San Juan Islands, Washington
If you’re looking for a destination where nature is the main attraction, there are few places more beautiful than the San Juan Islands, located north of Seattle. The San Juan Islands are made up of several small islands including Orcas, Lopez, Shaw and San Juan Island. The best time to visit is from June through mid-September when the weather is warmest. Most people reach the islands by boat or by taking the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes.
I love taking the ferry. It stops at each of the islands, so you get to watch all the travelers coming and going and see the beautiful waterfront homes. For my money, it’s one of the best cruise deals around. Once you board, head up to the passenger deck and grab a hot drink or Ivar’s famous clam chowder. Relax in one of the booths in the observation areas that overlook the open water. Hold on to your hair and anything else that isn’t attached to your body and brave the front deck to catch a glimpse of porpoises (or maybe an Orca if you’re lucky) swimming in front of the bow of the ship.
Orcas Island is one of the most popular destinations within the islands. One of the places we’ve stayed on Orcas is the West Beach Resort. West Beach Resort has been around since 1938 and is a collection of rustic cottages right on the beach. Cottages have their own kitchens, front porches, BBQ, beach area with wooden chairs and a beach fire pit, perfect for spending the evening around the fire. Not surprisingly, these cottages book up fast for the summer months.
We stayed in one of the newer beach-front cottages (Cabin #1) which was comfortable and slept 6. The beach-front cottages face due west and are ideal for viewing the gorgeous sunsets.
To explore the area, stop by the resort’s store and rent some sea kayaks, canoes or mountain bikes. We rented kayaks and saw some beautiful purple starfish, harbor seals and bald eagles. For other activities on the island, visit nearby Moran State Park. Mount Constitution is located in the park and if you climb to its peak, you’ll have an amazing view of the islands. The park also has 30 miles of scenic hiking trails. For a little shopping and some restaurants, stop by Eastsound, a short 5-minute drive from West Beach Resort.
July 10th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
[...] Besides Orcas Island (see previous post) another popular destination within the San Juans is San Juan Island itself. Step off the ferry at Friday Harbor and enjoy this picturesque walk-able seaside town with several interesting shops and good cafes. [...]
July 11th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
I spent a large portion of my childhood visiting San Juan Island w/ my family. We have more family on that island. This is prime time for whale-watching, kayaking, golfing on the island, and more. It’s my weekend escape and always will be.
One tip from the greenie in me: Orca whales recently were listed as endangered and tour boats that obnoxiously buz around the whales interfere with their feeding rituals… I’ve always heard it is better to watch the whales from land or kayak. Kill the engines and let them swim in peace. Enjoy!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I want to take myself and my 17 year old daughter on a trip and to the whale watching around 6/19 for a few days. Can anyone suggest nice places to stay and things to do?
May 8th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hi Sonja,
On Orcas Island we’ve stayed at the Rosario Resort which has a marina, kayak rentals, restaurant and garden in a beautiful setting. For a more rustic experience, I’ve really enjoyed staying at the West Beach Resort (request their newer beach front cabins) where you have your own personal section of beach complete with chairs and a fire pit. Kayak rentals are next to the cabins — you’ll see lots of wonderful marine life (i.e. - purple starfish) if you paddle around the shallow waters in that area.
Have a great trip!
Rhonda
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 am
We have a girl’s weekend planned at Friday Harbor in July. Does anyone have travel tips to share? We are a group of 8 traveling from the Seattle airport.
December 11th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
[...] San Juan Islands (near Seattle) If you’re looking for a destination where nature is the main attraction, there are few places more beautiful than the San Juan Islands. [...]
December 16th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Orca whale watching is always a highlight on our Adventurous Wench tours. We usually leave from Roche Harbor, which is a cute little resort area, but if you’re staying in Friday harbor without a car, there are companies that leave from there, too. Make sure to go with a reputable whale watch company. The good ones are part of an association that’s vitally interested in protecting the well-being of the whales. It’s usually the private boats or less scrupulous tour companies that cause problems for the whales.
You can do whale watching from land at Lime Kiln State Park. The thing is that from the park, you can only see them if the whales happen to be right there. The tour boats can go much further to take you out to the portion of water where the whales happen to be that day, so your odds for success are a lot better. But even if the whales aren’t around, Lime Kiln is a beautiful place for a picnic on a sunny day.