Expert naturalist guides 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. Daily bird counts could top 60 and total program counts over 100. As a bonus, explore the world-famous whale museum.

Radiant colors and cooler fall weather signal the return of marine birds to the rich coastal and inland habitats of Orcas Island. You'll see Common Murres and Marbled Murrelets feed with Pacific and Common Loons while Long-tailed Ducks, Surf and White-winged Scoters work the bays. Bald Eagles are moving back to their winter grounds and forest birds like Chestnut-backed Chickadees flock with other small birds in search of food. Revel in the natural beauty of the archipelago on a half-day boat excursion to search for seabirds, marine mammals (including resident Orca Whales) and other wildlife. Enjoy a field trip to a unique salmon restoration hatchery.

Join an intimate exploration of the Northwest's premier raptor wintering hotspot--the Skagit River Delta along the Pacific Flyway. Salmon runs on the Skagit River bring Bald Eagles by the hundreds and "five-falcon" days are possible this time of year including rare Gyr falcons. Field trips include Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve, Skagit Flats, Fir Island, Whidbey Island and upriver habitats. On one day, enjoy a day-long field adventure which spotlights one of Canada's top birding hot spots; Reifel Island Bird Sanctuary on British Columbia's Fraser River.  An expert guide leads daily field excursions; small group experience. Between classes relax by the fireplace in the comfort of your room.

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.

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.  Sample Washington State wines and hear about the island twist on the modern wine industry. Your week culminates with a visit to the ecclectic local farmer's market!

In an experience most ordinary travelers will never share, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the San Juan Archipelago while you uncover the cultures and landscapes unique to San Juan, Orcas and Lopez islands. Meet historians, artists, farmers, preservationists and other Islanders who make up the fabric of these communities. Explore scenic shorelines, mountain vistas, rare coastal prairie and the region's iconic evergreen forests. Based in the century-old fishing port of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, travel by scenic ferry to horseshoe-shaped Orcas Island for a private viewing of a prolific collection of art created in the Islands, and explore community-oriented working farmscapes that give Lopez Island its friendly identity.

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. 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, 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.

Join local experts on an exploration of the history and culture of this iconic West Coast city with a long and rich First Nations aboriginal heritage, and trace the tale of European settlement in British Columbia and its legacy today. Experience Victoria's legendary passion for gardening, which stems from British settlers' planting roses to remind them of home. Explore the world-class Butchart Gardens and discover some of the natural highlights of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the area. Savor the grand tradition of Afternoon Tea at the beautiful Empress Hotel, and take field trips to significant sites like Beacon Hill Park, the majestic Parliament Building, Hatley Castle, Fisgard Lighthouse, Fan Tan Alley and more.

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.

Any flower lover's spirits will be raised by the spectacular blooming of springtime in Washington. See the tulip fields of the Skagit River Delta in their peak season, viewing row after row of beautiful, many-colored blossoms with a master gardener there to point out the various varietals. Then return to Whidbey Island, crossing the breathtaking Deception Pass, to explore a unique Pacific Northwest-style woodland garden home to many spectacular hybrids of the state flower, the Coast Rhododendron. Along the way encounter delicate cherry trees, magnificent magnolias and dainty daffodils. Plus, step back in time at Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, a district of prairie farmland still cultivated as it was in the 19th century.  *Special Note:  The Skagit River Delta is host of the 2010 World Tulip Summit.

Visit Orcas Island on "island time", a unique pace that puts you in tune with the beauty of the San Juan archipelago and the ecosystem known as the "Salish Sea." Focus on the natural history and cultural insights into Orcas Island life during presentations and field trips to study off grid Organic Farming methods, the Arts community, and the diverse local environments. Take a gentle nature walk to savor stunning marine vistas in Moran State Park. In the charming waterside village of Eastsound, explore the Historical Museum, and learn about the pioneers who settled the island, and Coast Salish natives who preceded them. Gain an insiders "sense of place" to this unique group of islands.