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Victoria Clipper Route MapTravel times between Seattle, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, and Bellingham have increased significantly in response to the I-5 Skagit River Bridge Collapse last week. Several detours are in place, but moderate delays are to be expected during non-peak hours, with severe delays during peak times. Though Governor Inslee has challenged contractor crews to have a temporary bridge up by mid-June, a date has not yet been confirmed. Catching a WSDOT ferry out of Anacortes can be a traffic nightmare. If you need to get to the San Juan Islands or Victoria, take the Clipper and skip the increased travel time through Mount Vernon to Anacortes. Our high-speed Victoria Clipper catamarans take you on a scenic journey. Clipper departs daily between the downtown Seattle waterfront and Friday Harbor, as well Victoria. Avoid the detour all together. Clipper Vacations also offers savings on Amtrak train packages to Vancouver with stops in both Mount Vernon and Bellingham. So don’t settle for more traffic and travel time. Steer clear of the roads, step away from the wheel, and relax en route to your destination. Clipper is here to ensure that you not only enjoy your destination, but you enjoy getting there as well. Click here for departure times or call us at 800-888-2535 to speak to one of our Northwest travel experts. Let us remove the hassles.

Victoria Clipper IV

Victoria Clipper IV

Skagit River Bridge Detour Alternatives: 

 

Thomas Gainsborough Mary, Countess Howe

Thomas Gainsborough
Mary, Countess Howe, ca. 1764
Oil on canvas
95 x 61 in.
Kenwood House, English Heritage; Iveagh Bequest (88029039)
Photo courtesy American Federation of Arts

I recently went to see Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough: The Treasures of Kenwood House, London at the Seattle Art Museum and it turned out to be one of my favorite exhibits I’ve seen at SAM. I went on the guided tour which I would highly recommend, especially if you are unfamiliar with the history surrounding the pieces. After the tour I went through the exhibit on my own. The tour is about an hour long and covers the history of the Iveagh Bequest as well as information on several of the paintings included in the exhibit. The paintings are mostly from the 1600s and 1700s and include portraits, landscapes, marine scenes, several portraits of people as characters in Shakespeare or in other fictional settings, and etchings by Rembrandt.

Kenwood House in London usually houses the Iveagh Bequest, but since it is currently under renovation, the paintings are being exhibited and SAM was one of the museums lucky enough to host it. Edward Cecil Guinness of the Guinness Brewery sold his stock in the brewery and retired, becoming 1st Earl of Iveagh. He amassed a collection of Old Master paintings including pieces by Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Hals, Romney, Van Dyck and others which was later donated to Great Britain as the Iveagh Bequest and is usually displayed free of charge at Kenwood House in London. The exhibit at SAM also includes a section of pieces from European Masters collected by people in Seattle giving the show a local touch. Read the rest of this entry »

Butchart Gardens Christmas Lights Festival

Photo courtesy of Butchart Gardens

In 1987, at 83 years old she decided to dress up to celebrate Christmas, and 25 years later she is still going strong. She, of course, is The Butchart Gardens in Victoria and The Gardens will kick off the Christmas display with a light-up ceremony in Waterwheel Square on December 1st. Read the rest of this entry »

Westin Bear Mountain Golf Course

Westin Bear Mountain Golf Course

Just 20 minutes from downtown Victoria at the base of Mt. Finlayson rests the Westin Bear Mountain Golf resort which features two Nicklaus designed courses and 4 star lodge accommodations.  The two different courses are woven into the stunning Northwest surroundings and feature panoramic views of the ocean, mountains and city below.

The Valley course designed by Jack Nicklaus, explores the breathtaking landscape of Vancouver Island, passing over creeks and rivers, around lakes and through the forest. With more generous fairway width and fewer bunkers it is considered a friendlier course accommodating a wide skill set while providing plenty of challenge. Set in the foot hills of Mt. Finlayson, the Mountain Course is the collaborative effort of Jack Nicklaus and son Steve, which perfectly combines challenge with playability to create 18 signature holes.  The varied Tee selections create the ideal experience for every level of golfer. Read the rest of this entry »

Repeat after me. Soon sun will shine shimmering off my sandy sunglasses. Now say it ten times really fast!

The sun IS coming. The question is, when it arrives do you have something fun to do? Why not a little staycation? That is the buzz word for a vacation where you stay close to home. The beauty of traveling to Vancouver Island is that you get to travel abroad and experience cultural diversity and it only takes about three hours to get there on the Victoria Clipper.

Introducing the Premiere Summer Sale Event, Price from $99/ppdo
Overnight packages are available from only $99pp/dbl and include accommodations at the historic James Bay Inn, round trip travel from downtown Seattle on the Victoria Clipper and all taxes. Four other hotel package options include the Royal Scot Suite Hotel at $110pp/dbl, Harbour Towers at $125pp/dbl, Hotel Grand Pacific at $154pp/dbl and The Fairmont Empress at $156 pp/dbl, all including round trip travel on the Victoria Clipper and all taxes. In addition, children under 12 are free (1 child per adult).

By, Manfred Waddey

Fun things to do for the whole family

Discover the adventurous side of Victoria, BC with a ziplining getaway including round trip Victoria Clipper cruise from Seattle to Victoria, a stay at your choice of Victoria, BC hotels and a zipline tour from Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours. On your Victoria ziplining adventure, seek new thrills as your soar between the treetops of a stunning West coast forest and then return to Victoria to explore a city steeped in British charm.

The Royal BC Museum is a place of discovery. Through unique galleries, the Museum showcases the human and natural history of British Columbia and temporary exhibits from other countries and cultures. Authentic artifacts and specimens are displayed in highly realistic settings, giving visitors the experience of another time and place. Its permanent exhibits include the First People’s, Modern History and Natural History Gallery. FREE Entry on May 17th 2011.

Five Star Whale Watching in Victoria, BC
Picture yourself setting sail from Victoria’s Inner Harbour and heading out into the surf for a whale of an adventure. Your boat speeds off into the waters of Vancouver Island where over 90 Orcas, or “Killer Whales,” make their home. During the three-hour trip, you’ll search for these friendly giants, taking with you memories that will last a lifetime. Sound like a dream? It doesn’t have to be. You can book a Five Star Whale Watching adventure right now!

Seattle Pastry Girl is at it again. Her most recent endeavor? Oatmeal cookies.

I know that typically football food includes things like wings, chips, beer, and dips. Maybe what you are lacking is a simple delicious recipe for a good all time standby, oatmeal cookies. At the very least there are bound to be some kids running loose while you are watching the game and oatmeal cookies are a good “compromise treat”.

Cookie Recipe

Oatmeal Cookie Ingredients:
Makes about 3 dozen

60 grams (2.12 ounces) of wheat flour
140 grams (5 ounces) of soft brown sugar
170 grams ( 6 ounces) of oatmeal
2 teaspoons of baking powder
2 small pinches of salt
150 grams (5 ounces) of butter

If you have a scale use it to measure in grams which is how this recipe appeared. I used an online converter to list the ounce equivalent.
Making the oatmeal cookies… Read more

What are you make for your Super Bowl party this year?

Say farewell to a long list of  ”I Won’ts” & “I Shouldn’ts” this new year and instead consider to embrace the concept of “I Will”, as blog writer Seattle Pastry Girl so eloquently says.  Seattle Pastry Girl takes on new recipes that she finds intriguing and blogs about her conquests for us to drool over.  Here is a recipe for beautiful Creme Brulee cupcakes, which appear to be perfect to present at any dinner party.

Find out how she made this delicious looking treat!


Victoria Clipper New Year's Eve Cruise SeattleHowever beautiful, festive and bright they may be, getting a good view of Seattle’s traditional New Year’s Eve Space Needle fireworks display is a trying task involving staking your spot hours before the show and waiting endlessly in the cold. This year, break that tradition (and start a new one) with a picturesque Seattle New Year’s Eve Cruise aboard the Victoria Clipper III on Elliott Bay, complete with entertainment by a local magician and a strolling fortune teller, plus light hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast, and of course, a spectacular view of the Space Needle fireworks from the water. For a limited time only, receive an extra 10% off your Victoria Clipper Seattle New Years Eve Cruise when you book online and use promo code NYE11. Aside from the special discount, you’ll want to book early because space is limited and it fills up fast!

Seattle New Year’s Eve Cruise 2010 details:

  • Use promo code: NYE11 and save an extra 10% when you book online
  • . Offer expires, Monday December 13, 2010

  • Departs from downtown Seattle’s Pier 69 on December 31.
  • Includes: 2 Hour cruise on Elliott Bay, Evening entertainment acts, Light hors d’ oeuvres presentation, Party favors, Champagne toast
  • Book online or call 800-888-2535

What would you rather wear?


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