Travel Information

Hood Canal Bridge Closure

The Hood Canal Bridge, part of Highway 104, is closed for 6 weeks starting in May 2009. Several major routes to Port Angeles will become unvailable. More general information is available at the Washington Department of Transportation site bridge closure site. Alternate routes are described in more detail below. Olympic Bus Lines runs twice a day between Seattle and Port Angeles for $80 round trip and drops you off across the street from the Red Lion Hotel. A free Hood Canal passenger ferry will operate alongside the Hood Canal Bridge during the closure but you will have to arrange drop-offs and pick-ups on your own. A reservation-based Keystone-Port Townsend ferry for general traffic and another reservation-based Edmonds-Port Townsend ferry meant mainly for trucking runs late at night on limited days early in the week. Kenmore Air Express offers scenic and affordable flights from the Seattle area to get you directly to Port Angeles.

Passports

For non-domestic US airline travel, a passport is required. By land or sea, a passport is the only 100% secure way and you may have difficulties if you only have a driver's license and birth certificate. These rules also apply for the traditional Tuesday trip to Victoria BC. Because regulations are changing frequently and vary by modes of travel, we strongly recommend that you review the US and Canadian Immigration and Customs rules that apply to your situation. When you cross the border, stick to the basics and explain that you are on vacation and attending a conference. Don't mention any business activities unless you know what you are talking about because that is heavily scrutinized these days. If you need to apply for a passport, there is a significant processing delay and your application needs to be submitted as early as possible. See below for links to more information.

General Recommendations

Port Angeles is on the Olympic Peninsula and can only be reached by driving and a ferry or by driving up the west side of Puget Sound. Driving is usually the most straightforward and enjoyable way to for most attendees to travel, especially if you can arrange carpools with friends, your sponsoring club, or through a mailing list and roomshare/rideshare board described on the Esprit-Exchange page. There are buses and small commuter planes but luggage will be a challenge and you will have to consider the convenience/time tradeoff.

The Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce page has good travel reference information.

By Car

Click for full page printable PDF

The main alternative driving routes to the Olympic Peninsula during the six-week closure are listed below. Click each leg for detailed information. (The online mapping websites don't do a very good job of calculating a full route.) Travel times are estimates as determined by mapping tools.

From Canada: Start at I-5 at Burlington.
- Go from Burlington to the Keystone Ferry terminal via Hwy 20 (1 hour)
- Take the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry (35 min + wait + fare) Note: this route takes reservations and usually fills quickly.
- Go from Port Townsend to the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction via Hwy 20 (20 min)
- Go from the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction to Port Angeles via Hwy 101 (47 min)
- Total travel time is at least 2 hour 42 min plus one ferry wait and fare.
From North Seattle: Start at Hwy 526 at I-5.
- Go from Hwy 526 & I-5 to the Mukilteo ferry terminal via Hwy 526 (10 min)
- Take the Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry (20 min + wait + fare)
- Go from the Clinton ferry terminal to the Keystone ferry terminal via Hwy 525 (42 min)
- Take the Keystone-Port Townsend Ferry (35 min + wait + fare) Note: this route takes reservations and usually fills quickly.
- Go from Port Townsend to the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction via Hwy 20 (20 min)
- Go from the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction to Port Angeles via Hwy 101 (47 min)
- Total travel time is at least 3 hours plus two ferry waits.
From Seattle:
- Take the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry (60 min + wait + fare)
- Go from the Bremerton terminal to the Hwy 101 & 3 Shelton Junction via Hwy 3 (36 min) Note: there are a couple ways to cut through Shelton to get from Hwy 3 to Hwy 101
- Go from the Hwy 101 & 3 Shelton Junction to the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction via Hwy 101 (1 hour 25 min)
- Go from the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction to Port Angeles via Hwy 101 (47 min)
- Total travel time is at least 3 hours 47 min plus one ferry wait.
From Tacoma/Olympia:
- Take I-5 to the Hwy 101 & 3 Shelton Junction through Olympia via I-5 (48 min when traffic is good). An alternative route from Tacoma to Shelton is via Hwy 16 Tacoma Narrows to Wauna, west on Hwy 302, and south on Hwy 3 (1 hour 26 min).
- Go from the Hwy 101 & 3 Shelton Junction to the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction via Hwy 101 (1 hour 25 min)
- Go from the Hwy 101 & 20 Fairmont Junction to Port Angeles via Hwy 101 (47 min)
- Total travel time is at least 3 hours.

By Ferry

The Washington State Ferries web site has information on routes, schedules, fares and approximate wait times. They also have (almost) live pictures of the waiting areas at the various ferry terminal waiting areas.

The Coho Ferry and Victoria Express from Victoria BC drop you off at the Port Angeles ferry terminal a few blocks from the Red Lion in Port Angeles. You'll probably want a taxi for your luggage.

By Air

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), about halfway between Seattle and Tacoma, Washington is the major airport for flying into the region.

Kenmore Air offers frequent flights between Port Angeles and Seattle. Shuttle or taxi service from Sea-Tac and Boeing Field can be arranged. The typical luggage allowance is a total of 70 pounds (a large suitcase plus a small carry-on).

By Bus

Olympic Bus Lines, a division of Greyhound, has a route that runs between Port Angeles, Seattle, and Sea-Tac. Contact the bus service to find if their routes are affected by the bridge closure.

Traveling Across the Border

Be forthright with the immigration and customs officials, produce real ID when asked, and you shouldn't have any trouble. They've seen it all before.

Travelling en femme seems to work best. Telling them you're going to a crossdressing convention is easier than trying to explain a trunk full of women's clothes.

Due to increasing border security requirements, at this time you WILL REQUIRE at least a passport. Don't even think of leaving the country without it. You are encouraged to research both US and Canada travel authorities to see what requirements may apply in your specific situation.

If you're in transition, try to get all your ID to match up before you leave. If that's not possible, arm yourself with the best you've got. Get a letter from your doctor explaining your situation. If you're bringing medication or hormones with you, make sure the letter explains that.

When entering the US, your vehicle and belongings may be subject to inspection. A straightforward, honest, cooperative attitude generally works best. Again, they have seen it all before.

You may be asked if you have a criminal record.

For rules on ID and customs declarations, we suggest the following resources:

Canadian Immigration: http://www.cic.gc.ca
Canada Border Services Agency: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Canada Revenue Agency: http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca
US Customs & Border Protection home: http://www.cbp.gov
US Customs & Border Protection (quick reference): http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go

Maps

Click for a map to the hotel and driving instructions to Esprit.

Red Lion at 221 N. Lincoln St. to Naval Elks Lodge at 131 E. 1st St.	Red Lion at 221 N. Lincoln St. to Port Angeles Community Playhouse at 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

ESPRIT, ESPRIT GALA and ESPRIT 2009 relate only to the yearly transgender conference
held in Port Angeles, WA. The conference and organization is not associated or connected
with the global apparel company Esprit or its marks.

(c) 2001-2009 CNE Transventions All rights reserved.