04:36 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Northwest Backroads

Lummi Island is the most northeasterly of the San Juan Archipelago and easily the most accessible.

Lummi Island is a low-key place.

Located near Bellingham, Washington, this often overlooked gem is well worth exploring.

A quick 8-minute ride on an open-air ferry from Bellingham is all it takes to cross over to Lummi Island.

Once there, you can immerse yourself in abundant beauty, both natural and man-made.

Turns out, Lummi Island is a haven for more than 60 artists – like sculptor Michael Oppenheimer – and many make their art public.

On Michael's field of dreams, a dozen pieces of "wind art" invite play.

Not far away, meander through Ann Morris's "sculpture woods," a 15-acre private grove of stately trees and even more stately bronze sculptures.

Visitors by appointment are welcome to see Ann's studio and wander by her thought-provoking creations.

Three times a year, Lummi Island opens its doors with an artists studio tour. See dozens of artists at work, including Basil Atkinson at his stoneworks, and hear why Lummi attracts and inspires creativity.

It’s a good community that, unlike the other San Juan Islands, is a no-frills, no-crowds, no-lines kind of getaway.

Lummi Island is accessible by ferry from Bellingham. It's served by a small county ferry that makes the scenic, 6-minute crossing at least once an hour until midnight.