<p>Hi I am a 34 year old male traveling to Seattle/Vancouver with my Father. He is 69 and Has lung cancer and emphysema. He still works full time so he’s not that bad off. But he does use oxygen tanks. He needs a nap daily and can’t really walk anywhere without getting tired. </p>
<p>So I am looking for some tips on traveling with him. Particularly any ways I can make him as mobile as possible. I have seen some other places and activities posted on this forum and it appears that there are a lot of places to walk around (i.e. Pike Place Market, Buchart Gardens in Victoria, Boeing Museum), and would like to try some of these if he is up to it. So If you think any of these or others be would be easier in relation to his condition that would be great.</p>
<p>We’ll rent a car and drive to Vancouver. My father love’s road trips so any scenic driving spots either along the way or other would be cool. </p>
<p>Thanks for the Help.</p>
<p>A couple of thoughts off the top of my head –</p>
<p>Seattle has many steep hills that could challenge your dad on foot. I’d suggest selecting a hotel that has a free shuttle service within the area so you can be dropped off/picked up at spots like restaurants, Pike Place Market, etc. without having to worry about navigating in your rental car or looking for a parking space.</p>
<p>There are fun boat trips around the Seattle area – a couple of hours each. Search “Argosy Cruises”. Various options offer views of waterfront homes in Lake Washington, houseboats on Lake Union, downtown waterfront; one starts in Lake Union, goes past houseboats and then through the Locks that separate freshwater Lake Union from saltwater Puget Sound, and drops you on the downtown pier. If you’re more adventurous, you and your dad can “Ride the Ducks” on an amphibious vehicle that starts as a bus and then goes into the water.</p>
<p>When you drive to Vancouver, be sure to get off I-5 on the way north or south to take Chuckanut Drive, which closely follow the coastline for many miles north of Seattle. It’s a gorgeous, winding, drive. Here’s a link that offers scenic drive options for this and other routes:
[Washington</a> State Tourism Chuckanut Drive](<a href=“http://www.experiencewa.com/scenic-byways/chuckanut-drive.aspx]Washington”>http://www.experiencewa.com/scenic-byways/chuckanut-drive.aspx)</p>
<p>There’s also a CC thread with some good specific tips about the Chuckanut Drive route: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/540786-seattle-vancouver.html?highlight=chuckanut[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/540786-seattle-vancouver.html?highlight=chuckanut</a></p>
<p>Google Duck boats Seatte. Fun way to see the city from land and water.</p>
<p>For something lots cheaper,
[Water</a> Taxi](<a href=“http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/Marine/WaterTaxi.aspx]Water”>http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/Marine/WaterTaxi.aspx)
take the $3 water taxi from the downtown waterfront to West Seattle. Beautiful views back to the city. From the place the water taxi docks there is a free bus to Alki Point (where the first settlers landed), good lunch places, great views on a clear day.</p>
<p>I would be really wary of taking someone with O2 tanks into the summer crush of Pike Place market. Way too many people. Maybe I’m just too old and remember when it was a true farmer’s market…</p>
<p>A really great scenic place is Whidbey Island, north of Seattle. You can get to the island via the ferry from Mukilteo, then take Hwy 20 through the island to Deception Pass (absolutely breathtaking), then a bridge will take you back to the mainland/I-5. Or you can drive to Anacortes and take the ferry to BC.</p>
<p>[Official</a> Whidbey and Camano Islands tourism website. Located in the Pacific Northwest, 25 miles north of Seattle - The Shortest Distance to Far Away](<a href=“http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/]Official”>http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/)</p>
<p>Here is a map of the island:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/downloads/whidbey-camano_32.pdf[/url]”>http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/downloads/whidbey-camano_32.pdf</a></p>
<p>I second everyone who recommended the Ducks. They are already up and running, and the tour is supposed to be fun :)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great ideas. </p>
<p>My dad tends to get motion sickness so we probably will stay off the water (except taking a ferry as needed). Which is unfortunate because of the vast amount of water ways in the area. I grew up in Minnesota (Land of 12,000 lakes) but my dad did not so he never had a chance to get used to being on the water.</p>