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Post by telefunkken on May 10, 2010 13:35:29 GMT -8
For anybody who has done the Vancouver to Sasquatch drive multiple times, I'm curious to know if any of you take any ritualistic stops on the way (e.g. an attraction, a good restaurant to have lunch, or just a beautiful spot to hang out while still buzzing from that Sasquatch high). I know it's only about a 5 hour drive, but I find it makes the trek more fun when you stop and get out of the car every once in a while.
A couple years ago we took a bit of a detour coming home and stopped at North Bend, which, if you are familiar with the show Twin Peaks, you have to see (the show was filmed there). We checked out the waterfall featured in the opening credits, and the cafe famous for their damn fine coffee and cherry pie. It also has some nice trails and there are plenty of great places to chill out and have a beer or a smoke or whatever.
So yeah, that's highly reccomended. Anybody got any thing else worth checking out on the way?
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Post by alex on May 10, 2010 18:32:28 GMT -8
i'm going to piggyback on this thread and ask the same question coming from Edmonton/Calgary via Cranbrook/Spokane
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Post by telefunkken on May 11, 2010 12:00:26 GMT -8
Welcome aboard. Thought there would be more contributions but guess not. Ah well.
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Post by emptyfox on May 11, 2010 12:04:37 GMT -8
Ya, honestly we don't stop for anything other then food and booze so I'm not much help to you.
Last year we went down a couple days early and spent some time in Seattle. Did the EMP, Woodland Park Zoo... good times...
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Post by wolfhat on May 11, 2010 15:58:02 GMT -8
Have you ever cruised Chuckanut Drive? Driving between Vancouver and Seattle I've always had myself a chuckle reading the signs for the turn-off, but a couple years ago a friend told me to try it out. Turns out it's really scenic. You drive out toward the coast, and then along it where you have a stunning view down some cliffs to the ocean. There are a couple places to turn off and enjoy the vistas too. The road ends in a small town near Bellingham where you can either jump back on I-5 or grab a bite to eat. There's an old school double-decker bus that has been converted into a fish and chips restaurant that I enjoy visiting.
If it's a nice day and you aren't in a rush I definitely recommend this route. It'll add less than an hour to your journey if you don't stop for fish and chips.
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Post by emptyfox on May 11, 2010 16:36:28 GMT -8
That's sweet, I totally laugh at Chuckanut!
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annafox
Baby Eating Ice Cream
Posts: 17
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Post by annafox on May 11, 2010 21:40:49 GMT -8
Didn't really stop last year except for supplies and booze. Convoyed with about 20 other people, so a few stops were necessary along the way to group everyone back up again. Nowhere special though.
We did all meet up at the Columbia River before heading into the gorge though and spent a
few hours drinking beers and soaking up some sun before heading through the gates.
This year the convoy is smaller... maybe we'll have a chance to check a few places out.
Great idea for a thread. I'll be keeping tabs on this one.
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Post by telefunkken on May 12, 2010 7:23:22 GMT -8
Have you ever cruised Chuckanut Drive? Wow, so Chuckanut is good for more than just a giggle?? I may just have to check that out. The I-5 gets so damn boring after a while. Any idea which exit you take? |
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Post by wolfhat on May 12, 2010 9:22:08 GMT -8
Have you ever cruised Chuckanut Drive? Any idea which exit you take? I'm not sure off hand, but it is clearly marked while on the freeway. There are 2 exits you can take that are a few miles apart, one being on either side of the I-5 detour. One is a few miles south of Bellingham and the other is in that town I mentioned before right next to/basically inside Bellingham. When traveling north start looking for signs after passing Mt. Vernon and take the first exit I mentioned. After exiting you do have to drive a few miles before it gets scenic so just follow the signs and hang in there. You might benefit from a quick Google search. |
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Post by emptyfox on May 12, 2010 11:19:36 GMT -8
I just took a look at it on google maps, and it seems straightforward and scenic... Doesn't seem like it would add too much time at all...
Great now you've got me thinking...
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cgphoto
Baby Eating Ice Cream
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Post by cgphoto on May 23, 2010 1:31:07 GMT -8
For people traveling from Calgary/Edmonton/Saskatchewan, there is an awesome lakeside restaurant in Sandpoint. I can't remember the name off hand but we stopped there a couple years ago for brunch and it was pretty unforgettable.
I am wondering what the quickest way to the Gorge is from Vancouver. We are leaving at 3pm on Friday from the airport in an RV and have never driven that trip before. Any advice would be appreciated.
Last year we rented an RV from Seattle on the Friday around 4pm and the drive we expected to take 2.5 house took 5.5. Traffic was really bad.
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Post by wolfhat on May 23, 2010 19:44:11 GMT -8
The easiest way from Vancouver to the Gorge is take Highway 99 south to the USA-Canada border, at which point the road turns into Interstate 5 which you take to Seattle, then take Interstate 90 east toward Spokane. The exit for I-90 is just after you pass through downtown Seattle.
Alternatively, you can cut Seattle out of the equation by adding one step to your journey. Take 99 and I-5 as described above, but a few miles before getting to Seattle you'll see an exit for I-405. Take that southbound until you see an I-90 exit. Take that eastbound, and you're golden. This route is especially nice if you anticipate traffic in Seattle.
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