Best/Closest Cross-Border Shopping in Vancouver?

[Happy13178]

What's the best place to go shopping across the border from Vancouver, thats not TOO long a drive? Is Seattle best, or is there anything closer? Haven't been out to BC in a long while, not sure where the best deals can be had.

[GYR8]

What's the best place to go shopping across the border from Vancouver, thats not TOO long a drive? Is Seattle best, or is there anything closer? Haven't been out to BC in a long while, not sure where the best deals can be had.

Although I wouldn't exactly call it an adventure shopping trip, Bellingham is probably your best best, being a lot closer than Seattle. The Meridian Drive Strip / Bellis Fair aren't too bad. And it depends on what you are shopping for too. My recent trips there don't really result in anything too exciting. No real 'WOW' deals for me, as most of us RFD'ers know how to score the REALLY hot deals up here ;)

GYR8

[Hunter316]

You could try the outlet malls in Tulalip. Depending on the time of year they can have some pretty good deals.

[Happy13178]

K, found Bellingham and Tulalip on the map, how long a drive are they from Vancouver?

[Impossibles]

K, found Bellingham and Tulalip on the map, how long a drive are they from Vancouver?
Tulalip (seattle premium outlet malls) is by far the best and is about a 45 minute drive after the border.

[GYR8]

Tulalip (seattle premium outlet malls) is by far the best and is about a 45 minute drive after the border.

Yes you can get there in 45 minutes... if you are driving 160km/hr :lol:

Here are directions to the SPO:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=12335074330312199938,48.093431,-122.189591&saddr=blaine,+wa&daddr=Unknown+road+%4048.093431,+-122.189591&mra=mr&mrcr=0&sll=48.12233,-122.191315&sspn=0.205576,0.422287&ie=UTF8&z=12

About 1hr 13min if you decided to obey the speed limits ;)

GYR8

[1226]

Yes you can get there in 45 minutes... if you are driving 160km/hr :lol:

And you're guaranteed to get pulled over on that stretch.

Here are directions to the SPO:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=12335074330312199938,48.093431,-122.189591&saddr=blaine,+wa&daddr=Unknown+road+%4048.093431,+-122.189591&mra=mr&mrcr=0&sll=48.12233,-122.191315&sspn=0.205576,0.422287&ie=UTF8&z=12

About 1hr 13min if you decided to obey the speed limits ;)

GYR8

Under an hour is doable, without speeding too much.

[peroxide8888]

Bellingham is about 20-30 mins south of the border. Burlington/Mt. Vernon is about 20-30 mins south of Bellingham.

Bellingham has:
- Bellis Fair Mall

Target
JC Penney
Kohl's
Macy's
Hollister
Abercrombie & Fitch
etc.

- Fred Meyer (department & grocery store)

some surprising deals can be found here
food, clothes, shoes, electronics, jewelry, household goods

- Circuit City
- Office Max
- Ross Dress For Less (it's a dump, and waste of time)
- T.J. Maxx

Majority of shopping in Bellingham is on Meridian Street; there isn't too much in other areas like Sunset Square and downtown.

Burlington/Mt. Vernon has:
- Outlet Stores

Coach
Gap
Eddie Bauer
J. Crew


Majority of shopping in Burlington/Mt. Vernon is on or near Burlington Blvd.

Both towns have:
- Walmart
- Target
- Costco
- Best Buy
- Office Depot

Places to eat:
Bellingham
- Mi Mexico
- Lorenzo's (Mexican)
- Little Cheerful Cafe (downtown, diner/breakfast)

Burlington/Mt. Vernon
- Skagit Valley Casino Resort (5 mins north of B/MV)
- Outback Steakhouse (meh)
- La Conner Seafood & Prime Rib House (La Conner - small town west of B/MV)

[Narci]

Drive 10-15 south of seattle and goto Tukwila (Southlawn Parkway).

Way better shopping then anything between seattle and vancouver.

Way less Canadians shop there, big box stores and lotsa sizes to choose from. Got my pair of sevens for $99 at the Sak's Rack there in my size.

There's also a mall as well.

[rockster]

What's the best place to go shopping across the border from Vancouver, thats not TOO long a drive? Is Seattle best, or is there anything closer? Haven't been out to BC in a long while, not sure where the best deals can be had.

If you just want to do discount shopping depending on what you're looking for, I would go to Burlington. Do a comparison between Burlington and Seattle premium outlets. There's a few stores that I normally shop at, and aside from Banana Republic and BCBG, the stores I normally go to at outlets are at Burlington. If you let me know what kind of stores you're interested in, I can give you a better answer. There's also a Ross and TJ Maxx which are both discount stores, you really need to comb through the racks at Ross.

In terms of mall, I like Allderwood Mall in Lynwood. Seattle has good shopping, but the parking can be expensive, and I don't think it's worth the drive if you are looking for discount shopping.