Learn Sea Kayaking in North Puget Sound

For the adventure vacation of a lifetime, learn sea kayaking in the calm blue-green waters of Washington's San Juan Islands. Begin your adventure in the quaint waterfront town of Anacortes on Fidalgo Island, located at the north end of Puget Sound. It's a scenic vacation destination, popular for all types of boating enthusiasts from sail to power to paddle. Sea kayaking in the San Juans is one of the fast growing water sports overall. What's the great appeal? It can best answer comes from other local sea kayaking enthusiasts:

"I love adventure and active exploration that doesn't pollute the air, foul the water or waste petroleum."Dave Baum

"In my kayak I am amphibious - playing quietly alongside the other creatures that belong in this environment." Tove Andvik

"Kayaking is a combination - the challenge of high adventure, a sensual immersion in the realness of the natural world, and a compelling tranquility." Wyn Berry

Sea kayaking is both relaxing and adventurous. And, one of the best places to experience it for yourself is in Anacortes. Lying on the northern shores of Fidalgo Island, Anacortes is surrounded on three sides by saltwater and offers miles of rocky coastline for kayakers to explore. The area abounds with wildlife and offers spectacular views of the rugged Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. Anacortes serves as the "gateway" to the San Juan Island chain in the U.S. and the Gulf Islands further north in British Columbia. It hosts a Washington State ferry terminal that provides ferry service to islands of Shaw, Orcas, Lopez, San Juan, and Vancouver Island in Canada.

Anacortes' cozy downtown provides great choices for lodging, dining, and nightlife. Most are within easy walking distance of your waterfront adventures. A short stroll down the main street you'll find Anacortes Kayak Tours. They offer expert kayaking instruction and guided tours for beginners and experts alike. Their equipment is top notch, the instructors are expert and friendly, and they invite everyone, young and old, to learn the sport of sea kayaking. Their web site boasts of teaching 3-year-old children, 90-year-old seniors, and every age in between how to paddle the sparkling waters of North Puget Sound in their own personal watercraft.

Your classroom will be the quiet waters of Fidalgo Island's small bays and inlets, which are considered among the best for beginners. Protected by the mainland to the east, Fidalgo Bay on the west side of downtown Anacortes provides the perfect place for novices to learn their boat handling skills. The calm, shallow water is home to playful harbor seals that often swim alongside students as they make their maiden voyage. Bald eagles nesting on a nearby promontory, Cap Sante, frequently fish for salmon in the bay. You are likely to see sea otters, gulls, blue herons and a host of other seabirds and sea life during their first 2-hour practice session. Many students say it can be hard to concentrate on the lessons when there's so much scenic beauty and wildlife to watch.

Once you've learned the basics of handling your sea kayak, you may decide to sign up for another kayaking excursion. Consider the one to Burrows Island or Deception Pass, which is also the location of one of Washington's most scenic state parks. For the vacation adventure of a lifetime, check out one of the multi-day guided sea kayaking expeditions. Those will take you to some of the most beautiful paddling destinations in the San Juans. You may even see one of several pods of orca whales that frequent those waters. These tours are all inclusive, providing quality kayaks, camping equipment, meals, and high-speed transportation between islands. For more information, check out the website for Anacortes Kayak Tours.

The optimum time to schedule your kayaking vacation to the San Juans Islands are the months of July, August, and September. The weather is moderately warm, dry, and the winds are fair. Anacortes hosts an annual Arts Festival the first weekend in August. It can be difficult to find lodging for that weekend unless you secure reservations well in advance. If you don't like crowds, you may wish to avoid that weekend in your vacation plans. Contact the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce and request a visitor's information package.

Is this your year to do something truly extraordinary for your vacation? Say "yes" to the adventure of sea kayaking in the beautiful San Juan Islands of Washington State. Anacortes welcomes you.