Victoria to Seattle: Four Day Itinerary

Explore the best of the Pacific Northwest on a four-day itinerary through Victoria, Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, and Seattle! From the best places to visit in each region, to the most popular attractions, and restaurants locals rave about — We've got you covered! Here's how we think you should spend four days in the Pacific Northwest...

Parliament Buildings in downtown Victoria, BC

Day One - Overnight in Victoria, BC

9:00am Depart Vancouver on BC Ferries from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. 
10:35am Arrive at Swartz Bay ferry terminal in Victoria, depart for The Butchart Gardens. The Butchart Gardens admission can be purchased through Black Ball Ferry Line. 
11:00am Arrive at The Butchart Gardens.
For the rest of the day: Explore downtown Victoria at your leisure and check into your hotel accommodation. 

Book an exclusive Victoria hotel + ferry package through Black Ball Ferry Line. Save BIG on Victoria hotels and receive FREE hotel parking! We'll also waive your ferry reservation fee.

BOOK A VICTORIA HOTEL PACKAGE

Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, BC — A stop on the Hop-on, Hop-off City Tour

Here are our recommendations on how to make the most of the rest of your day in downtown Victoria:

1) Eat like a local in downtown Victoria

Having a hard time deciding where to go? Book a food tour with Off The Eaten Track Food Tours, and experience a bit of everything! Tour through iconic neighborhoods and taste authentically local food along the way. Off the Eaten Track admission can be purchased through Black Ball Ferry Line. 

2) See Victoria on Gray Line's Hop-on, Hop-off City Tour
Experience Victoria like no other aboard one of our authentic British Double Decker buses! The Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour is designed to allow you the flexibility to explore the many points of interest Victoria has to offer. Your ticket allows you access to unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off privileges for either 1 or 2 days depending on which pass you choose to purchase. Hop-on, Hop-off admission can be purchased through Black Ball Ferry Line.

3) Embark on a Whale Watching Adventure
Explore the Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in search of the majestic wildlife that floods the local waters in Victoria in the summer months. Take advantage of the opportunity to view several different species of whales in the wild as well as an assortment of seabirds and other species of marine wildlife from downtown Victoria. Prince of Whales Whale Watching admission can be purchased through Black Ball Ferry Line.

4) Explore the streets and shops of downtown Victoria 
Take a stroll down one of Victoria's main streets — Government Street. Here you'll find a variety of restaurants (Bard & Banker, Irish Times, and Garrick's Head, to name a few), and iconic shops, such as Rogers' Chocolates, Murchie's Tea & Coffee, and many other souvenir shops. Be sure to check out Low Jo too (Lower Johnson Street, off of Government Street); home to many local boutique shops including Rook and Rose (flower and lifestyle), Little Gold (jewelry), and ANIAN (durable, earth-friendly clothing). Market Square, located off of Johnson Street, also has tons of small shops and restaurants to explore.

EXPLORE OTHER VICTORIA ATTRACTIONS

Downtown Port Angeles, WA at dusk

Day Two - Explore more of Victoria, then overnight in Port Angeles, WA

8:00am Breakfast (or brunch) in Canada's brunch capital; a must-do. Our favorite brunch places include Jam Cafe, Blue Fox Cafe, Heron Rock Bistro, or The Ruby on Johnson. Most brunch places do not take reservations, so begin your day a bit earlier to avoid the lines!
10:00am Explore the Royal BC Museum.
See all of British Columbia at the Royal BC Museum, a world-class museum of natural and human history. Experience authentic artifacts and highly realistic settings -- from the Woolly Mammoth in his rocky, icy world to a tar-scented trip on the HMS Discovery. Stroll through Old Town's wood-cobbled street and enjoy its shops, cinema, and railway station. Royal BC Museum admission can be purchased through Black Ball Ferry Line.
12:00pm Lunch at a local Victoria restaurant, or enjoy a classic afternoon tea experience in the Pendray Tea House at the Huntingdon Manor. Afternoon tea can be booked through Black Ball Ferry Line.
If you are planning to travel with your vehicle on our ferry, you can park your vehicle in the lot any time after the sailing before departs (ex. If you are catching the 3:00pm sailing, you can park your vehicle any time after the 10:30am sailing departs). The Pendray Tea House is located across the street from our Victoria terminal. 
1:30pm Arrive at Black Ball Ferry Line in Victoria for US Immigration.
(If you are traveling in a vehicle, you must be at the terminal 90 minutes prior to your departure, or 30 minutes prior for walk-on passengers.)
3:00pm Ferry departs for Port Angeles.
4:30pm Arrive in Port Angeles, and go through US Customs. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. We recommend...

1) Shopping and dinner in downtown Port Angeles
Pick up a souvenir, or special item to commemorate your trip! Downtown Port Angeles is filled with local antique stores, clothing, quaint bookstores, and other small shops.

Enjoy a local bite! There are so many great restaurants in Port Angeles to choose from... For something a little more casual, Next Door Gastropub and BarHop Brewing are local favorites. Or, treat yourself to a fine-dining experience at Kokopelli Grill or Bella Italia.

2) Stroll along the Port Angeles waterfront
Begin at Port Angeles City Pier, overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and located beside our ferry terminal. Then, continue on to the Olympic Discovery Trail where you'll pass Hollywood Beach in front of the Red Lion Hotel. Enjoy sunset at the beach, or stroll along as much trail as you'd like. The Olympic Discovery Trail spans about 140 miles/225 km between Port Townsend and La Push on the Olympic Peninsula.

3) Try the local brews on a self-guided craft beer adventure
Sample the fine flavors of some great craft beers on the Olympic Peninsula on this self-guided tour of Port Angeles' best pubs and breweries. Receive a pint each from 3 local brewers. All 3 tasting locations are in downtown Port Angeles, and less than a 5-minute stroll from each other and the ferry terminal. 

Sol Duc Falls on the Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail in Olympic National Park

Day Three - Explore the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park

Before you begin your day of exploring, enjoy breakfast in Port Angeles. We recommend First Street Haven or New Day Eatery, for a sit-down breakfast, or the Great Northern Coffee Bar, if you are looking for a light snack and coffee-to-go.

1) Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach in Olympic National Park (self-guided tour, about 7-8 hours, includes drive-time)
Looking for a unique outdoor experience? Spend the morning hiking in the largest temperate rain forest in the contiguous USA, followed by an afternoon of exploration on a stunning portion of the 73 mile Olympic Wilderness Coast. The diversity of Olympic at its best!

2) Experience an Olympic Peninsula waterfall adventure (up to a full day, depending on how many waterfalls you want to see)
The Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail encompasses over 20 breathtaking waterfalls on the Peninsula and in Olympic National Park. Visit the Olympic Peninsula's website for more information on the Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail.

3) A scenic flightseeing tour with Rite Bros Aviation and guided Port Angeles Underground and Heritage Tour (half-day tour, about 4 hours)
From the comfort of a small plane, you'll be treated to an exclusive look at the sites and wonders of the Olympic Peninsula. Book a flight sightseeing tour through Black Ball Ferry Line. then enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the city’s downtown area. Your expert tour guide will captivate your group with tales of the city spanning more than 100 years, and glimpses into what remains of a long-ago era. Book the Underground Tour through Black Ball Ferry Line.

4) Explore everything Twilight (half-day, about 4-5 hours)
Visit iconic Twilight destinations throughout the Olympic Peninsula. Check out the Forks Visitor Information Center (with Bella's red truck), stroll along First Beach in La Push, and stop for lunch/dinner at Bella Italia. Visit the Olympic Peninsula for a full guide on everything Twilight!

Kayaking on Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park

Day Four - Continue to Seattle or Return to Victoria

8:00am Depart for Lake Crescent & Marymere Falls, or depart for Hurricane Ridge... OR, if you have some extra time and aren't ready to leave the Olympic Peninsula, do both! We recommend allocating at least three hours for each activity (which includes drive-time and time for exploring).

OPTION 1 - Depart for Victoria, BC
11:00am Leave Hurricane Ridge or Lake Crescent.
11:45am Arrive at the Port Angeles ferry terminal.
12:45pm Ferry departs for Victoria at 12:45pm.
(If you are traveling in a vehicle, you must be at the terminal 60 minutes prior to your departure, or 40 minutes prior for walk-on passengers.)
2:15pm Arrive in downtown Victoria and go through Canada Customs.

OPTION 2 - Continue to Seattle, WA
Seattle is about a 2.5-hour drive from Port Angeles. If you'd like to stop for a stretch (or two), there are many great places along the way.

Cape Flattery on the Olympic Peninsula, WA — The northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States

Optional stops on the way to Seattle

Downtown Seattle, WA

Iconic things to do in Seattle

Pike Place Market: Be sure to check out the original Starbucks.
The Gum Wall: A stop at Pike Place isn't complete without leaving your chewing gum with everyone else's!
Space Needle: The best views in the city.
Chihuly Garden and Glass: Extravagant displays of Dale Chihuly's art pieces.
Museum of Pop Culture: Dozens of exhibits on everything (and more) you never knew about contemporary pop culture.
The Museum of Flight: One of the largest collections of airplanes and space vehicles in the USA.
Discovery Park: Need some fresh air? Take a stroll through this 534-area park.
The Seattle Great Wheel: A 175 foot iconic Ferris wheel located at Pier 57 in downtown Seattle... You can't miss it!