Best places to travel this spring

Washington made The New York Times‘ “The 41 Places to Go in 2011″ list not once but twice. The San Juan Islands and Olympic National Park are suggested as two accessible places for travel.

If you’ve never been to the San Juan Islands, plan to make a trip there this spring or summer. Known for its artist colonies and expansive views, the San Juan Islands of late are making a splash with two big-name chefs. Blaine Wetzel, former chef at Noma in Copenhagen, became top dog of the Willows Inn on Lummi Island. Lisa Nakamura, famous for training with the likes of Thomas Keller, opened Allium on Orcas Island.

But the San Juan Islands boast much more than just good food. Big stretches of land are protected from logging and development, and last year, the San Juan Island National Historic Park expanded by 312 acres. In the Olympics Mountains, Lake Quinault and Kalaloch offer cozy rooms with views. Spring specials include storm-watching, breakfast, and access to three major ecosystems (mountains, coasts, and forests) and a million acres of nature.

If global travel is your cup of tea, check out some of the hidden gems on the list like Uruguay, Zanzibar, Budapest, and Kosovo. Bargain hunters can search for sales on websites like Jetsetter and SniqueAway, book airlines tickets on Tuesdays (prices tend to be lowest on that day of the week), and schedule off-peak adventures. For more tips on maximizing your dollars, check out “11 Tricks to Cutting Travel Costs in 2011.”