(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,’” says Hannah Shucard, who grew up in Point Roberts, a 4.9-square-mile peninsula in Washington state.
Then there’s the pitch-dark, quiet nights. No traffic lights, no sirens, no city hum — just star-filled skies and the sounds of nature.
“In spring, the frogs are really loud, and at certain times of the year, you can hear the coyotes howling,” she adds.
It’s quiet, clean, safe — a place where people leave their keys in their cars and kids ride their bikes to the beach or play in the woods. Almost like a cross between a small town and a nature preserve.
Idyllic, for sure, but there’s a catch: Point Roberts is a “pene-exclave” — a piece of land belonging …