My travels to BC, while not including any formal whale watching, have been pretty entertaining from a whale POV. They seem to migrate in September, and hang out in the area off Vancouver island and the mainland. There will surely be lots of companies out there willing to take you out, but if you are inclined, you can also rent a kayak and paddle off for a look yourself. You don't have to get very far out of Howe Sound to get a good show.
Regarding travelling to the US northwest, be aware that the USA can be a bit of a closed shop these days. If your passport indicates you are from or have spent significant time travelling in some specific middle east countries (Pakistan, Syria, Iran and a few others), you may find yourself refused admittance, or as one Canadian citizen of Syrian origin discovered, you may find yourself arrested and deported to your country of origin, with no recourse whatsoever. US immigration is using racial profiling as a matter of routine at present. William Robb
