Over Labor Day weekend 2008, I took a day to discover one of the most beautiful areas of Washington State. Whidbey Island, and neighboring Fidalgo Island to the north, are two of the most scenic locations I have visited during my tenure in Seattle. (To be fair, all the locations I have visited compete with each other in terms of scenic beauty). Thanks to a colleague and native of Whidbey Island, I was able to visit most of the island, including several quaint towns, military forts, state parks, and beaches. (Thanks, Scott). At Fort Casey, I managed to get very close to some deer who were not shy and seemed to enjoy their own photo shoot. Another highlight was Deception Pass, dominated by the bridge that connects Whidbey to Fidalgo. Ultimately, my favorite location was the last place I visited, Mount Erie. From its summit, I could see the span of Whidbey Island and its surrounding islands. It was a breath-taking and magnificent combination of land, water, and sky. I hope to visit again.

Cape Flattery is the northwesternmost tip of Washington State as well as the 48 contiguous states of the USA. It's an alluring, heavily forested region located within the borders of the Makah Indian Reservation. It's about a four-hour drive northwest of Seattle (including one ferry ride). From Cape Flattery, one can see British Columbia, Canada quite clearly, as it is only less than 10 miles away, divided by where the Straits of Juan de Fuca empty into the ever serene Pacific Ocean.