Pacific Northwest Road Trip: San Juan Islands and Olympic National Park

Almost everywhere you step foot in this area encompassing northwestern Washington State, water plays a major role in what you see. Whether it's the rugged coastline of the mainland and islands, you can always see the rippling waters of the Salish Sea, a common name for the connected body of water also known as the Strait of Puget, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Strait of Georgia(Canada) since 2008.

Driving along the eastern side of the Olympia Peninsula, home to the magnificent Olympic National Park, you'll encounter several miles of beaches studded with floating timber and washed by the powerful waves of the Pacific Ocean, as well as spectacular sea pillars, some rising more than 50 feet above sea level.

Even inland, the temperate rain forests and the Olympic Mountains with an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet above sea level are crisscrossed by swift streams and dotted with pulsating hot springs and clear lakes. A drive through this enchanting region offers opportunities to view incredible natural scenery from beaches to mountains, as well as spectacular wildlife.

At any time of year you can see giant killer whales, as well as migrating humpback and gray whales, watching from shore or a vessel for a view of these graceful giants.