10 Travel Lessons Learned While Roaming the Pacific Northwest

Plan Ahead for Best Outcome

We held our annual family vacation meeting. Again, I was outvoted. Happens often. I’m the only woman in the Thomason Trio consisting of husband, Ken, and son, Alex. A sunny tropical destination always tops my list. Ironic since I was born in North Dakota.  The men in my house enjoy beaches too, but “needed a break.” They lobbied for the Pacific Northwest, initially suggesting we visit Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada all in a matter of five full days.

The more they talked, the more intrigued I became. I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively but never to the Pacific Northwest.  Had the Thomason men looked at a map and realized the distances between these points? Probably not. We decided to use Seattle as our hub and firm up travel logistics later. Much to our delight, when we booked airline tickets in January, each was only $200 per person. A real bargain. Was this to be a trend for the entire trip? Unexpected savings and surprises? We hoped so.

Details Confirmed by Researching & Communicating

We’d talk of our pending trip often and understood that “we” needed to sit down and sketch out what our great Pacific Northwest trip included. I put we in quotes because it’s apparently my nickname. Many times I ask for clarification in my house as to what the pronoun “we” means. Many get that. Someone needs to take the lead, and in our house, “we” is translated to “me.” I have gotten pretty good at family travel planning. Over time, I’ve learned what the Trio’s preferences are and what makes us return home saying, “that was a great vacation.” This time, however, I insisted Ken join me in mapping out trip logistics and sights to see.  Afterall, he really led the charge to make this our destination.

We sat elbow-to-elbow in my office and went over the list of trip findings I’d gathered from Internet research. I’d bullet pointed traveler’s favorite things to do and places to see from Trip Advisor and other sites. Not knowing the area, I came to this planning meeting with both a sense of adventure and a feeling of being overwhelmed.  I’d line-itemed projected costs associated with the trip and reported that the expense was tremendously greater than expected. For instance, after renting a car at the airport, we’d also have to park it downtown Seattle, our preferred location. Did Ken know parking was $39/day? “Little details” like this add up to huge expenses. We prefer to have an awareness before boarding and a strong preference for a trip to be paid in full before departing.

Travel logistics was another barrier I’d wanted to overcome at this initial planning meeting. I dread having to ride shotgun and map out directions when I’m in a new location. I want to see my surroundings. This curiosity conflicts with Ken’s, the driver, need to know where to exit, etc.

Having voiced all concerns, we decided to trim the trip and forego Portland to another time, perhaps accompanied with northern California. I was relieved. Questions about cost containment and ease of traveling around the area still lingered. Much like the surprise discovery of affordable airline tickets, we found solutions to all of our concerns in one Sunday afternoon phone call.

10 Valuable Lessons Learned Traveling 2 Countries With 3 People in 7 Days

1. Travel Agents Know What They’re Doing

Browsing the Internet to learn about Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the company name, Clipper Vacations  kept appearing.

We took a chance and called them on a Sunday afternoon and what a great move that was. They were staffed and led us in the right direction for travel in both countries.

The longer we chatted, the better both Ken and I felt about our agent’s suggestions. It was clear he was an expert in the region. I sensed my shoulders lowering from beneath my ear lobes and knew we’d just found a solution to trip-planning stress. The agent knew how to move us around the region without breaking the bank or having me be the navigator. In addition, when he emailed the proposed trip itinerary that day, it included an 11-hour sightseeing trip to Mt. Rainier. His bottom line was at least $1400 less than when I’d costed it out; my itinerary didn’t include a Mt. Rainier journey either. Bonus!

Good travel agencies negotiate group rates for their clients. They are travel experts. We are not. Leave the trip planning to the experts. Call a travel agency.

2.  Pack Lightly and in Layers

We spent 7 nights away from home and checked one bag total. We carried one piece of wheeled luggage and two backpacks onto the airplane. [Next time I’d eliminate ½ of this.] Schlepping luggage becomes a burden when moving between multiple locations without a car.  Knowing this, the Thomason Trio chose multi-purpose clothing. In addition, I’d called the downtown Seattle hotel, where we’d again spend two nights upon our return from Canada, and they agreed to let us leave luggage in their storage room while we traveled to Canada. We took one suitcase and a backpack for three nights in Canada.

It’s amazing how very little one really needs.

3. Take Public & Group Transportation

I easily used subways and buses while living in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Yet, somehow, after relocating back to the Midwest, I was intimidated by the concept of it in foreign locations.  Our travel professional advised us not to rent a vehicle, and we agreed. Instead, we used 7 forms of transportation, plus our feet, on this adventure.

• Light Rail

After landing and collecting our suitcase, we headed to the Light Rail Station at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and bought 3 tickets ($9.00 total) to downtown Seattle’s Westlake Station. It was a bit crowded on a Saturday afternoon, but each found a seat and space for luggage.  It was a great way to initially see the city. We felt safe, and ever so urban.

There always is an initial bit of confusion coming off  a train wondering which train station exit to use. We randomly chose one and took the escalator up one floor. Once on the street,  we used Alex’s phone’s GPS to roll our suitcases a few blocks to our hotel. Sturdy wheels on luggage are essential to moving around smoothly. Investing in good luggage for trips like this is well worth it.

•  Victoria Clipper

We rolled our suitcase to Pier 69 and boarded the Victoria Ferry from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The three hour trip was amazingly calm and scenic. We enjoyed breakfast aboard (purchased) and passed the time  by playing cards, reading and taking in the magnificent views from deck. Jackets and rain gear are recommended for outdoor viewing. None of us experienced motion sickness or took motion tablets, though staff provided them, if needed.

• Tour Bus

After clearing customs in Victoria, Canada (Yes, a passport is required.), we boarded a charter bus with our luggage underneath and were driven to Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia. The driver doubled as the tour guide and even delivered us to our Victoria lodging afterwards. Sweet!

• Greyhound Bus & Ferry
  

After two days in Victoria, we boarded a  bus and headed to a port where the tour bus was the first vehicle to drive on to the BC Ferry for Vancouver. As an aside, this ferry ride was a surprise to us. Had we looked at the geography a bit closer, we’d have known we needed to take a ferry to get to Vancouver. The vessel was cruise-ship like and included multiple dining options, an arcade, a private meeting room, etc. on its six decks. The views were, once again, priceless.

Taxis

We treated ourselves to 3 taxi cab rides in Vancouver-one to and from our Vancouver hotel to Stanley Park and one to the Vancouver Amtrak Station the next day. After 4 days of walking and rolling luggage, a taxi wasn’t a luxury but a necessity.

• Amtrak

The three hour train ride back to Seattle transplanted us into a different time when train travel was seen as glamorous. Of all the different modes of transportation we took, this was the unanimous favorite. We sat in a grouping for 3, read the newspaper, when not clipping along a waterway, and ate breakfast in the dining car. Once again, being able to get up and freely move about the train was appealing, as it was on both ferries.  The fact that this trip was narrated was a bonus, as we could place the scenery in context. We also were able to keep our luggage near us, making getting off the train in Seattle quite efficient.

• Light Rail

Back in Seattle we, once again, took the light rail from the King Station next to the Amtrak Station to the downtown Westlake Station near our hotel. By now we had a sense of confidence regarding the light rail and felt more like natives, not tourists. We also relied on the light rail on departure day to commute to the Sea-Tac airport.

In total, we spent under $25.00 moving around Seattle, less than one night’s parking fee at our downtown hotel. It was so easy, clean and safe.

4. Leave the Heels Behind

Seattle is a walking city. Once again, our travel agent placed us in a perfect location for the sites we’d wanted to see. The hotel was centrally located, making walking times comfortable. He’d also warned us about hills and busy streets. Comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing are necessary for a successful visit to Seattle. The agent had advised us to pack rain gear and umbrellas. We were prepared but uncommonly never had to open an umbrella during the trip.

5. Arrive Early

This applied to all methods of transportation. Ferries and buses don’t have assigned seating; therefore, if you have a seat preference, arrive early. Security guards at each location lined passengers up upon arrival. Read the fine print. Your seat can be given up, or you may not be able to board if you arrive after the listed time. We saw it happen on the bus and one of the ferries-guests were left behind.

6. Plan Downtime & Leave Time for Spontaneity

We would re-do this part of our adventure. The Thomason Trio overestimated the amount of energy it had. The first four days of our journey consisted of considerable walking. By the time we arrived in Vancouver, without openly admitting it, each of us was exhausted. Yes, the cab ride to and from Stanley Park helped, but we still had to walk while in the park. We used most of late Wednesday afternoon and night to rest and relax when we’d rather have been out exploring more of this great city.

One of my trip highlights was a spontaneous event. We sat in on a session of Parliament in Victoria, British Columbia. The evening before I approached a guard asking if visitors were allowed. The next day we timed our arrival perfectly as the afternoon session was about to begin. After going through three security check points, we watched the pageantry of the legislative assembly entrance and the civility of the verbal exchanges in awe, wishing USA government leaders would return our legislative process to one with such demeanor.

Leave room for such spontaneous experiences. We happened upon the annual library book sale. Another day, as we passed a Seattle theater, the Thomason men discovered a WWE event that evening. Yes, they got tickets and went. I watched a movie in my room. Both parties won.

7. Keep the Peace-Choose a Food Court

We have very different food tastes. While I prefer Mediterranean, Asian or interesting salads, the guys are red meat eaters and pizza connoisseurs. Whenever we found a food court, we chose it to keep peace at the dining table. While I enjoyed a bowl of lentil soup on Mother’s Day, Alex ate a hamburger and Ken a gyro. It’s worth it. Peace on a seven-day trip is a goal, always.

8. Do It
   

The last site we added to our trip was a guided tour to Mt. Rainier-an 11-hour day. We debated the value of this and also the timing-it was our last day in the Pacific Northwest. I pushed strongly for this outing because of my love of nature and outdoor photography.  Afterwards, the guys  cited this as one of the trip highlights. It was pricey, but worth the cost. The driver was entertaining, knowledgeable and got us there and back safely. When deciding what sites to see, ask yourself, “Will I regret not going, if I never get back here?”

9. Ask Nicely & You Shall Be Rewarded

24 hours before our trip, while checking in on-line, we learned United Airlines re-routed us. Instead of flying from Omaha to Denver to Seattle, we now were going to Chicago and then to Seattle. This extended our Saturday flight time significantly and changed our on-the-ground Saturday plans. United did the right thing and issued each of us a voucher for the inconvenience. They also upgraded us to Economy Comfort seats, much appreciated by the 6 foot plus Thomason men. At the Seattle hotel we were able to spend the first two nights there with a view of the Space Needle and the last two nights after returning from Canada with a city view with much less street noise. The same happened in Vancouver where we had an outstanding view just by nicely asking for a room with a view. The lesson is: Ask and most likely, if at all possible, you shall receive, if asking nicely.

10. Go Separate Ways

As noted above, we each engaged in our own thing, at times, on this trip. While togetherness is great, so is having some alone time on a trip of this length. We made the most of our time. In addition to a wrestling event, the guys attended a Seattle Sounders soccer match while I stayed back in the hotel room on the first night in town. One afternoon Ken and I rode the Great Wheel  while Alex rested. Alex went to enjoy a slice of pizza while we sat on a deck at a Pike Place restaurant. One night Ken and I dined together and another he and Alex did. Separate, but still together, made for a great trip for all.

Back in Omaha, we’ve celebrated the ease of this trip, despite the complexity of it. Having the mindset that a trip like this is a travel adventure rather than vacation helps. Not being concerned about driving was a huge relief. Knowing we could reach out to our travel agency at any time if there was a problem was priceless. And, understanding that our days of traveling as The Thomason Trio are probably numbered made each of us appreciate one another, and this journey more.

7 Days, 2 Countries, 3 People, No Car-No problem!

Share with anyone planning an extended vacation, especially to the Pacific Northwest.

Linda Leier Thomason is a former CEO who writes freelance business and travel stories, along with feature articles. Her work experiences include a Fortune 500 corporation, federal government, entrepreneurship and small business. Find out more about Linda by clicking the “Meet Linda” tab above. Interested in working together? Complete this form below.

©Copyright. June 2016. Linda Leier Thomason

All Rights Reserved.

Specifics on Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Mt. Rainier will be posted soon under the “travel” tab on this website.