last901

I've been thinking about some good weekend trips and realized we've not been to Vancouver for nearly 20 years. How is it getting across the border now - both ways. I presume we need passports now.

Any recommend hotels to spend a night? Restaurants?

Just curious.

c4cruiser

As far as driving to Vancouver and getting across the border, you either need a Passport or get a WA Enhanced Driver's License. The Enhanced license has a RFID chip that provides the Border Patrol access to information needed to enter Canada. The EDL is half the cost of a Passport and takes much less time to get. And the EDL can be renewed online just like a regular driver's license.

Go here to learn about the Enhanced License program. One issue with the EDL program is that you have to to a DOL Licensing Office to apply and get processed but not all DOL Licensing offices have the ability to process EDL requests.

The Enhanced License works on any British Columbia/Washington crossing point. If you go to Vancouver by train, plane or boat, you still need a Passport. The EDL doesn't work for travel into Mexico.

last901

This is helpful. Thanks

zet06

once you have passed Mt vernon you can hit am 730 and they have boder reports, that gives you time to turn north on Guide Meridian and go to Huntington also a big readograph as you near bellingham , going home take Huntington 264th aldergrove in Canada , food is the best , stay on the south side of False creek on broadway, tons of restraunts up and down and you can park , much tougher right downtown, parking is expensive, take the subway downtown , easier get on by city hall, 12th and cambie. or stay on the north shore by the Seabus and take it into the city , you can then get the subway all over and or tons of busses

George's_Vette

I'd rather visit Victoria then Vancouver. But that's just me.

George

JETninja

Wife and I did Vancouver 2yrs ago, its super easy getting into Canada, takes much longer to get back into the USA.

We had a great time at Stanley Park, the Aquarium is very nice. Its a very cosmopolitan city, and the people are great. Tons or restaurants too! Wouldn't be bad place to retire I'm thinking.....

Got a speeding ticket near Everett on the 5 from a rookie cop, lied that he used Radar. Had a cool lawyer beat it in Court...

zet06

actually one of the great tours we do every couple of years is to take a ferry to Langdale from Horseshoe bay ( West Vancouver) and then another small ferry to Powell River from Earls Cove (stay over) then across on another early ferry to Courtney then drive down Vancouver Island to Duncan ( stay over) , and then to Victoria ( stayover) then ferry to Port angeles, then down the olympic pennsula to Longview stay over a couple of times and then up the I5 to home or we now time it to go to the Ridge to watch a race . Shorter trip is to take the anacortes ferry and drive home.

If you have time on the Island , its neat to go to Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, new highway 120KMS ( that 75 MPH) after Parksville. You will see next to nobody on the road exept the semi that passes you . Fantastic scenery, take a day to go fishing in Hardy. Because of the speed limit, a lot of country gets covered quickly, Big hotel right on the wharf at Hardy and they are great to deal with. We usually stay over in Courtyney and then P Hardy the next day , 4 hour drive no stops.
Some American friends ( GTO club) took the early Anacortes ferry to Sydney ( Victoria) spent some time then 2hrs to Duncan and overnight ( fab best western, not the one on the highway ) then drive to Port Hardy the next Day , ( overnight) then head back to Naniamo ( overnight) take the morning Ferry from Duke point to Tswassen ( Vancouver ) and home.

George's_Vette

Sniff, sniff. I love a Trip Report with a happy ending. Good for the judge. Knows a BS story when he or she hears it and tossed the cite. Next case.

George

JETninja

Yeah, pays to always have a radar detector. I know if I'm hit with Radar or Laser, and he used nothing. He just saw a bright Yellow Corvette and thought he'd made his day.

WAwatchnut

Took the wife up for her b-day (antique and vintage shopping) a couple of months ago. Canada has definitely stepped up their border security - they had 5 cars at a time pulled over for full searches at the Peace Arch - first time I've EVER had that happen going into Canada. They also asked quite a few questions about recreational drugs. One of the side effects of being a possession legal state I guess.

We stayed at the L'Ermitage - a really nice hotel, but have to get rooms facing away from the construction site.

ExRedRacer

Wife and I love that place.

Hary Gahtoe

You don't need to worry about lineups anymore. With the Canadian currency close to 30% exchange you can drive up to all the borders besides 4-7 pm on Fri/Sat
On a personal note; If you are at all concerned about speedbumps the size of a dead horse Don't go thru the main I-5 Peace Arch crossing. They caused my C5 to scrape across the X frame every time I tried to go thru.
Truck Customs are relatively small speedbumps.
Parking; If you park choose the most visible, safest place you can. Not that dissimilar to Seattle's Pike street area. There's a love-hate sentinment against any nice car let alone American.
I've ridden on the Skytrain. It's a great way to get around but they don't have as many destinations as needed. It's best used a cross town commuter rail service. Buses are every 1/2 hr at peak time and 1hr normal
Best tourista spots are Stanley Park, Gas town, Grouse Mountain Chalet Tram at night, and if you have time Whistler. Food; just do an internet search. Too many different types.
Good Luck "Hay" (That's the trendy new form of 'EH')

olympic

George,
Since I'm just a little over an hour from Port Angeles, Victoria is a quick destination for me. I've gone over without my car more than with. Lots of fun places within walking distance, including their great BC museum.

George's_Vette

I've only been once but really enjoyed the Butchart Gardens, castle on the hill, visiting a glass blowing shop in downtown and lunch in the China Town portion of downtown. The gardens are amazing. Not a twig out of place. I swear the garden gnomes that do all the work must be out all night after hours with head lamps on to get all the work done because there was no sign of anyone doing any type of maintenance during my daytime visit. Just perfectly manicured acres of perfect lawns and plants. I loved their baby Sequoia. They grow like weeds when young.

XC6VETTE

Some great ideas and suggestions. But you're all missing the real question......which Casino's are most likely to pay for a new deck!

Hary Gahtoe

Try these guys. With the U.S.exchange rate at close to 127% Hey, what do you have to lose?
River Rock Casino in Richmond
http://www.expedia.com/Vancouver-Hot...FY17fgodcVgALA

VIK TOY

WOW, we thought about getting a passport and going to the upcoming carshow, but after your post,NO!! Plenty of places in the NW that are better!!!

Hary Gahtoe

Vik, you don't need a passport. Wa. D.L works with a birth certificate or a SS card.
Vancouver is as good or bad as any big city. People there are truly friendly albeit very "urbanistic"
Parking spaces is more a matter of plain common sense. Well lit, well viewed. Time. Few spots are controlled and safe after dark like most U.S. inner cities areas. Just like downtown Seattle the locals know where to park and not park so ask around
Trouble comes in all forms and locations that's usually fueled by alcohol and crowds. My brother in law is firefighter from Kent and wound up with 12 stiches to the back of the head who unfortunately was just was in the wrong place at the wrong time after a Sounders game last fall in Seattle.

I live close to B'ham and we go to Canada at least once a month. I take the Truck border crossing and have a Nexus card. Almost never wait and I don't even have a valid passport.
One way to have a great time and watching scenery from a totally different perspective is try Amtrack. You can pick it up in Seatlle and it takes you right into Vancouver return the same day or whatever you choose.
127% exchange is a very big incentive to try B.C. Whistler is a beautiful place to drive to and ultra tourist friendly