A beautiful but isolated American town can only be accessed by crossing through two borders. Point Roberts is a pene-exclave, a piece of land belonging to one country but only accessible by land through another.
Despite being part of the US state of Washington, it is located on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen peninsula, just south of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. Point Roberts is bordered by Canada to the north and surrounded by water on three sides. It is reached from the rest of the US by travelling 25 miles through Canada, or without passing through Canada by boat or airplane across Boundary Bay. Point Roberts was created when the UK and the US settled the Pacific Northwest American–Canadian border dispute in the 19th century with the Oregon Treaty. The two parties agreed that the 49th parallel would define the boundary between their respective territories, and the small area that incorporates Point Roberts is south of the 49th parallel.
With a population of just 1,191, Point Roberts has no traffic lights, no sirens, and no city hum with a small collection of shops, a grocery store, a school, and a post office.
The town is also one of the safest in the US, with people leaving their keys in their cars and kids riding their bikes to the beach and playing in the woods alone.
The beaches surrounding Point Roberts are rocky, rugged, and scattered with driftwood. Maple Beach, east of the exclave, is the sandiest, with views of Mount Baker on the mainland of Washington State.
The tidelands are popular for swimming, playing and harvesting shellfish. In the summer months, the water temperatures warm with the fluctuating tides.
While exploring on land, you are likely to encounter hermit crabs, sand dollars and eagles, while in the sea, there are seals, sea lions and orcas.
Lily Point Marine Park Well boasts maintained trails with views of Boundary Bay, with a short trail that leads to a peaceful beach. Baker Field Park is popular among bikers, hikers and equestrians, and one trail, the Enchanted Forest, is filled with whimsical objects and figures.
Local Hannah Shucard told CNN: “When you cross the border and turn onto the main street, you’re immediately surrounded by trees. You take a deep breath and feel a sense of relief — like, ‘Gosh, I’m home.
“My childhood was magical. We spent so much time outside building forts, exploring the beach, hiking forest trails. It’s the kind of small town where everyone knows each other.”