Spectacular Northwest Summers
We’re two hours out of Anacortes, cruising along the rugged rocky shore of San Juan Island. I’m relaxing on the deck—lulled by the warm August afternoon sun and the water slapping a rhythmic beat on the hull of the MV Mystic Sea. My daydream ends abruptly when Captain Monte announces over the ship’s speakers, “Whales off the port side!”
I spring to the railing and spot three large black dorsal fins knifing through the Puget Sound waters. The tallest triangular fin is the telltale signature of a 10,000-pound male Orca, swimming with two smaller females. Another tiny fin breaks the water, trailing behind. A baby Orca calf! The whales cruise effortlessly, churning the water into white foam. The tops of their huge ebony bodies with stark white oval eye patches glide above the surface.
A menagerie of other wildlife also makes an appearance—massive Humpback whales, Harbor porpoises, sunning seals and sea lions, Bald Eagles and bobbing Rhinoceros Auklets. The amazing day is a snapshot of a typical Pacific Northwest summer day of outdoor adventure with water, wilderness and wildlife.
The region’s long winters of short gray rainy days are challenging—not “less than four hours of daylight” bad like Alaska winters, but bad enough. The payoff is lengthy sunny summer days as a backdrop for relaxation and adventure in unique waters like Puget Sound, and Idaho’s deep glassy lakes, and on the wild peaks and trails of mountains like the “American Alps,” Washington’s rugged North Cascades.
Whether you have weeks of free time or just a Northwest weekend, numerous outdoor activities are always nearby.
A Week on the Lake
If you have a week, better yet several weeks, to enjoy the Northwest summer, there’s nowhere better than North Idaho’s trifecta of large, deep, clear lakes—Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Coeur d’Alene and Priest Lake. The lakes’ campgrounds, cabins and resorts have hosted generations of vacationers who flock back each year for time with family and friends, relaxation, sun and water activities.
Start your day skiing on early morning water that’s smooth as a plate-glass window, followed by lunch and a nap in the hot sun before cooling off with a mid-day swim. Dinner could be a floating party on a pontoon boat.
Rental companies in Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene and Priest Lake’s marinas take care of your watercraft needs, including ski boats, fishing boats, pontoon boats, paddleboards, kayaks and jet skis.
While there aren’t any whales in these waters, there are plenty of other big fish—a record 42-pound salmon was caught in Lake Coeur d’Alene. So bring your fishing gear, drop a line in the lake, and reel in a trout, bass or salmon for the evening barbecue. Give fly fishing a try on a nearby river, or time permitting, take a road trip for a world-class fly fishing experience on the Snake River or Henry’s Fork in Southeast Idaho.
If you get tired of floating on your air mattress, there’s also plenty of adventure out of the water. Hit the trail for hiking or mountain biking at Mineral Point Trail #82 or Gold Hill Trail, or hit some golf balls at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and challenge their famous 14th hole floating green.
Wild Weekends
If you don’t have a week to lounge at the lake, towns on Puget Sound like Edmonds and Gig Harbor are uniquely located for weekend mini-vacations with a day of saltwater adventure and a day in Washington’s wilderness.
In the North Sound, start the weekend with a Friday night feast of alder planked salmon, steaming clam chowder and a cold local microbrew on the outdoor patio at Anthony’s Beach Café in Edmonds, as the rosy sun sets behind the Olympic Mountains.
On Saturday, the weekend’s water day, sail on an Orca whale watch tour—either a half-day tour from Edmonds on the speedy Chilkat Express hydrofoil, or a more leisurely all-day charter on the Mystic Sea out of Anacortes. Other options for water fun include fishing charters and boat rentals at the Edmonds marina, or a ferry ride to Kingston to explore the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas.
For Sunday’s wilderness day, experience one of Washington’s best views at Artist Point in the “American Alps.” A scenic route on the Mt. Baker Highway winds through evergreens and maples, and ends with panoramic views of green alpine lakes, jagged North Cascades peaks, and the looming cone of Mt. Baker, the northernmost Cascade volcano. On the way up, stop at Picture Lake to snap an iconic photo of Mt. Shuksan reflected in the lake.
Bring your day pack, boots and water bottle for a walk or hike, but even if you don’t leave the parking lot, the view alone is worth the drive. Pitch your tent at the Douglas Fir and Silver Fir campgrounds on the Mt. Baker highway to extend your trip for more than just the day.
A similar South Sound weekend mini-vacation might begin with a Friday night dinner at the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor. Take a harbor tour from Tacoma or Gig Harbor for Saturday’s water fun, and then on Sunday visit the colorful wildflower meadows at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park for a day hike.
These are just a few examples of countless outdoor adventures to fill a lifetime of Northwest summer weeks and weekends.
Michael McAuliffe is a freelance writer and photographer living in Edmonds. He can be contacted via his website at www.mcmikephoto.com.
