The most stunning views in the Pacific Northwest may come from aboard a public ferry

This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking — and perhaps, underappreciated — views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure in your area.

The stunning scenery of the Pacific Northwest is all around, from the shores of Puget Sound to the peaks of the Olympic or Cascade mountain ranges.

That means residents or visitors never have to look far for a stunning view — though there is one way to get a tour of Puget Sound that’s flexible, with multiple viewpoints, and at a price that won’t wreck a vacation budget: Aboard one of Washington State Ferries’ 18 vessels, sailing the waters of the Salish Sea all year round. One of the best ways to experience a variety of the best views in Washington state comes from the bow of one of the state’s boats, which depart from the hub of downtown Seattle or several other stops from southern Puget Sound all the way to the San Juan Islands.

What can you see around Puget Sound?

Puget Sound, pronounced “Pew-jet,” stretches from the Straight of Juan de Fuca, at the northernmost corner of the United States, down through Elliott Bay and the bays and intricate inlets to the south. The Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas border to the west and Western Washington’s urban centers of Seattle and Tacoma are east of the body of water.

The Cascade Mountain range towers above Seattle’s glittering skyline, the world-class city in the region, looking east from a vantage point on Puget Sound. To the west are the Olympic Mountains, with “The Brothers” dominating the white-capped peaks visible from up and down the sound. To the south, on a clear day Mt. Rainier stands out with it’s 14,400-foot summit dominating the view, and farther north the white caps of Mt. Baker draws your eye.

It’s dotted with islands, from the picturesque San Juans to the north, to Whidbey, Bainbridge, Blakely or Vashon islands closer to the central urban centers, and idyllic Fox or Anderson islands further south. And beaches, many of them state parks or other publicly accessible waterfront, line the shores. Seattle’s nickname of “The Emerald City” applies to the entire region, and even through summer and fall the greenery from towering Douglas fir or cedars frame the waterfront homes, piers and marinas that dot the waterfront.

Marine mammals are common across the sound — bald eagles, sea lions, otters and more — though a sighting of orcas is the crown jewel in terms of an iconic Pacific Northwest experience. Several “pods” of the whales inhabit the local waters, with different families known as either residents or transients, depending on their ocean migration habits and food sources. Ferry captains are known to slow boats when orcas are present and let passengers gaze at the waters to catch a glimpse.

What’s the best way to ride Washington State Ferries?

The state ferry systems’ main terminal is in downtown Seattle, at Colman Dock, and WSF vessels from there head out to docks at Bremerton and Bainbridge Island on the sound’s west side. There are also passenger-only ferries out of Seattle, sometimes called “fast ferries,” run by municipal agencies that run to locations like Vashon Island, Bremerton, Southworth or Kingston.

WSF also has terminals north and south of downtown Seattle, servicing other ports and islands. With a car, which is possible to take on WSF’s vessels, a traveler could plan a day of criss-crossing Puget Sound from different destinations combined with brief road trips between terminals.

Fares vary by route, and depend on whether a car is taken on board, but generally range from $10 per adult to $25 for a car on most routes. Children 18 and younger ride free as car passengers, and certain eastbound routes into Seattle do not charge a fare.

To see a complete list of fares and schedules, visit https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Best scenic views in Washington state are in Puget Sound. Here’s how to see them