One of the most-visited destination for those kayaking the Pacific Northwest are the San Juan Islands. Though the name may suggest a tropical paradise of the Caribbean, these islands are off the coast of Washington state. This area is extremely amenable to water travel, with permits allowing for docking at no charge for up to three days for any person or tourist. Camp spots in the nearby park can be rented for as little as ten dollars per day, allowing visitors to not only engage in kayaking, rowing, swimming, and motor water sports but also get into the interior of the islands and see the sights. Wildlife on these islands are abundant, with deer and raccoon species with little fear of humans as well as dwelling eagles, herons, and other bird flocks. Sea life can often be seen, especially the seal population that gathers in the warm summer months to put on blubber. The whales that prey upon these seals may also make a show, although it tends to be rare for passing kayakers to get a glimpse of the famous orca pods. The night-time sea lights up from the bio-luminescent bacteria, creating a sensation that can only be seen in a few other places in the world. If the light is at the correct angle, it is possible to see the herds of jellyfish floating beneath the surface of the sea.

The history of the region may be well on display if you intend on kayaking the Pacific Northwest at key areas. The populations around the Columbia River of Oregon, for example, still retain a large part of the population and can be seen by those moving up and around the mouth of the river or further out on the sea board. National parks have re-creations entire villages, including the massive longhouses that were used as the center of the community and the lodging of the elders and chiefs. American explorers first came to this part of the world with the advent of the Lewis and Clark expedition, but the natives had long been exposed to European cultures and were quite familiar with trade and technology. Today, the Pacific Northwest holds fests to commemorate the history of the natives, including British Columbia’s Talking Stick Festival. These are a bit inland, but it is still possible to go on tours kayaking the Pacific Northwest and either see the remnants of old settlements or see the contemporary villages that still boast traditional art and designs.

For those who are planning on kayaking the Pacific Northwest, it is imperative to start early in order to be in good shape for your travels. Kayaking requires extreme amount of strength of the deltoids muscles of the back and shoulders. You do not have to hit a gym in order to develop better strength, but plan out a schedule where you spend fifteen or twenty minutes a day where you are carrying around the equivalent of forty pounds of weight to simulate the strain of a kayak. Remember, furthermore, that there are no opportunities to rest on the open sea: if you want to pursue kayaking the Pacific Northwest on the ocean, you will have to condition your body to be able to handle the strain.

The weather conditions are the main issue of concern for kayaking the Pacific Northwest. Unless you are fond of taking risks, it is not advisable at all to go on a kayak trip during the winter. Just do not do it: the storms come on too frequently, approach too quickly, and generate too much force for any but the most experienced boater. Instead, plan on days when the sky is (relatively) clear and there is little wind. While the Pacific Northwest gets more than its fair share of rain, there is little air movement that will upset the sea. Yet the tides are still powerful and will propel your kayak away from or closer to shore. Tides are strongest at the early hours and the late afternoon, so plan on only a few hours of kayaking a day (you may not be physically capable of more than that anyway). Other complications, such as riptides, pose the threat of pulling your kayak away from the coastline. When kayaking the Pacific Northwest, always go with at least one certified guide for safety and security.