I am going with two friends ages 36 and 54 (mother and daughter). We want to visit Seattle for two or three days before or after the Cruise and want to find a hotel to stay at in Seattle, and the best method of transportation to Vancouver and back. If there is a train with sightseeing will be ideal. What are some things to do? My friends love to shop, eat well, and we have never been to that part of the United States.

We are all originally from Venezuela. Please let me know your recommendations or where I can find reliable information to book my trip. Thank you in advance for your time and attention. Sincerely, Maria

Sally Farhat Kassab: Maria, I think I am in the wrong profession! I want a conference on a cruise ship! Before or after your cruise, I recommend Amtrak. It's the best way to get to and from Vancouver via public transportation. In addition to the two-day tour I outlined for the woman from Atlanta, here's a third day sample itinerary:
Grab a French pastry at Le Panier in the market, then head to Pioneer Square for an Underground Tour. Browse the collections at the Elliot Bay Book Company. Walk to the International District (sometimes called Chinatown) and visit Uwajimaya Village to eat rice bowls and sushi rolls. Head to Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill where you can visit a museum or climb the park's water tower, offering sweeping views.

I'm glad you asked about eating! Seattle has some excellent restaurants -- a new Italian one just opened called Beato Food & Wine in West Seattle. If you want ultra-fancy (with a price to match), with an amazing view, head to Canlis. Harvest Vine is great for tapas. (But it can take forever to get a table). Lampreia has a near-cultish following. But most of those aren't in the downtown core. (Take a cab! It's worth it! )
If you want to stay downtown, shop to your heart's content in the Belltown neighborhood. But don't miss the upscale stores in Rainier Square - yes, Seattle has a Louis Vuitton boutique.

_______________________

Alameda, CA: My partner and I (ages 44 and 52) are boarding the Golden Princess in San Francisco and taking a 2 day cruise to Vancouver. We leave Wednesday, May 2nd, arrive in Vancouver Friday morning May 4th. We will have Friday and Saturday in Vancouver and then Sunday, May 6th we take Amtrak back to Oakland, CA. With only 2 days in Vancouver and no car, what are the "must see/do" items? We already have dinner reservations for Friday night at the Cloud 9 revolving restaurant as we are staying at the Landmark hotel. Thank you.

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hello! For great must-sees in Vancouver, please see my answer to the Lexington question above. The only thing I'll add are details about the city's public transit. Translink (www.translink.bc.ca) runs buses that travel throughout the metropolitan area; the SkyTrain operates between downtown, the East Side, and the city's eastern suburbs; and the SeaBus crosses the harbor between downtown and North Vancouver. You'll have a great time exploring Vancouver!

_______________________

Washington, DC: I'll be in Seattle in June and I am really excited about the trip. Its for business but I plan to get in some siteseeing. Is the best way to get around by car, or can I use bikes/public trans. to see the sites (and hit the restaurants). Thank you!

Sally Farhat Kassab: I am glad you're excited! My hometown is lovely. If you want to just see the main sights, you really don't need a car. But if you want to get out and see the neighborhoods, each with their distinct personality, then get a car! It depends what you like. Ballard, Fremont and West Seattle are all must-see neighborhoods, in my opinion. If you just want to see the downtown Seattle sights and West Seattle, take the Water Taxi (http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/oto/water_taxi.html) a 12-minute ride from Seattle's waterfront to West Seattle. Head to Alki Beach for the closest thing Seattle has to South Beach. During the summer, I spend as much time as possible there. Seattle is incredibly bicycle-friendly, by the way, so that's also a good option.

_______________________

Hinesburg, VT: We are traveling to Vancouver on Sat. June 2nd. We will arrive in the evening and spend the night before boarding our cruise ship the next afternoon. What can we do that evening and the next morning? There are six of us and two are 14 and 11. Any ideas? I wish we had time to go over to Victoria to see the gardens. Anything like it in Vancouver? We'd like something we could walk to from our downtown hotel. Nancy

Sally Farhat Kassab: Hello! The answers to the other questions on Vancouver should help. And don't worry--as I mentioned earlier, there *is* a garden in the city: The University of British Columbia Botanical Garden. You'll love it.