Bee T r avel
It's all about the water
CHRISTINE HICKS- USTA
Sure this is the wrong time of the year to think about visiting Washington. No, not THAT Washington.

I mean the state. This is a place where it's said people rust - owing to an almost constant rain or mist that dominates the weather here, especially in the Seattle area. Recent tropical weather has deluged certain parts of the state, causing widespread flooding that's been on the news.

Washington State may not be high on your list of must-sees. It doesn't offer the spangle of Vegas or the theme parks of Florida. Its weather isn't the attraction. Or is it? Indeed, it's the precipitation associated with the state that is also largely responsible for its best attractions.

There is, for example, Seattle, a city with waterfront east and west of it. Ferries ply tourists and commuters alike. It's a boater's paradise, with year 'round access to water. And what would the Pike Place Market be without the salmon-tossing fishmongers? And where does all that salmon come from? Water. It's all about the water.

I have fished Washington waters off the northwestern coast of Washington State. Cabezon, lung fish and salmon have all been easily lured to my lines. It therefore goes without saying one needn't be anything other than able to hold a rod to find fish here, making it one of the most popular spots among fishermen. I have boarded fishing charters out of Westport, Wash., though there are plenty of other hot spots along the coast that can claim similar success.

One can't help but be struck by the lush green of the state, testament to its liquid sunshine. It makes the San Juan Islands all the more appealing, though the islands themselves receive but half the rain featured in Seattle. This natural playground of over 170 islands strung off the northwest coast of mainland Washington welcomes ferry passengers to enjoy biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, and whale-watching. Eighty-three of the islands are part of the state's wildlife refuge, protecting seabirds, sea lions and sea lions...Sea? I mean, See? More water.

Winter comes to Washington State. The jagged mountain peaks of the Cascade Mountains sport snow-caps, and skiers, snowboarders and winter hikers take to the mountainside. These volcanic mountains harbor a hot side, too: hot springs, like those in Mt. Rainier National Park. Hot water and cold water, together.

All this, and a fascinating history too. There's a boatload of American Indian history and lore to explore, including 3,000-year-old Makah Indian fishing villages (Makah Cultural and Resource Center, Neah Bay) to the Kalama totem poles along the Columbia River, steep your fascinated self into the life of those who, centuries earlier, eked out life in this wet wilderness.

There are beaches, waterfalls, dams and winery tours, more water ways with Washington. Here's a real rain forest for you. The hardy, if rusty, souls who live here make a green peace with their watery weather. When they say, "God's Country," they're definitely talking about Washington State.

(Christine Hicks-Usta has enjoyed more than 30 years of globetrotting as a member of the travel industry in various capacities. Direct questions to her at Bee Group Newspapers, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, N.Y. 14231-0150.)