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USA - WASHINGTON : ON THE WATER IN WASHINGTON  It is said Washington has more boats per capita than any place else in the nation. It's not hard to see why. Everywhere you turn, Washington has water. Playing on, in or by the water is one of the fun pastimes indulged year-round. The largest community festival in the Pacific Northwest, SeaFair, takes place on the water in Seattle. Not surprising as Seattle itself is surrounded by water. Elliot Bay, the Puget Sound, Lake Union and Lake Washington each offer cruising, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, swimming, water-skiing, paragliding, ferry riding and float plane rides. Washington’s coast includes the spectacular Olympic Peninsula, with 57 miles of glorious beaches in Olympic National Park, including the longest stretch of wild coastline outside Alaska. This is a haven for hikers, beachcombers, backpackers, surf-fishers, sea kayakers, wildlife watchers, surfboarders, and families with children fascinated with tide pools and the crashing surf. Farther south along the coast is Grays Harbor, where traditional salmon fishing ports like Westport still offer charters to catch salmon or bottom-fish. Gray whales migrating along the coast are another attraction, and whale-watching cruises are scheduled. Pounding surf and edible riches are hidden in the beaches of the Pacific shores. Here, there's sweet satisfaction smelling the salt sea air, combing secluded coves, taking to the ocean on skippered fishing charters and tasting the local fruit of the sea. Way south on the Long Beach Peninsula you may gather your own oysters any time at the state-owned bed in Nahcotta. Also try for Dungeness crab off the public dock and check out the outdoor interpretive center. Into action adventure? The famous Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is ace. The gorge forms a massive wind funnel where warm desert air hits cool coastal breezes. Here windsurfers perform amazing feats and flips, like multi-colored butterflies flying off the water. Kayaking, rafting, fishing, swimming and boating are all available, mostly on the Columbia's calmer companion rivers, Wind, White Salmon and Klickitat. Further downstream, the Columbia flows through the spectacular 80-mile-long Columbia River Gorge. You'll find cruise options with Cascade Sternwheelers, world-class sailboarding from parks like Doug's Beach near Lyle (lessons and rentals available), and excellent salmon fishing in September at the mouths of tributary streams. For historical background on the river and its impact on Native American and pioneer communities, stop at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center near Stevenson. At the other end of the Columbia River, in the far northeast corner of the state, lies a region locals called Panorama Land. You could also dub it the Colville Corner, after the big national forest that protects much of northeast Washington's timberlands. Here are rolling highlands cloaked in forest, dotted with lakes, and carved by rivers like the Kettle, Sanpoil, and Pend Oreille. Thirty-five resorts on 17 lakes and two rivers tempt travelers with diverse recreation sailing, canoeing, river-running, water-skiing, wind surfing, swimming, paddle-boating, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Fishing is a prime attraction, especially fly-fishing. Glacial lakes are found high in the wilderness reaches of the Cascade Mountains. In the open stretches of eastern Washington, dozens of lakes abound, with recreation from water skiing and swimming to fishing and boating. Lake Chelan runs so deep its one of the most pristine lakes in the country. At 55 miles long, there's lots of variety to explore along these popular vacationers shores. Cities and small towns dot the shorelines and estuaries of Puget Sound, offering numerous opportunities to get on the water. Try a sea kayak adventure from historic Port Townsend. Go whale watching from Anacortes. Join salmon fishing charters from Tacoma, Edmonds, Port Angeles and Westport. Winter wildlife watching is superb (eagles, hawks, snow geese, trumpeter swans, shorebirds) in estuaries around the mouths of major rivers such as the Skagit, Nisqually, Nooksack, and Snohomish. La Conner on Swinomish Channel north of Seattle is a departure point for lunch and dinner cruises to spectacular Deception Pass or for extended cruises through the San Juan Islands. In the Scandinavian heritage town of Poulsbo, on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County, Olympic Outdoor Center invites you to rent a kayak or a canoe and explore the placid bay and see wildlife (otters, eagles, heron). There are overnight tours to nearby Blake Island State Marine Park. Gig Harbor, just west of Tacoma via Highway 16, presents a glorious view of Mount Rainier rising above the bay. Here you can stroll the shoreline past fishing boats, tugs, historic hulks listing at their moorings, and a host of recreational craft. Bellingham, in Whatcom County on I-5 near the Canadian border, is an enthusiastic outdoor adventure center. The Fairhaven districts waterfront features the Alaska Ferry Terminal with cruises up the Inside Passage. An Amtrak depot on the waterfront means you can reach all this by train. Photo: courtesy WST/Port of Seattle. Photographer Don Wilson
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