Everyone who visits Washington’s San Juan Islands...

Everyone who visits Washington’s San Juan Islands falls head over anchor for this waterlogged vacation destination. Peaceful beaches. Quaint inns. Country roads. Our cover story on Page 1 introduces you to the San Juans, but here are other sources of information:

--Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 252, Eastsound, Wash. 98245.

--San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 98, Friday Harbor, Wash. 98250.

--Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 102, Lopez, Wash. 98261.

--San Juan Islands Tourism Cooperative, P.O. Box 972, Eastsound, Wash. 98245.

--For details on ferries serving the San Juans, write to Washington State Department of Transportation, Marine Division, Washington State Ferries, Colman Dock, Seattle, Wash. 98104.

Washington State Ferries operate year-round from Anacortes, which is about a 90-minute drive from Seattle. Ferries are busiest 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (eastbound), 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (westbound), the hours when island residents are commuting back and forth to the mainland. The ferries are also busy en route to the San Juans on Friday evenings/Saturday mornings, and again Sunday nights as travelers head back to Anacortes and Seattle.

You’ll find the names and addresses of recommended inns at the end of our Page 1 cover story. Here are several others:

--Wood Song B&B; ($50 double occupancy). P.O. Box 32, Orcas, Wash. 98280.

--Deer Harbor Resort (Orcas Island), Box 176, Deer Harbor, Wash. 98243. Rates: $45/$120. Hotel units, studio cabins, guest houses.

--Smuggler’s Villa Resort (Orcas Island), P.O. Box 79, Eastsound, Wash. 98245. Rates: $55/$78. Hot tubs, saunas, swimming pool, tennis.

--West Beach Resort (good location on Orcas for scuba divers). Route 1, Box 510, Eastsound, Wash. 98245. Rates for cabins: $41/$46 for up to four persons. West Beach also provides RV and campground facilities.

--Outlook Inn (Orcas Island), P.O. Box 210, Eastsound, Wash. 98245. Eleven rooms with private bath, 18 with shared bath. Rates: $30/$57.

--Betty’s Place, a refurbished farmhouse (B&B; on Lopez Island). P.O. Box 86, Lopez, Wash. 98261. Rates: $45/$50.

--The Islander (Lopez Island), Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island, Wash. 98621. Rates: $40/$160.

--Island Lodge, 1016 Guard St., Friday Harbor, Wash. 98250. Rates: $52/$60.

--Wharfside B&B; (San Juan Island), P.O. Box 1212, Friday Harbor, Wash. 98250. This is a B&B; operating on a 60-foot sailing vessel moored at Friday Harbor Marina. Rates: $45/$55.

--Friday Harbor Motor Inn (San Juan Island), 410 Spring St., P.O. Box 962, Friday Harbor, Wash. 98250. Rates: $37/$80.60.

--Tucker House B&B; (San Juan Island), 260 B St., Friday Harbor, Wash. 98250.

--Moran State Park (148 campsites) on Orcas Island. Miles of hiking trails. A good swimming beach. Boat launches/rentals. Write to Moran State Park, Star Route Box 22, Eastsound, Wash. 98245.

Australia

If you intend to travel by bus through Australia you can save money by buying an Ansett passport for $35. Entitles you to a one-third discount off the regular coach express ticket throughout Australia as well as a 20% discount on sightseeing tours in Australian cities. For example, when traveling by bus round trip from Sydney to Townville, Darwin, Ayers Rock and Adelaide, you’ll pay about $220 U.S. for a saving of about $111. The bus passport is good for as long as your visa is valid. A particularly good deal for travelers planning an extended visit. For details call (213) 393-8262 in Los Angeles or toll-free (800) 445-0190 in California, (800) 551-2012 outside California.

Channel Island/California

Santa Cruz Island (rises out of the Pacific 23 miles off Santa Barbara) is one of those rare hideaways without crowds. No telephones. Just peaceful horizons, deserted beaches, tide pools. Rustic accommodations (room or tent) at Christy Ranch House (circa 1860). Cost is $240/$330 for three- and four-day visits. Meals included along with transportation on the island. Air fare to Santa Cruz from Camarillo Airport is an extra $100. Offer comes from Channel Island Adventures, 305 Durley Ave., Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, Calif. 93010 or telephone (805) 987-1678. These same people do day trips to Santa Cruz with a champagne picnic for $95 per person.

Mexico Train

You can ride the rails between Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende aboard a new train named El Constitutionalista. Mexico calls it a “super train.” I haven’t tried it, so can’t vouch for the service. But the price is right. Only about $10, which includes breakfast or a light supper. Daily departures from Mexico City at 7:35 a.m. with arrival in San Miguel de Allende at noon. Return trips leave for Mexico City at 4:25 p.m. Two passenger cars, a club car and a dining area.

French Canals

Cruising the canals of France in self-drive boats is becoming popular with Americans. “Like sailing through an impressionist painting,” says B&D; de Vogue Travel Services. Boats accommodate as many as eight persons on the Loire and Nivernais canals. Rates for a week or weekend from $203 to $1,950. Boats are equipped with showers, grills, ovens, refrigerators, cooking utensils. No experience or license necessary (instruction is given for boat operation at embarkation point). Nivernais Canal runs 108 miles from Auxerre and the River Yonne in the north to Decize and the Loire in the south. Free of commercial traffic, the Nivernais is maintained purely for the pleasure of cruisers. Contact B&D; de Vogue Travel Services, 1830 S. Mooney Blvd., Suite 113, Visalia, Calif. 93277 or telephone (209) 733-7119. Out-of-state callers can dial (800) 338-0483.

Reader Recommendations

Massachusetts--G. R. Umberger, Carlisle, Pa.: “Have been going to Seacrest Manor, 131 Marmion Way, Rockport, Mass. 01966 for over 10 years. Excellent in every respect.” Rates: $60/$80.

England--Natalie Dedluk, Burbank: “Sadlers B&B; is on a main road set back in a secluded garden. Two twin rooms and a self-contained flat that sleeps two to four. Private fishing lake adjacent. Rate 10 (about $16) per person. Flat is 80 to 250 depending on season. Write Sadlers, Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire. GL54 2DT, England.”

France--Herbert Ehmann, Marina del Rey: “Friendly B&B;, a country villa southwest of Paris in Chevreuse Valley, close to Versailles. Very clean, private, modern bathroom. Rate 240 francs (about $40 U.S.) double. Write Michele and Gerard Petitet, 1 Rue de l’Erable, 78720 Dampierre-En-Yvelines.”

Austria--William L. Korst, Canoga Park: “To readers interested in studying German and/or Austrian culture, I recommend Deutsch in Graz, Parkstrasse 1, A-8010 Graz, Austria, a first-rate program I participated in last summer. Courses range from three weeks at $350 to 10 weeks at $940. Lodging with breakfast $10 a day.”

West Germany--Kamlesh M. Thakker, Chatsworth: “Recommend Hotel Am Rathaus, 4-8 Rathausgasse, 7800 Freiburg. A first-class hotel with very clean rooms, excellent breakfast buffet. Innkeeper Herr Dieter Hess speaks English. Rates about $45 for single, $90 for two. All major city landmarks, tourist office and shopping within a five-minute walk. One-day bus trips to Black Forest region, Swiss Alps, French Alsace area, etc.”

Reader Recommendations should be brief (typewritten or printed). Cannot be used without prices and addresses. Please, no brochures.