FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. <\/p>\n
Washington's San Juan Islands are among the hottest items in the world of recreational travel this year. <\/p>\n
In recent months, standouts among the 28 islands and some 400 more rocks and pinnacles southwest of Bellingham have been in the international spotlight by making: <\/p>\n
- Lonely Planet's list of Top 10 U.S. Destinations for 2013. <\/p>\n
- TripAdvisor's acclaim for San Juan Island as \"the best island in America.\" <\/p>\n
- TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Award for San Juan Island as the fourth-best island in the world (behind Ambergris Cay in Belize, St. John in the Virgin Islands, and Bora Bora). <\/p>\n
-Topping it off just two weeks ago, President Barack Obama signed an executive order designating San Juan Islands National Monument. <\/p>\n
The order will give permanent protection to treasured spots in the archipelago, primarily 1,000 acres of island sites managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. <\/p>\n
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who'd visited the islands several times before Obama's decision, joined Sen. Maria Cantwell on April 1 for the dedication in Anacortes, the most common jump-off to the four main islands served by Washington State Ferries. <\/p>\n
The beauty and features of the San Juans are no secret. For example: <\/p>\n
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Read more here:<\/p>\n
San Juan Islands high on everyone's list<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. Washington's San Juan Islands are among the hottest items in the world of recreational travel this year. In recent months, standouts among the 28 islands and some 400 more rocks and pinnacles southwest of Bellingham have been in the international spotlight by making: - Lonely Planet's list of Top 10 U.S. Continue reading