Seattle actually gets less rain per year than New York, Chicago, Miami or Atlanta. Winters are mild and summers are perfection, with persistent blue skies and temperatures that make air conditioning unnecessary. Snow is rare downtown, but a number of impressive ski areas, some less than an hour away, receive more of the white stuff than any region on Earth. The mild climate also makes activities like golfing, fishing, whale watching and hiking possible year round. Aboard a ferry to the islands of Washington, you can look back at the white pyramid of Mount Baker standing at the edge of the continent.
Eagles carve circles in the sky above.
Orca whales and porpoises feed and play in the lush water below. This legendary archipelago was a gift of the glaciers that covered Washington 15 thousand years ago. Galleries, vineyards and fine restaurants coexist with some of the tastiest canoeing and kayaking waters along the Pacific Coast. The Island region includes Whidbey Island, Camano Island, Fidalgo Island and the San Juan Islands. Many islands and islets make up the San Juan Islands, but it's the four main islands, Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and San Juan, that are accessible to visitors.