One of the best ways to visit Canada from Washington State is by boat. The most well known ship that provides this service is the MV Coho. She is a vehicle/passenger ferry that plies the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, BC.
The Coho was built in 1959 and named for the beautiful silver salmon that can be found in the waters all around Washington. She is 341.6 feet long, 72 feet wide, and has a draft of 12.6 feet. She is operated by Black Ball Transport, Inc and can carry 1000 passengers and up to 110 vehicles. Her clearance is 14 feet which allows semis to travel between countries easily.
Traveling to Victoria from Port Angeles is a grand adventure. If you planning a day trip, the best way is to go is to walk. No, I don't mean walk across the water. Ride the Coho to Victoria and walk to all the different sites within town. The trip to Victoria is approximately 90 min. Victoria is a great place for tourists as many of its points of interest are right there within walking distance from the Coho. The Empress Hotel, Parliament House, Royal British Columbia Museum, and my son's favorite, the Chocolate Store are just a few. You can walk off the Coho and into the thick of Victoria to enjoy a day of shopping and sight seeing.
The Coho has been a great resource for tourists and shoppers of both Victoria and Port Angeles. In fact, Port Angeles has recently felt a boom as Canadian shoppers come over to take advantage of their strong dollar to do their Christmas shopping.
More information about the MV Coho can be found at this site.
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