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Trains, planes and ferries: Carless getaway, Kenmore Air from Victoria to Seattle
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Kenmore Air arrives in Victoria, BC. Photo by Sue Frause.
One of my favorite Pacific Northwest getaways is spending a long weekend in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. And what makes it even better is you don't have to drive to get there. I recently returned from my latest carless adventure in Canada via train, bus, ferry, sea plane and even a London cab! Here's the final installment of my three-day getaway.
Day 3 : A Victoria walkabout and sea plane back to Seattle
After being shrouded in fog for far too many days, I awoke to sunshine and a view out to the Olympic Mountains from my suite at Fairholme Manor. It was the perfect morning to walk around Victoria. If you travel light, it's a lovely 15-minute stroll from the inn to Victoria's Inner Harbour. After the yummy four-course breakfast, of course. Or have owner/innkeeper Sylvia Main arrange for a cab to take you downtown. There are some major attractions near Fairholme, including Craigdarroch Castle and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Also, there are numerous antique shops along Fort Street (Antique Row) as you make your way down the hill.
If you don't want to haul your bags around, drop them off at the Kenmore Air terminal, located at the Hyack Air terminal on Wharf Street. My flight wasn't until 2:30 PM, giving me plenty of time to poke around. Don't miss Chinatown, Canada's oldest Chinatown and the second in North America (after San Francisco). Nearby on Yates Street is one of my favorite lunch spots, Ferris' Oyster Bar & Grill, where the oysters are yummy and prices reasonable. Or just meander along the waterfront, watching the seaplanes and water taxis come and go. This is also the area where the M/V Coho from Port Angeles docks, along with the Victoria Clipper.
Another good spot for fresh fish is Red Fish Blue Fish. It doesn't reopen for the season until Feb. 1, 2009. It's also located on Wharf Street, and housed in an earth-friendly building (they also reuse and recycle). The fish 'n chips are tops, and all the fish is sustainable 100% Ocean Wise seafood. It's an outdoor dining place, so no indoor seating, and be prepared for long lines on sunny days.
I headed back up to Government Street after lunch, making a stop at Roger's Chocolates. I always leave behind the last of my loonies and toonies with the purchase of a small chocolate or two for the flight back home. Roger's has been located in the same beautiful shop since 1891, and even if you don't purchase anything, the sights and smells are pretty darn sweet.
Our Kenmore Air flight left for Seattle at 2:30 PM as scheduled. The 45-minute flight to Lake Union aboard a de Havilland Otter (ear plugs provided) took us past my island and all the other familiar places that I call home. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful three-day getaway. Leave your keys at home.
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