WASHINGTON BEACHES have always conjured their own off-kilter magic: tidepools and driftwood, not sand dunes and sunburn. Which means that in winter our stretches of shore don’t lose their essential appeal, even if we do need to add an extra jacket or two.
What if a giant, half-moon-shaped vacation getaway were plunked down in a not-so-tropical location? It would look something like Birch Bay just south of the Canadian border, where vacation rentals sit next to seafood takeout joints—a sunnier vibe than the moody Salish Sea typically delivers in winter. The state park here has a mile of waterfront, adding to acres accessible between businesses farther north. In summer the water park fills with crowds, but the off-season offers fish and chips with a side of sunset solitude. Puget Sound
