Northwest winter: plenty to do, even now

By CARY ORDWAY

No one argues that the Pacific Northwest is not the ideal place to vacation or take short getaways in summer ‐ but for some, there may be some hesitation about heading out of town in the dead of winter. The good news is that there are lots of fun places to visit during winter. And you know what: there really isn't any bad news.

If you don't mind driving home in the dark ‐ after all, you'll want to milk your vacation day for every last minute and the days are quite a bit shorter this time of the year ndash; then you'll find many attractions in the Northwest are just as appealing in winter as in summer. In some cases, they're even more so.

Take, for example, the Washington coast. Okay, no question that summer days down on the coast are warmer and you just might – might – consider putting a toe in the frigid Pacific Ocean. In winter, however, the ambience changes and the storm clouds and sometimes incessant rain actually make you feel more alive. They make that beach hotel or vacation cabin feel just that much cozier. Mother Nature just seems so overwhelming, yet awe-inspiring at the same time.

Places like the San Juan Islands can actually be a better vacation spot in winter if you're the type who abhors crowds. Travelers are practically clinging to the sides of ferries during summer with each vessel packed with people who have saved up their two weeks of vacation time and, by gosh, are going to see everything and visit every place within their allotted time. In winter, the islands revert to the quiet haven that local residents so enjoy – the crowds are gone, the pace is even more relaxed than in summer. Sure, it will be a little cooler, but the islands have a temperate climate and sometimes may even get a stretch of several days of sunshine in winter.

Another option is to look at some indoor attractions – maybe take a day trip to one of the Northwest air museums or visit the Experience Music Project in downtown Seattle.

And if you're a skier or snowboarder we don't have to tell you what there is to do this time of year in the Northwest. The ski areas are going full tilt as long as the snow is there and there's a wide variety of areas to choose from not only in Washington but in neighboring states and British Columbia.

If you're ready to get planning, here are a few options we especially enjoy:

Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands

There are those who are quite certain the San Juan Islands were created just to be a paradise for boaters, but the good news for the rest of us is that we can hop a Washington State Ferry and enjoy the same amazing scenery as the yachting class. And, while fares aren't really cheap, they're a lot less than maintaining your own boat.

A popular destination in the islands is San Juan Island, one of three main inhabited islands in the group, although there are many more islands - some even with people - that would be considered part of the San Juans. San Juan Island is the most diverse of the main islands with its beaches and rocky shores as well as miles of pasturelands, some lakes and even forests.