Start your Pacific Northwest holiday in style, with a seaplane or ferry ride to the San Juan Islands from Seattle. It’s the ultimate way to take in the beauty of this region that Mother Nature has so abundantly blessed. You have a choice of three alluring islands – Lopez, the most rural, a mix of rolling farmland and beaches; Orcas, the largest of the San Juan Islands and replete with verdant mountains and placid lakes; and San Juan Island, where vibrant Friday Harbour welcomes ferry and seaplane guests and offers an array of charming accommodations and gourmet eateries.

Whether it’s whale-watching and sea kayaking, touring an art gallery or browsing a local farmers’ market, the San Juan Islands offer pleasing diversions for every age and interest. For the best chance to view orca whales and other sea life, plan your trip between April and September – a number of tour operators are available throughout the islands. Rev up your energy level with biking tours through rolling meadows and farmland, go birding on San Juan Island, hike the region’s modest mountains – offering outstanding vistas from the top – or go charter fishing for the day. Other favourites include hiking to Lime Kiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island, taking a scenic flight over the area, attending an outdoor summer concert in the park and horseback riding.

The coastline of La Jolla affords a wonderful contrast of features. Visitors to La Jolla who enjoy their golf will have the choice of a number of world class courses on which to play. If you are in La Jolla purely to relax and pamper yourself, you may wish to avail yourself of the services of the Gaia Day Spa in La Jolla Village. Alternatively, you may wish to browse one of the local art museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, or gaze upon the architecture of the Grande Colonial Hotel. Climbing up to the Mount Soledad War memorial affords magnificent views of La Jolla, San Diego and beyond. When it comes to dining in La Jolla, choice is to be had from a wide variety of restaurants selling local produce, to those specialising in international cuisine. You may also wish to consider, however, visiting the Sunday farmer’s market and buying fresh local produce to prepare at your leisure within your rental accommodation.

A green canvas of wooded hills and valleys, this region is a recreation haven in the summer for fishing, hunting, mountain hiking, horseback riding and whitewater rafting as well as a popular winter sports destination. When you add in casino gaming, a major racetrack and phenomenal golf courses, the Pocono Mountains region appeals to, well, just about everybody.

For the outdoors enthusiast, the Pocono Mountains have everything you need and desire. There are seven state parks in the region as well as one national park, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Automobile racing fans love to visit the Pocono Raceway, which hosts several major races every year. Skiers and snowboarders gravitate to major resort areas like Camelback Ski Area, Jack Frost Mountain and Big Boulder and the Shawnee Mountain Ski area. For golfers, the Pocono Mountains features courses designed by legendary icons like Donald Ross and A.W. Tillinghast and modern designers such as Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones. There are 35 courses in the region highlighted by two of the highest rated, Jack Frost National and Woodloch Springs.