Day:1
Non-stop Flight JFK to Seattle
Visit Pike’s Place Market, where you can see the legendary fish tossing, and enjoy a fresh croissant and café au lait to rival the best in Paris. Travel across town to cobblestoned Pioneer Park Place to learn about the history of Seattle on Bill Speidel’s Underground tour.
Hotel: Inn at the Market, Seattle
Day:2
Day trip to Bainbridge Island
Take the ferry from the downtown Seattle pier to Bainbridge Island. On a clear day the ferry ride offers a panoramic view of Seattle’s skyline. Visit Eagle Harbor for the unique shops, galleries, and restaurants, including Blackbird Bakery, a delicious bakery/coffee shop. On the north side of the island, you’ll find the peaceful and naturalistic gardens at the Bloedel Reserve, which includes a formal Japanese tea garden.
Hotel: Inn at the Market, Seattle
Day:3
Seattle Art & Space Needle/Chihuly Gardens
Visit the Seattle Art Museum with an impressive collection of contemporary art, glass, and First Nations artifacts. The museum shop offers local artisan created jewelry, blown glass and more. Also affiliated with this museum is the Asian Art museum located on trendy Capitol Hill, admission is free with admission to the Seattle Art Museum.
Hotel: Inn at the Market, Seattle
Day:4
Seaplane to San Juan Islands
Board a seaplane from downtown Seattle to San Juan Island’s Roche Harbor. The San Juan Islands are located northwest of Seattle and offer pristine vistas,wildlife, quaint harbors, with unique stores and gourmet restaurants.
Hotel: Friday Harbor House, Friday Harbor
Day:5
4th of July on San Juan Island – Sites & Vistas
Set up a chair on Main Street to enjoy the 4th of July parade. Following the parade, join the community picnic where you can enjoy music, a pie-eating content, and the best barbeque in town!
Visit the historic American and English Camps that were occupied by the respective military forces when the territorial ownership of the island was being contested in 1859. Lime Kiln Point State Park is considered one of the best places in the world to view Orca whales. Dinner at the Friday Harbor House, on a scenic bluff overlooking Friday Harbor, provides a perfect vantage for the fireworks display.
Hotel: Friday Harbor House, Friday Harbor
Day:6
Explore the island or Orcas or Lopez Islands
San Juan island offers a range of activities, including tours of San Juan Vineyard that produces red & white varietals.Pelindaba Lavender Farm is a great place to relax and sample lavender ice cream, pick your own lavender, or shop in the onsite store which offers a wide array of lavender products. At Krystal Acres Alpaca farm you can visit the herd, and browse products made from Alpaca wool.
Visit Lopez Island to cycle on flat roads, take to the sea on a whale watch, or visit Orcas Island where you can hike Mt Constitution and savor the views as well as visit the historic downtown with a selection of bespoke shops and fine restaurants.
Hotel: Friday Harbor House, Friday Harbor
Day:7
Vancouver – Mountains meet the water
Take a short flight from Seattle to Vancouver, BC to experience one of the most beautiful and dramatic
cities in North America, with a rich history.
Scenic Stanley Park, is a perfect place to explore by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. The Vancouver Art
Gallery, contains the best collection of British Columbia based visual arts. Atmospheric cobblestoned Gastown, offers a range of contemporary restaurants and shops.
Also, the Museum of Anthropology displays a collection of traditional and contemporary art from Northwest Coast First Nations people, including totem poles, Haida houses, other artisan created displays.Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in North America and offers a rich history, which you can browse or arrange for a historical or food walking tour. Nearby Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens offers a glimpse of a classic Chinese formal garden.
Hotel: Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Day:8
Vancouver – Cultural Heritage
Overlooking the sea, the dramatic Museum of Anthropology displays a collection of traditional and contemporary art of the region, including totem poles, Haida houses, and artisan displays. The soaring glass building itself is an architectural gem, inspired by the post-and-beam architecture of northern Northwest Coast First Nations people. Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in North America and offers a rich history, which you can browse or arrange for a historical or food walking tour. Nearby Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens offers a glimpse of a classic
Chinese formal garden.
Hotel: Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Day:9
Vancouver – Home
Flight from Vancouver international airport.