Being a local tourist

[shootingstar]

I was really impressed by the Glass Art/Museum in Tacoma. Stunning. And walking along that bridge with the handblown glass displays embedded in..

As someone who has visited Seattle several times, we invariably include:

part/all of the Burke-Gilman bike trail
a visit to the independent bookstore downtown (some books are not imported into Canada)
eat at the French bakery in the Pike Market area (but shop is located along the street outside)
have a salmon-based chowder in bread bowl in another place in a building across from the main Pike Market building, bike along the waterfront which includes the outdoor art sculptures (I'm a sucker for interesting large outdoor art installations.)

Are you going straight into downtown Victoria?? Or...passing through one of the San Juan Islands to get to Victoria.

Or are you taking the Washington ferry to eventually Saanich harbour which is about 25 kms. north of downtown Victoria? That is the peninsula area that is nice for wandering. We actually will be staying for 1 evening next wk. And taking a 10 min. British Columbia ferry to another part of Vancouver Island so that we get off and bike to a winery....

One take the Amtrak train from Seattle which will get you directly into downtown Vancouver. The Skytrain station will get you further in within 5 min. or walk it..lots to see and do downtown Vancouver with its waterfront. It's quite different than Seattle's waterfront: there's no freeway/highway to block the sightline.