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Pacific Northwest Events: September 2012

September 4, 2012 in Local Happenings, travel portland, Travel Seattle, Travel Vancouver BC, Travel Victoria, Travel Whistler by Deirdre | No comments

The official first day of fall does not come until September 22, so there is plenty of time left to squeeze in a little extra summer fun especially with this spectacular streak of dry weather we have been experiencing in much of the Pacific Northwest. We say seize the moment and enjoy one (or many) of  the great festivals and events happening in the Northwest this September. Which one are you most excited about?

Fremont Oktoberfest

Fremont Oktoberfest / Photo: Creative Commons Licensed by flickr user sonyaseattle

Victoria:

Victoria Overnight Summer Special: Seattle to Victoria overnight packages start at $128 pp/do for stays in September. Package includes round trip Clipper, overnight in a 4-star Victoria, BC hotel and all taxes.

Seattle:

Pacific Northwest Events: July 2012

July 3, 2012 in Festivals & Events, Travel Seattle, Travel Vancouver BC, Travel Victoria, Travel Whistler by Deirdre | No comments

Break out your sunglasses, summer is finally coming to the Pacific Northwest! The sun usually comes out right after the July 4th holiday which means all the best outdoor festivals and events in the Pacific Northwest are scheduled for July, August and early September. Here is a round up of can’t miss July events in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, the San Juan Islands, Victoria and Whistler:

International Fountain Seattle Center

Seattle Center in Summer

Vancouver:

Theatre Under the Stars (July 8-August 18 on alternating nights)

Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 13-15)

Celebration of Light (July 28, August 1, August 4)

Seattle:

Seattle Chamber Music Festival (July 2-29)

Seattle International Beerfest (July 6-8)

Wine Rocks 2012 (July 11)

West Seattle Garden Tour (July 15)

Bite of Seattle (July 20-22)

Bellevue ARTSfair (July 27-29)

Sequim Lavender Farm Faire Day Trip (July 20-22)

Portland:

Waterfront Blues Festival (July 4-8)

Oregon Lavender Festival (July 14-15)

Portland International Beerfest (July 20-22)

Mountain Bike Oregon 2012 (July 20-22 and August 17-19)

Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (July 20-22)

Oregon Brewers Festival (July 26-29)

San Juan Islands:

Splash of Summer Color Weekend and San Juan Island Lavender Fest (July 21-22)

Victoria, BC:

Victoria Skafest (July 10-14)

Taste Victoria (July 19-22)

International Buskers Festival (July 20-29)

Whistler, BC:

ArtWalk (July 5)

Celebration of Arts Weekend (July 6-8)

BC Bike Race (July 7)

Whistler Longboard Festival (July 12-15)

Whistler Children’s Art Festival (July 14-15)

Charlie’s Angels All Women’s Bike Race (July 27-28)

Function Junction Block PARTy (July 27)

BioBlitz (July 28-29)

To book a summer getaway to any of these fabulous destinations, visit www.clippervacations.com or call 800-888-2535

There’s Snow in the Mountains—Time to Plan a Whistler Vacation

November 10, 2011 in Northwest Destinations, Travel Whistler by Deirdre | 1 comment

Whistler is one of my favorite places I have ever been to. So far, I’ve been their twice and the second time was as awesome as the first. This means I am very excited to let you know that Clipper Vacations is selling Whistler two day lift tickets this year in addition to our Whistler Overnight Packages. If you don’t know very much about Whistler, let me tell you a few of the things that I love about it.

Whistler Peak 2 Peak

Photo: Duncan Rawlinson/Icon Photography School

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BC? British Columbia? Beautiful Canada!

November 4, 2011 in Group Trip Tips, Guest Writers, Northwest Destinations, Travel Canada, Travel Seattle, Travel Vancouver BC, Travel Vancouver Island, Travel Whistler by Charmaine Hallmark | 3 comments

It’s called the Pacific Rim, this wild west furthest-most point of British Columbia in Canada – gazing to sea from my little Zodiac while out on a whale watching tour, the next land mass is… Japan!

I was wrapped up warm and dry, as I shared the bay with 4 or 5 large grey whales spouting and diving in the water around me, hardly making a ripple in the water at all. Calm and quiet, gentle giants, unaware that their presence was making momentous memories that I would cherish far into my dotage!

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Rocky Mountaineer’s Whistler Sea to Sky Train

March 24, 2011 in Travel Canada, Travel Vancouver BC, Travel Whistler by Vicki | No comments

All aboard! Sit back and relax on a 3 ½ hour rail journey between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. You’ll experience stunning scenery around every corner including Stanley Park, Howe Sound, Shannon Falls, Mount Garibaldi (soaring 8,786 feet above sea level), Cheakamus Canyon and Brandywine Falls (a spectacular 230-foot cascade framed by stately Douglas fir).

Traveling northbound from Vancouver to Whistler, you leave in the morning and enjoy breakfast at your seat as well as complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Traveling southbound, you leave in the early afternoon and enjoy a light meal. All meals are prepared fresh by the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. While you can do this trip in one day, we highly recommend spending a night in Whistler or Vancouver to experience these great destinations.
Sea to Sky train

Rocky Mountaineer offers two levels of service on the Whistler Sea to Sky train: Classic and Dome. Both levels of service provide assigned seating, breakfast (out of Vancouver), a light afternoon meal (out of Whistler), access to the Heritage Observation Car and commentary by knowledgeable onboard attendants. The difference is that Dome Service offers views through full-length dome windows and Classic offers views from picture windows. Both are spectacular. Dome service allows you to have complimentary beverages including wine and beer, while the Classic service offers complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

Rocky Mountaineer was named in National Geographic’s Journeys of a Lifetime as one of the World’s Greatest Trips and also voted by the Society of American Travel Writers as the Best Train Experience in the World.

Book your Sea to Sky adventure today!

San Juan Islands, Olympics & Whistler Among New York Times Top 41

January 12, 2011 in Northwest Destinations, Travel San Juan Islands, Travel Whistler by Sara | No comments

If you have lived in the Northwest for a while it is probably no surprise to you that local areas have made the New York Times, top 41 places to visit in 2011. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had wanted to include Mt. Rainier and Seattle, WA, but that just wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the world, would it?

Time and again I can’t help myself but to write about how diverse and often breathtaking the Northwest is.  This winter the mornings have been cold on the water front. On my way  into the Clipper office there are mornings when the sky is so clear that when I gaze across  the Puget Sound I get to see snow covered peaks of the Olympic mountain range. It never fails to make me appreciate where I live and work.

What did make the top 41 you ask? The San Juan Islands, the Olympic National Park & Whistler.

San Juan Islands

The great thing about San Juan Islands is that you don’t have to go very far to feel like you are really getting away. Starting in May 2011 you can depart directly from Seattle aboard the Clipper to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. You can take advantage of an all inclusive package to stay in Friday Harbor. If you want more time to explore the islands it is easy to add additional nights before heading back to Seattle. Check availability

Inclusions:

  • Souvenir Explorer Guidebook to the San Juan Islands
  • San Juan Islands Hotel/pier transfers
  • Round trip Victoria Clipper cruise between Seattle and Friday Harbor
  • Overnight hotel on San Juan Island
  • 2 1/2 Hour Whale Watching & Sealife Search

Photo by, Lea Brookes

Olympic National Forest

So much to see, so little time. I have spent days and days hiking, camping and staying at hotels in the Olympic National Forest and I have still not seen all that there is to see. I am an avid skier and I just learned that you can ski at Hurricane Ridge for $27/day. It is an aggressive slope, mostly black and double black diamond, but even if you would rather chill in the lodge the view has to be breathtaking on a clear day.  If you are new to the area or just want an easy way to travel the area you should view travel options.

Inclusions:

  • 1 night stay at Red Lion Port Angeles
  • 1 night stay at Kalaloch Lodge
  • 1 night stay at Lake Quinault Lodge

Whistler

Whistler is a skiers, snowboarders, and mountain bikers heaven on earth. We make it incredibly easy for you to get up to Whistler for a ski vacation. You can choose from five of Whistler’s fabulous hotels, including The Fairmont Château Whistler, The Whistler Pinnacle hotel, The Listel Hotel Whistler, Delta Whistler Village Suites and Nita Lake Lodge. Check  rates and availability

Inclusions:

  • Two nights’ accommodation in Whistler
  • Round trip motorcoach between Vancouver and Whistler
  • Round trip Amtrak Cascades between Seattle and Vancouver
  • All applicable taxes

“Du” Fromage on your way to Whistler

November 19, 2010 in Travel Whistler by Kat | No comments

Opening day at Whistler, Blackcomb is today, November 19th!

I recently took a trip to Whistler for a quick weekend getaway.  Just a 4 ½ hour drive from Seattle and you can be in a place I refer to as “magical”.  There is something special about this world class resort north of Vancouver.  Perhaps it is the journey there along the gorgeous Sea-to-Sky highway.  I have been on that drive many times, but there is always a new discovery.  This time, I saw part of a mountain that must have been hidden by a cloud during my other trips.  My first thought was, “is that new?”  Of course it isn’t, but I do not remember ever seeing that tall, majestic peak before.

Another new discovery on this trip was a hidden gem called the Grilled Fromage in Squamish.  To find it, you will have to bypass the typical rest stops and turn off the highway to Cleveland Avenue which looks like a quaint main street in a small town.  This grilled cheese diner is located on 38134 Cleveland Avenue and is self proclaimed as the “Cheesiest Place on Earth”.  What a find this was!!  Not only is the concept amazing, but the diner itself has so much character with all of the 80’s memorabilia on the walls.  One wall is dedicated to the menu which was a bit overwhelming.  Trying to decide which sandwich to choose from was tough considering there are approximately 50 choices.   I almost caved and got the “Missionary” (basic grilled cheese), but decided to be a bit more adventurous and went with the Guinness flavored cheddar with bacon.  No chips or fries as a side at this joint….every sandwich comes with cheetos!!!  It is definitely worth the short detour on your way up to Whistler, on the way back….or both.  The owner said that they are looking to possibly open another one in Vancouver.  Look out burgers…..the grilled cheese is taking over!

Since it was in between seasons when I was there, the village was quiet, but won’t be for long.  Pretty soon, the resort will be bustling with skiers and snowboarders anxious to get on the slopes and enjoy this extraordinary place. It is fun any time of the year, but there is something special about winter time with the sight of countless twinkling lights on the trees, the smell of snow and of course the taste of nachos after a full day of skiing that make me want to head north again and again!

Whistler: A New Summer Favorite

July 29, 2010 in Northwest Destinations, Travel Deals, Travel Whistler, Uncategorized by Michelle | No comments

Whistler Village

Thanks to the 2010 Summer Olympics, Whistler, BC has been getting a lot of attention, but this picturesque mountain village has been a local favorite for many years. Though a lot of its popularity comes from the world-class skiing/snowboarding that can be found at Whistler-Blackcomb, summer getaways at Whistler are getting plenty of buzz. Plus, summer is “off-season” at Whistler, so you’ll find that there are good deals on packages that you won’t find during the prime “ski season” months.

Whistler Village is a small hamlet filled with great food, pubs and shopping. The mountains and lakes provide a spectacular backdrop to the alpine architecture, and, since Whistler Village is pedestrian only, you won’t need to worry about the hassle of traffic or parking. Take a stroll around the Village and you’ll find about 200 stores and 90 restaurants to satisfy all of your dining and shopping needs. My personal recommendations? Shop Whistler village in summer for deals on your ski and snow gear and don’t miss having a fondue dinner to complete the “alpine experience.”

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What I Did on My Summer Vacation in the Pacific Northwest

July 9, 2010 in Northwest Destinations, Travel Seattle, Travel Vancouver Island, Travel Victoria, Travel Whistler by Michelle | No comments

Sunset at Tigh Na Mara on Vancouver Island

Photo: Tigh Na Mara Resort and Spa

Beautiful summer weather has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest.  If you’re like me you need to start planning your summer adventures now before this gorgeous weather slips away.  This past year I had two great excursions that I’m now recommending to friends.

The first was a trip to rustic Tigh Na Mara Resort and Spa, a little over 2 hours north of Victoria on Vancouver Island.   Read the rest of this entry »

Any Season in Whistler is Magical

June 18, 2010 in Travel Whistler by Kat | No comments

Whistler is by far one of my favorite places to visit in Western Canada.  There is something magical about it that makes me want to return again and again.  The drive up the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver is spectacular which makes the journey there part of the fun.  With every turn on the winding road, there is something new to discover.  It is one of those “please pinch me….am I really seeing this?” drives that I will never tire of. Whistler Mountaineer Read the rest of this entry »

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