LYCOS RETRIEVER 
San Juan Islands
built 178 days ago
Scattered between Puget Sound to the south and the Strait of Georgia to the north, the San Juan Islands of Washington State are a plethora of jewels that touring buffs fervently take to in good and sometimes even bad weather. There are 768 islands, rocks, and reefs in this archipelago at low tide; at high tide the number drops to 457. Of these, about 180 are deemed important enough to have names. They are the last vestiges of a now submerged and forgotten continent, ancient mountaintops that are far older than the surrounding mainland and have been worn down by glaciers and eons of weathering. The islands are rich with glacial till, providing good soil for massive stands of timber and thickets of fern. The many bays, sounds, and inlets of their jagged coastlines create thousands of miles of habitat for sea birds, shellfish, river otters, seals, and sea lions.
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Orcas living around Washington state's San Juan Islands are ... being affected by more traffic. University of Washington researcher David Bain recently reported declines in foraging of more than 30 percent when boats were present. The closer the boats came to whales, the steeper the decline. Federal law states that whale watching boats must travel below 13 knots, never leave the helm unattended, post a lookout, cut their engines at 400 feet and stay 100 yards away from the whales. But Canada has prosecuted just two whale-watch boat operators in the Washington and British Columbia area, and the US has yet to penalize anyone. See "Visitors to Northwest Pay to See Orcas," Peggy Andersen, Associated Press at Las Vegas Sun, 5/9/06.
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The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau held a membership meeting last week to discuss spring marketing opportunities and elect its 2003 Board of Directors. This was the first membership meeting since the signing of the County contract appointing the Visitors Bureau to manage the new 2% lodging tax funds for tourism promotion.
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The San Juan Islands are known for scenic coastal vistas and hospitality beyond the pale, providing an array of travel and vacation opportunities for visitors. Anacortes provides local ferry links to the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island in Canada and offers many unique accommodation and services. Anacortes is ... home to the W.T. Preston steamboat and the Anacortes History Museum, both of which introduce visitors to the history of the area. Friday Harbor is accessible by ferry from Anacortes, and is the main port in the islands. In addition to hiking and biking, visitors to Friday Harbor will find the San Juan County Park, which includes a campground and a number of fishing opportunities.
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The San Juan Islands were featured in several televised presentations on the Travel Channel this month. "Honeymoon Hotspots USA" was filmed last fall on Orcas Island and San Juan Island and ... New York, Las Vegas, Vail, and Maui. Members of the Visitors Bureau participating were Turtleback Farm Inn, The Inn at Ship Bay, Pelindaba Lavender, Lavender Fields Day Spa, San Juan Safaris, and Kenmore Air. Viewership was high for this special episode featuring Trista and Ryan of Reality TV fame.
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The San Juan Islands have long been known for their profound natural beauty, contrasting landscapes and island mystique. Many people find inspiration here through the experience of being so close to the natural world.
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San Juan Islands