Living

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 Enjoy the blooms on these hikes Springtime means wildflowers, and Coastal Living magazine's April issue recommends a number of coastal hikes where trails yield carpets of color as the weather warms up. Two of the hikes are on Northwest islands, and April and May are peak times for flowers. Yellow Island in Washington's San Juan Islands is a Nature Conservancy preserve. You can book a charter or kayak tour to the island from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island or rent a boat at Deer Harbor Marina on Orcas. Paraclete Charter Service offers trips from mid-April through May, departing from Skyline Marina in Anacortes. Reservations required: 800-808-2999 or e-mail skip@paracletecharters.com. Portland Island, B.C., part of Canada's Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, is reachable only by private boat or rental kayak from Vancouver Island. Eco Island Kayak offers rentals out of Swartz Bay, a major B.C. ferry stop and very near Portland Island. Phone 250-812-7103 or e-mail huntersmith@shaw.ca. Associated Press and Herald staff READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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