We spent a week in a 3 bedroom 3 bath condo next to the Canadian border and loved it. The unit had a large living room with a fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen. The bedrooms are separated by the living area. A master bedroom with king bed and bathroom is on one side and 2 bedrooms on the other. One bedroom has a queen bed with hall bath and the other has 2 twins with enclosed bath. The unit is so big that we couldn't hear voices from the back twin bedroom with the door closed. We ate at the restaurant which had bar type food. I had a thin strip steak at the happy hour for $14 which was OK. The front desk staff were wonderful. They printed maps of downtown Vancouver for us. The housekeeping staff always asked if there was anything we needed and even made the beds every day. Great service! We drove one hr. south on I-5 to exit 230, drove west on route 20 to Whidbey Island, drove halfway down it, then stopped at the Desolation Point bridge. We hiked along the ridge in the rainforest. Amazing ferns on forest floor. Fantastic views of Puget Sound. Continued down the island to the ferry and went over to Port Townsend, a lovely little town with great shops in old buildings. Go to the kitchen shop on the corner, go through the toy store to get to it, and Joglo shop which has lots of stuff from Bali. Also, we went to the Boeing Museum of Flight near the Seattle airport. A fantastic experience, but plan on at least 4 hrs to see everything, including going on flight simulators. Only $8 a session! We drove an hour to Vancouver to see the UBC Anthropology Museum, a hidden gem filled with thousands of artifacts and many totem poles. Not to be missed. Follow SW Marine Drive. You need at least 3 hrs. Grounds must be beautiful in the summer. Bawans, a small family place, 1453 W. Broadway, had great lamb chops for $12. Another day, we took the BC Ferry over to Victoria. Drove half hour to Tsawwassen ferry, then ninety min ferry ride, then took Greyhound bus ( got on the bus on the ferry) to downtown Victoria, filled with shops, restaurants, government buildings, a scenic harbor, and the Empress Hotel, an impressive Victorian jewel. Loved Lighthouse beer on tap and fresh BC oysters at Nautical Nellies on Wharf Street. Got the ferry back and had the buffet onboard, a $22 deal. Salad bar, fish, roast beef, chicken, pork, and huge chocolate dessert bar. The cafeteria items would have been much more if ordered separately. We love Washington State and Canada!!! Can't wait to return!
- Sandcastle Birch Bay
- Sandcastle At Birch Bay Blaine
