If you drive from Seattle to Vancouver, be sure to take a detour along Chuckanut Drive. It's supposed to be very scenic with lots of photo opportunities. I stayed two days on Olympic Peninsula driving around to various parks in the area. It was pretty nice.
Do you think it's convenient if we fly into Seattle, rent a car/ van, drive to Vancouver and some other places mentioned on here and back to Seattle to fly out? What if we take the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria, what do we do with the car? Does the car go on the ferry?
Yeah, that'd make the most sense. Seattle will be the most affordable airport to fly to/from. And the car is fine on the ferry. Most people take their vehicles on it. I'm sure there's a ferry from Seattle to Vancouver Island - so you could realistically go Seattle -> Victoria -> Vancouver -> Whistler -> Seattle if you want... with any of the destinations being optional (meaning, if you cut one place out, the order of the destinations would still make sense).
FWIW, I took a ferry with my rental car from Seattle to Olympic Peninsula (well, Bainbridge Island; it's a really long drive otherwise) and it was super simple and convenient. There were other branches that went to other places, too, so I imagine it's just as easy to go to elsewhere.
Fly into and out of Seattle for the cheapest airfare. The drive isn't bad at all - comparable to the Houston to Austin drive in terms of time. Returning a rental car in a different city/country is always far more expensive. You can take your car on the ferry to Victoria, which is great, since you'll need a car there as well.
You can also take a ferry from downtown Seattle to Victoria, but it's a lot more expensive, and it's a passenger ferry only, no cars. Flying into/out of Seattle makes the most sense (cheaper airfare + cheaper rental car).
Also be careful where you park your car in downtown Vancouver. Last time I was there, my rental car (with Washington state plates) was broken into in a downtown parking garage...along with about 10 other cars parked around mine.
Sure, if you were an australian backpacker on walkabout, you'd maybe should throw that into your British Columbia/Alberta itinerary. Doesn't appear to be the context here brah.
The Banff suggestion is also doable though probably a fair bit more expensive. And you'd likely have to drop Seattle or Vancouver Island. Fly to Calgary (1) Banff and Louise (2) Drive to Whistler (1 looong drive day) Whistler (2) Vancouver (2) Victoria or Seattle (2) and fly home from there. More of a parade then I'd want. And your flights and car rental will likely be substantially more. Less PNW but you do include the Rockies (if only briefly).
The more information one has, the better. Perhaps he knew nothing about the Banff area. If I had the same initial travel plans he had and some spectacular natural scenary was brought to my attention (unlike a bar on 6th street in Austin), I would certainly be interested in hearing about it. He'll either ignore it or look into it. No harm.
I guarantee you that if someone I knew was going to make their (perhaps) only trip to the U.S. and for whatever reason they were going to Lubbock, I would most certainly tell them they ought to try and get over to the Grand Canyon. We were in Shanghai last year. I regret that I did not extend the trip a few extra days to go to Beijing. It may be the only time I ever get to China.
More realistically it's the equivalent of "If you're ever in Los Angeles, check out the Grand Canyon". Yes - Banff is a stunning area and somewhere that anyone would enjoy. But when somebody says they're going to Seattle/Vancouver, it's a bit ridiculous to recommend an attraction that is 11 hours away... especially when there's so much to do/see closeby.
But isn't it prudent to check things out? Couldn't someone look into a side trip (via airplane if necessary)? Again, what is the harm in providing information, especially when someone is going to another country?
If you're a Hendrix fan, his grave is in Renton, near Seattle. Take some newsprint and a stick of charcoal and you can make a relief etching of his marker. Also, Bruce Lee is buried in Seattle, fwiw. I only know because while looking for JImi someone mistakenly sent us there. It was close, and he's got a bit of a shrine thingy, but we didn't approach it once we figured it out. Take the ferry(s) in Seattle. I forget when, but you might be there when the killer whales are around. Whistler is absolutely incredible. You're gonna have fun. Really nice up there.
Some friends of my folks visited both Banff and Vancouver last year. They flew into Calgary. Spent a few days in Banff. Took the Rocky Mountaineer Train to Vancouver (very expensive -- but supposed to be great). And a few days in Vancouver. I think they visited Victoria and Whistler on day trips. Total trip was less then two weeks. They loved the trip. Lots of scenery (which they were into), and probably about the same amount of wildlife as one sees on the weekend in a 6th Street bar. I don't think that's the trip rage is looking for. But it's not ridiculous. At least not as ridiculous as a Minnesota winter. We spent a couple of weeks in Seattle the year before last. A lot more to do there then I had first thought. Depending when you go, there are various festivals and events in Vancouver, and Seattle that you should think about attending.
For what it's worth, on my honeymoon ten years ago, we flew into Seattle, drove to Vancouver, then to Lake Louise/Banff with a quick stop in Whistler, then back Vancouver and over to Victoria, then back to Seattle for the flight home. But.......we had two full weeks including three weekends, we didn't see any of Seattle other than flying in and out, and it was really a bit too much driving. Good memories, and a great scouting trip for future vacations, but it was bit much.
