Comments on: San Juan Islands, Washington

By: Deanna at Adventurous Wench

Deanna at Adventurous Wench — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:45:48 +0000

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.

By: Girls Getaway » Blog Archive » End of Summer Getaways

Girls Getaway » Blog Archive » End of Summer Getaways — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:13:00 +0000

[...] 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. [...]

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:14 +0000

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.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:07:03 +0000

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

By: Sonja

Sonja — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:59:18 +0000

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?

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 18:55:13 +0000

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!

By: Girls Getaway » Blog Archive » San Juan Island Lavender Festival

Girls Getaway » Blog Archive » San Juan Island Lavender Festival — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 18:29:05 +0000

[...] 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. [...]