We took a cruise to Alaska from Seattle and it gave us a good opportunity to visit Seattle and Vancouver. We spent some time in Seattle before we got on the cruise. After we got off our cruise ship, we had a day or so to spend in Seattle and were trying to figure out what to do. Olympic national park seemed like another option, but we finally decided on crossing the border and driving to Vancouver. It was a 3 hrs drive, but luckily customs took only 5 mins at the Canadian border.

Vancouver highlights

Sea to Sky Gondola: The drive on Sea to Sky highway was so pretty with mountains along the Howe Sound which looked like Fjord. The view from Sea to Sky gondola reminded me of the view in Geirengerfjord in Norway.

Once we reached the top by Sea to Sky gondola, there was live music playing near a gift shop center, and a suspended bridge by it. We walked over the bridge and got more pictures and took the trail loop which was. 10 min walk back to the other side of the bridge we started from. The suspended bridge felt a bit more wobbly than the bridge we took near Yukon – Yukon Suspension Bridge.

Granville Island: We drove over to Granville Island that evening and though the shops were closed, we enjoyed the night view Vancouver skyline. The drive from sea to sky to Granville was a pretty one through the downtown where we could admire the clean streets and tall buildings. Vancouver seemed very huge compared to Seattle which we visited a few days earlier. Granville Island is a small island with many cute shops/restaurants and outdoor dining. The view of Vancouver city skyline was beautiful with the hills, marina, a bridge, and tall buildings to complete a full view.

Even though we had a short time – just one evening, we were able to see the city highlights and enjoy the memories. The city of Whistler is another beautiful city just 1 hr drive from Vancouver, but time did not permit it this time. The weather in Vancouver is pretty pleasant throughout the year including mild winters with little snow, which was another interesting thing to note.

Seattle area highlights:

Pike’s Place Market: We visited pikes place market and got to buy some bracelets and souvenirs from there. Pikes Place has a long history and has shops some of which had vintage shops and items to collect. I originally opened up for farmers and the oldest continuously operating market in the United States. The first Starbucks is definitely a must-see for a Starbucks coffee lover, and a must-try if you are ready to stand in a long line!

Microsoft: Microsoft headquarters is about 30 mins north of Seattle in Redmond, WA. We made a quick stop there to check out the history of computer software and the Windows Operating System. It was interesting to see the group of people including Bill Gates who started Microsoft and learn the history behind the company. Microsoft has a huge campus and employees were all over the place while visitors came to check out.

Mt. Rainier: This is a must-see National Park! Mt Rainier is around 3 hours away from the city of Seattle, and we did it in a day trip. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen and I recommend it to everyone going to the Seattle area. Parking is usually crowded on weekends at Paradise and Sunrise entrances, so please be sure to plan early or on weekdays.

So, one thing to note while planning a trip to Mt Rainier is to put the directions on GPS to one of the entrances like Paradise (Nisqually), Sunrise, Steven’s Canyon, or Carbon River. The most popular entrances with the best views are Paradise and Sunrise. The distance from one entrance to the other is very long, so please be sure to add the correct entrance in the GPS.

My family entered via the Paradise entrance (Nisqually entrance) on the southwest of the mountain, and it really lived up to its name of Paradise. The pictures don’t do justice and one must actually view to enjoy the beauty. The picturesque Myrtle Falls just before it gave for some beautiful pictures and memories. We hiked about a mile to go through the landscape and see the falls. There was another mile or so to Reflection Lake which would allow you to see the mountain’s reflection. We took along binoculars and could view the glaciers on top of Mt. Rainier. There were many glaciers. The Carbon River entrance is mostly known for trails and the Rainforest.

Mt. Olympus: We did not have time to check out this part of the state of Washington but this is around 3 hours from Seattle and has beautiful views of the Mt Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park may need more time to explore as there are so many sections to the park including a beach and rainforest.

There are many more sights of Seattle including the Seattle waterfront, harbor steps, a Gum wall, space needle, check out Seattle skyline lights from Kerry Park, Alki Beach or Jack block park, Bainbridge island ferry, Museum of Flight, Chinatown, and Seattle Chocolate factory.