Northwest Washington Travel Guide

Planning a trip to Northwest Washington? Discover the region’s most spectacular destinations, from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and North Cascades National Park to Mount Baker, Deception Pass, Anacortes, and the San Juan Islands. Explore local travel tips, scenic drives, hiking trails, seasonal highlights, wildlife, and hidden gems to help you make the most of your Pacific Northwest adventure.

Meet Stephanie Fernandez

Expert Naturalist & Northwest Washington Tour Guide with Over 30 Years of Experience

For more than 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping people connect with nature through unforgettable outdoor adventures. The most rewarding part of being a guide is watching guests experience the beauty of the natural world in a way that inspires, educates, and creates lasting memories.

Originally from Mexico City, I began my career as a marine biologist before following my passion as a professional naturalist and adventure guide. Since 1989, I’ve led guided hikes, wildlife tours, kayaking trips, snorkeling adventures, whale watching excursions, and expedition cruises across North America—from the coral reefs of the Florida Keys and the waters of Baja California to the glaciers of Southeast Alaska and the polar bear country of Churchill, Canada.

In 2016, I made Anacortes, Washington, my home and founded Skagit Guided Adventures to share the incredible landscapes of Northwest Washington with visitors from around the world. Every tour is designed to be educational, relaxing, and deeply connected to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

I invite you to experience Skagit Valley, Mount Baker, the North Cascades, Deception Pass, and the San Juan Islands through the eyes of a local naturalist. I look forward to sharing this remarkable region with you.

Guiding Experience Includes

    • Texas – Sea camps, kayaking, and birding tours
    • Florida Keys – Coral reefs, mangroves, and marine ecology
    • Yucatán Peninsula – Eco-tours and natural history
    • Baja California – Birding, kayaking, snorkeling, and gray whale expeditions
    • Hawaii – Whale watching and snorkeling tours
    • Churchill, Canada – Polar bear and beluga whale expeditions
    • Southeast Alaska – Expedition cruises, hiking, kayaking, wildlife, and whale watching
    • Northwest Washington – Founder of Skagit Guided Adventures since 2016

Three Decades of Inspiring Outdoor Adventures

With more than 30 years of professional guiding experience, Stephanie has introduced over 2,500 guests to the breathtaking landscapes, wildlife, and natural history of Northwest Washington. Every tour is thoughtfully designed to create meaningful connections with nature and lasting memories.

Stephanie’s Professional Guiding Experience

Before founding Skagit Guided Adventures, Stephanie spent years working as an Expedition Leader, Naturalist, and Guide for some of the world’s most respected adventure travel and expedition cruise companies. Her experience leading travelers through remote landscapes around the globe brings a unique depth of knowledge and professionalism to every tour in Northwest Washington.

    • Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
    • Road Scholars
    • Natural Habitat
    • Un-Cruise
    • Cruise West
    • Carnival Cruise Lines
    • The Boat Company
    • Pacific Whale Foundation
    • Island Marine Institute
    • Ecocolors Mexico
    • MarineLab
    • Atlantis Submarines

Education & Professional Credentials

Stephanie combines a lifelong passion for nature with decades of professional experience and formal education in marine biology, natural sciences, outdoor leadership, and wilderness safety.

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology – Texas A&M University at Galveston
  • Master’s Degree in Marine Sciences – ITESM Guaymas, Mexico

Professional Qualifications

  • Northwest Washington Tour Guide
  • USCG 100-Ton Captain’s License
  • ACA Certified Kayak Instructor

Safety Certifications

  • Wilderness First Aid
  • First Aid & CPR
  • Open Water Scuba Certification
  • CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)