RoadRunner65
CA USA
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Joined: 08/22/2003
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Which is the best ferry to take TC and family from Washington to Victoria and back?
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Mrs. A. Snowbird
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 07/12/2006
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Black Ball Ferry, The Coho - Port Angeles to Victoria. Check it out at http://www.cohoferry.com/
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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why not do a circle route?
The Coho is a nice trip between Port Angeles to Victoria.
BC Ferry from Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Tsawwassen (Lower Mainland) is also very nice. You could take one coming over and then the other when you need to leave the Island.
If you plan to drive up-Island a bit, you can also opt to take a BC Ferry from Nanaimo (Departure Bay) to the Lower Mainland (Horseshoe Bay) OR Nanaimo (Duke Point) to Lower Mainland (Tsawwassen).
And if you're up for a good adventure and really enjoy ferries, from Courtenay/ Comox on Vancouver Island you can ferry over to Powell River on the Mainland and then head south on Highway 101 and take two more ferry trips on your way to the Lower Mainland.
sue t.
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jefff929
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It all depends on where you are.
I like the WA state ferry we took from the island back to Ancortes WA, the part of that trip that sucked was the drive south through Seattle.
The Ferry from Port Angles to Victoria BC was great at both ends.
The Northern one, that I'm not remembering, to mainland BC was good also.
IMO they are all 6 or half dozen.
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wilber1
Abbotsford B.C. Canada
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If you are not planning on visiting Seattle or mainland BC, I would second the Port Angeles route. As Jefff929 says, driving through Seattle is not a lot of fun and we feel our vacation starts when we get through Tacoma heading south. Hwy 101 up the Hood Canal is very pretty. Fort Worden SP and Port Townsend are favourite spots of ours.
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Betsy II
BC
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We are 30 year residents of Vancouver Island. We haven't taken the Victoria / Port Angeles ferry, but would like to some day, on a trip down the western states.
We have taken the BC Ferries Duke Point / Tsawwassen run about 15 times over the years, with both our 20 ft and 28 ft 5er's. It is well equipped to handle large rigs as it was specifically designed for transport traffic when originally built. There is large capacity on the ferries as well, and you can make reservations for a nominal fee ($15 or $17).
We have not taken the Departure Bay / Horseshoe Bay ferry with the 5er. However, we have travelled it many times with the car and truck.
It really depends what your plans are while on the island. As sue.t sugeests, you do have several options to see the island and all the things it has to offer. The Martin Mars water bombers (that helped out the last few years in California) are quite the site when you get up close to them on the water at Sproat Lake (near Port Alberni).
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Ron Butler
Federal Way WA.
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You have had great suggestions that all make sense. Having sailed into Victoria and around Vancouver Island for almost 25 years in our sailboat, we are planning on taking the motor home over to the island to see it from the land.
If you have the time, drive to the north end and visit Telegraph Cove and Port Hardy, both great places.
Good luck and enjoy the trip. The Canadians are great!!
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dtate
Port Angeles WA
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My vote is for Port Angeles but then I live here  There is a lot to do here if you are passing through on your way to Victoria.
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Titan Dude
Snohomish, WA
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The nice thing about the Anacortes Ferry (and this is from our experience about 7 or 8 years ago) is that you can make a reservation for it. It can save a wait in line. I don't know what the wait is like for the Port Angeles ferry, this is just an option I know of that we took advantage of.
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Kenneth
Washington, the state
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Plan on a long wait, so get there early. Inquire very soon about possible reservations.
http://www.cohoferry.com/index.htm
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=ana-sid
http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/
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