| Vancouver, British Columbia is an ideal location for the | | | | stops in Surrey and Richmond, British Columbia before |
| Olympic Winter Games. It is a major metropolitan area | | | | its arrival in Vancouver. If you really want to explore |
| with significant infrastructure, close to world-class | | | | numerous modes of transportation, you can take the |
| mountains and in a country that loves winter sports. | | | | Victoria Clipper high-speed catamaran from Seattle to |
| The city's international culture embodies strong | | | | Victoria, BC and the Pacific Coast Lines bus service |
| elements from both the East and West. | | | | from Victoria to Vancouver. |
| Another feature of this location is its proximity to the | | | | Three: The next decision is where to stay. Most |
| United States. Situated approximately 40 miles from | | | | people will elect to find lodging in Vancouver. The |
| the US/Canada border, Vancouver will be easy to | | | | Pacific Central Station, Amtrak's depot in Vancouver, is |
| reach by land. You may wish to consider rail travel as | | | | two blocks from the Main Street - Science World |
| a relaxing and affordable method to travel to the | | | | station on TransLink's SkyTrain service. Four TransLink |
| Games. Given the elevated demand for airline seats | | | | and two Coast Mountain bus lines run close to the train |
| into Vancouver around the time of the Olympics, a | | | | station. You will want your hotel to be close to a transit |
| land alternative may be the most enjoyable way to | | | | lines since there will not be any private automobile |
| get to Vancouver. | | | | parking at the Olympic venues. The good news is that |
| Here are five tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from | | | | your Olympic event ticket gives you unlimited, free |
| the Vancouver Winter Olympics by Amtrak: | | | | access to the TransLink system on the day of that |
| One: You must first decide your gateway city. Seattle | | | | event and the early morning of the next day. |
| and Portland, Oregon are the logical choices. Although | | | | Four: Two alternative bases for the Olympic Games |
| both cities enjoy great air service, you may wish to | | | | are Bellingham, WA and the Whistler, British Columbia |
| take the Empire Builder from Chicago or Minneapolis | | | | areas. Bellingham is about sixty miles from Vancouver. |
| St. Paul to either gateway city. You will experience the | | | | Both Amtrak Cascades and Greyhound bus service |
| vast Northern plains and the scenic Rocky Mountains | | | | are available to Vancouver many times a day. If |
| (including Glacier National Park) along the way. | | | | mountain sports are the focus of your visit, you may |
| Alternatively, you can fly into California and take the | | | | wish to stay in the Whistler area. There is Greyhound |
| Coast Starlight north from Los Angeles or Oakland. | | | | Canada Thruway service from Vancouver's Pacific |
| Like the Empire Builder, this train has Superliner sleeper | | | | Central Station to the Pemberton/Whistler area. |
| accommodations. Finally, there is Amtrak Cascades | | | | Five: It will be extremely important to make advanced |
| service five times a day between Portland and | | | | reservations for transportation and lodging to see the |
| Seattle. | | | | Olympic Winter Games. By buying your transportation |
| Two: Once you reach Seattle, you have multiple | | | | tickets and reserving your lodging in advance, you may |
| means of transportation north to the Olympic Games. | | | | be able to receive discounted advanced purchase |
| You can travel on one of two Amtrak Cascades | | | | fares or fares for students and seniors. Finally, US |
| trains that include a stop in Bellingham, Washington | | | | citizens should remember that they will need to |
| before arriving in Vancouver. Alternatively, you can | | | | present their passports to cross back into the United |
| connect to an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach that only | | | | States from Canada. |