Washington Coast & Vancouver Island

[UT Cardinal]

Trying to plan a trip up the Washington Coast the last two weeks of July 2015 & first week of August. I have never been in this past of the country - so everything will be new for us. I kind of decided to start at Astoria, Oregon and travel north on HWY 101 ending up in Port Angeles, WA. Taking a ferry over to Vancouver Island and travel north to Port Hardy, BC. I have a 3030RS and a Ford F-350, total length approx. 50 feet. I have the following questions, if anyone can help me out:

1. Schedule is very flexible; however, I am leaning towards staying near Longview, WA, Ilwaco WA, Forks, WA & Port Angeles. Can anyone recommend a suitable RV park/campground? Does the State of Washington allow any boon dock camping on the beaches or elsewhere?

2. I have a fishing charter scheduled for Aug 4 - 6th, that provides accommodations in Port Hardy, BC. It appears that it will cost me $400 (round trip) to ferry my 5th wheel into BC. So I am wondering if it is worth it? Are there enough sites to see on Vancouver Island worth spending the money to ferry the trailer over and spend a few extra days. The other option is to leave it in the US.

3. How is it dealing with customs going into BC and back to US with a travel trailer?

4. What tourist sites do you recommend seeing in the BC and WA?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Don Wilson]

I can not help much with items 1 thru 3.
4. What tourist sites do you recommend seeing in the BC and WA?-

Sites in Washington
Mount ST. Helens is interesting because of the eruption and there is a visitor's center, http://mountsthelens.com/

Mt Rainier National Park - http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

Olympic National Park - Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic Coast Trails - Two links below to check out for Olympic NP
http://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/e ... -coast.htm
I would suggest if you are going to be staying on the Olympic Peninsula to make reservations in advance as the RV parks book up when it is sunny and especially on a sunny weekend

Seattle - I have listed a few sights in Seattle that I enjoyed below.
Space Needle
Public Market Center Pike's Market
Pikes Place Fish Company - Tossing fish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbtsfyrEF_c
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Museum of Flight

Vancover Island.
Butchart Gardens
Government Street
British Columbia Legislature Buildings

There will probably be more members who have more to offer!

[Don Wilson]

UT Cardinal

You should consider leaving Utah a little earlier and joining us for the 2015 National Rally in the Redwoods at Klamath California on July 11 - 15 and then Canyonville Oregon July 15 -19, 2015

Check it out in National Rally section!

Don

[snoking]

Word of caution about going to Canada and one's past life experiences. Canada will not allow anyone that has a past DUI or felony convicion to entry their country. People are routinely turned around in Victoria and sent back on the next ferry back to Port Angeles. Grayland State Park is nice and a visit to Westport, Wa. There is an US Coast Guard Museum and Astoria Column in Astoria, Or to see. Chris

[Olbird]

Traveling the Oregon coast is a lot nicer, Winchester Bay is a great park to start at and travel 101 down to Astoria, many many nice camp grounds and town to see, you can then go over the Astoria bridge and see Long Beach but then I would come back over the Astoria bridge and travel Oregon side to Longview, not much in my opinion on the WA side pass Long Beach until high North.
Then take I-5 North to the I-5 / 101 split just before Olympia, WA. 101 then becomes nice again to the ferry.

[UT Cardinal]

All great comments - Thank you!

Olbird - I will look into your recommended detour I5 north to 101. It might actually be faster; however, my wife likes traveling the coast. We actually did the Astoria, OR south to California trip last summer & had a lot of fun.

[snoking]

All great comments - Thank you!

Olbird - I will look into your recommended detour I5 north to 101. It might actually be faster; however, my wife likes traveling the coast. We actually did the Astoria, OR south to California trip last summer & had a lot of fun.

You might check the Long Beach area and Kalaloch Beach. Chris