Expert naturalists guide this exhilarating adventure when Rufous Hummingbirds signal the start of spring. Discuss migrations and take field trips to prime habitats including San Juan Islands National Historical Park, where wintering Harlequin Ducks, Pacific Loons, and Red-necked Grebes are ready to leave for breeding grounds, and migrating Mountain Bluebirds and Townsend Solitaires stop by. The state's largest nesting population of Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons are here, as well as Black Oystercatchers, Rhinoceros Auklets, Townsend's Warblers, and Hutton's Vireos.

Learn natural history in one of the most gorgeous laboratories on earth: Orcas Island, where the ebb and flow of glaciers left mountains, meadows, and rocky coves waiting to be explored. Take hikes with a naturalist in beautiful Moran State Park. Hike Mt. Constitution for a view -- regarded as one of the finest in the world -- of nearly 200 surrounding islands as well as the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. Ramble beneath a canopy of cedar and fir past waterfalls and mountain lakes. Explore the island on a mid-week field trip. Engaging lecturers, historians, and raconteurs introduce local creatures of the sky, land, and sea.

The San Juan Islands are home to a variety of creatures of land and sea, from bald eagles to orcas (killer whales), and sea urchins. Focus on marine biology and natural history as you kayak its sheltered waters and glide past the rocky coastlines. Kayak field trips start from various island locations known as the best places to view wildlife, seabirds, marine mammals, and the resident pods of Orca whales. Roam old island haunts to experience firsthand the history of the gritty settlers who chose to live here. Enjoy one easy hike with a naturalist in San Juan Island National Historic Park. Discover the lure of the islands as you experience the intricate marine ecosystem and build your skills out of doors.

Revel in seascapes of untold beauty on hikes along the coastal shorelines and ridges of San Juan and Orcas islands. With the Olympic Mountains looming in the distance, hike atop the coastal prairie bluffs of San Juan Island National Historic Park. Consider environmental issues of the Salish Sea ecosystem and gain a sense of place typically reserved for locals as you ramble through an outdoor sculpture park and past the picturesque Limekiln Lighthouse. Journey by ferry to Orcas Island and examine the conservation story of the Turtleback Mountain Preserve. Narrated hikes through high meadows and rocky ledges reveal panoramic vistas of the San Juan and Canadian Gulf islands, a unique place that is as ecologically vital as it is beautiful.

2008 Itinerary: The pounding of surf upon the coast has steadily shaped the land and culture of the Pacific Northwest. For thousands of years, people living west of the Cascade Range have relied on the sea for food and transportation. While much has changed over the centuries, the ocean's influence continues to be felt today. During our study cruise, we immerse ourselves in the culture of this picturesque maritime region. Our vessel is large enough to be comfortable, yet small enough to linger among the tapestry of inlets, bays, rivers, beaches, and islands. Seattle Perched on a spectacular site sandwiched between Puget Sound and majestic Lake Washington, Seattle is surrounded by bays, lakes, rivers, and canals-with a glorious view (on a clear day) of Mt. Rainier. This multicultural city offers an eclectic mix of old and new-of the grand port that made it famous and of the entrepreneurial energy that makes it one of today's most exciting metropolitan areas. Our coastal journey begins with two days of lectures and field trips exploring the history, economy, and culture of this vibrant city. Field trips take us to Pike Place Market in the heart of the Seattle waterfront and the Museum of History and Industry. Aboard the Spirit of Endeavor Our lectures focus on the natural and cultural history of the region, its geological processes, and its resident marine life. Highlights of our study cruise include exploring the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver, the spectacular fjord of Princess Louisa Inlet, the fishing village and resort town of Friday Harbor, and historic Fort Casey on Whidbey Island. Activities include evening music programs. The Spirit of Endeavor The four-deck American small cruise ship, built in 1979 and renovated in 1994, is 143' long with a beam of 28'. The ship can carry 78 passengers on exclusive charters for Elderhostel programs. Public areas, linked by stairs, include a dining room, lounge, bar and sun deck. All cabins feature air conditioning, and private bathroom with shower. Cabins differ in size, amenities and cost. Itinerary Arrive Seattle, 2 nights; coach to vessel, 7 nights (ports of call: La Connor, WA; Vancouver, Princess Louisa Inlet, Nanaimo, Victoria, B.C., and San Juan Islands, WA) disembark/depart Seattle.

Enjoy the island's sweetest season. The air turns crisp, the light golden fall colors touch the leaves. This program combines lecture and field study in the natural and cultural history of the islands. Study orcas, eagles and other creatures of land and sea. Learn about the geography of the archipelago and the history of the people who have made this their home. Visit a whale museum and a national historic sanctuary. Take the ferry to Orcas Island and enjoy lunch and a visit to local salmon hatchery and organic farm. Exceptional lecturers and delightful storytellers bring the islands to life and leave you with a deep sense of this special place.

Travel the back roads and waterways of the San Juan Islands for an in-depth look at how modern islanders continue creative farming and fishing traditions of the region's first settlers. Savor the bounty of local seafood, island produce and other unique artisan foods. Organic farmers, cheese-makers, herb growers and foragers all contribute to the vibrant local culture and economy. Learn about the long fishing history in the islands and hear from experts how modern fisheries are faring. Explore a gourmet shellfish farm and salmon hatchery; learn how experts cook seafood. Sample Washington State wines and hear about the island twist on the modern wine industry. Your week culminates in a sumptuous barn-style feast with entertainment!

Meet the artists and craftspeople of Washington's San Juan Islands. Based on San Juan Island, travel to an outdoor sculpture park; visit galleries and studios for intimate encounters with artists and collectors, discovering how local culture and inspirational environs combine in the creation their work. Embark on a daylong field trip by ferry to Orcas Island to explore the oldest artists' cooperative in the Pacific Northwest. Tour a private museum guided by its eccentric curator to experience the most complete collection of art created by Islanders, including an underground grotto and sea oracle. Enjoy an excursion to Moran State Park and the breathtaking vistas from the vantage of Mount Constitution.

Since early times, the salmon has come, the whale has followed, and all has been well in the Pacific Northwest. This program weaves together the mythic and real importance of this symbiotic relationship to the culture, ecology and economy of the region. Cruise the San Juan Archipelago with a local expert naturalist and take a chance on seeing the local orca pods as they chase the salmon during a whale and wildlife search. Learn how modern life threatens their survival. Visit a Chinook salmon rearing facility on Orcas Island that has become a benchmark for hatchery reform. Lecturers and raconteurs will engage and enlighten you, leaving you with a deep sense of the region.

Travel the Puget Sound marine highway to visit three of the most distinct communities along its shores: Seattle, destination for pioneers of the westward movement and jumping off point for the Northwest gold rush; the San Juan Islands, the destination for hardy souls who craved even further solitude and self-determination; and Victoria, the furthest outpost of British civilization, now beloved as a bit of old Europe in the rugged northwest. Experience modern life as you learn the history and future of this beautiful region. Program in association with Skagit Valley College. In Seattle, learn how climate, geography, fortune, and misfortune led to today's booming metropolis. Field trips to Pike Place Market, Olympic Sculpture Park, Pioneer Square, Tillicum Village on Blake Island, and other landmarks bring the city to life. Contrast Seattle with Victoria, a city marked by old-world charm. Visit the world-renowned Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Museum, and the elegant Empress Hotel. Round out your experience in the San Juan Islands, a haven for whales, bald eagles, and rugged individualists. Passed over by earlier booms in the Northwest, the islands are threatened today by the allure of their natural beauty. Leave with a sense of the deep bonds of history along the northwest waterways. Seattle, 3 nights; travel to Victoria, British Columbia by Victoria Clipper passenger ferry; Victoria, 3 nights; travel to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island by WA State Ferry; Friday Harbor, 3 nights; Return to Seattle hotel and airport via State Ferry and chartered motor coach.

The San Juan Islands are an instinctual destination choice for those seeking serenity, rejuvenation, and healing. The balance of the unique natural surroundings and compassion of the local residents brighten the spirits of all who visit the Islands. Learn about the natural, homeopathic and alternative medicine; acupressure; herbal therapies; yoga; and other healing techniques that have been deeply rooted in this Island community for decades. Explore the good life as you visit a local organic farm. Take a day long field trip via scenic ferry ride to Orcas Island to visit a model salmon rearing facility to learn about spring's importance in the cycle of life. Leave with insights of simple lifestyle and heath techniques that can enrich your health, happiness, and vitality.

The San Juan Islands were long known as the breadbasket of Seattle, sending fish, produce, and livestock "down Sound"to feed the growing urban population. This delightful introduction to real island life takes you behind the scenes to see how this farming and fishing tradition continues today, sustaining modern islanders' pocketbooks and spirits. Visit organic farmers, shellfish breeders, and lavender growers to savor the product and learn about production and marketing of artisan food. Visit a local winery to learn the island twist on the modern wine industry. Eat delicious meals made from local produce and sample Washington State's famous wines.

Visit San Juan Island on "island time,"a unique pace that puts you in tune with the cultural beauty and unique history of the archipelago. Focus on the natural history of the islands with lectures on marine biology and the local environment and habitats, a gentle nature walk and field trip to a an outdoor sculpture park. In Friday Harbor, visit the Whale Museum and enjoy a guided tour of town with highlights of Friday Harbor's centennial year: 2008.

Savor the fall breezes on a narrated cruise aboard the Washington State Ferry as it chugs through the Salish Sea. Circle the deep-green waters as you glide from Friday Harbor to Orcas, Shaw and Lopez Islands. Enjoy a day-long field study where breathtaking beauty commingles with "modern"island industry; a beautiful lavender farm and an aquaculture farm. Explore the dramatic beauty of a National Historic Park important to regional history. Take a chance on seeing Orca whales pass by the region's only whale watch park and visit the famous whale museum. Enjoy a truly unique Northwest experience!

Between the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, an archipelago of nearly 200 islands rises above the Salish Sea to form the San Juan Islands. At protected wildlife refuges and research stations, experience firsthand with historians and scientists the maritime history of this rich marine ecosystem. Explore Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west shore of San Juan Island, now an active whale research observation post that studies local Orca pods. Wind through the waterways aboard a narrated voyage for close-up views of four remote lighthouses with a naturalist and preservation specialist. Absorb panoramic views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges at Cattle Point lighthouse and learn more about regional explorations in evening discussions.

Explore the back roads of Orcas to discover the creative culture for which it is known. From fine artists to local craftspeople, meet several well-regarded islanders in the studios and workshops where they find inspiration and create their work. Watch demonstrations, view their pieces and hear their stories firsthand as you consider the effects of isolation, independence and natural surroundings on artistic creation. Connect with the inspirational surroundings at the summit of Mount Constitution, and talk with the owner and curator of the definitive San Juan Islands collection in his private waterfront residence. Visit the oldest artists’ cooperative in the Northwest and round out the program with an intimate fireside musical interlude.

Autumn holds a special reverence in the north. Shadows lengthen, leaves turn, and magic spices the air. Join us for a rich program that fits the season's mood. Journey with a musicologist through the melting pot of early American folk music. Learn from a naturalist about autumn's place in the cycle of life. View spawning Chinook Kings at a salmon rearing facility that has become a benchmark for hatchery reform. Savor a harvest feast and an intimate fireside farewell musical performance.

Extending from the southern edge of Vancouver Island and as far south as Puget Sound, the Salish Sea is an inland waterway that surrounds the San Juan Archipelago — a collection of more than 800 islands, rocks and reefs. Kayaking among and hiking over these islands provides an opportunity to investigate one of the most pristine and diverse ecosystems in the continental United States. Whales, porpoise, river otters, seals and sea lions populate the harbors and reefs below, while 200 bird species — cormorants, auklets and the largest nesting population of bald eagles in the lower 48 states — pass through the Pacific Flyway above. The rugged and complex character of the San Juan Islands is embodied in the people who live there. Nearly 75 islands in the archipelago are inhabited, but only four are served by ferry. This isolation nourishes an independent, entrepreneurial and sometimes eccentric spirit. Experience the unconventional life of an outer island homesteader through her poetry, photos and personal letters. And meet some of the artists, craftsmen and other islanders who share a deep pride of place. Your exploration begins on San Juan Island. Home to a unique diversity of natural habitats — coastal prairie, pastureland, lakes and forest — San Juan Island is also known for its man-made environs, especially the energetic port town of Friday Harbor. Along the wild and scenic west side of the island, take to the water and search for the three resident pods of nearly 90 orcas that make the San Juan Archipelago their home from May through October. Or for a change of pace, hike the shoreline near Lime Kiln Lighthouse with a naturalist for some of the best land-based whale-watching around. Venture deep into the outer edge of the archipelago on an open-air landing craft to remote Stuart Island, choosing to either hike to Turn Point Lighthouse — the northwesternmost point in the continental U.S. — or kayak in search of porpoise and whales. On a chartered passenger boat, cruise from an uninhabited outer island to Orcas Island, then hike to the peak of Mount Constitution — the highest point on the San Juan Islands — to take in a grand panoramic view of the archipelago and the Cascade Mountains beyond.Two nights at the Elements Hotel and Spa on San Juan Island and three nights at the Outlook Inn on Orcas Island.