When thinking of where you might be able to get to on a summer weekend, you probably draw a mental circle extending out a few hours from Portland in each direction. Seattle and its neighboring attractions probably falls within that circle, but British Columbia probably doesn’t quite make it, seeming just a bit too long for a short getaway.

While it can be an all-day trek both directions to Victoria or Vancouver by roads and car ferries, another option exists to shorten the travel time and put Victoria within reach. The Victoria Clippper passenger-only fast catamaran from Seattle treats you to a scenic cruise through Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands en route to Victoria’s Inner Harbour, making for both an alternative to hours on the highway as well as serving as a scenic and enjoyable experience of its own accord.

Your car will stay safe and sound at a nearby overnight parking garage in Seattle ($10 per day for Clipper passengers) while you enjoy a comfortable three hour excursion crossing the Sound. Upon arrival, there is no need to fuss about parking or driving, as Victoria is extremely walkable. For a unique around-town transportation alternative, Victoria also offers pedicabs and horse-drawn carriages, as well as an extensive network of city bus routes. Sightseeing excursions are readily arranged for activities such as whale watching or a visit to nearby Butchart Gardens.

Seattle: Always a Gem on Puget Sound

Begin this weekend roadtrip with a drive up I-5 to Seattle on Friday evening and an overnight in the Emerald City. You may wish to lodge near Seattle’s waterfront so as to be near the pier in the morning. The waterfront makes for great walkability and people-watching! You have limited time to enjoy Seattle’s many attractions, bu t depending on when you are able to arrive, you may be able to fit in a ramble through Olympic Sculpture Park or take a ride on the monorail. Enjoy a fresh seafood meal on the waterfront or perhaps explore the passages under old downtown Seattle on an Underground Tour.

The Ferry Ride: It can’t get any easier or scenic than the Victoria Clipper

Victoria Clipper and Olympics by Paul Schultz.

In the morning, your ferry leaves from Pier 69 at 7:30 am and arrives to Victoria at 10:30 am. Purchase breakfast and a coffee onboard and marvel as the scenery goes by on all sides while you journey at a speed of 30 knots through the waters of Puget Sound dotted here and there by the rugged San Juan Islands. Seats onboard are roomy, tables are readily available for pursuits such as playing cards, and an open-air deck allows you roam at will. The Olympic Mountain range and Washington’s coastline are visible as well, bidding you farewell to the Evergreen State.

Upon arrival to Victoria’s live ly Inner Harbour, you will be greeting by the city’s unique British charm. British Columbia’s provincial capital, Victoria is the garden city of double decker buses and high tea, and is regarding as one of the most welcoming cities in Canada. Victoria is the oldest city in Western Canada and is dominated by iconic dome-roofed Parliament buildings, as well as the bustling Inner Harbour which is home to a vibrant scene of artists, jugglers, and street musicians. The Harbour offers kayak rentals and whale watching tours as well as amphibious ‘Hippo’ Tour buses for a land and water introduction to Victoria’s many sights.

Victoria: There’s so much to see and do here, it can be hard to choose!

Located on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, this city of 360,000 population has the mildest climate in Canada, thus making year-round gardens a possibility. Butchart Gardens is the most well known, located just 15 miles north of town and boasting a well-manicur ed fifty acres of blooms interspersed with a network of trails leading to welcoming water features and grassy resting nooks.

Butchart Gardens by TravelingOtter.

Another quintessential Victoria city landmark is the ivy-covered Fairmount Empress Hotel, favorited through the years by celebrities and royals alike. This is ‘the spot’ to partake of a true English High Tea experience, though advance reservations are required. (Should you be unable to get in at the Empress, High Tea is also offered elsewhere in town at many other hotels).

Sometimes called ‘more British than Britain’, Victoria’s shop windows are full of British imports, and English pubs are readily found. Victoria also boasts Canada’s oldest Chinatown, a quick walk from the central city attractions. Whale watching is certainly a ‘must do’ in Victoria, with orcas consistently in residence April through November.

Victoria is highly family friendly, having been included in the Top 10 Family Vacations in Canada in TripAdvisor’s 2011 Travelers’ Choice awards. Some popular family attractions include Miniature World, the Bug Zoo, Craigdarrach Castle, and Undersea Gardens. The Royal BC Museum is regarded as one of the world’s best regional musuems, with exhibits portraying the history and stories of the people and land of Western Canada from the Ice Age to today including a life-size wooly mastodon replica.

Sunday’s ferry return options to Seattle are at either 11:20 am or 6:45pm (please remember to always check sailing times as they do vary by date), returning you in three hours to your parked car. Should you take the early return to Seattle, you might make one more pass through Pike’s Place Market or stop at the Museum of Flight on the south side of town. As you return home on the interstate, you’ll have a fond memory of the beauty of cruising Puget Sound as well as some time well spent in a little piece of Britain on Vancouver Island.