Washington coast

The sound of wild Pacific seas crashing to the shore; the sun setting slowly over a historic lighthouse; lovers and friends walking silently along the sandy shore; kids flying a kite or laughing as their beloved sand castle is reclaimed by the tide; an ill-shapen tree standing guard on the edge of a craggy cliff overlooking the cluster of small villages and town-these are the indelible images that become vivid and lasting memories of a visit to Washington’s Pacific coast.
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, near Ilwaco, sits on a high promontory overlooking the mouth of the Columbia. It’s a humbling experience to stand here looking down on the very sight that Lewis and Clark trudged across our untamed continent to see nearly two centuries ago. From here, the coast swoop down to near sea level, forming what lays claim to being one of the longest beaches in the world – the Long Beach Peninsula. Across a narrow strip of sand dunes, the shallow waters of Willapa Bay are home to thousands of birds and thriving oyster farms. This coastal area offers some of the best birding in America. On Grays Harbor’s north end you’ll find some of the finest oceanfront resorts in the state at Ocean Shores. And, once headed north on State Highway 109, you’ve entered a little known strip of Pacific shoreline where you’ll be hidden away in the far reaches of the maritime Northwest, yet only three hours drive from Seattle.
Birding, beachcombing, hiking, curling up next to a roaring fire in a seaside cabin, listening to the wind in the cedars and Sitka spruce – this area offers the essence of Pacific Northwest beach life. And although there is no shortage of good places to stay and elegant places to eat, the focus here is on the natural wonders of the sea and the shoreline.
But don’t limit your discoveries to the coast. Inland from both great bays as well as the mouth of the Columbia, small towns are peaceful respites where good food, some interesting architecture, the occasional antique shop, and glimpses of rural life take you back to a simpler time. Elma, Montesano, Aberdeen and Hoquiam lie to the east of Grays Harbor; Raymond and South Bend to the east of Willapa Bay. In Skamokawa, about 25 miles east up the Columbia River from the Pacific, settle in and watch the behemoth container ships head up river on their way to the docks of Portland.
Give yourself plenty of time to explore this region of Washington. Leave your watch in the drawer at home and pack some books. Don’t forget rain gear and extra dry clothes. The howl of the wind, the crash of the waves and the movements of the sun and the moon are all you’ll need to remind you of the passing of time.

Grays Harbor County

From the primeval Quinault Rain Forest to the Pacific shore, Grays Harbor County invites visitors to discover the wild side of the Pacific Northwest. There are miles of jagged, pristine coastline, some of which can only be reached through a beach access. Yet, that walk on the wild side is happily juxtaposed to the simple pleasures of a superbly presented fresh seafood dinner or family time at an old-fashioned country fair. In Grays Harbor County, whales and world-class bird watching share the venue with rodeos and history-rich owns, offering visitors a delightful and broad-based touring experience.
Most visitors will arrive in Grays Harbor from I-5 at Olympia, following Highway 101 to the SR 8 cutoff – passing through the scenic southeastern portion of Grays Harbor County. Here you’ll encounter a mix of small farming and logging communities like Elma, McCleary and Oakville. Montesano, which means “mountain of health” in Spanish, was founded in 1852 and is one of the oldest settlements in Grays Harbor County as well as its county seat. Many of the homes were built at the turn-of-the-century and are on the Washington State Historical Homes registry. The historic County Courthouse – a majestic backdrop rising high above the city – provides a noteworthy photo opportunity.
The cities of Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Cosmopolis were established in the 1880s and from the commercial center of Grays Harbor County. Both proudly reflect the heritage of their first settlers with classic clapboard storefronts, historical murals and log holding yards. Thousands upon thousands of shorebirds arrive at nearby Bowerman Basin each year, with bird watchers happily celebrating an annual Shorebird Festival.
The North Beach, also known as the Washington Coast, is one of the most scenic areas in the Pacific Northwest. Ocean side communities like Ocean City, Copalis Beach and Moclips – with 20 miles of sandy beaches – provide a safe haven for quiet reflection. North Beach is also known for the delicious Pacific razor clam. Shaped like old-fashioned razors, these large clams are not easy to catch… the tide has to be just right and so does your luck. But, those who hunt this elusive crop swear by the rewards. Spring clam season usually begins in March.
Nestled deep in the Quinault Rain Forest, near the north county line on Highway 101, line the communities of Amanda Park and Quinault. The Quinault Valley is famous for the immense ancient trees of the temperate rain forest including several world champion tree species. The world’s largest tree, a Sitka spruce with an estimate age of 900 years, and Washington State’s largest tree, a western red cedar, are located here. The Rain Forest, a glacier carved lake, and abundant wildlife all contribute to the area’s strong appeal, as do countless outdoor selections; camping, Forest Service guided nature walks, boating, swimming, numerous hiking trails, world renowned steelhead fishing and horseback riding.
Ocean Shores is a popular vacation and convention destination, largely because it satisfies a long list of ocean front activities. Want to bring a business or conference here? Ocean shores Convention center is located in the heart of downtown, two blocks from the beach, and able to accommodate small and large groups, trade shows and banquets. Requiring solitude? You’re set too.
The sea air is conductive to a healthy appetite, and the city has close to 30 eating establishment. From delicatessens, family and fine dining to the indelible pleasure of encountering some chewy salt water taffy, sampling the dining options is all part of the fun.
If restoration and reflection are on your “to do” list, the area has miles of uncrowned shoreline and accommodations to fit every budget, allowing for extended weekend or long visits. Once settled, you can choose to sequester yourself beside the fire, mesmerized by the surf, or plan days worth of activities like golf, go-carting, bicycling or horseback riding.
Beachcombing is a daily ritual for visitors here, but Ocean Shores can boast about more than its spectacular shoreline. It also has more than 23 miles of fresh water lakes and canals. Bring or hire a boat or canoe, then navigate through the canals as you view exquisite homes and native wildlife. Duck Lake is grand for fishing, water skiing, or lazy exploration.
Charters are available at the marina, with whale watching excursions during the spring and summer. Other marine excursions include deep-sea fishing, sport fishing, dinner cruises and scenic trips around Grays Harbor and along the spectacular coastline.
And, golfers take heart. You don’t have to give up your obsession here. After taking the kids on a wild go-carting ride, schedule yourself a tee-time at the PGA rated Ocean Shores municipal golf course. Just minutes from the Convention Center, there’s a pro shop, snack bar, and rental clubs and carts. There’s miniature golf too, with several courses including old-fashioned seaport village. Families, couples, and groups all find their niche in Ocean Shores. Whatever your mood or requirements for entertainment, this Oceanside town makes sure it’s available.
The South Beach, also referred to as the Cranberry Coast, is located on the south side of Grays Harbor. This area boasts 18 miles of pristine beach from Westport through Grayland to North Cove and Tokeland. Visitors will appreciate the charm and atmosphere of a timeless fishing village, colorful cranberry bogs, spectacular beach combing, charter fishing and whale watching opportunities. There are as many accommodation options as recreational choices.
Westport, on the southwest tip of Grays Harbor, also offers year-round surfing, whale watching and a scenic Maritime History Trail. Westport’s Maritime History Trail, a 6.5 mile bike and pedestrian path, links the Westport Maritime Museum and the Grays Harbor Lighthouse.
Pacific Ocean storm watching from the Westport breakwater is an invigorating fall and winter activity. There are complementary options like go-carts, aquarium, restaurants and shopping here.
Over 20.000 gray whales journey past the Washington coast from March to late May. Bring your binoculars or charter a boat to view one of nature’s most riveting shows. The 40-mile Scenic Coastal Loop off Coastal Highway 101 is the perfect introduction to “The Cranberry Coast”, with lots of chances for browsing and testing the area’s red-gold treats along the way.

Waterways to the Pacific

Pacific County, home to Willapa Bay and the Long Beach Peninsula, is a truly magical region where pristine waters, lush forests, and vibrant communities welcome visitors. This is the spot where you’ll want to unwind with quiet adventures in this peaceful, comfortable haven.
Part of the county’s charm is the meandering roads, highways and lanes that lead travelers to various destinations and points of interests. We’ve included the two traditional approaches to the coastline ere, but it really doesn’t matter where you begin your journey; Pacific County is a place that always beckons you back.
In north Pacific county, the physical environment is perfectly suited to a seamless transition from work to play, stress to peace, urban sprawl to northwest spectacular.
This region is overflowing with obvious cues that your restoration and renewal is close at hand. Here, small communities and towns celebrate their cherished heritage, whether it is logging, harvesting oysters or fishing.
The Willapa region is prime salmon, sturgeon and steelhead country. For binocular toting birdwatchers, there are excellent viewing sites. And delighted kayakers have discovered the peaceful waterways padding and Willapa Bay for saltwater touring.
Raymond is one of the traditional entry points to the coast region. This town guarantees visitors wildlife sightings – every day. Two hundred steel-plated figures line the Raymond-Wildlife-Heritage Sculpture Corridor, including a mix of historic and regional scenes along with representations of regional wildlife. It’s evident that Raymond residents love their wildlife. Part of a recent major renovation of downtown Third Street includes sidewalks stamped with animal footprints.
The Willapa Seaport Museum houses an extensive collection of maritime artifacts. The popular Public Market on the Willapa is held on the other side of the building from the museum from mid-March through December.
If you’re looking for a secluded sanctuary, try Tokeland or North Cove, on SR 105. These quiet seaside villages offer beach combing, kite flying, storm and whale watching as standard fare. When is season, popular activities include clamming, crabbing and fishing. There are several lodging options in Tokeland, including he historic landmark Tokeland Hotel and Restaurant, motels, and RV Parks. For an evening’s entertainment, stop by the Shoalwater Bay Casino on the Shoalwater Bay Reservation.
South Bend is the county seat of Pacific County and home to the elegant Pacific County Courthouse, decorated with a stunning art glass dome. This charming town, named for its location nestled on a bend of the Willapa River, has several historic buildings, Victorian style homes and antique dealers gracing its streets. South Bend claims the title “Oyster Capital of the World” with restaurants and vendors that specialize in the succulent Willapa Bay oyster. Make time for the Pacific County Historical Society Museum, a great spot for information on the significance of fishing and logging industries in Pacific County’s history.
Overlooking Willapa Bay is the picturesque fishing village of Bay Center. If you come in the spring, the road is lined with daffodils – a perfect complement to the memorable outlooks of the Bay and the northern tip of Long Beach Peninsula. Bay Center is home to numerous oyster canneries with fresh Willapa Bay seafood available for purchase. One out of every six oyster consumed in the United States is harvested on these tide flats.
The drive from South Bend to the Long Beach Peninsula reveals a stunning marriage between lush forests and this unspoiled, pristine bay. The tidelands are a rest stop for waterfowl and seabirds that follow the Pacific Flyway and the coastal ecosystem itself is regarded as one of the most productive in the continental United States.
The two “guardians” of the bay are Baby Island and Long Island, the latter a popular destination point for kayakers and canoes. Once you’ve landed on this island, only accessible via water, there are trails for hiking and primitive campsites to reserve for those that want to settle in for the night.
Another approach to the Peninsula is from the south along the mighty Columbia River through Wahkiakum County. Following along the river, you’ll be paralleling the route Lewis and Clark followed in November 1805 as they approached the Pacific Ocean. From Cathlamet in Wahkiakum County, SR 4 leads you away from the Columbia to Naselle, a Finnish farming community with roadside parks, fishing, hiking, lodging, and dining.
Experience the dynamic forces of nature where the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River collide head-on – each struggling to show-off its individual strength and personality. The views here are rather grand, so keep your eyes wide open and senses alert.
Heading south from Naselle on SR 401 toward the river, you’ll encounter the Megler Visitor Information Center, the Astoria-Megler Bridge, Lewis and Clark Station Camp, and the southern end of the Long Beach Peninsula.

The Long Beach Peninsula

If you’re seeking quiet adventure, seaside rejuvenation, and welcoming hospitality, you’ve found your answer on the Long Beach Peninsula. The Peninsula offers jagged ocean cliffs, a 20 mile uninterrupted shore, and access to pristine Willapa Bay. Two lighthouses, military forts, museums and interpretive centers underscore the area’s historic significance. A string of eight unique communities connect along the Peninsula to its northern tip and Leadbetter State Park.
Hundreds of species of birds nest and migrate through the Peninsula’s fragile ecosystem. Visitors from around the world are drawn to the wide-open spaces, raw and wild nature, award-winning dining, and a variety of lodging facilities. Beach combing, bicycling, hiking, and kayaking are popular year round activities.
When approaching the Peninsula, shortly after passing the Astoria-Megler Bridge, take an immediate left after going through the tunnel to discover Fort Columbia State Park complete with interpretive center, trails, bunkers, views, and picnic facilities. Nearby in the fishing village of Chinook, Craftsman and Victorian- era homes will catch your eye. The state’s first salmon hatchery is also located here.
Ilwaco offers an active marina for commercial and pleasure boats, homes dating to the 1880s, and several centennial murals depicting the area’s rich history. Charter a boat for salmon, sturgeon or halibut fishing or visit the many shops and restaurants lining the marina. There are several exhibits of local history at the Heritage Museum on Lake Street – a certified site on Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Trail.

A Lewis & Clark vantage point

From Ilwaco, head west on Loop 101 to find two lighthouses, scenic vistas, Fort Canby State Park, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboat School, and cove beaches. Look for the Westwind Trail, a 4.5 mile invigorating hike ending at the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and Baker Bay. A mile in, you’ll be at the North Head Lighthouse, also accessible by automobile and open for tours.
Another afternoon or morning delight is visiting one of Washington’s most popular parks, Fort Canby. Covering more than 1.700 acres filled with campsites and picnic areas, the lush forests of Fort Canby State Park provide the perfect setting for modern day explorers. Beach combing is the commonly enjoyed pastime for all visitors to the coast, Benson Beach and Waikiki Beach-located near the entrance to the park are popular choices. While there, you’ll see huge swells and the white spray of breaking waves or glassy seas, all depending upon the season and tide.
This is serious Lewis and Clark country where the Corps realized Jefferson’s mission of reaching the Pacific Ocean. You won’t want to miss the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center where journal entries are matched to photographs, murals, artwork, medical instruments, foods, trade goods, and the many contributions made by Indian tribes to the Lewis and Clark party. Another intriguing exhibit is a history of shipwrecks, illustrating how the mouth of the Columbia earned the nickname “Graveyard of the Pacific”.
Access Seaview via Ilwaco and pause at Black Lake where you can follow a gentle path along the shoreline or, in the winter, glimpse majestic trumpeter swans. Seaview considered one of the best examples of early coastal communities in the Northwest was founded in 1881 and quickly became the playground for Portland’s elite. The many Victorian-style houses and cottages lining its lanes are the perfect venue for walking or bicycling as you view the glories of times past. Seaview also has antique shops, art studios, historic inns, and a handful of the area’s top restaurants.
Long Beach is a captivating seaside beach town with an ocean boardwalk, festive downtown, overnight accommodations, and crowd-pleasing events. Arcades, pocket parks and mosaic sculptures share space with restaurants, galleries, kite shops, upscale gift shops, bakeries, and bookstores, as well as the world Kite Museum with its rare collections of vintage kites.
Each August in Long Beach, one of the nation’s largest kite festivals fills the sky with brightly colored shapes while the beach buzzes with an international crowd of kite-flying enthusiasts. A jazz festival, fishing derby, Loyalty Day celebration, summer entertainment series, beach run, rodeo, Independence Day fireworks, and sand-sculpture competition are among the town’s other annual events.
On the way to Ocean Park, just nine miles north on Highway 103, consider a detour to the Cranberry Museum on Pioneer Road, which showcases the large local cranberry growing industry. A few miles further, stop at Loomis Lake to dangle your feet off the dock or launch a canoe. Nearby Loomis State Park, with parkland on both sides of the highway, offers visitors intimate picnicking opportunities and ocean view.

The north Peninsula

Ocean Park, founded 1883 as a summer resort and revival camp, is a quiet residential community long revered for its friendliness and razor clamming, that comes to life during the summer. Visit during the Northwest Garlic Festival, the Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration, the Labor Day Heritage Festival, or Road Run to the End of the World, a popular event featuring over 1.000 vintage cars.
Be sure to take a leisurely look at the 1890s style cottages, many built from salvaged ship-wreck cargoes. These cottages take on a special charm come summer, when they are accented by lots of flowers, especially the sentimental pink mallow. The Ocean Park-Surfside area is also superb for beachcombing, bicycling, storm watching, castle building, or a walk or drive on the wide sandy beach.
In nearby Nahcotta, a small village bordering Willapa Bay, enjoy the island views and explore the Nahcotta Tidelands Interpretive Site. A fine overview of the area’s history and additional information about shellfish, wildlife and plants of the Willapa Bay ecosystem can be found at the nearby Willapa Bay Interpretive Center.
If you’re hitched up your boat trailer for this journey, stop by the Port of Peninsula, a marina and boat ramp used by both commercial and private craft. You’ll marvel at the sparkling piles of white oyster shells, canneries selling fresh oyster, soaring bald eagles and herons wading in the tidelands. Come dinner time, you can contentedly observe the reflected hues of sunset on the bay at one of the area’s finest restaurants.
The entire village of Oysterville, a few miles north, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and visiting here is like taking a step back in time. A product of a 19th century oyster boom, homes dating to 1863 grace the tree-lined streets, and the 1892 church is open to the public. There’s also a recently restored 1908 schoolhouse.
Leadbetter State Park is located at the northern tip of the Peninsula. It is estimated that over 100.000 shorebirds stop here during migration or choose to call Leadbetter and Willapa Bay home year round. Early mornings in the woods are a concert of whistles, songs and honks in this refuge of marshes, mudflats and grass. Birdwatchers are wildly enthusiastic about this northernmost nesting area of the snowy plover, a threatened species, and are respectful of the park’s closure when the plover is nesting.
On your departure south, enjoy the restful views of fairy tale woods and lovely homes bordering Willapa Bay. And, after returning again to Highway 101 and heading towards home, you’ll be restored and ready to schedule your return.

Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas

No matter from what direction you first see the Olympic Mountains, you’ll be smitten by their rugged beauty. What you don’t initially realize is that this amazing piece of land is surrounded on three sides by saltwater. With the open Pacific Ocean to the west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, Puget Sound on the east and sliced into two peninsulas by Hood Canal, this mountainous land mass would have, in any other time or place on the planet, been a country of its own. It is a green, watery wonderland around its edges. It is a soaring and mighty wilderness and rain forest in the middle.
The extremes are amazing. At breakfast time you might hike out onto Dungeness Spit and get your feet wet in the saltwater of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, enjoying the view north to Canada and south to the United States. By noon you could open your backpack to enjoy a sandwich in the alpine meadows of Hurricane Ridge, taking in the blue sky, gray rock, green forests and glistening white glaciers of the Olympics’. You could spend a day surrounded by the antiquated charms of Port Townsend, a 19th century boomtown with enough ginger breaded mansions to make Queen Victoria feel right at home. Out at Kalaloch, the Pacific rolls in with such thundering force that you’re left with little doubt that you’re facing the largest ocean on earth. When a storm blows up, the waves can toss the massive timbers that have washed up on the beach as if they were broom straws. And the roar is as frightening as it is exhilarating.
In the Hoh Rainforest, the great green mosses hang down from the big-leaf maples like tattered banners in some long abandoned medieval castle and your nose fills with the damp earthy scent of wilderness so lush that the woods are a thick impassible tangle of vegetation. Up at Neah Bay, the Makah Indians preserve a culture that stretches back millennia. But in a diagonal line just over 100 miles to the southeast, life on Bainbridge Island one of upscale, 21st century country living, where commuters to downtown Seattle board jumbo ferries to read newspapers and sip coffee on their way to work in the skyscrapers.
Old, tiny, and picturesque towns are nestled among the hills and waterways. Port Gamble, Port Ludlow, Poulsbo, Kingston, and Shelton are settled along inlets of Puget Sound. Potlatch, Hoodsport, Lilliwaup, Eldon, and Brinnon hug Hood canal. A ride up US Highway 101 on the west side of the canal, or a drive across the Hood Canal Bridge is a window into some of the world’s most awe-inspiring vertical splendor. The mountains rise right out of the sea and soar into the clouds, leaving little doubt that this is a place suspended somewhere between heaven and earth.

The North Olympic Peninsula

If there’s a section of Washington that can be deemed sacred, it is here on the North Olympic Peninsula. With a broad reach that extends from the rugged, snow-capped peaks of Olympic National Park to the dramatic, windswept beaches of Cape Flattery, the Olympic Peninsula defines what wild Washington beauty is all about.
Here, you can hike deep into the lush Olympic rain forests or choose solitude as you walk the endless miles of uncrowned Pacific Ocean beaches. This is where wildflowers and wildlife flourish; where spotted owls and Roosevelt elk claim their own natural territory. Often overlooked are the vast cultural resources that can be enjoyed here. Impressive 19th century architecture, a rich and varied performing and visual arts community, Indian cultural exhibits and a host of popular and unique annual events make this destination a great travel choice.
After crossing the Hood Canal Bridge near Port Gamble, you may want to head south on Highway 101 along the western shores of the breathtaking Hood Canal. This unusual 61 mile saltwater fjord is home to plentiful shrimp, oysters, great sailing and exquisite sunsets. On this route you will encounter Quilcene and Brinnon. Local outfitters, suppliers and a US Forest Service office are ready to help you find some of the most scenic hiking trails on the Peninsula, along the Dosewallips and Duckabush Rivers into the National Forest and Olympic National Park.
If you’re heading to Port Townsend, a good route is along the shores of Ludlow Bay to the residential community of Port Ludlow. The recreational attraction to golfers, boaters, vacationers and connoisseurs of fine dining is the expansive Resort at Ludlow Bay, which features the Olympic Peninsula’s premier 27 hole golf course and a full service marina with boats and kayaks to rent, a harbor tour, and charter boats for fishing and sailing.
Continuing north from Port Ludlow, Port Hadlock, Chimacum and Irondale, commonly referred to as the “Tri Area”, are the hub of eastern Jefferson County. This commercial crossroads links Victorian Port Townsend in the north with Port Ludlow and the Hood Canal Bridge to the east, and the “Emerald Towns of Hood Canal”, Quilcene and Brinnon, in the south. Access to scenic and recreational attractions on Marrowstone Island is through the tri Area
Situated on the northeast tip of the peninsula is the historic city of the Victorian Age echo throughout. Quaint shops, captivating art galleries, lively seaport pubs, historic architecture and colorful festivals will inspire you with each return visit. Today, this city has gained an international reputation as an arts community and builder of wooden sailing vessels and state-of-the-art motor yachts. Port Townsend is home of Centrum, a year-round arts and education program that include the city’s Country Blues Festival and the renowned Port Townsend Writers’ Conference.
Port Townsend is designated as a National Historic Landmark and is one of only three Victorian seaports on the National Registry. This authentic Victorian community was once slated to become a prime shipping port but now offers golfing, biking, kayaking, antiquing, wine tasting, local theater & concerts, making the “City of Dreams” your year-round cultural and outdoor destination. Washington State Ferry service runs between Port Townsend and Keystone on Whidbey Island.
An hour’s drive from Port Townsend, the city of Sequim is famous for its wonderfully dry weather-a happy by-product of the “rain shadow” effect. It is said that the sun shines more here than anywhere else in western Washington. The Dungeness spit, jutting nearly five miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, draws nearly half a million visitors annually. The Olympic Game Farm, located here, has many endangered wild animal species as well as several veterans of the silver screen. Sequim, home of the Lavender Festival, has a bevy of antique and gift shops, galleries and fine restaurants.
A few minutes west of Sequim, you’ll enter bustling Port Angeles. Here you can stock up on supplies, find plenty of good food, comfortable hotels and B&Bs, and stroll through the charming downtown district’s shops and galleries. This deep-water port is the gateway to Olympic National Park, the famous Hurricane Ridge, and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada with daily ferry service.
A lovely day trip just twenty miles west of Port Angeles is Lake Crescent, over eight miles long and plunging to a depth of some 625 feet. Rent a rowboat for a lazy afternoon, and then take an easy mile-long hike along the cedar-lined trail up to 90-foot Marymere Falls.
Along the northern coast, the communities of Clallam Bay and Sekiu lie 50 miles west of Port Angeles on the Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway off 112, a newly designated National Scenic Byway. These seaside villages provide a perfect setting for great fishing, bird watching, coastal hiking, and beach combing, or diving below the spectacular Pacific waters.
Clallam Bay and Sekiu are near the cut-off to Lake Ozette and the ancient petro glyphs; they are close to miles of Olympic National Park coastal trails, and offer a gorgeous view across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island.
The small fishing village of Neah Bay rests on the northwest tip of the Peninsula. The cultural center of the Makah Nation, Neah Bay’s Makah Cultural and Research Center allows visitors the chance to view artifacts recovered from an ancient fishing village at Ozette. There is also a marina, harboring over 200 commercial, sport fishing and pleasure craft.
A short drive from Neah Bay brings you to rugged, wild Cape Flattery, the most northwest point of the contiguous United States. Wildlife, from 250 different species of birds to sea otters, sea lions, seals and whales, are all part of this area’s significant attraction.

The western Peninsula

Nestled between the dense rain forest valleys and the wilderness coastline of Olympic National Park, Forks is the perfect home base for exploring the west side of the peninsula. The Hoh Rain forest and several pristine Pacific Ocean beaches are all within an hour’s drive. To the west, at the Indian village of LaPush, migrating gray whales can be seen from February through April. Kayakers, surfers, and seals add to the view year-round.
Explore the northwest Coast, the very northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest, and visit the Makah Museum and Cape Flattery near Neah Bay. The Lake Ozette Wilderness beach hike, glacier-carved Lake Crescent and the Sol Duc Valley are also within a short distance of Forks. While here, don’t miss Olympic West Arttrek, a self-guided driving tour of gift shops, studios and galleries from Kalaloch to Neah Bay. The Forks Timber Museum features pioneer, logger and coastal Indian history.
The road leading to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, and the spectacular Hall of Mosses Trail, is off Highway 101 just a few minutes south of Forks. Another 15 miles south of the Rain Forest Road on Highway 101, Kalaloch is a beautiful year-round destination featuring a pebble beach with impressive surf, tidal pools and prime waters for smelt fishing. Picturesque Ruby Beach offers a crookedly charming creek, dramatic sea stacks, and garnet-colored sand.

Olympic National Park

The Olympic National Park, in the heart of the peninsula, lays claim to rugged and rocky ocean coast and the regal Olympic Mountain peaks with its rainforests and coastal valleys. Teddy Roosevelt declared this area a national nature reserve at the turn-of-the-century; a status which resulted in few roads and trails for accessing this natural wonderland. Hurricane Ridge, rising above Port Angeles, offers spectacular views and the most popular access to the park. The paved road that rises 17 miles up a steep grade to the mile-high summit is well worth the drive. A lodge offers summer-only accommodations and a winter concessions stand for skiers and snow shores. If you’re a high adventure type, try bicycling along the Obstruction Point Road, a twisting gravel road that continues for another eight miles along the crest from the parking lot at Hurricane Ridge.
Within the Olympic Nation Park is Sol Duc Valley, with several scenic day hikes and rejuvenating hot springs. From Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, hike for 1.6 miles round trip to Sol Duc Falls to one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the park, seen from a bridge that crosses the canyon just below the falls.
On the western coast of the Peninsula is the Lake Ozette Trail Loop, a beautifully maintained nine-mile trail system that creates a long remembered hiking experience. As you travel a 3-mile planked trail to the ocean beaches at Sand Point, you’ll be privy to a visual feast of fern-covered forests blanketed in precious stillness. Continuing along the beach, there are 300-year-old petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks, ancient drawing that are remnants of the Makah and Ozette tribes that once lived here.
A 30-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle places you on beautiful Bainbridge Island. The island, about the size of Manhattan, is a great escape for bikers, birders, art lowers, shoppers, readers, sailors and theater-goers. Downtown Winslow offers wonderful dining and exceptional shops within walking distance of the ferry. Off of Highway 305, the island’s main artery is the Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery, the 150-acre Bloedel Reserve, two waterfront State Parks, two superb nurseries, Battle point Park, with its unique kid’s playground, and 22 inns for overnight guests.
Maritime history buffs will want to visit the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, specializing in undersea exploration and warfare. Nearby, the community of Silverdale developed into the county’s major retail center when the navy selected Bangor as the West Coast Trident submarine base. Old Silverdale, with its small shops and restaurants, features a very nice waterfront park, boat launch and marina on Dye’s Inlet. A few miles south of Silverdale – or less than an hour’s ride by passenger ferry from Seattle – the largest city on the peninsula, Bremerton is home of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Kitsap Historical Museum. Here, you can visit a Navy destroyer and stroll along a delightful waterfront promenade.
Downtown Bremerton is alive with galleries, quaint shops and restaurants. An active visual and performing arts community here showcases several excellent art galleries. Performances by the Bremerton Symphony and local theatre troupes draw enthusiastic crowds.
The city’s parks department is a source of local pride featuring well-manicured gardens and two fine golf courses in the Gold Mountain Golf complex.
Directly across the water to the east of Bremerton, you’ll see the welcoming Kitsap County seat of Port Orchard. To get there, drive around the inlet on Highway 3, or rid the passenger-only ferry from Bremerton. Founded in 1886, its historic buildings contain an array of restaurants, antique stores and museums. Jump aboard a Kitsap Harbor Tours boat for a narrated tour of the Navy’s mothball fleet or a cruise to Tillicum Village. McCormick Woods and Trophy Lake golf courses are nearby and provide an excellent challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
A very pleasant drive from Port Orchard, along Sinclair Inlet on Highway 160 winds around Rich Passage through roadside communities of Manchester, Colchester, Colby, Harper and Southworth. From Southworth, you can board a ferry to Vashon Island, past Blake Island, home of Tillicum Village, and on to West Seattle.
Another good way to start tour of the Kitsap Peninsula is to cross the Sound on a scenic 30-minute ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston. Stroll through Kingston’s friendly downtown district and enjoy the waterfront ambiance, farmer’s market and cozy cafes and shops.
Take a slight detour north on the Hansville Road, to photograph the stately Point No Point lighthouse. Fishermen from around the world flock here to reel in a salmon while taking in the view of Admiralty Inlet, Whidbey Island and Puget Sound. The Nature Conservancy near Foul Weather Bluff is world famous for its migratory bird watching.
Follow Highway 104 toward the Hood Canal floating bridge and you will pass through historic Port Gamble, a once-mighty logging town that retains much of its 1850s character. The original New England Victorian-style homes have been preserved, along with the country store and church, making this a National Historic site.
Kitsap Peninsula is filled with warm and friendly waterfront communities, scenic drives, outdoor recreation, art, and shopping galore. Charming hotels, motels, cozy B & Bs, and resorts await your overnight stay. You’ll find the area’s colorful Indian, logging, and maritime history, all proudly displayed. Whether quiet solitude and relaxation in tranquil beauty, or rigorous outdoor activities suit your fancy, it’s available here on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Get hooked on Mason County

The communities surrounding the south Puget Sound “hook” of Hood Canal in Mason County provide great access to all of the south Sound population centers of Olympia, Seattle and Tacoma, the Pacific Ocean beaches and the Olympic National Park.
This central location, combined with access to nearly unlimited outdoor recreation, makes it a perfect place from which to explore this part of the state. Nearly every community offers a small hotel, B & B, RV park or campground – and be sure to pack your hiking boots, scuba gear, boat and golf clubs.
A good way to experience this diverse county is to plan a couple-day loop tour. Enter from the south via Shelton by taking I-5 exit 104 west and head north on Highway 101. The best approach from the north will bring you across any of the cross-sound ferries to the Kitsap Peninsula. Take Highway 3 south, entering Mason County at Belfair on Hood Canal.
Belfair is home to the internationally-acclaimed Hood Canal / Theler Wetlands, with four miles of scenic walking trails open dawn to dusk every day. The Mary E. Theler Community Center offers North Mason Visitor Information. Visitors will enjoy boating, fishing, camping and gathering shellfish at nearby Twanoh and Belfair State Parks.
Highway 106 south along the Hood Canal will lead to Union, where visitors can enjoy a round of golf at Alderbrook Resort or visit an eclectic array of small shops. Continue around the “hook” up Highway 101 north and you’ll find Hoodsport, known as “The Gateway to the Olympic Mountains”. Camping or trout fishing at Lake Cushman, along with scuba diving and hiking are popular activities.
From Hoodsport, you can loop back to Shelton on Highway 101 south or continue your journey west on Highway 119 to the trailheads of the Olympic National Park.
Shelton, Mason County’s largest town, offers a downtown historic walking tour and a Visitor Information Center in an authentic red caboose hosted by the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce. The popular Oysterfest, held here the first full weekend in October, features an Oysterhucking Championship, a Seafood Cookoff, wine tasting and live entertainment.
Highway 3 north will loop back to Belfair and the waterfront community of Allyn on Puget Sound’s Case Inlet.
Regardless of how you acquaint yourself with this unique area, there’s more outdoor activity to enjoy than you can possibly fit into any one vacation. That’s why generations of families return here year after year.

Washington islands

The foghorn puts out a powerful blast, so strong that the entire boat rattles. Seagulls screech and flap into flight, then circle overhead. The saltwater begins to churn and, once again, a Washington State Ferry moves away from its dock, headed toward Whidbey Island or one of the San Juans.
No exaggeration, this is one of the most exciting moments that a traveler can experience. Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are vast highways of sapphire water. Snowcapped mountains come into view, down the Olympic Peninsula to the west and from Mount Rainier, marching all the way into British Columbia to the east.
Perhaps you’re headed to Whidbey Island to kick around Langley or Coupeville, hike the high-bluff grasslands of Ebey’s Landing, or walk the rocky beaches of the state park, then make the safe, but nonetheless courageous walk across the bridge that spans Deception Pass. Or maybe you’re off to Orcas Island to stay at a bed and breakfast, or to climb Mount Constitution, or visit galleries. The gentle farm county of Lopez Island may have drawn you. Or you might have abandoned your car, making a secret getaway to a romantic resort on San Juan Island. All that’s with the two of you on the oat are backpacks (complete with a change for a formal dinner and a couple bottles of Washington wine) and your bikes.
There’s an easygoing cheerfulness, a laid-back way of living well, on Washington’s islands that is irresistible. Visitors are spared no courtesy, but you’ll never feel fussed over. At any café you’ll be right at home for breakfast with a cup of good coffee, a chewy pastry, and a newspaper. Dinner will mean a skillfully prepared meal and you can expect locally grown, fresh produce, quite likely organic, served in handsome, but unpretentious surroundings. The islands are just that kind of place.
No matter what has lured you to make the voyage, great discoveries await and getting there on one of Washington’s wonderful ferries is a great beginning to the fun. There’s no easier, or for that matter, no more beautiful island getaway.

San Juan Islands

Through there are over 700 islands in the entire San Juan archipelago, and a mere 40 that are inhabited, Washington State Ferries only travel to four of them: Lopez, Shaw, San Juan and Orcas. Don’t fret. Those four emerald jewels, harbored in a luxuriant crown of northwest glory, are filled with enough splendor and adventure to satisfy any traveler.
Strewn like glorious, green-coned buttons amidst the Levi blue Puget Sound waters, the San Juan Islands are truly extraordinary. Mingling forests and farmlands, villages and hideaways, each has their unique personality, yet all share a distinct brand of physical beauty. The islands are the ideal place to gather and create lasting memories. If you plan to drive, you can board the state ferry from Anacortes. Arrive early – especially during summer peak season.
Anacortes, the gateway to the San Juan, is actually an island but is connected by two bridges to the mainland and Whidbey Island. Home to colorful Alaska-bound fishing fleets, several bustling marinas and the largest collection of bare-boat charter companies in North America, Anacortes isn’t just a colorful entry way; it’s a self-contained destination.
There are more than 2.200 acres of wild Community Forestland in the middle of the island with miles of trails and several freshwater lakes. Mouth Erie, the highest point in Skagit County, features views of Mount Baker to the Olympics and across the San Juans to Canada.
Downtown hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year, most notably the popular Arts Festival in August. With great shopping and a fine collection of dining options, the downtown greets visitors with nearly 90 life-sized cutout murals adorning the area’s buildings, including many on the national historical register.
Conclude any day on Anacortes’ waterfront. There are tours in the open waters or protected estuarine bays, whale watching, underwater diving or kayaking beside the intricate shoreline. Come sunset, cap the day with a view of the ferries traversing Rosario Strait from Washington Park.
After exploring downtown Anacortes, passengers waiting to board the ferry often glide into relaxation mode and bring a book or amiable companions to the ferry dock to help while away the time. Once you’ve departed, the ride itself is a true delight, with views of charming and enviable homes, pastoral outlooks, quiet coves and staggeringly beautiful foliage. This isn’t just paradise for humans. Seals, sea birds, three resident pods of Orca whales and the highest concentration of nesting bald eagles in the continental United States all flourish here.
Day trips are always an option in the San Juans. Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Eastsound on Orcas, and Lopez Village on Lopez welcome visitors with great shops and dining options. But, try to take advantage of the bevy of lodging options throughout the islands to fully appreciate the San Juan experience. Shaw is the only island that doesn’t have commercial accommodations, although limited camping is available. The others have a wide variety of charming cottages, resorts, vacation rentals or seaside campsites. There are many B & B’s sprinkled throughout the lush farmlands, above or beside the salt water or nestled into the native forests. Reservations are strongly recommended for the summer season.
Lopez Island is the first ferry stop, reflecting its strong agricultural history with lovely pastures bordered by the region’s spectacular outlooks. Lopez Village is the primary town on the island – leaving lots of acreage for viewing and exploring. There are several parks and hiking trails here and great freshwater fishing at Hummel Lake. Lopez has an outstanding collection of public access parks and beaches, including Agate Beach, Shark Reef Point and Spencer Spit, containing 130 acres with hiking trails and one mile of waterfront. This is also the island that bicyclist love best for its gently rolling roads, friendly residents, and numerous stopping points.
Shaw Island is sparsely populated and has few amenities outside a small store at the landing and limited camping and picnicking at Indian Cove Park. Even if his is not your final destination, walk out on the deck and take a moment to appreciate and snap a photo of the Shaw Island docking crew. Members of a local order of nuns have been operating the ferry landing here every day for over 15 years.
Saltwater fishing charters are available throughout the islands, as are skippered sailing and powerboat charters. Kayaking is very popular; Lopez, Orcas and San Juan have outfitters that can provide rentals and guided tours. There are strong tides and currents in these waters and observance of safe wildlife viewing guidelines are highly recommended. Scuba divers will appreciate the dynamic range of underwater activity.
From the moment the ferry lands at the enchanting town of Orcas Village, Orcas Island simultaneously stuns and seduces visitors with its natural beauty. As a vacation spot, gateway, full-time home or summer residence, Orcas guarantees a warm welcome for all. With first-class marinas, an active, year-round community of 4.400 creative spirits, a multitude of accommodation options and a long list of places to discover, Orcas is on the “don’t miss” list for any visitor to the San Juan Islands. Come summer, get to the ferry line early, and load your camera in hopes that the captain stops the boat to watch a pod of whales – a frequent occurrence.
This is an island that unravels its secrets village by village, cove by cove. Orcas Village – the starting and ending site for island visits – has eateries, shops, a grocery store and the landmark historic Orcas Hotel. West Sound boasts a marina, County Dock, Yacht Club and a store/café. Deer Harbor, with its marina, is a hub of activity during high season with fairs, fireworks and free concerts.
It isn’t just the towns and shoreline that distinguishes Orcas as a prime destination. Travel the Crow Valley Road to appreciate the island’s interior between Turtleback Mountain and Eastsound. Those who choose this route will view fertile farmlands, old barns, and the historic Crow Valley School, established in 1888 and now a museum. The Re Apple Barn, also along the route, is a beloved island landmark.
Be sure to respect the island’s speed limits – the roads are narrow and are shared by bicyclist, pedestrians, children and animals (the deer and bunnies on Orcas are not shy). There are no spotlights, no streetlights and many “blind” curves. Besides, why rush and take the risk of missing all the stunning scenery?
The “hub” of Orcas is the village of Eastsound. There are shops, galleries, a wonderful museum featuring the region’s history, Saturday Market and Sunday “Music in the Park”. Eastsound’s Waterfront Park offers great public saltwater access and is the location of numerous summer events. Nearby is the airport, a medical center and Orcas center, the community venue for the performing and visual arts. If you’re looking for the perfect sunset, go to North Beach Road for water access and fabulous outlooks. Drive east on Mount Baker Road and take advantage of one of the island’s most spectacular views of – you guessed it – Mount Baker.
For a breathtaking panoramic view, Moran State Park contains, literally, the pinnacle of the Orcas experience within its 5.000 plus acres. Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juan Islands, reigns over the park at an altitude of 2.500 feet. There’s a stone tower at the peak that provides a 360-degree view of the San Juans, Vancouver Islands and the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges. On a perfectly clear day, the queens of the northwest, Mount Baker and Mount Rainer, hold court.
Moran State Park was a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project during the Depression and its lodges and pavilions reflect that era’s classic “park” architecture. Be sure to make reservations for camping during the summer. And, just outside the park is the historic Rosario Resort. Drawing upon its natural setting and colorful history, Rosario has a special charm. Shipping magnate Robert Moran originally built this magnificent complex as an idyllic retreat and it now serves that same function as a premier destination for Orcas visitors – many of whom have vacationed here for generations. Past Moran State Park is the delightful village of Olga. Once a port of entry for the island, the town now welcomes visitors with a public pier, an artist’s co-op and two restaurants. A turn onto Pt Lawrence Road will soon give you the choice of heading out to Doe Bay or turning right to investigate the trail that will lead you to Obstruction Pass Park’s public beach and picnic area, a real treat.
San Juan Island, originally settled in the late 1800s, is the home of Friday Harbor, the county seat and the business center for the islands. Filled with fine restaurants and shops where local artisans display and sell their wares, Friday Harbor is also the home of the Whale Museum, a nationally renowned facility dedicated to education of the fragile ecosystem in which these gentle giants reside.
San Juan Island was the site of an infamous boundary dispute between Great Britain and the United States in 1859. An American farmer shot a British-owned pig, igniting a potential conflict, resulting in joint occupation of this island until Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany awarded the islands to the United States as part of arbitration. San Juan Island National Historic Park at Friday Harbor commemorates the peaceful resolution of the “Pig War”.
San Juan also offers extensive recreation venues – for starters, hike the six-mile beach and trails at American Camp. Then, visit historic, charming Roche Harbor and the grand Hotel De Haro, built in 1886.

Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island, big, beautiful and easy to find from the Seattle/Everett area, is a choice escape for a weekend or weeklong odyssey. Miles of gentle rolling hills seem made for bicyclists, while a trio of towns and many specialty shops please both browsers and serious shoppers. Couples and families schedule regular visits here, gathering at inns, B&B’s and other inviting lodgings witch, when coupled with a moderate climate, define Whidbey as a perfect year-round gateway.
Access the island via the Mukilteo ferry just north of Seattle, or from Highway 20 at I-5 exit 230, as if heading west toward Anacortes. The latter route includes a short, splendid drive through Deception Pass State Park and over Deception Pass Bridge – providing a magnificent view and outlook you won’t want to miss no matter how you approach this wonderful island. A third access point is via ferry from Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula to Keystone Landing near Coupeville. Whether your destination is a beachfront cabin on a picturesque bay or a meandering tour of captivating towns, once experienced, Whidbey Island becomes the secret you share and the place that, somehow, now belongs to you.
A perfect introduction to Whidbey begins down south, at the thriving artists’ colony of Langley, where pastel painted wooden shops overlook shimmering Saratoga Passage, and the Cascade Mountains. The town is resplendent with flowers and miniature parks, galleries, outstanding restaurants, and fine antique shops. Gray whales are a frequent springtime sight. To the west, dog lovers gather to walk three miles of sandy beach at Double Bluff Beach Park, watch “ship traffic” on its way to port in Seattle, and search shoreline for ancient woolly mammoth bones.
Heading north is Freeland Beach Park at Holmes Harbor. Here families can enjoy warmer protected waters while children play on the beach. Throughout the Freeland area, especially at South Whidbey State Park, old growth cedar forests line miles of easy hiking trails and surround private campsites.
Garden fanciers will appreciate a celebration of our state flower, gloriously abloom during peak months of March through late June, at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens in Greenbank. Open all year, this high season is among many colorful surprises throughout Meerkerk’s 50 acres of tranquil trails, forest and meadows. Just up the road, the historic spot to sample wines of the recently recognized “Puget Sound” region is the Greenbank Farm where a pleasant informal tasting experience comes wrapped in a turn-of-the-century red barn.
Coupeville, situated on placid Penn Cove, about ten minutes north of Greenbank and ten south of Oak Harbor, will soon celebrate a 150th birthday. Quaint and rich in historic appeal, the town invites all to “step back in time”. The waterfront district offers plenty of seafood and other dining options as well as galleries, antiques and specialty shops. Victorian homes and fine old barns charmingly reflect Coupeville’s 19th century beginnings.
“Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve” – 25 square miles of preserved forest, prairie, farmland, bluffs, beaches, parks and hiking trails – surround tiny Coupeville. As Whidbey grows, the “Reserve” remains as it was 100 or more years ago. Here, many buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places are homes and businesses today.
Magical Whidbey isle legitimately boasts of her charming villages, but is also home to a thriving city, Oak Harbor, and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Along the northern shores emigrants settled at the turn-of-the-century and visitors are reminded of the rich Dutch heritage by windmills like the one at City Beach Park. City Beach Park also has a campground; many play areas, and an old-fashioned saltwater “swimming hole”. Oak Harbor’s modern public marina hosts one of the premiere sailing regattas in Puget Sound. Further north, an extensive trail system, saltwater fishing and canoeing are available at Deception Pass State Park.
South Whidbey claims the name “County Inn B&B Capital” of the state, a correct moniker south of Oak Harbor, but look to Oak Harbor for practical lodging and amenities of a metropolitan area, minus the big city feel. With a variety of unique and historic “boutique” lodgings and five state parks on the island, Whidbey offers hospitality daily. Year-round camping is available at Deception Pass State Park. Whidbey’s weather is equally hospitable. Protected by the towering Olympic Mountains, most of Whidbey is smack in the middle of a “rain shadow” – a geologic escape from the Northwest’s famous heavy rains. Add sites with views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainer, the Cascades and the Olympics, then factor in a glimpse of eagles dipping their wings over pristine waters, and you’ll understand why visitors flock to this serene paradise.

Washington State

is bigger than many of the world’s countries. Yet, by western American standards it is a small state – 68.139 square miles to be exact. And therein lays the magic. It’s hard to imagine such a diversity of geography, geology, climate, history, ethnic groups, or population densities in such a relatively small space.
One easy way to get a handle on the diversity of Washington is to think of the state as two parts of unequal size, with the Cascade Range serving as the line of demarcation. The damp, lusciously green west side of the line is smaller in size, but big in population. The I-5 corridor is home to the majority of the state’s residents. The west side is big in natural splendor. This is a land of ancient rain forest with huge, mossy trees and miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. From Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula, to Ilwaco on the southern end of Long Beach Peninsula, you’ll discover awe-inspiring, pristine ocean views and some of the most picturesque, historic seaside communities in the nation. The east side of the Cascades is traditionally sunny and dry, a land of big skies and wide open spaces. Its population centers are handsome small cities like Yakima, The Tri-Cities, and Spokane, and the vast stretches of land around them are sprinkled with enchanting little towns and family ranches. It’s here that the traveler finds the true west so deeply engrained in everyone’s fantasies and the Hollywood dream machine. On both sides, natural and man-made wonders are on a gigantic scale. On the west, Seattle’s gleaming canyons of steel and glass a wonderful counterpoint to the east side’s Snake and Yakima River canyons, as well as its magnificent glacier-carved gorges. Grand Coulee Dam is a mighty tribute to man’s engineering skills and as dizzying in its mass and power as the Space Needle is in its height and delicacy.
Five mountain passes and the Columbia Gorge link the state’s two parts, all cutting their way through the rugged and magnificent Cascade Mountains. These passes offer the quickest way to immerse you in Washington’s startling diversity. State Highway 20 climbs up and over Washington Pass through North Cascades National Park and on to the authentically old western town of Winthrop. US Highway 2 crosses Stevens Pass, then drops down in the delightfully Bavarian town of Leavenworth and stretches on to Wenatchee. The broad cut and easy incline of Interstate 90 tops out at Snoqualmie Pass, then carries the traveler past the quaint settlements of Roslyn, Cle Elum, Ellensburg, and into Yakima. State Highway 410 wraps around the north side of Mount Rainier and begins to descend at Chinook Pass. The views of Rainier are stunners. US Highway 12 follows the south side of Mount Rainier then heads over White Pass.
No matter which pass you choose, the transition is similar. You leave the I-5 Corridor, ascend slopes covered with Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and big-leaf maple and carpeted with salal, ferns, and huckleberry. Near the summits the craggy snowcapped peaks surround you and you’ll feel cradled in the planet’s very birthplace.
As you begin the descent, the forests turn into pine. And as the roads flatten out, spectacular rocky outcroppings stand out against bright blue skies, brown hills roll off in the distance, the air is redolent with the scent of sage, and tumbleweeds tumble along.
And if you think going up and over the Cascades is all there is, try cutting through them via the Columbia Gorge. Following the same route as Lewis and Clark, State Highway 14 flanks the Columbia River through the gorge from Vancouver to Plymouth. Moss and fern-clad cliffs punctuated with waterfalls give way to rolling, grassy hills that look like gold velvet. T’s a starting metamorphosis. Washington’s amazing differences don’t end with landforms and vegetation. From the bustle and chatter in the streets of Seattle’s Chinatown and International District, to the intoxicating rhythms of an Indian Pow Wow, and on to comforting clip-clop of horses, mounted by real cowboys from Kittitas to Colfax, this is a state of many faces. And how do they mix together? There’s an easy test to answer that question. Just say “hello” to anyone, anywhere. The smile and twinkle will tell the tale.
As you explore the state’s cities and meander the back roads, knocking around the little towns, take time to look at the architecture. Some utilitarian some established with the gingerbread of opulent days gone by; these structures are a lesson in state history. Weathered barns in the Skagit Valley bespeak rich grazing lands and a climate so wet that the siding never dried out enough to paint and the handsome patina of weathered cedar changed the way immigrant farmers perceived beauty. In the hamlet of Coupeville, on Whidbey Island, there are enough shingles and clapboard, steeply pitched roofs and stone foundations, to convince you that you’ve stepped into a New England whaling village. Ellensburg flaunts the spunk and promise of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in brick and granite, all within the spirit of the old west. And the prosperity of Walla Walla’s pioneer days is manifested in its sophisticated downtown buildings, its wonderful old city park, complete with a bandstand, and the dignified elegance along the streets of its residential districts. Throughout Washington you can literally reach out and touch pieces of the last century as it unfolded.
To avail yourself of Washington’s magic, you don’t need a wand, a secret incantation, or even lots of money. The old adage “the best things in life are free” was never more true. All you need to do is put on some walking shoes, get on your bike, hop a ferry or a train, or fill a van with kids or friends and a picnic – don’t forget the dog. Off you go and the adventures begin. The state is peppered with great campgrounds, charming bed and breakfast inns, mom and pop motels, big hotels, and top quality resorts. And whether you’re buying smoked salmon in Pike Place Market or apples and peaches in Selah or Prosser, it’s a good idea to shop for food as you go. Washington offers a veritable cornucopia of fresh wholesome things to eat. And our wines are world-class and our wineries are fascinating stops where you’ll learn about viniculture and be able to sample the wines. Who needs to go to Provence?
But be forewarned. Once you’ve basket in the bright skies and fragrant air of the Palouse or walked a stormy beach or visited a lighthouse near Seaview, you can be certain you’ll want to do more. Traveling Washington is addictive. But then, what better habit could you start?
Whether you are visiting from out-of-state, or a Washingtonian anxious to explore your own backyard, this Travel Planner cannot fully describe every activity you can enjoy here. Rather, it should be interpreted as a tiny glimpse of the dynamic range of beauty and culture that await you. For the purposes of helping you choose your next Washington destination, we have divided the state into ten tourism regions.
1. The Islands
Protecting the northern entrance of Puget Sound, the San Juan archipelago, Whidbey and Fidalgo Island are ideal get-away havens. Here you’ll discover tiny villages and picturesque art communities. Isolated coves enable complete quiet for total relaxation and rejuvenation.
2. Kitsap & Olympic Peninsulas
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound and Hood Canal, this wonderland contains the Olympic Rain Forest and, surprisingly, the driest region in western Washington. Thousands of miles of scenic waterfront, vibrant cultural art centers and historic districts await your exploration.
3. The Coasts
Very few sounds in the world are as soothing and meditative as ocean waves rolling onto a Pacific Northwest shore. The Coast region provides a host of opportunities for you to enjoy the ocean, marinas, historic communities, and lighthouses that line our western most boundaries.
4. North Cascades
From the shores of Puget Sound and Bellingham Bay, you’ll head over the Cascades on one of the world’s most scenic driving loops through old-west and Bavarian-theme communities. Wind along the banks of the Columbia to Lake Chelan, bountiful apple orchards, cowboys, and historic mining towns.
5. Seattle / King County
Seattle offers world-class amenities with flair and distinction. Pioneer Square, the Pike Place market, and Seattle Center are just a few of the “don’t miss” attractions. Yet, just minutes from the metropolitan core, throughout King County you’ll discover beautiful lakes, mountains, farmland and bustling, neighborly communities.
6. Volcano County
Explore waterfront communities on southern Puget Sound and the Columbia River. Or launch into the towering Cascades. The grande dame, Mount Rainier and her temperamental sister Mount St Helens are easily accessible from the small communities that line the route and present wonderfully entertaining adventure opportunities.
7. Columbia River Plateau
High plains desert gouged and rutted by centuries of cataclysmic ice age floods have created this surreal and splendid Washington destination. The majestic Grand Coulee Dam and hundreds of isolated lakes at the base of ancient waterfalls will rewards visitors with many unique and memorable recreation options.
8. Wine County
Rich volcanic soil combined with hot summers, cold winters, and very little rainfall have created some of the finest wine grape and fresh fruit growing conditions in the world. Visit the wineries and farm tours and enjoy the hospitality of the independent souls who will welcome you with open arms.
9. Rocky Mountain Gateway
On Washington’s northeastern boundary, you’ll encounter a land of constant wonder. From the renovated historic downtown and riverfront park of Spokane to the hundreds of lakes, raging rivers and lush, deep forests of the Pend Oreille and Colville, virtually every bend in the road reveals a new and delightful surprise.
10. The Palouse
The spectacular Palouse Falls and scenic Hells Canyon on the Snake River provide perfect bookends for the rolling hills and beauty that lie within this remarkably picturesque destination. Tiny farming communities with rich historic roots surround the home of the Washington State Cougars in Pullman and the quaint back roads that connect them, present their own rewards.

Malta

Malta has often been referred to as the island of sunshine and history and with good reason. For, throughout your stay in Malta you will find a surfeit of both. Malta’s history was, in a sense, pre-destined for it by excellent natural harbor and strategic location. The harbor provided a sheltered base for naval fleets whilst the island itself, situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, enabled its colonizing power to exercise control over shipping in this vast and turbulent sea. Hardly surprising therefore, that Malta has always exerted an irresistible attraction to the would-be military powers of successive epochs. Control over Malta was a prerequisite to domination of the Mediterranean and for this reason all the various powers that, at one time or other, held sway over the Mediterranean at that same time exercised control over Malta. The long list of Malta’s colonizers, the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Castilians, Knights of St. John, the French, and finally, the British is indicative of the important role Malta played in the molding of European and Mediterranean history. The list of important visitors to the island, from the Apostle Paul to Napoleon and Nelson is equally impressive. It is no exaggeration therefore, that Malta’s history is a good starting point for a study of the history of the region. If you want to enjoy Malta soak up its history. History, in Malta, stares you in the face and you cannot escape from it. The good thing is that you will enjoy its captivating intensity.
The intelligent visitor is never satisfied with just skimming the surface of his holiday destination. His appetite for learning urges him to delve deeper into the origins and history of the country and the people he is visiting. In this respect few other countries provide as much satisfaction as Malta, for the island is steeped in history. Every square inch of its land and its temples and monuments bear witness to a civilization which, in May ways, is unparalleled. In spite of its small size Malta’s strategic location, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, has meant that, over the centuries, the island has played a very important role in the vicissitudes of the region, right from the early days of civilization up to the present times.
All the various periods of Malta’s history make fascinating reading, but there are two particular periods – the Neolithic period and the period of the Knights of St. John – which stand out from the rest because they are unique to Malta. On their own the remains of these two periods constitute a good enough reason to visit Malta.
Until recently, the Egyptian pyramids were thought to be the oldest architectural monuments in existence. Recent archaeological research however, has shown that the earliest Neolithic temples on Malta are about 1.000 years older than the famous pyramids of Giza. Huge rocks, several tons in weight were used in the construction of these temples. Even with modern techniques and tools this would not be an easy task today. How these enormous loads were moved, or even lifted, 5.000 or 6.000 years ago remains a mystery.
The earliest temples, such as the one at Ggantija on Gozo, were built by the piling of huge rocks on top of each other. They did not have any carving or decoration. Later temples, such as the one at Hagar Qim, in Malta were made of huge stones fitting very closely together and ornately decorated. Carving was done with only very primitive flint and obsidian tools. No archaeological remains made of metal from this period have been discovered on Malta. One theory is that this prehistoric people did not use metal because they foresaw, in its use, their own future destruction.
The subterranean burial place at Malta’s Hal Saflieni, the so-called Hypogeum, is an even more astonishing relic and its accidental discovery in 1902 caused quite a sensation in world archaeological circles. The temple must have been literally carved into the rocks over hundreds of years with simple tools made from flint and obsidian. Starting at ground level the Hypogeum descends several storeys below ground and covers an area of more than 500 square meters. The Hypogeum was certainly a place of worship and burial – the bones of over 7000 people have been found – and could also have been used as a place for the training of priestesses. A number of relics support this hypothesis.
All trace of the mysterious people who built the Hypogeum disappeared suddenly around 2.000 BC – at the height of their culture. How this peaceful people disappeared we will never know. It remains pure speculation as to whether conquerors with modern metal weapons wiped out this unarmed, unfortified people, or weather a sudden epidemic destroyed all human life on Malta for centuries. Equally strange and mysterious are the cart ruts found on many of the rocky ridges in Malta. The most popular theory is that these were made by primitive slide-carts used before the invention of the wheel.
Many hundreds of years after the Neolithic period and precisely in 1530, the Knights of the Order of St John brought about another epoch of great cultural significance to the island. This is not to say that between the sudden disappearance of the Neolithic culture and the arrival of the Knights nothing had happened. Quite the contrary. Many relics and remains bear witness to important historical events in this period. However, no unique or individual culture had originated from the many peoples – the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Castilians – who colonized the island in this prolonged interval.
The history of the Knights of St John begins in the middle of the eleventh century in the Holly Land. The Order’s original duties were to care for the sick and wounded Christian pilgrims to the Holly Land and to help the poor. But very soon their duties expanded; the fight against the “infidels” became of equal or even greater importance. The Knights became “Soldiers of Christ”. They acquired and maintained huge estates and castles in the Holly Land and finally owned a large fleet.
With the loss of Acre to the Moslems in 1291, however, the fate of the Knights was sealed. They withdrew to Rhodes and acted as a shield against the Turks for two centuries until 1522 when Suleiman the Magnificent ousted the Knights from Rhodes. They now needed a new homeland and, in 1530, moved to Malta to which they were given tenure by Emperor Charles V.
The Knights quickly improved trade and commerce on the island, built new hospitals and, most important, erected new strong fortifications. But Suleiman wanted to destroy the Order completely and use Malta as a base from which to attack Southern Europe. In 1565 he set out with a strong fleet to drive the Knights out of Malta. The siege which his navy laid on Malta, referred to by the Maltese as the Great Siege of 1565, lasted four months with fighting of almost unimaginable ferocity. Although heavily outnumbered, the Knights stood firm and finally won, assisted by the Maltese people and by last minute reinforcements from Sicily. The Turks had no alternative but to beat retreat leaving behind them an impressive number of dead amongst whom the feared corsair Dragut. The Knights of St John had successfully protected Southern Europe and Christendom. After their victory against the Turks, the Knights turned enthusiastically to the further development of Malta and Gozo. A golden era in culture, architecture and the arts followed. Many of Malta’s most attractive buildings were built during this period. A new fortress city, Valletta, was built and named in honor of the Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette under whose inspired guidance the knights and the Maltese had defied Turkish onslaught. Valletta is one of the earliest examples of a planned city built on the grid system. The Knights of St John, coming as they did from the richest families in Europe, could afford to hire the best talent available and the buildings of Valletta, its fortifications and the art treasures in its museums and churches are the work of the best European engineers and artist of the time. It was the magnificence of its palaces and other treasures that led Sir Walter Scott to describe Valletta as “The city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”.
The fall of the Ottoman Empire marked the beginning of the end of the military vocation of the Order. The absence of a serious military threat to the Order’s existence, increasing wealth, arrogance, lack of discipline and debauchery ate into the moral fabric of the Order. Thus when, in 1798, Napoleon, on his way to Egypt, dropped anchor outside Grand Harbor on the pretext that his expedition needed fresh water supplies, he found an Order which had lost its morale. Not surprisingly, the French Navy did not have to fire a single shot to secure Malta’s surrender from the Knights. On the 12th June, Napoleon entered Valletta bringing to an end 268 years of rule by the Knights of St John. Napoleon spent six eventful days in Malta during which, through numerous edicts, he tried to transform the island into a typical “Department” of France.
However, French rule in Malta was short-lived. By 1800 the Maltese, with the help of Nelson, managed to drive the French garrison out of Malta and sought the protection of the British throne. That was to mark the beginning of a close association between Malta and Britain lasting over 160 years; Malta became independent in 1964 and adopted a Republican Constitution in 1974.

The Maltese People – friendly and relaxed

Visitors to Malta are invariably struck by the rare sense of hospitality and friendliness of the Maltese people. The Apostle Paul, who was shipwrecked off Malta in AD 60, was probably the first long-stay winter visitor to the Island and the hospitality shown him by the locals is well recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Two thousand years later Maltese hospitality remains as warm and as unaffected as it was then. The Maltese welcome the company of foreigners and being helpful to them comes naturally. Also, they take great interest in what is happening in the rest of the world, and, with their flair for languages, communication with visitors is easy. They have an admirable sense of humor and like most Mediterranean people, tend to be rather jovial. These qualities endear the Maltese to the foreign visitors. It is generally said that foreigners are tourists in Malta only on their first visit; on their second and subsequent visits they return to Malta as their friends. The pace of life in Malta is very relaxed by European standards. The Maltese enjoy life and their broad smiles tell you that they are a happy people. They find great strength and unity in their common language, religion and strong family ties.

Folklore and festivals

The Maltese love festivals and the warm Maltese climate make it possible to enjoy these colorful events throughout the whole year. Between May and October every town and village in Malta and Gozo celebrates the feast day or “festa” of its patron saint. The festa is the most important event in each village’s annual calendar and the villagers eagerly look forward to this very special day.
Considerable preparation goes into these celebrations. The village church, which is the pride of every villager, is draped with red damask and decorated with beautiful flowers. All it’s gold and silver treasures, as well as the crystal chandeliers, are put on display thus creating a fitting setting for the statue of the patron saint which is placed in a prominent position in the Church. The church façade is illuminated with hundreds of multicolored bulbs, as also are the streets, across which are suspended massive and colorful drapes. Hundreds of flags are flown on roof tops whilst drapes and light bulbs are hung across the width of the covered balconies which are typical of Maltese traditional houses. The houses on the main streets, through which the religious procession passes, are generally given a fresh coat of paint for the occasion, and on festa day are lit up and adorned so that they look their best.
There is a three-day build-up to the feast and the atmosphere throughout is one of gaiety and merriment. On the festa day, as the statue of the saint is carried shoulder- high along the streets of the village the church bells ring and several massed bands play marches. Children throw confetti from balconies on to the passing procession. The nougat and candy-floss stands make excellent business whilst the crowds walk up and down the village streets stopping every now and than for a drink or to greet an old friend. The noise becomes quite deafening as the statue is about to re-enter the church; at this stage noisy but colorful fireworks are let off in abundant quantities. The Maltese specialize in the manufacture of fireworks and, in Maltese inter-village rivalry; fireworks often constitute the bench mark for comparing the success of the various festas. During the summer season there is a festa practically every weekend and no holidaymaker to Malta should leave the Island without experiencing one.
Besides the local parochial “festas”, there are others which are celebrated on a national scale. The “Imnarja”, a Harvest festival which is celebrated on June 29, is characterized by a night-long picnic at Buskett Gardens, Rabat on the eve of which the native dish, stewed rabbit, is consumed in large quantities, accompanied by equally large volumes of wine. Exhibits of local agricultural produce, band marches, decorated carts and folklore singing competitions enliven the night-long proceedings. The following day, the festivities reach a climax when bare-back donkey and horse races are held in the street leading to Rabat. The prizes awarded for these races are brocaded banners which the winners traditionally donate to their village church.
The 8th September Regatta held in Grand Harbor, celebrates Malta’s victories during the Great Siege of 1565 and the Second World War. The magnificent Fort St Angelo provides an imposing backdrop to the sleek and colorful Maltese boats. Rowing teams from the cities bordering Grand Harbor take part in a number of very exciting races, marked by extreme rivalry between the participating teams and their respective supporters. The Maltese really let their hair down in the revelry of Carnival in mid-February. The main defile takes place in the capital, Valletta, but in every town and village children dress up in colorful clothes and cover their faces in masks or make-up to camouflage their identity. The Valletta defile is very spectacular containing as it does many floats of a high professional standard.

Bulgaria – Black Sea Coast

Bulgaria has a unique geographical position. It is situated in the remote southeast corner of Europe – the Balkan Peninsula. The territory of the country is comparatively small – only 111.000sq m yet it is the crossing point of three bio-geographical regions. These are the Middle European forest, the Eurasia steppe and the Mediterranean lands. The geographical position of the country, as well as the great variety of relief and landscapes – vast lowlands and steppes, rivers and lakes, valleys and woods, hills and mountains, descending to the waters of the Black Sea – is a guarantee for multifarious having its own atmosphere and unique charm.
Proud of its unique heritage, Bulgaria is a splendid combination of wonderful nature, interesting history and matchless culture. This is the land of sunny mountains, clear waters, unique folk music and crafts. The modern beach resorts, situated on the golden sands of the Black Sea offer the visitors nature beauty, ancient history and modern architecture. In winter you will spend unforgettable time skiing or snowboarding in Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo and many other mountain resorts. Mountain ranges offer unique views. Fragrant woods, volcanic rocky formation, dramatic canyons and a great number of caves contribute for the magnificent panorama. The peoples that inhabited the Bulgarian lands in different periods created our rich history and culture. Folklore tradition is living in the villages and the Bulgarian songs and dances are the only one of their kind. The Orthodox monasteries with their churches with mural paintings are places for pilgrimage and refinement. Bulgaria is becoming a leading world destination for tourist travels all year long because the country is unforgettable in every single season.
For decades the Black Sea Coast has rightfully been the most popular, the most preferred and the most visited Bulgarian destination, owing to the remarkable qualities of the region: 380 km of beaches, 240-300 hours of sunshine in the summer season, average daily temperature of the air 23-25 C and of the water 23-25 C, 70-75% atmospheric humidity, varied relief, uncountable cultural and historical sights, resorts for any taste and pocket…

North Black Sea

Rousalka

The Bulgarian traditions in respect to the hospitality industry developed in the Black Sea resort areas unveiled incredible sea resorts compatible at world level. The national Black Sea resorts attract holidaymakers and tourists with recreation and rest adequate to the requirements and expectations of present day tourists through a great combination of their natural beauties, well-preserved and up-to-date architecture, tourist attraction and entertainments, good service and compatible prices.
Rousalka Holiday Village is one of the most attractive sea resorts for seaside recreational tourism. Nestling in a picturesque natural and historical reserve area – the Birds Bay, in the thick of a venerable oak wood, 20 km northeast of the city of Kavarna, Rousalka Holiday Village offers an unforgettable vacation in ecologically pure surroundings letting you escape from the mass tourist flow. Rousalka Holiday Village is the perfect blend of unspoilt nature and original architecture. Rocky coast and a nice sandy beach… Small cottages built in clusters, one next to the other or one above the other… Hot mineral water and perfect accommodation services… The club village was built in the mid 1970’s in partnership with the French company Club Mediterrane. Sport and recreational facilities available to guests: 600 self-contained two-beds bungalows scattered along the beach area, some of which are interlinked, making them particularly suitable for large families; well-designed and furnished, equipped with TV, air conditioning and telephone facilities; all day kindergarten and sports and animation services for the children; open area bar; mini bar and baby-club; boutiques; secretary and administrative services; rental car services; water sport activities and horseback riding in a modern horse riding club; tennis courts; fitness equipment and sauna, mini-football, volleyball, basketball and archery; jogging area; swimming pool area for families and small kids; curative mineral water showers in the former location of old Roman thermal baths; wonderful beach areas, exotic caves and curative spa. If you are lucky enough you may have the chance to watch the dance of the dolphins playing not too far away from the seacoast. The underwater divers’ club became an integral part of the Rousalka Holiday Village in 1998 – a member club in both the World Sub aquatics Federation and the Bulgarian Association of Submarine Activities.

Albena

The Albena seaside resort with its 5 km long beach lies in a picturesque bay only 32 km away from Varna and 502 km northeast of the city of Sofia.
The rare combination of fine golden sand, fresh air, crystal clear sea and mineral water, medicinal herbs, various natural products and perfectly organized Medical and Spa Centre make Albena a perfect location for family holidays and a most preferred tourist resort area both locally and in Europe.
One of the most marvelous resort on the Black Sea Coast with a good location, ideal for high quality accommodation and with variety of amenities, Albena is the place where the sea meets the sand. Hotels right on the beach – Albena offers a total of 14.900 beds in 43 hotels. They are located right on the beach or on the nearby hill with breathtaking sea and forest views. The hotels of Albena provide various services, such as 20 international TV programs, paid TV channel, a radio studio, phone card telephone facilities, information about transport timetables and air/sea temperatures, the opening and closing hours of shops, restaurants, entertainment clubs, advance booking for excursions, restaurants, taxis, laundry and medical assistance, rental car services and convention halls, internet rooms and medical care. Most of the hotels have a terrace line structure with well-projected storeys. The concept behind this architecture is to get more sun in summer days.
The resort offers great opportunities for housing tourist and holidaymakers. The area hosts 8 football fields; 17 tennis courts; 25 swimming pools with mineral water; 12-alley bowling halls; 9 beach volleyball grounds; a modern horse riding club; a modern multifunctional sports hall, where 11 different sports can be exercised at one and the same time. Albena has excellent off-season sports and recreational programs, which are very competitive to the sport ground properties in the foreign resort areas at the level of Antalya, Cyprus and Western Europe.

Golden Sands

The Golden Sands resort is located 17 km from the city of Varna, in the north part of the Bulgarian Black Sea Riviera. It is a unique combination of a calm and warm sea, wooded slopes descending to a beach covered with fine golden sand after which the resort area is named. All these natural conditions and the mineral springs favors bathing and basking, jet sports, surfing, water skiing and many other water sports.
The small bay areas scattered in this resort welcome children and amateur swimmers. The gems of the resort are the curative mineral spring waters and all holidaymakers may combine their holidays with healthcare programs – year-round spa treatment offering a wide range of services and programs.
Golden Sands resort area is developing every single minute and you may notice the new tourist properties rising every year that attract holidaymakers and tourist with the luxury and comfort typical for the world famous resort hotels. Every hotel is equipped with restaurants, fitness halls and offers lots of services and conveniences.
Restaurants serve Bulgarian, European and exotic cuisine, as well as superb, world-famous Bulgarian wines. Night time entertainment is also well developed: night clubs, discotheques, attractive folklore programs and exciting floor shows, casino and roulette tables. To keep you fit – sport facilities in the dry and wet: tennis courts, riding ground, mini-golf, bicycles, bowling, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and many other facilities.
Riviera Holiday Club is located in the immediate vicinity of Golden Sands resort, amid a natural park of centuries-old trees at the water’s edge and on a beautiful beach.
Riviera is a wonderful combination of mild sea climate and modern spa treatment opportunities. The former governmental residence, situated right on the shore, with its own beaches and park with fine old trees, nowadays offers 493 hotel rooms with 1000 beds in 5 hotels of different category
Riviera Holiday Club is a renowned exclusive centre of business tourism, with a capacity to satisfy any convention and business meeting requirements.
Riviera Holiday Club is a prestigious holiday club combining the tranquility of nature with modern comforts and health procedures.

St. St. Konstantin and Elena

In 1897 the municipality of Varna undertook to build tourist properties in the ancient area of the monarchical cloister “St. St. Konstantin and Elena”. Construction works began almost a century ago and the resort is named after the nearby St. St. Konstantin and Elena Monastery, built at the beginning of the 18th century. Bulgaria’s oldest Black Sea resort, located 9 km north of Varna and 479 km east of the capital of Bulgaria, the city of Sofia, is an elegant holiday destination which prides itself on a long tradition of hospitality.
Situated in a fine old park with cypresses, lilies and fig trees, quiet bays, sand beaches and curative mineral springs, the resort offers comfortable hotels, villa-settlements and holiday houses, dominated by the Grand Hotel Varna (one of the best Bulgarian sea hotels), modern restaurants serving national and European cuisine, sports and entertainment for any age and excursions.

Saint Elias

The most fashionable and representative hotel in this complex of tourist properties is the tourist area of St. Elias, comprising the Grand Hotel Varna and a couple of renewed 4-star hotels scattered in an oasis of greenery, sea and curative mineral water. Holidaymakers can take some rest and enjoy their stay in the sea centre, inside and outside swimming pool areas, and have fun in the wide variety of restaurants and pubs as well as in one of the biggest casinos in the area.

Sunny Day

Sunny Day Tourist Complex – A luxury tourist complex with elegant hotels situated right on the shore 10 km north of the city of Varna, in the immediate vicinity of St. St. Konstantin and Elena resort. Sunny Day is a peaceful green oasis in a sheltered bay with one kilometer of coastal area, a lovely natural park, clean sea, and golden sand and mineral springs.
The tourist attractions and entertainment are catered through 6 restaurants offering Bulgarian and European cuisine, day and night bars, discos, pools, and bowling rooms. Sunny Day also has two fully equipped spa centers offering over 100 different kinds of medical treatment procedures and beauty care, highly qualified medical personnel. Sunny Day offers excellent conditions and facilities for conventions, conferences and receptions in six halls with full audio-visual equipment, seating from 20 to 230 persons.

Elenite

Elenite Holiday Village is situated at the foot of the Balkan Range, right next to the shore, 45 km away from the city of Bourgas and 10 km from Sunny Beach resort, with a whole range of two and three storey villas, cobbled narrow streets, and sport and entertainment facilities. The holiday village is equipped with a conference hall with over 200 seats, a trade centre, and offers rooms with excellent conditions for family holidays, a multitude of restaurants, bars, cafes, games halls, discos, a shopping centre with post office and polyclinic, an outdoor sea water swimming pool, a kindergarten with children’s pool, tennis courts, and lots of live show programs.
The hotel beds number 1026, divided in three zones. Eremite Holiday Village offers many sport facilities – fitness, aerobics, pool, shooting, trampoline and almost all activities are in the package tour – the so called “all inclusive” program.

Sunny Beach

Sunny Beach – this holiday village lies only 42 km north of the city of Bourgas, featuring wide and warm sea with gently sloping sand bottom. The resort is famous for the combination of sunshine and fresh breeze, and for the varied cultural program. The Golden Orpheus International Festival of Bulgarian Pop Songs, taking place in Sunny Beach is long established.
Stretching along a beautiful semi-circular bay facing east, Sunny Beach was established in the early sixties of the past century. It is the biggest resort, with the longest and widest beach strip, with hotels spread along the beach and among the dunes.
What can be found in Sunny Beach? A wide semi-circular bay facing east over an 8 km long beach strip, with fine golden sand, natural dunes, a clean and gently sloping sea. Conditions for water sports are excellent indeed. Hundreds of restaurants, taverns and entertainment places are open till early morning to satisfy any taste and preferences. Water sports are a great pleasure and an irresistible temptation in Sunny Beach as a very up-to-date resort area. There is a great abundance of bathing pools, some of them naturally mineralized. Sunny Beach has lots of hotels, campsites and amazing catering establishments: restaurants, taverns with folklore shows, bars with floor shows, night clubs, casinos, discos and cafes, providing culinary pleasures and a good mood for tourists.

Varna

The Black Seaside capital of Bulgaria is the title awarded to the city of Varna – the third biggest city in that country. Bourgas, which comes right after Varna in the ranking, is the largest city in this South Black Sea region and is not less worth of such recognition. Both big cities of Varna and Bourgas, municipality and governing region centers nowadays, have preserved a great history and culture and become very flourishing business and trade centers. Varna and Bourgas have been tourist regions since early times. It is easy to see why, when having a look at all these grand hotels, motels and tourist properties, which welcome domestic tourist and international visitors all year round.
Varna, which the ancient Greeks called Odessos, is a city with an incredible historical heritage. The oldest processed gold in the history of the world is found in the Varna necropolis dating from the 5th century BC.
Varna became a very famous tourist attraction and resort area in the 20th century. Nowadays Varna is the centre of the North Black Sea coastline, its port is the second largest after the Bourgas one. There is an international airport and a railroad station – active transport communication facilities connecting Varna with the inland parts of the country. Symbols of the Bulgarian sea capital are: the Seaside Garden with its unique and picturesque trees, the great amount of ancient monasteries and cultural properties, the Congress and Festival Centre, the Palace of Sports and Culture and the various preserved buildings dating from 19th and 20th century, built in Wiener style. The Seaside Garden – the biggest park of Varna, situated along the beach offers a golden and fine sand strip, water sliding facilities, flower gardens and water basins, welcoming cafeterias, aquarium, and dolphinarium. The Planetarium – the first to be established in Bulgaria of its kind is also located here. The Tower of the planetarium is equipped with a Foucault pendulum that shows the movement of the Earth. It is the only one of that type on the Balkan Peninsula. Within the sea park area one can find the Seaside Baths, the Navy Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Aquarium (unique exposition of water organisms – Black Sea, freshwater, tropical fishes), the Astronomical Observatory and the Planetarium which organizes viewings for visitors, the Dolphinarium with an amusing show, etc. The Roman thermal baths, 2nd or 3rd century BC, are the largest vestiges of such thermal baths in our land. The ethnographic museum, the Clock Tower built in 1880, as well as the Church of the Assumption are also worth visiting. Varna is an all-year holiday destination. Beyond the high season its balneotherapy facilities can help you unwind and enjoy the many sights and sounds in peace.

South Black Sea
Bourgas

Bourgas – the city is the fourth largest in Bulgaria, situated in the most western part of the Bourgas Bay, spreading on a peninsula surrounded by the three famous lakes – Bourgasko, Atanaskovo and Mandrensko. The city of Bourgas is turning to be the most vivid and busy centre in the South Black Sea coastline and has the biggest port area in Bulgaria with well-developed industry and flourishing trade relations. The Port of Bourgas is the biggest seaport in the country. The Airport of Bourgas is the one where the international flights land in summer. It’s not famous as a beach resort (although you can find a few beaches), but rather as a starting point for the big southern Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria with its railway station facilities and busy bus station.
The favorable geographical location and advanced transport infrastructure of Bourgas are good prerequisites for development of tourism and trade. Bourgas is not only an important industrial centre in the country, it also has considerable resources for tourism. What mostly attracts people here is undoubtedly the sea. The Sea Garden which rivals the one in Varna, the Cathedral of St. St. Cyril & Methodius with lavish decorations of mural paintings and frescos, the Armenian Church, the catholic cathedral, the churches of St. Deva Maria and St. Ivan Rilski, the Natural Science Museum, the Philharmonic orchestra and the Art Gallery. The city beach in the proximity of the Sea Garden is a very busy and visited place. There is a whole range of bars, restaurants, cafeterias, entertainments and sport facilities on one side and the natural tourist attraction – the golden sand, on the other. The dark color of the sand on the seacoast of Bourgas is due the tinge of magnetic alloys which have a very curative effect.

Duni

Forty kilometers south of the city of Bourgas, sheltered in the northern slopes of Strandzha mountain is the very attractive holiday resort Duni (Dunes) with its sand strip of 4.5 km. If you pay attention to the name you will find out for yourself how the place came to be called in this way. The picturesque and unique sea bay area of this vacation holiday resort is a real paradise to holidaymakers attracted by the opportunities for sport and sunbathing. There is no other spot in Bulgaria so close to the sea and to its romantic atmosphere as Duni. The area is a natural reserve where you may also notice the migration route Via Pontica. The holiday resort Duni is comprised of three separate areas of excellently grouped architecture: Pelican, Marina and Panorama. The basic idea of the architects is to reproduce the romantic side of a small Bulgarian village with narrow cobbled streets, sunny areas and flower gardens, to feel a different ambience and charm. The ecological balance, well preserved through all these years, is awarded with the Blue Flag eco-label award.

Malta – Gozo

Three delightfully contrasting islands make up the Maltese Islands. The largest of these, Malta, is sophisticated with a wide variety of superb hotels, excellent beaches and busy nightlife. Comino is the smallest, a haven for anyone who loves water sport, with some of the best swimming in the Mediterranean. And then there is Gozo.
Gozo is a third the size of Malta, but greener and more rural. Its landscape has hills and deep valleys as well as rugged cliffs, which give natural protection to the island’s small harbors and inlets. Life here moves at a leisurely pace, revolving around farming and fishing.
It is an island where time seems to have stood still. There may be de luxe hotels, wonderful small restaurants serving fish caught only hours before being served at the table, and nightlife in summer to match the very best in Malta but it is all charmingly concealed in a magnificent and truly tranquil landscape. Gozo is where you can also get away to secluded privacy when you want to. Little wonder it has become known as an island paradise.
To get to Gozo you take a 30 minute ferry trip from Malta’s northernmost tip, during which you sail past Comino with its glorious Blue Lagoon, just visible through a narrow entrance in the rock coastline. Alternatively you can take the helicopter service from Malta International Airport, a trip which normally takes 15 minutes. Whichever way you choose, on landing you are instantly captured by the island’s serene charm and beauty. At every turn one finds oleanders, geraniums and bougainvilleas in full bloom in summer and lush crops in the fields winter, while picturesque villages with imposing baroque parish churches and charming farmhouses, dot the countryside.
The story of the Maltese islands goes back to pre-history when, it is often believed, and these formed part of a land bridge that joined Europe to North Africa. In Gozo, at Xaghra, one finds what are considered to be the oldest freestanding stone constructions in the world. The Ggantija megalithic temples were built around 3.500 BC, a thousand years before the earliest pyramid in Egypt.
Over the centuries Gozo, like Malta was ruled by the powerful nations of the time, including Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs. It was the Knight of the Order of St. John however, who left a lasting impact on the island.
The oldest villages are situated on the tops of the island’s hills. These were built there as a form of protection, as from this elevated position the small numbers of inhabitants could keep a watchful eye on the countryside. For centuries, the island’s harbors sheltered pirates and corsairs, who often raided Gozo’s farms and villages, taking its inhabitants away to be sold as slaves.
At the centre of Gozo, commanding a superb view of the island, is the Citadel which for centuries served as the islanders’ safest sanctuary, and after the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights set about encircling it with battlements. For many years the inhabitants were required by law to spend their nights within its walls for their own safety.
Today, the Citadel stands as proudly as it ever did. An earthquake in 1693 damaged many of the buildings within its walls but, with the help of UNESCO, these are being restored to their former glory.
In the Citadel one finds the island’s Cathedral, a masterpiece designed by Lorenzo Gafa’, who was also responsible for designing the magnificent Cathedral of Mdina in Malta. Where it stands, was, in Roman times, a temple dedicated to Juno and later the site of two churches. Today’s Cathedral, built early in the 17th century, is small but graceful. Its floor is made up of a mosaic of marble tombstones and ecclesiastical emblems, while its ceiling has a remarkable trompe l’oeil painting that depicts the interior of a dome that was never built. It is a superb building.
Despite the small nature of the island, there is a lot to see. Besides the Citadel, and the Ggantija megalithic temples, one finds the equally impressive Inland Sea at Dwejra and Fungus Rock, where the Knights used to collect a fungus they believed to have medicinal properties. Then there is the Azure Window, a stunning break in the rocky shoreline, Ta’ Pinu Basilica which is a centre of pilgrimage, and the new church at Xewkija with one of the world’s largest free-standings domes. There are small pretty villages on the hill tops and secluded places for swimming, and much more. Gozo is an island to be explored.
One of the greatest pleasures when visiting any country is its local cuisine, the food and the wine. In Gozo this is particularly enjoyable because everything sold in the markets or served in its restaurants, is fresh from the fields or the sea. This is, after all, a rural and fishing community.
The fields are abundant with Mediterranean produce like green peppers, aubergines and courgettes, and each day a wide variety of fish is brought in to the tiny harbors only an hour or so after the catch.
To go with these are Gozo’s delicious crispy bread as well as Gozo wines which are served young and chilled.
For anyone who finds Gozo’s tranquil paradise still a little too hectic, there is nearby Comino, an island only 2 sq. km in area, with one hotel. The island is a heaven for anyone interested in water sports with ample room for everyone, whether a professional scuba diver looks for excitement in the depths or a child learning to use a snorkel in safety.
Of spectacular beauty is the Blue Lagoon with its turquoise waters surrounded by a sundrenched coastline.
Gozo – with tiny Comino – is a place to escape to at any time of the year. Even if you are on holiday in Malta. The people are welcoming and friendly, the countryside both dramatic and picturesque and all you want to get away from it all, and you can. It has all the essential ingredients that make it an ideal holiday destination.
Even if you are there for a short visit, it is easy to see why Gozo has become known as undiscovered paradise.

Places to Visit

The island of Gozo may be small but there is a lot to see and do. The charm of the island makes itself apparent as soon as you land. Gozo has an unmistakable air of tranquility even in the busy market street of its capital, Victoria, and in the harbors, when the daily catchers of fresh fish are unloaded on the quays.
Gozo’s landscape is rural with deep valleys and hilltop villages, with a rugged coastline ready to be explored. There are sand and smooth rocky beaches for relaxation, and clear safe waters for swimming.

The Citadel, Victoria

A visit to Gozo should begin in Victoria, the island’s capital. Victoria was named after the English monarch Queen Victoria, to commemorate her Silver Jubilee in 1897. Even today, many locals still call it by its original name, Rabat (which means city). This commercial hub with its street market also contains the Citadel (known often as the Gran Castello or the Cittadella), an impregnable strategic point which owes its origins to the late mediaeval era, and which was re-fortified by the Knights of the Order of St. John to act as protection for the inhabitants.
For many centuries, pirates and corsairs used Gozo’s small harbors for shelter, while they raided the island in search of fresh produce and water. Often they took the inhabitants captives in order to sell them as slaves. To save themselves and their families from this terrifying fate, the inhabitants, on discovering the enemy had landed, would flee to the highest point at the centre of the island.
The Citadel was comparatively safe, but its walls were not impregnable and would probably not have been able to withstand the onslaught of an armed force determined to enter. After their victory in the Great Siege of 1565 against Ottoman Turks, however, the Knights reinforced the Citadel’s vertical battlements, and it is these we see today.
Within its walls lies the Cathedral designed by Lorenzo Gafa’, built between 1697 and 1711. At the time it was constructed, money was in short supply so its dome was never erected, but this imperfection was brilliantly disguised by an Italian painter, Antonio Manuele. In the interior of the Cathedral he created a magnificent trompe l’oeil painting that shows the interior of a dome in full splendor.
Inside the Citadel one also finds the Cathedral Museum with vestments, silver and gold items used in sacred services. There are the Archaeological Museum which holds several objects found at various sites in Gozo, the Natural History Museum and Folklore Museum. There is also a craft centre housed in the old prison buildings, which provides a window on local crafts, both traditional and modern.
Not to be missed are the spectacular views across the island from the battlements. An earthquake in 1693 damaged many of the mediaeval buildings within the walls, but these are now being restored.

St. George’s Basilica, Victoria

At the centre of the parish, surrounded by a maze of charming narrow streets, is St. George’s Basilica. Built between 1672 and 1678, the church reflects the history of Gozo with its objects and signs of former cultures and settlements dating back to Roman times. All paintings in the dome and ceiling are the works of Giovanni Battista Conti of Rome. Other paintings are by Mattia Preti, Giuseppe Cali and Stefano Erardi. The richly decorated statue of St. George is remarkable. It was carved in wood by Paolo Azzopardi in 1841.

Ggantija

The megalithic temples of Ggantija near the village Xaghra are an outstanding example of the prehistoric monuments to be found on the Maltese Islands. According to latest analysis they were built around 3600 BC, earlier than the first pyramid in Egypt and Stonehenge in England.
The temples’ gigantic rocks weigh several tons and those used in the outer walls reach as high as six meters. How the people of those days were able to move them with their primitive tools is a mystery. According to local legend, a female giant called Sunsuna carried the rocks on her head from Ta’Cenc, a considerable distance away.
In addition to Ggantija there are other interesting sites. For example, a second temple closes to Ggantija and temples at both tal-Qighan and ta’Marziena. At Ta’Cenc one can find what are thought to be prehistoric cart ruts etched deep into the hard rock and leading off the cliff edge. Their origins and use have still to be established.

Calypso’s Cave

Close to Xaghra and overlooking the red sands of Gozo’s finest beach, Ramla I-Hamra, is Calypso’s Cave, assumed by many to be the cave referred to by Homer in “The Odyssey”. Some are convinced that Gozo is the island of Ogygia and the cave to be the one where the beautiful nymph Calypso kept Odysseus as a “prisoner of love” for seven years. Calypso promised Odysseus immortality if he would remain with her but he escaped and returned to his wife Penelope, who sat faithfully at her loom rejecting suitors.
The cave’s interior and exterior are not too impressive but there is nevertheless a feeling of excitement at standing in a place associated with legend. The view is magnificent.
On the shore below, are the remains of a fortification built by the Knight in the mid-18th century to prevent invading forces landing their troops here. The fortifications housed two funguses which were stone mortars filled with rocks and gunpowder. They were constructed on the waterline in such a way that their deadly load would shower onto the boats as they approached.

Dwejra: The Inland Sea and Fungus Rock

At Dwejra on Gozo’s southern coastline is a superb natural phenomenon, the Inland Sea. Set in a deep recess in the rock coastline, the Inland Sea is a large expanse of shallow water linked to the sea outside through a narrow tunnel in the cliff. On calm days small fishing boats carry visitors out to sea through the narrow fissure, in order to see Fungus Rock and Azure Window.
Divers often use the Inland Sea as their shore base for exploring some of the most exciting deep waters around Gozo.

Fungus Rock

Known also as General’s Rock, Fungus Rock stands proudly and menacingly in the sweeping bay alongside the Inland Sea. It was here that Fungus Gaulitanus, a fungus much prized by the Knights for its medicinal powers, once grew. This rare plant was for centuries kept under constant guard and anyone caught stealing it was instantly put to death. It was so prized that it was often presented as a precious gift to distinguished noblemen and visitors to the Islands.
Due to the height and the sheer sides of the tall rock it was almost impossible to scale these from the sea, so the Knights erected a hoist that could carry a man to its flat top from the nearby watchtower on land.

Azure Window

The Azure Window was created by waves and rough seas breaking on the rocks over a period of thousands of years. On the top of two giant columns of rock, each with a diameter of about 40 meters rests a huge ledge of rock measuring about 100 meters in length and 20 meters in height, forming a giant window through which one can see the azure waters of the sea beyond. For centuries the Gozitans have known this rare rock formation as The Window.

Ta’ Pinu Basilica

The Basilica of Ta’ Pinu is a centre of pilgrimage. Its origins date back to June 22, 1883, when a peasant woman, Carmela Grima, heard the voice of the Blessed Virgin talking to her in an old chapel. A friend, Frangisk Portelli, also heard the voice. In the following years the place became a Holly shrine.
It was then decided to build a larger and more magnificent church in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Funds were collected from amongst Gozitans with many donations coming from those of them resident abroad. The local community also offered their physical help in the construction and work on the huge neo-Romanesque church, which started in 1920.
In 1931 the church was consecrated and a year later Pope Pius XI conferred on it the status of Basilica. The original 16th century chapel was integrated into the church and can be seen with its original paintings and votive tablets. The cream-colored church stands majestically alone in the rural landscape.

The Rotunda

At Xewkija, dominating the village and landscape, is the church of St. John. It has what is reputed to be the third largest unsupported dome in Europe, known as the Rotunda. Construction started in 1952 and is based on the design of Santa Maria Della Salute in Venice. It was financed by the local population, which also participated actively in its construction.