Page 326 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

324  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

TRAVEL INFORMATION

The three major airports in the Pacific for enjoying the picturesque landscape;
Northwest are conveniently located to serve buses are relatively inexpensive; and driving
the metropolitan areas of Portland, Oregon; is particularly popular, as it enables travelers
Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, British to visit many locations that would otherwise
Columbia. But these urban centers can be difficult to reach. Once you have arrived
also be easily accessed by train, car, or bus in the Pacific Northwest, ferries and cruises
on the region’s excellent network of well- provide a scenic way of traveling between
maintained highways. Train travel is ideal coastal communities.

Arriving by Air the airports is by public transit.
Wash ington’s major airport The MAX light rail system is
is Sea-Tac Interna tional ideal for getting into Portland;
Airport (SEA), located between Gray Line also offers an airport
Seattle and Tacoma. In Oregon, service. Seattle’s Metro Transit
Portland International Airport buses run from Sea-Tac Airport,
(PDX) is just a few miles and share-ride shuttles and a
outside the city proper. Most light rail are available. TransLink
major carriers fly into these buses run regularly from the Amtrak train, offering convenient travel
airports, though international Vancouver airport, while the and sightseeing at once
passengers may need to stop in Canada Line SkyTrain reaches
Seattle and transfer to another downtown Vancouver from the Pacific Northwest and
plane to fly into Portland. the airport in 25 minutes. to travel within it. Amtrak
United Airlines offers flights offers daily services to
to the major cities of the Washington and Oregon
Pacific Northwest, while Traveling by Bus from the Midwest and
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air Although the bus may be California and has daily runs
fly to these as well as to regional the slowest way of getting between Vancouver, Seattle,
destinations. San Juan Airlines to the Pacific Northwest, it Portland, and Eugene, Oregon.
and Kenmore Air fly between may be the most economical. In British Columbia,
Seattle and the San Juan Islands. Greyhound has bus routes VIA Rail, Canada’s national
The point of arrival for most throughout the region; Gray rail service, links Vancouver
international visitors to British Line and Pacific Coach Lines to Alberta and the rest of
Columbia is Vancouver offer sightseeing tours. Discounts Canada. Rocky Mountaineer®
International Airport (YVR), are often available for children, takes a stunning scenic route
which is served by Canada’s students, and senior citizens. to Whistler or Kamloops,
major carrier, Air Canada, as well continuing on to Jasper,
as other national airlines from Traveling by Train or Lake Louise, Banff, and
around the world. WestJet is a Calgary, in Alberta, or along
low-cost national alternative that If you are traveling from the coast to Seattle. Reserve
links up with other major airlines. within the US or Canada, the seats through a travel agent
Air Canada’s regional division train is a good way to get to or VIA Rail directly.
flies to most major BC desti-
nations; smaller airlines, such
as Harbour Air, serving the Gulf
Islands, and Hawkair, serving
northern BC, connect the
province’s smaller communities.

Transportation from
the Airport
Taxis and the less expensive
shuttle buses are readily available
at all of the three major inter-
national airports in the Pacific
Northwest. Some hotels provide
shuttle service; ask when booking
your room. The least expensive
way to get into the cities from Union Station, Portland’s Italian Renaissance-style train depot, opened 1896

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