Douglas Orton a Seattle photographer and author, recommends these wonderfully short Western U.S. road trips. Please scroll down to the adventure below or follow the blue links for more travel routes and photography.

*ASTORIA, OREGON

*FIVE FERRY LOOP: SEATTLE, OLYMPIC PENINSULA, VICTORIA, SAN JUAN ISLANDS.

*NORTH CASCADES LOOP, WA

*PALOUSE COUNTRY, WA

*HELLS CANYON SCENIC BYWAY, ELKHORN DRIVE NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY LOOP, OREGON.

*OREGON SPRING LOOP, TULIPS! WATERFALLS! BEACHES!

*HIGH LAKES ROAD, WA, MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND LAKES.

*NORTH CASCADES LOOP, WA

*PALOUSE COUNTRY, WA

*COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE; OREGON, WASHINGTON LOOP.

*OLYMPIC PENINSULA LOOP, WA.

*VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C., CANADA.

*OKANOGAN LOOP DRIVE.

*CURRENT EXHIBIT, ASSIGNMENT

Five Ferry, Seattle -Olympic Peninsula - Victoria - San Juan Island Loop

This three or four day loop could be stretched to a week in any one of it's three legs. From Seattle, take a cross Puget Sound ferry to the south side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, stopping at Hansville, Port Townsend, Sequim, Olympic National Park, or Port Angeles. Then ferry across to Victoria, BC to visit a wonderfully eclectic city with drives along the north side of the strait. Ferry again to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, then again to Anacortes and drive past Deception Pass, down Whidbey Island to a final ferry ride back to Mukilteo minutes north of Seattle.