Hodgson Homestead: Area

 

About Lopez Island

** Lopez Island is the first stop on the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes. The island is 15 miles long and 8 miles wide with 2,200 year round residents. Tucked away in the northwest corner of the state of Washington, lies an emerald gem. Lopez Island has long been known for its profound natural beauty, contrasting landscapes and island mystique. Many come for the Island life, some for special occasions, yet, most for the experience of a new unforgettable atmosphere around them. No matter how long or short your stay is on Lopez Island, you will have experienced an unimaginable place beyond thought. Be prepared to wave, because Lopez is the Friendly Isle. The island is a bicyclist's paradise and a beach combers dream.

 

About San Juan Islands

No it is not that San Juan (Puerto Rico). These San Juan Islands are located in the Northwest United States in the Puget Sound area of Washington State. And there is nothing much like them anywhere in the world, and certainly not in Puerto Rico.

Just a 1.5 hour drive and a ferry ride away from metropolitan Seattle, the San Juans are a world apart. The group consists of 172 islands that have names and many smaller ones that do not. The three major islands, which have ferry service, are Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island. You can reach them by a Washington State ferry, airplane or boat. Private boat transportation is available for service to most of the other inhabited islands.

The waters of Puget Sound are pristine as they are swept in and out to the Pacific Ocean twice a day. Fish, birds and giant mammals including Orca (Killer) whales are common. So are whale and nature watching trips.

The islands were part of the traditional area of the Central Coast Salish Island nations who even today retain a presence in the area. Boaters from throughout the Washington State area and further spend days, weeks and months cruising the waters around the San Juans, which boast many varied marina's and docking facilities.

The islands are alive with history and an explanation of their very Spanish name in a very not-Spanish area of the world. There are historical museums on the three main islands are full of fascinating history.

 

About Washington

The Evergreen State lives up to its name. In Western Washington vast forest once covered most everything and even today new visitors are sometimes stunned by the ever present green that can be found in the forests of course, but also in the vegetation that seems to spring up everywhere.

Much maligned as a rainy place, most areas of the state such as Seattle actually get less rain than New York City, Chicago and Florida. And in Eastern Washington vast stretches of high plateau and vast agricultural areas are actually hot and bright in summer and have a great many days of sun even in winter.

THE COAST:
Washington also has some of the most diverse coastal areas in the U.S. To the Southwest, the Long Beach Peninsula is the longest beach in the world and visitors can even drive their cars right out on the sand. There they'll find color kiting, legions of shore birds and a brisk ocean environment.

Further up the cost are Willapa and Grays Harbors home to forest industries, fishing fleets and moderate year round climates. From Seattle and the larger cities, visitors flock to both Harbors during the spring, summer and fall. Many come for fishing, claming and beach front activities.

Still further North is the vast Olympic Peninsula where beaches rise steadily to numerous snow capped summits including Mount Olympus, the Hoh rain forest and the rain showed Sequim recreational areas. The Peninsula is also home to numerous low land lakes where spring fishing gives way to summer water skiing and other great fresh water fun.

PUGET SOUND:
Tucked between the Olympic Mountains to the West and the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett to the East is a vast salt water estuary known as Puget Sound. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the pristine Straight of Juan De Fuca. State ferries and the engineering marvels of floating bridges, allow visitors to move around "the Sound" with ease. The Sound has been reshaped by the scouring action and till deposition which extended as far south as Olympia.

SAN JUAN ISLANDS:
At the Northern edge of Puget Sound lies a cluster of spectacular rocky islands known and the San Juan’s. A ferry or float plane is required to access the islands but worth the trip.

SOUND CITIES:
Almost dead center on the East coast of Puget Sound lays the large city of Seattle and its cross lake cousin Bellevue. Home to big industries such as Boeing, Microsoft and Starbucks Coffee the cities of Puget Sound offer much to visitors. There are restaurants, tours and places to visit such as the Pike Place farmers market. Professional spots teams and major arts organizations including Opera, Ballet and many Live Theatres provide things to do on every night of the year.

CASCADE MOUNTAINS:
Running North-South and splitting the state in half are the Cascade Mountains. Sometimes forgotten in comparison to the Montana, Idaho and Colorado Rocky mountains, the Cascades are vast and sheer. Mt Saint Helens eruption in 1980 brought attention to the area but there are a dozen other major mountain climbing areas including Mt. Rainer and Mt Badams. All are within easy driving distance of major cities and international airports.

At the Northern End of Washington State's Cascades is Mt. Baker, birthplace of snow boarding and still one of the snowiest ski areas in the world. Just to the south is the North Cascades Wilderness area which boasts one of America's most scenic roads. So precipitous, in fact, that it closes in winter due to immense snow falls.

EASTERN WASHINGTON:
From the Eastern Slopes of the Cascades spreads the sprawling areas of Eastern Washington. On the south it is bordered by the Columbia River gorge how to numerous dams and world famous wind surfing. Above that lay the deep rich fields and wine grape vineyards of the Yakima Valley which compares in longitude and composition of renowned French growing areas.

The Columbia river flows north through the middle of Eastern Washington State where dams have created long and winding lakes surrounded by campgrounds and recreational areas. North Central Washington is home to the Replica Bavarian Village of Leavenworth which boasts over four million visitors per year, as well as to Lake Chelan a 50 mile long natural lake one of the cleanest in the United States. Its gorge - if it were emptied of water - would be deeper than the Grand Canyon. North of that can be found the Wild West town of Winthrop Washington where real live cowboys ride the ranges during hot summers and frigid white winters.

On the border shared with Idaho and about central North to South, lays the Inland Empire city of Spokane headquarters to industry and agricultural activities. To the south likes the Palouse region known as the bread basket of the world because it produces more grain per acre than anywhere else.

In short, the Evergreen state is a very diverse place full of recreational activities like boating, fishing, water sports, professional sports arenas, high class arts organizations and so much to do you'll need a month just to begin to see much of it.