Afternoon sunshine casts a haze over the San Juan Islands as I scan the horizon for any motion in the glassy water. A sudden "puffffttt" breaks my focus and my head snaps toward the sound just in time to catch a spout of breath and a large, dark shape rising from the water.

I stifle a squeal as the sleek, rounded head of an orca breaks the surface, tall black dorsal fin trailing behind. With a flick of its fluke, the whale is gone just as I hear another burst of breath to my right. There, three orcas rise in sync, then briskly dive again below the surface.

Orcas, also known as killer whales, capture our imagination with their beautiful black and white body pattern, charismatic family ties and active behavior. And Washington's San Juan Islands, particularly San Juan Island, offer an exceptional and easy opportunity to glimpse whales in the wild. On any given day in the warm summer months, and likely on this Labor Day weekend, orcas — designated as Washington state's official marine mammal — can be viewed from boat, kayak, plane, or even from shore.

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