Car-free city living has its perks, but it can make it hard or expensive to get out. While I definitely rent a car when I need one, the cost adds up, and I hate sitting in Friday afternoon traffic. Not everybody has the option to drive at all. Here’s a list I’m slowly compiling of car-free vacation ideas. I’ll only add places here that I or someone I can vouch for have actually visited without a car, so you know that someone has in fact tried each idea and found it fun. If you have something to add, shoot me a note, and I may include it here. For hiking-specific car-free ideas, see the Transit Trekker.
Whistler, BC
Recreation Galore and Pedestrian Paradise
Home Base:
Whistler, BC
How you get there:
Amtrak or bus to Vancouver, BC ($30+, 4 hours, 2x/day). Walk or take the Skytrain into the city center. There are several bus options from Vancouver city center to Whistler including YVR Skylynx ($32+, 2 hours, 10x/day).
What to do there:
Nestled at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains in British Columbia, Whistler has legendary recreation at any time of year, from snowsports in winter to hiking, mountain biking and sightseeing in the summer, though its popularlity makes it pricey in both these peak seasons. In October, the shoulder season, you can score great deals on lodging and world-class food while enjoying miles of paved trails, snow-free hikes, and dazzling foliage.
Olympic Peninsula
Mountains and Sea with a Walkable City Center
Home Base:
Port Angeles, WA
How you get there:
Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island. From the terminal, the Strait Shot ($10, 2 hours, 2-3x/day) is a comfortable, direct ride to Port Angeles offered by Clallam Transit. The travel time rivals driving, and coaches are Greyhound-style MCIs with reading lights and restrooms.
Photo by Anurag Jain on Unsplash
What to do there:
Port Angeles is a nice enough town to do some shopping and have some really tasty meals (try Downriggers and Nextdoor Gastropub). But the real joy is in getting out and exploring.
The splendor of Olympic National Park can be accessed for half the year with the Hurricane Ridge Shuttle ($1 + park entry, 5x/day, spring thru October), which serves scenic Hurricane Ridge and two other trailheads.
For a more urban vibe, pack your enhanced driver’s license and sail across the strait on the Blackball Ferry to Victoria, B.C. ($22 one way, 2-3x/day), for a day of sightseeing in a quaint waterfront town. I have not done this ferry. Perhaps when I do, it’ll get its own entry.
If you do want to strike out on your own further than transit can take you and can drive, you can rent a car in town for the day through peer-to-peer carsharing app Turo.
Bainbridge Island
A short hop to island life
Home Base:
The historic downtown neighborhood of Winslow
How you get there:
Washington State Ferry from downtown Seattle ($10 r/t, every 30 mins).
What to do there:
Take a short Kitsap Transit bus ride to Grand Forest East or West for a small hike, rent a bike near the ferry, or peruse the walkable downtown for restaurants, wine tasting, and gift shops.
Photo by Sean Thoman on Unsplash
In the evening, savor Neapolitan pizza at Bruciato or have your pick among many wineries and brew pubs before enjoying scenery at Waterfront Park.
If you stay further from downtown, I’ll warn that there are few to no Ubers on Bainbridge, but you should be able to hail an old-fashioned taxi at the ferry terminal if you need one. (I found this out, the hard way, on my honeymoon!)
Nerd on the Bus 