to give his new Seattle mom a break with her new baby. We do not want to drive more than 4 hours, since he gets restless in a car. We would like a place that has hiking without too many mountains and a swimming pool. We are looking for ideas?

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hello. Great question! Head to Whidbey Island. The Coachman Inn is basic and has a pool. Visit Joseph Whidbey State Park, with a great beach. Deception Pass State Park is nine miles north -- and it's the most visited park in the state. It has 35 miles of trails.

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Fernandina Beach, Florida: My wife and I will be traveling from Jacksonville, Fl, to Victoria, BC. Leaving Jax on 29May. We will be in Victoria until 12 June. While there we hope to spend two nights and possibly three days in Vancouver. What are the must see locations in Vancouver?

We will have a car at our disposal.

If you have time please make some recommendations for Victoria.

Neither of us have been to British Columbia before.

Thanks,

Bill

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hi, Bill! I've talked a lot about Vancouver, so I'll give you a sample one-day itinerary for Victoria. You didn't mention where you're staying. I highly recommend the Fairmont Empress Hotel. It's been there since 1908 and is worth seeing even if you're not sleeping there. Here goes: have breakfast at Lure Restaurant (try the eggs Benedict with candied salmon), with seating overlooking the beautiful Inner Harbour. Then head out on a walking tour of downtown, strolling along Government Street to Chinatown. Stop for dim sum for lunch at Don Mee Seafood Restaurant. Return to the Inner Harbour promenade and flag down a Horse-Drawn Carriage for a tour of Beacon Hill Park. Grab an ice cream at Beacon Drive-In Restaurant, then visit the Emily Carr House. Catch a Victoria Harbour Ferry to Songhees Park on Songhees Road, then meander five minutes along the waterfront to Spinnakers Brewpub. On any day, don't miss the world-famous Butchart Gardens. They are breathtaking!

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Sally Farhat Kassab: Thanks so much for your wonderful questions. I hope my answers have helped you plan a special trip to the Pacific Northwest. For detailed three-day sample itineraries, bring along a copy of my book, Best Places Northwest. Places I've marked with a "piggy bank" icon are the best hotels and restaurants at the lowest prices. Traveling is magical; cherish every moment of it!

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