No. 27 San Juan Islands, WA
It’s not only Seattle residents who dream of escaping to these islands just northwest of their city, where the weather is sunnier and the pace slower. Ferries connect the main islands, such as Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, and Shaw—sharing the waterways with sea kayaks. Fill your days with hiking, biking, and whale-watching, and overnight at one of the quaint bed-and-breakfasts.