No Carrier's Comments

Seattle - Victoria BC and Back

After just finishing up a nice holiday, I thought I would share some of details.
The trip was designed with multiple modes of transport, Air to Seattle, ferry from Seattle to Victoria BC and back, and Train from Seattle back to Los Angeles.

We started at Union Station Downtown LA and ended up exactly at the same spot. The trip first was to take the flyaway from Union Station to LAX. As you can see Union Station is a very unique building, done in the mission or sort of Arts-and Crafts style so popular at the turn of the last century.

The flight on Virgin America was pretty uneventful, except that I was able to use some earned miles to buy tickets in first class. That's always a treat.

Upon arrival at Seattle we had to find transport from the airport to downtown where our hotel was. Funny thing is the prices were for 2 people 38 $ for a shared ride van, 40 for a taxi, or 45 for a stretch limo. Take a guess what we took to the hotel ?

The hotel was the Paramount hotel on 8th and pine. Turns out, it was pretty close to everything. The city, at lease that area felt very much like I was home back in downtown LA. Same sort of coffee shops and restaurants. Ruth Chris's steakhouse right across the street. Two Hyatt were on either side of us. (The Hyatt on 8th/Olive based on the look of the lobby and restaurant seemed like a superior hotel) - Just in case you were wondering.

Wifi in the hotel, now that was my next fun surprise. I usually find I have to pay 11 buck or so to get in room wifi, but here the supplier was wayport. That meant that because my home internet was not from AT&T. all I needed to do was log in to Wayport put in my AT&T username - password and like magic, my in room wifi was free.

Taking the very traditional touristy trip though Seattle seeing pikes market, the space needle, the monorail it was time to get some sleep and take the Victoria clipper the next day.



While in Victoria, we did the usual Victoria,went to Buchart Gardens, toured the city, went to the Royal Museum of BC, complete now with an IMAX experience.
Ill post the pictures of the flowers etc on my gallery in a day or so, but here is a few for a taste.


The trip back on Amtrak was a very nice surprise. To be greeted at our sleeping cabin by the conductor with a few splits of champagne, and being told there would be fresh water and hot coffee available for the taking for the entire trip was just the beginning. There was a lounge car, which sold snacks, and was similar to a bubble car of years past where you could relax on a couch look though picture windows and up though a sunroof at the scenery passing you by. There was a "Parlor Car" which was really a bar on wheels. Nice idea if you like to have a wine tasting with cheese for 5.00 while was watch the world out your window. Beneath the Parlor Car was a theater. Not the newest movies but it was something to do if you didn't happen to bring along a laptop filled with the Tudors, or Rome. 120 v power was in just about every seat and the only thing missing was wifi. I didn't try it, but it was possible that if you had cell wireless from Verizon or sprint that would have worked fine. My blackberry seemed to be able to work from the train so I see no reason it wouldn't have been worked.

Labels: amtrak, seattle, victoria

posted by Bob Lee @ 5:48 PM