I live on an island. I love living on an island. But as most of us learned at a young age, islands are surrounded by water. This means that every great adventure that takes place 'off the rock' starts and ends with a boat ride.
On Vancouver Island we have three main options when it's time for a mainland roadtrip:
Black Ball FerryRoute: Victoria, BC - Port Angeles, WA
Cost for Motorcycle and Rider: $32CAN
Crossing Time: 90 min
I have yet to experience the Black Ball Ferry but I will soon. A great option if you want to head straight down the Washington coastline and avoid the I5 area. Ferry leaves from downtown Victoria.
BC FerriesRoute: Nanaimo, BC - West Vancouver or Tsawwassen, BC and Victoria, BC - Tsawwassen, BC
Cost for Motorcycle and Rider: $36CAN
Crossing Time: 1hr 40min - 2hr
The most familiar option for regular travellers and BC residents. On-board travel conditions vary depending on the the time of day and which ship you end up sailing on - definately try to aim for one of the large, new ships if you can. Scenery is nice and on occasion dolphins and whales can be spotted on route.
Washington State FerriesRoute: Sidney, BC - Anacortes, WA
Cost for Motorcycle and Rider: $29CAN
Crossing Time: 2-3hr
A token presence of most amenities. Slim food choices and not cooked fresh - but something to take note of: galley has tendency to run out of food before voyage is over. This choice has the longest crossing time but offers up some of the best views as it passes between multiple small islands. Some of the wildlife to be viewed includes deer, eagles and seals. This is also the cheapest fare.
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