"Ski-to-Sea" is a popular festival and relay race held each year over the Memorial Day weekend in Northwestern Washington. This annual celebration features parades, carnivals, street fairs, and gallery, garden, and home tours. The big race is a rigorous 85-mile relay incorporating seven different venues from Mount Baker to Bellingham Bay. It reflects the hearty spirit of Whatcom County residents. The title of this scenic road trip is adapted from the name of their big event, only in reverse. First you'll be traveling by ferry across the Saratoga Passage, then driving up Whidbey Island, along the coast of the North Puget Sound, through the farmlands and foothills of the North Cascades, and eventually arriving at Mount Baker. Bring your snow toys (and traction devices); if conditions are good this ski area is traditionally Washington's first to open and last to close.
      First hop aboard the ferry to Whidbey Island in the historic town of Mukilteo, just 30 minutes north of Seattle off I-5. Whidbey is famous for its pastoral setting, country B & Bs, and charming seaside villages. As you head north on SR 525 take a side trip to Langley, a quaint waterfront town with galleries, antique shops, inns, and restaurants. On weekend afternoons visit the Whidbey Island Vineyard and Winery. Greenbank is home to Whidbeys, famous for their fruit liqueurs and loganberry wine. Go west on SR 20 for a visit to the Admiralty Head Lighthouse and the Interpretive Center at Fort Casey, then head north on the Fort Casey Road back to SR 20 heading north into the historic town of Coupeville, one of Washington's oldest towns. Up the road is Oak Harbor, homebase for the nearby Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. At the north end of the island is Deception Pass; the view from the towering bridge that spans the Pass is breathtaking and never fails to stop passing motorists. If time allows, explore the scenic state park just south of the bridge.
      Continue on SR 20, turning east at Dean's Corner. Watch for Bayview Edison Road on the left just past Padilla Bay. Bayview State Park overlooks the tide flats and offers great views of Anacortes, Guemes Island, and the San Juans. Just to the north is the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve, one of the major staging areas and wintering grounds for the multitude of birds that migrate to Washington each fall. Stop at the Interpretive Center to learn about animal life in the estuary; then hike a dike-top trail that runs 2.25 miles along the shore of Padilla Bay for wildlife viewing. Stay on Bayview until it ends at a T-intersection; turn east to Edison. About a mile beyond this tiny town, turn north on SR 11, the famous Chuckanut Drive. This was the first byway in Washington to be built exclusively as a scenic drive. It winds its way high above Samish Bay through coastal forests, clinging to the side of Chuckanut Mountain. There are several fine restaurants and B & Bs along the way. Larrabee State Park, at the north end of the bay, has beach access for hikers. Drive slowly both for safety's sake and to enjoy the views out over the water of the San Juan Islands. The road ends in the Victorian hamlet of Fairhaven, a historic district in Bellingham. Tour the area - there are art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants housed in its many restored buildings. Downtown, visitors will find the historic Mount Baker Theater and the Whatcom Museum of History and Art, one of Washington's largest museums. Browse among a wide selection of specialty shops; the Farmer's Market on Railroad Ave. is open on Saturdays, April through October. Stroll along the shoreline of beautiful Bellingham Bay on the city's extensive Greenways Trail system that extends from the Marina to Fairhaven. Many of the area's parks and gardens are listed under our special section in Distinctly Washington. Scenic day cruises to the San Juan Islands are available aboard passenger-only ferries.
      If time allows travelers can elect to continue north on I-5. The Lummi Indian Reservation is situated at the north end of Bellingham Bay (Exit #260). Its culture is deeply tied to the rich bounties of sea. Lummi-style smoked salmon is considered a Northwest delicacy. An eight-minute ride aboard a car ferry will take you across to scenic Lummi Island. Explore this peaceful island - it offers spectacular vistas and many wildlife viewing opportunities (watch for wintering bald eagles). The farm community of Ferndale is situated in a fertile valley along the Nooksack River. Hovander Homestead Park is nearby. Golfers may want to stop to play at Semiahmoo, one of Washington's premier courses; while you're there drive out to the Park and Interpretive Center on the Semiahmoo sandspit. At the border is the town of Blaine; explore its picturesque waterfront. This is also home of the Peace Arch, an impressive monument symbolizing the enduring friendship between the US and Canada. Backtrack down I-5 to SR 539 (Exit #270), and travel east to SR 9. Stop in the delightful town of Lynden, where its Dutch heritage is clearly evident in their architecture, shops, food, and friendly faces. Follow SR 9 south to its juncture with SR 542 (the Mt. Baker Hwy) at Nugent's Corner. Stay on SR 542 traveling east to Mount Baker.
      From Bellingham take SR 542 to Mount Baker. The drive takes you through the scenic Nooksack River Valley. Stop at the Mount Baker Vineyards, noted for their distinctive varietals. The foothill community of Deming is home for the famous Log Show in early June and the Nooksack Tribe's Casino. Further up the highway stop at the Nooksack Hatchery; the North Fork supports all species of salmon and provides a habitat for bald eagles. Just before Glacier you enter the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and the next 24 miles is referred to as the Mt. Baker National Scenic Byway. The scenery is magnificent, and the road provides access to countless forest, river, mountain, and wilderness trails. Don't miss the dramatic Nooksack Falls - plunging 100'. The road comes to an end at Heather Meadows, nestled between Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. This is also the base of operation for the Ski Area. To check on the conditions you will find a link to their web site under Skiing & Winter Sports in our Outdoor Fun section. This tour is best taken in the spring and fall, especially if you want to play in the snow. It is also a wonderful summer road trip. Bad weather in the winter may make travel inadvisable at times on some of the backcountry roads northwest of Mount Baker.