Seattle - San Juan Islands

Popular with vacationists are the San Juan Islands, which preserve a number of buildings dating from the period of British rule. In Friday Harbor is a Whale Museum, and there are boat trips from there to observe whales in the open sea.

Other islands in Puget Sound, all rewarding of a visit, are Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, the virtually unspoiled Vashon Island, a wonderful place to explore by bike, and Blake Island, where Chief Seattle was born and where a Squamish log house has been reconstructed.

Canada too is "just round the corner", with a regular ferry service to the pretty town of Victoria on Vancouver Island.