My family (mother, father, grandmother) are visiting Istanbul for a week and I was thinking about taking a few day trip to Bursa. A few questions
1. Is it an easy trip from Istanbul (ferry, dolmus I think I read)
2. Is it worth doing on a quick two-day trip
3. What is there to see/do?

Thanks!

I did it a few times when I was in Istanbul. The ferry is quick, but then you really need a car when you get off the boat. I've never done it by bus, but my wife tells me it's not so bad. I can't recommend a hotel b/c I've always stayed with my wife's aunt.

Bursa is pretty nice - the first couple of times (then it gets a bit boring; it's just not that big). If you've never been there before, there are a lot of nice historical places, but expect that much fewer people will speak English than in Istanbul or Ankara. Be aware that people in Bursa tend to be more religious than in some of the larger cities and dress accordingly if you want to visit the mosques et al.

You should definitely go to the original Iskender restaurant while you are there; Bursa is also a good place to pick up towels and such because of its prominence in textiles.

1) very easy, through fast ferries (Yenikapi - Mudanya/Bursa) 20YTL for a 90 min. trip, then 15 km from "downtown" (maybe dolmus ?)
2) you may be a little bit optimistic ...
3) maybe ...

I go to Bursa a few times a year.
By bus it's easy - the bus drives on the ferry, you get off, walk around, get back on the bus and then on to Bursa. The bus station is about 20 minutes from the center of town. From Harem to Bursa takes about 3 or 3-1/2 hours. Depending on where you stay you don't really need a car there - taxis and public transportation are everywhere.
Lots of hotel options, depending on where you want to stay. If you want to be near the bazaar there is a hotel right across the street and several good smaller ones on the side streets. That area is probably easiest if you want to walk around. Or there is Cekirge (sp?) where the hotels are with private hot springs/hamams for the guests. That is a bit out of the way and you would have to take more taxis.
There is a lot to see there - Yesil Cami, Ulu Cami, the bazaar and koza han for silk things. If you want to go to the top of Uludag there is a teleferik (cable car) that goes up to the top.
2 days would probably do it there.

I highly recommend visiting Cumalıkızık, a small village outside of Bursa which is easily accessible via minibus.

There are old stone homes, cobblestone streets, and families that open their homes to serve some delicious meals.