Northwest Coast meet and drive

[gomarlins3]

After all our fun last year in Washington here in the States, this year we will be in Western Canada. Here is the planned agenda:

Friday night, July 6th at the Best Western Coquitlam (on North Road).
For me, it's $129.00 +tax, 24 hr cancellation if not in a group, free parking. Do NOT say you are in a GROUP. Register on your own. This hotel has been used on the previous 2 West Coast Drives and is quite nice. Parking out front is fairly secure. Noone in our bunch has ever had a problem there. For this evening, we'll hope everyone can make it there in time to go to dinner together at a nearby restaurant.
Call the specific hotel NOT the general Best Western line.

Coquitlam Hotel - Best Western Vancouver Theme Rooms – British Columbia, Canada

Saturday night, July 7th at the Helm's Inn in Victoria.
For me, it's $135.00 +tax, 48 hr cancellation. Again, register on your own. Parking is $5.00/night. This is very handy to the harbour and tourist area and parking is secure with video surveilance.
You can book online here and they'll send you a confirmation quite soon.

Victoria BC Hotels and Accommodation in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

With summer just around the corner, rooms are booking up fast. I strongly suggest you make your reservations NOW! You can always cancel should something come up. If you are too late and can't get a room at these two hotels, do a Google search for other hotels in the area. Here's an alternate for Victoria:

Victoria BC Hotels - Victoria Hotel Accommodations - James Bay Inn

The James Bay Inn is also very nice, but I can't vouch for parking. It's about 2 blocks further away from the harbour than the Helm's Inn.

Tentative plan:
1. Meet up at the Best Western Friday evening and go for dinner.
2. Saturday morning, go for brekkies nearby, check out of hotel.
3. Drive to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal and head for Nanaimo.

http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/m...a-current.html

We'll try for the 10:40am sailing, so need to get going from the hotel before 9am. (So, early brekkies.)
4. Arrive in Nanaimo for lunch. (I'm looking into a suitable restaurant and will update later.)
5. Leisurely drive to Victoria to check into hotel.
6. Spend the remaining afternoon to sight see the harbour and downtown area.
7. Head out to dinner. (I'm looking into this nice restaurant on the beach a little ways up the inner coast from Victoria - we'll take the scenic drive along the coast. Will advise later.)
8. Sunday morning breakfast someplace nearby.
9. Check out of hotel and everyone can go their own way.

[gomarlins3]

Looks like we will be doing Leavenworth again this year as well:

Forums -> EVENT: Second annual Leavenworth Drive!