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