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Orca watching off San Juan Island in the Salish Sea comes with only one guarantee: You're going to have a beautiful boat ride.[#sponsored] 743 land masses, including 172 named islands, comprise the San Juan Islands, tucked between Seattle and Vancouver Island. Amidst these big islands and little crags, dozens of white and black orcas swim the waters: 🐳 The "killer whale" is actually a variety of dolphin 🐬 An orca's iconic white face patches are not where their eyes are, but are a sort of eyebrow 🦅 Along with spotting orcas, boat tours are an amazing opportunity to spot bald eagles. Our guide told us that on one tour, she has counted 28 bald eagles ✌️ 2 distinct types of orcas use these waters, but each has a different dialect, diet, culture, and genetics 👀 A vessel flying a whale warning flag means whales are in the area! Boaters should slow down, be on the lookout, and maintain appropriate distance TIP ➤ Looking for orcas? Keep an eye out for that tall black dorsal fin. There's nothing else like it in the water. Watch the video to see how many you can find! For more adventures in the San Juan Islands, check out Visit San Juans, and thank you to San Juan Safaris for taking us to find orcas!
2 countries. 7 days. Over 550 miles of scenic drive beauty, on a route that holds its own with the Blue Ridge Parkway or California’s Highway 1. ☞📌SAVE THIS ROAD TRIP ITINERARY POST! ☜ The International Selkirk Loop runs through Idaho, British Columbia, and Washington State. The 278-mile route makes a sort of oval around the Selkirk Mountains. Scenic Super Side Loops add to the fun and give you a chance to experience more mountains, lakes, rivers, and small communities. A common starting point for this epic family road trip is nearby Spokane, WA. While not on the loop, Spokane was an hour from our ISL entry point at Newport, WA. From Newport, we made our way counter-clockwise around the ISL: 📍 Sandpoint, ID 📍 Creston, BC 📍 Kaslo, BC 📍 Castlegar, BC 📍 Ione, WA The ISL is a trip of a lifetime. It gives families a chance to slow down and enjoy both the journey and time with one another. Just as spectacular as America’s more well-known scenic drives, the International Selkirk Loop deserves a trip in YOUR not-too-distant future.
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