General Cycling Discussion - a Trip Vancouver,WA - Seattle Wa, By Amtrak

I'm planning a trip from Vancouver WA- Seattle on Amtrak, and I want to take my bicycle with me, there will be two of us traveling, it's really cheap less than $100 RT and that includes the bicycles.

I'm still looking at ways to carry stuff, so rear bike racks are going to be needed along with a set of panniers for both bikes. Planning on taking the Hybrids, SU100 Trek, and a Trek 7.2 as they are the most suited for this type of travel , they already have lights and fenders, just need some kind of rack/pannier.

I want to stay downtown somewhere and explore all that Seattle has to offer, anybody done this trip before, any ideas?

I had had one bicycle shop owner last weekend in Astoria ,Oregon say I needed to box the bikes for Amtrak to accept them, if that is true, that would change this whole plan.

Check with Amtrak.

Phil, check with either the Vancouver Bicycle Club: http://www.vbc-usa.com/, Portland Wheelmen: http://www.pwtc.com/ , or Portland Velo: http://www.portlandvelo.com/ . I'm sure someone has done what you're planning. I think Amtrak allows rolling bikes onto their train for people riding on STP, but not sure about the other times of the year.

Heh Jeff

Thanks, been looking at the VBC, interesting and a lot of information there, I did stop at the Vancouver Amtrak station, they told me at present 4 trains a day to Seattle from Vancouver, seems availability is a question, because of my work schedule, I don't think I'll be doing this trip until the later part of May.

They have hooks to hang the bicycles on, no boxing required.

So I'm looking for rear racks and panniers for both bikes now.

Amtrak did tell me, that until next fall, they are running a train all the way to Vancouver BC, now that sounds like another destination this summer.

I'd consider a ferry to one of the smaller, less populated San Juan islands - perhaps Lopez - and riding on the island.

http://www.visitsanjuans.com/

The Pike Place market is interesting - very touristy, but full of interesting things.

I'd consider a ferry to one of the smaller, less populated San Juan islands - perhaps Lopez - and riding on the island.

http://www.visitsanjuans.com/

The Pike Place market is interesting - very touristy, but full of interesting things.

I've been looking at that too, Lopez Island looks like a great place to explore, alias, the April 24 2010 ride I'm gone, in Orlando.

I'm new to the Pacific Northwest, just moved in Sept 09, here from Dallas/Fort Worth, it's just a weeee, bit different... but so much to explore and see

I've looked at Amtrack from Portland to Vancouver several times over the past couple of years. From their site it looks as if Amtrack is using a bus between Seattle and Vancouver. If I have to ride a bus then I want to pay bus prices, not a train premium. If by bus then my bike would have to be boxed to keep it from being damaged

Do you know if they are they using trains for the Seattle - Vancouver section now?

This is how we did it on last summers tour (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=121457&v=3z)

Mt. Vernon is a great launch point for the San Juan Islands, North Cascades, or Olympic Peninsula too.

From what the agent in the Vancouver,Washington station told me, they have one train that continues on to Vancouver BC everyday, this is going to run until the end of summer, on the Amtrak website,it's the Cascade train that runs to Seattle from Vancouver,WA, and they have space for 6 bicycles, on each train.Reservations required

From what the agent in the Vancouver,Washington station told me, they have one train that continues on to Vancouver BC everyday, this is going to run until the end of summer, on the Amtrak website,it's the Cascade train that runs to Seattle from Vancouver,WA, and they have space for 6 bicycles, on each train.Reservations required

Thank you Phil. That's good to know.

This is how we did it on last summers tour (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=121457&v=3z)

Mt. Vernon is a great launch point for the San Juan Islands, North Cascades, or Olympic Peninsula too.

By the way, since Mt Vernon has come up and since its April, its time for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. http://www.tulipfestival.org/.

Tulip fields are or will be in full bloom soon. Other flowers, too.

I've been there several times and it is absolutely gorgeous. Field after field of brilliant flowers for miles!

Edit: The Skagit Valley is also known for the number of bald eagles in the area.

The one concern is that on a sunny weekend there are a lot of cars - but during the week the roads have very light traffic. Its flat so the area is a good ride for novices.

Highly recommended.

At one point I worked for Nextel as a Field Technician. One April day I had to drive test a new cell site (like the "can you hear me now" guy, though its not done like that) and so got to spend a good part of the day driving around on those back roads and enjoying the view.