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How Many Days to Spend on San Juan Island?

Visiting pristine San Juan Island in the northern Pacific, seeing Orcas and Humpbacks in the wild, dining like lords and taking in the rich culture and history the isle has to offer are a once-in-a-lifetime endeavor for many. If this is your year to explore the isle for the first time you may wonder how much time you’ll need to take it all in. Here are some helpful tips on how to San Juan Island with enough room to deeply relax and be on island-time.

If you are from Washington State or British Columbia:

As a neighbor to the island, hopefully you will have the luxury to visit San Juan Island more than once and so you can take your time exploring. We are only 65 miles north of Seattle, WA, and south of Vancouver, BC. Plan a few weekend getaways throughout the year and arrange your itinerary according to the seasons.

Spring, when lodging and ferry fares are low, is the perfect time for a romantic weekend getaway, for hiking, birding and early whale watching without as many other folks around.

Summer, the most popular time to visit, offers every adventure imaginable, from sea kayaking to zip lining, arts and music festivals, farm tours, the renowned county fair and 4th of July celebrations. You will need ferry as well as lodging reservations.

Fall, with its breathtaking colors, harvest celebrations and the Friday Harbor Film Festival make for a rewarding outing.

Winter on San Juan Island is quiet and adorable, especially during the holiday season and the old-fashioned festivities around it. So come visit for a weekend to check out what inspires you and come back many times.

If you are visiting from further away:

To get a sense of place and to really experience the island, plan at least two nights on San Juan Island, three is better, more is best. You’ll want to go on a guided whale watching tour, visit the Friday Harbor Whale Museum, spend time at Lime Kiln State Park with its iconic lighthouse, whale watching platforms and interpretive center.

You don’t want to miss exploring the two National Historical Parks on either end of the isle to learn about our turbulent history and to go hiking and birding. Set some time aside to tour the unique island farms, like the Westcott Bay Shellfish Farm and the Pelindaba Lavender Farm. The cute coastal town of Friday Harbor with its many shops, restaurants, boutiques, museums and galleries are worth a day exploring alone.

Will there be enough to do if you stay longer? Absolutely. Even after decades of returning to this precious place, there are still hikes, special events and new restaurants to experience and hidden beaches to be found. San Juan Island is one of the best places to observe Orca whales from land and has one of the most diverse ecosystem in the world. Put San Juan Island on your bucket list today.

Make this week as Beautiful as the Winter Rose at the Friday Harbor docks!

Strolling the Friday Harbor docks is great fun. The aptly named “Clock Dock” pictured here is where the whale watching boats depart and the Victoria Clipper docks. There is a small aquarium to explore inside the Clock Dock Building. Spring Street Landing, to your right, is the home of the renowned Downriggers Restaurant, serving Pacific Northwest Cuisine with a view, as well as the Riptide Café and the office of San Juan Safaris, a comfy place to get a snack and a good cup of Joe before departing on a whale watching adventure. The building complex also houses Seize and Desist, a very popular tap room with the locals. One can only imagine how their tongue in cheek name came about.

The Best Time to visit San Juan Island

On San Juan Island life is extremely seasonal. Not only do we enjoy the four seasons of the year, like the rest of our glorious state; each with their own festivities and fairs. We also go from being one of the best places to watch whales and 30,000 yearly Summer visitors to a sleepy Winter island, where, if you stay a few days, everybody knows your name. We cherish that so much. And so can you. Find The San Juan Island Season Right for You in this comprehensive article from our friends at the Bird Rock Hotel.

A Wedding at the Lavender Farm on San Juan Island

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” ― Dr. Seuss

As the time for romance approaches—when Sweethearts check out places to propose, and couples in love plan their glorious Summer weddings—we want to showcase one of our favorite places to get married on San Juan Island and share the story of one couple’s journey into marital bliss. Read about Laura & Gary’s lovely Wedding at the Pelindaba Lavender Farm here.

8 Must-Dos on your Romantic Getaway to San Juan Island

This year don’t wait until February 13th to make a hasty Valentine’s Day plan or to grab some flowers and a teddy bear on your way home. Instead treat the love of your life to a romantic San Juan Island getaway to have time for each other and make new memories. Right around Valentine’s Day we here on the isl enjoy a tiny teaser of Spring with stunning sunny days and the first wildflowers emerging. On the wild side, last year we saw an abundance of Biggs Killer Whales as early as February, plus this is the time to watch the seabirds migrate. Are you ready for your romantic island getaway? Here is your romantic island getaway Must-Do list:

1)         Romantic Jacuzzi Suite in the heart of town

For lodging, check out the adorable, historic Bird Rock Hotel a block and a half from the ferry dock. Many of their 15 unique rooms offer luxurious jacuzzi tubs, some even offer a harbor view or a private outdoor hot tub and a (indoor) fire place.

Insider Tip: Add a bottle of champagne, island made salted caramels and/or a spa decadence box for your room on arrival.

2)         Couple’s Massage at Spa at Earthbox

A relaxing couple’s massage at the delightful Spa at Earthbox might be just what Cupid ordered. Make it an Open Sky Signature massage, which incorporates a mini-facial and some hot stone work and feel the tension and stress leave your body.

Insider Tip: both Earthbox and Bird Rock hotel guests get to use the Earthbox’ indoor, heated pool, sauna, hot tub and exercise room for free.

3)         Romantic Dinner

Friday Harbor is dotted with cozy Farm-to-Table restaurants offering delicious island fare and fresh seafood. For a truly memorable experience, head a few miles out of town and find San Juan Island’s renowned Duck Soup restaurant in the woods by a lake.  Duck Soup serves local farm produce, meat and seafood, foraged edibles from land and sea, and local goods from island crafts-people in a lodge like setting.

Insider Tip: Their handcrafted cocktails made with island spirits and seasonal botanicals are to die for.

4)         Distillery Tasting

Speaking of island made spirits: San Juan Island is the proud home of a vineyard, two breweries and San Juan Distillery, which also produces Westcott Bay Ciders. The distillery and cidery are open for tours and free tastings on Saturdays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The grounds are gorgeous and their shiny all-copper Adrian still is worth a visit alone.

Insider Tip: San Juan Distillery’s award winning spirits are rarely distributed outside of San Juan County and make a unique gift for a special occasion.

5)         Bonfire at South Beach

San Juan Island’s longest beach on the south end of the isle is truly remarkable. This rugged drift wood beach is the perfect place for a bonfire and picnic while watching the sun set over the snow-covered Olympic mountains and the moon rise over majestic Mt. Baker.

Insider Tip: Bring your binoculars and watch Bald eagles, foxes, otters and sea lions feed right around sunset.

6)         Whale Watch Tour

With the Humpback comeback and the vast increase of Biggs Killer Whales in recent years our whale watching season really doesn’t end or start anymore. Treat yourself to a whale watch tour with Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching in one of their super-fast, super comfy, heated zodiacs and see what’s out there.

Insider Tip: Don’t spend all of your time trying to get that amazing shot of a whale. Enjoy the ride instead, really take in your surroundings, the sights and smells (hello, sea lions!), the sounds of the whales breaching and singing. Then sign up for Maya’s newsletter and get the most amazing photos taken with professional cameras sent to you.

7)         Sculpture Park

Close to San Juan Distillery on the north end of the island, find the 20-acre San Juan Sculpture Park with over 150 sculptures and poems on display along five trails through woods, along Westcott Bay and around a natural lake. A breathtaking place to get inspired, have a picnic or just a little stroll before dinner.

Insider Tip: Write a wish on a piece of paper and place it in one of the gorgeous Tibetan wishing urns.

8)         Buy a Souvenir together

Meander the streets of completely walkable Friday Harbor. Check out the seven galleries and countless craft and souvenir stores and pick a souvenir to remember your trip.  Perhaps a beautiful painting or a photograph of San Juan Island, something fancy for the kitchen at Gourmet Galley or island-made jewelry and accessories from Deer Hazel Boutique.

Insider Tip: San Juan Island has more working artists than any other county in Washington State. Make a point of buying something unique and island made.

Secret Season Getaway to San Juan Island

Friday Harbor and San Juan Island are known for their legendary whale & wildlife watching, bustling Summer festivals and fairs, hiking & biking, boating & kayaking, elaborate outdoor weddings and fantastic farms. Not so well known is San Juan Island’s secret season from September through February, when the hotels and restaurants offer enticing specials, you’ll have the beaches to yourself, and it rains about half as much as in Seattle.

How to plan such a trip? Is there enough to do? Check out this Spontaneous, Fun, Secret Season Itinerary from happy guests at the Bird Rock Hotel.

Before you go: Bird Rock will take a brief beauty sleep in January and will re-open in February. Their fun sister hotel, the Earthbox Inn & Spa, is open year-round.

Cover photo courtesy of Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching.

5 of the Most Beautiful Places to Propose on San Juan Island

The place to propose is to be chosen with care. You will both remember it forever. You will come back for anniversaries and a sweet while from now, you may even show it to your kids and grandkids. It needs to be undisputedly romantic, breathtakingly beautiful, out of the ordinary and easy to plan. We here on San Juan Island deeply believe, the island is the perfect place to propose.

Find the 5 Most Picturesque Places to Propose on San Juan Island here.

San Juan Island in January – Just What You Need After the Holidays

Most of us could use a little break after the buys holiday season. A break from planning, a break from shopping, a break from being in charge and on our best behavior.  We could just use a breather to get away from it all and to gather strength for the year to come. A weekend getaway to San Juan Island might be just what the doctor ordered.

 January on the isle is calm and affordable with just enough to do to not get bored, but not so much, that you feel obligated to be “on” all the time. Nestled in the rain shadow between the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island, the weather is much nicer than in the rest of our gorgeous state, but it’s still Winter in Washington and you know the drill: layers, layers, layers. So what is there to experience? Here are our 5 January favorites:

1)         Reconnect

Do you miss your husband even though you see him every day? Come for a romantic getaway. Have you had zero time for your girlfriends since summer? Come on up for a Girlfriend Getaway. Have you not been able to fit in a visit with your favorite aunt or cousin for ages? Come for a mini family reunion. Just make sure you visit with someone who lifts you up, makes you giggle and increases your energy for the season to come.

2)         Spa Day

Stay at the Earthbox Inn & Spa, which offers phenomenal spa and lodging specials and has, as the name says, a super cute on-site spa, the only indoor heated pool, sauna and hot tub on the island and free bikes to check out. Set time aside to soak in the hot tub and get a spa treatment to soothe those achy muscles, detox from all that rich holiday food and de-stress your body and mind.

3)         Hiking & Birding

It’s not difficult to find privacy on San Juan Island even in the middle of the Summer, but in January you’ll truly have all the beaches and mountains, trails and woods to yourself. It’s also an outstanding time to go birding (bring those binoculars). Over 200 migratory birds call the archipelago their winter home. Our favorite place to hike, beach comb and watch birds is on the shores of American Camp National Historical Park.

4)         Be inspired

A rainy winter day is perfect to explore Friday Harbor’s museums and the seven galleries all within walking distance of the ferry. Learn about the history, habitat and challenges of our endangered killer whales and of the latest whale sightings at the Whale Museum. The Museum of Art specializes in thought-provoking exhibitions about living in the Pacific Northwest. The island’s galleries will delight you with the impressive paintings, carvings, woodwork, pottery, photography and jewelry of our talented island artists. Also poke your head into the Griffin Bay Book store for a good read by one of the many local authors.

5)         Whale and Wildlife Tour

One of the few adventure providers offering whale and wildlife watching year-round is Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching. Find their office at Cannery Landing right next to the ferry dock. Their astonishingly fast, heated, very comfortable zodiacs are an unrivaled way to respectfully observe whales and other wildlife like Dall’s porpoises, Stellar sea lions, Bald Eagles and the strange, exotic game on Speiden island, left behind after a big game hunting endeavor failed in the 1980’s.

(Sea Lion Photo Courtesy of Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching)

Open on All Holidays – COHO Restaurant

There are over 30 restaurants within walking distance of the ferry dock in Friday Harbor. That usually is a very delicious problem to have. Very few restaurants are seasonal and close for the Winter. Quite a few though are closed on holidays. That’s why it’s good to know that COHO Restaurant in the heart of Friday Harbor is open on all holidays, year-round. Cozy COHO serves seasonal Farm-to-Table fare and often offers set multi course dinners paired with wine for special occasions. Reservations are highly recommended.

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