The San Juan Islands in Washington are a collection of beautiful islands with enticing views and great towns. They have more than 170 of them, though the most favorite is San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, and Shaw.
Friday Harbor is situated on San Juan Island and it offers shops, restaurants, and entertaining sights like The Whale Museum. The islands are ideal for lovers of outdoor activities since the area is furnished with beautiful beaches and some wonderful trails for hiking.
Here are some unique things to do in San Juan Islands:
This cute little store is a public center where people can come and read. This is a perfect place to buy new books, games, toys, and gifts since the store stocks plenty of them.
Plus, they have a lovely cafe at the backside where one can taste quality espresso stocks prepared from superior quality beans.
The staff is incredibly welcoming and willing to assist with choosing books or even making a quick drink if the ferry isn't too far ahead.
This shop is adorable and has so many colors and styles. It is easily accessible but one has to move a little into a rather small road to get to this view.
If you do not buy anything you should come here for the beautiful gardens, the treehouse, the pottery store dogs, and the owners.
They've carved out a cozy little corner of the forest and placed the pieces all around the property for a unique shopping experience. The staff is friendly and they charge reasonably considering the time and effort put into each piece.
It is a great point to enjoy the calm sea and the amazing sunset over the horizon. There are many amazing viewpoints from which to take photographs.
Nice walking trails down to the ocean with views of the Ocean. The tour of the lighthouse is available only through reservation. The trail to the lighthouse is through a canopy of trees before getting to the shore with spectacular views of the bay and lighthouse.
You can go up the lighthouse and enjoy the view or do whale watching. Visiting the park and then the lighthouse is one of the top things to do in San Juan Islands Washington.
Amaro Farm provides a wealth of information, a ton of fun and so many snuggles and licks. This is a beautiful family farm, run with love and passion.
The place is like a set from a movie, with a red tractor and an old barn in the background. They occasionally make you pause and remind yourself that you are watching real life going on. All sales of feeding the sheep by hand go to the owner's son's college, so definitely feed the sheep.
The owner not only tells you everything there is to know about the sheep, the breeding practices, and the amount of work that goes into what they do; but they also take the time to get to know you.
This is a neighborhood museum in a converted courthouse. That said, they have done wonders. There are a small number of very good exhibits including animal skeletons.
The protection of whales and orcas in particular is important to the staff and then the visitors. The guides are knowledgeable and committed naturalists. You will learn about the whale pods which base themselves around the island-the J, K, and L pods.
For a small museum, it feels that it packs a punch offering lots of useful information and insight with good displays and videos. Learn more about the place from the Whale Museum website.
This park is located in a beautiful setting with nice lakeside camp spots. There are restrooms nearby the campsites with free hot water showers.
There are kayaks for rent on the north side of the campground but you can bring yours as well. A lap around the whole lake, including a little diversion into the lagoon, does not take a huge amount of effort and is very enjoyable.
Seeing the seemingly natural bonsai tree on the opposite end of the lake is a nice surprise. Moreover, one can indulge in hiking, mountain lake swimming, cascade lake kayaking, and jumping from the bridge. Thus, this is one of the popular San Juan Island tourist attractions.
It is a large open space with 150 or more sculptures made by artists from all over the globe. One can walk around the trails and the art installation piece while being surrounded by nature.
The park has daily operating time from morning till evening; there is no admission charge, though the visitors are welcome to donate. Another attractive feature of this park is that the sculptures are not permanent, they are replaced from time to time.
There are numerous paths for hiking, stunning alpine meadows, and good spots to have a picnic too.
Incredible location with an unassuming atmosphere and delicious food. Everything is amazing, from the chowder to the halibut fish and chips, to the local cider.
It might remind you of the small clam shacks on Cape Cod. They grow their clams and many menu items are locally sourced. The entire menu is quite pricey but it's Orcas Island and when the food is too delicious and fresh, it is worth the price and support of a small business.
You can carry your wine and glasses and come along with your furry friend. Also, check out what are other things to do in Cape Code besides food.
There is a lighthouse that is very underwhelming, as it is very small and has fake-painted windows on the sides. But the view of the water is spectacular.
It is worth a visit for just the scenery, and you might see foxes running around the trails. You can park at the state park with a Discover pass. Moreover, the beach area is excellent with spectacular mountain views.
It has cycling, boating, picnicking, and hiking, and great for taking your dog for a stroll. Plus one can walk when the tide is low, some rocks to explore and climb, birds to see, and sailboats, yachts, kayaks, canoes, cargo ships, and fishing boats.
Move from one San Juan Island to the next and land on Lopez. The Shark Reef Sanctuary is located here and it is another best San Juan Island attractions.
The view was outstanding and as you sit on the rocks and watch the waters below, you may see an occasional seal pop his head up. Hike down the water and then continue to the left on the trail till it is in front of the large rock island.
You will see lots of seals swimming around or even taking naps along the rocks on the island. The varied terrains are great for walking along the bluffs, climbing around or just sitting and gazing out over the water.
Here are paintings, sculptures, and photographs of local and foreign artists as well as temporary exhibitions. They also vary, meaning that you can always visit and find something new worth looking at.
It proves to be an excellent idea for families since children under the age of 18 years can get in for free and on Mondays, there are usually Pay as you like days.
SJIMA is not only about viewing arts but also sharing creative experiences and knowledge as a result of events and programs. They normally hold 8 to 10 exhibitions annually and conduct tours.
Sucia Island showcases some of the best trails, sunsets, and wildlife viewing. It is a gorgeous island with many campsites and places to anchor a boat.
Sandy beaches are nice and the water is shallow enough to play and swim in. Family-friendly with lots of room and shade as well as relatively nice pit toilets not far in the woods. Rock formations along the shore are a lot of fun to explore.
You can also moor the boat to a ball, take the dingy ashore, hike around, cook dinner at one of the picnic tables and fire pits, and make your way back to the boat in the dark.
This is a stunning mausoleum way back in the woods. Set your GPS to go to the Mausoleum parking instead, and you'll have a half-mile walk through the woods past an old cemetery.
There is solitude to be found here and fun trail signs. You will find an interesting history of the place as well is displayed on a sign as you walk up. Be respectful of the unmarked graves and enjoy this short hike to an interesting piece of San Juan history.
Parking is west of the airport where across the street you will see the entrance. There are several paths through the cemetery, but they go in essentially the same direction.
This historic resort is one of the most beautiful resorts. A few services include marina services, three restaurants, kayak rentals, whaling and Dolphin watching services, a spa, a swimming pool, a kids' playground, and nature trails.
The resort center offers free wireless internet to all the resort guests. Some of the rooms featuring amenities include: a microwave, coffee service, refrigerator, and air conditioning.
Chapel ringing and the sunset ceremony of the flag are quite entertaining to observe. Look at some best things to do in Washington as well.
This is a nice little stop and one of the fun things to do on San Juan Island while touring. You can get close to many cute Llamas, alpacas, and horses. They are the most adorable, gentle animals.
They can be enjoyed outside the fence by kids and adults alike. You can feed them food for a small fee. Money goes to support the farm and the animals.
There is no charge for viewing but there is also a gift shop onsite where you can buy alpaca products if you are interested. Take a self-guided tour with information about the farm and the alpacas on the posts of the pastures.
Friday Harbor as a sunny afternoon is really good. This beautiful little town found on San Juan Island has not only beautiful scenery to offer but a relaxed atmosphere as well.
It is possible to go for a walk along the water, have a look at some shops, and have a nice meal in a homely restaurant. It is quite easy to get to Friday Harbor. It is approximately 90 miles north of Seattle.
When coming to Anacortes, it takes approximately 2 hours from Seattle. After that, you take a ferry and it only takes a little over 1 hour to get to the Harbor.
The resort is a marvelous place that offers the best conditions for a warm and intimate weekend. The cabins are cute and they have everything you need including full kitchens and comfortable beds.
There is outdoor excitement like kayaking and paddle boarding which the resort offers for use. The center is also equipped with a cafe where you can always buy delicious cookies or have a cup of coffee.
If you want to rent one, you can go directly to the Snug Harbor Resort website or use Airbnb or VRBO and get your favorite of the two.
If you would like to see and possibly tour with orca whales, then consider kayaking around the San Juan Islands. The islands are home to two main groups of orcas: the Southern Residents and the Biggs that feed differently.
Many companies providing kayak tours specialize in whale-watching tours. The first company on the list is San Juan Kayak Expeditions. They offer different durations of the tour, which range from half-day to multi-day tours.
Another good choice is San Juan Outfitters which provides a rather paid day tour. This is probably among the best things to do in San Juan Islands.
This brewery was established in 2017 and currently has a steady stream of customers, tourists included. They incorporate quality raw materials in their beers; the malts are from Europe while fresh hops are obtained from Washington State.
There is a friendly environment here. The building has a pleasant balcony to spend time outside and a piece of green for the kids to run around. They offer different nice pub meals including pizzas, burgers and salads.
Moreover, vegetarian in addition to, gluten-free facilities are provided to the customers who require them.
As for vehicle rental, there are mopeds for rent, Scoot Coupes, electric bikes, and even mini SUVs. For those who do not have a vehicle, it is a good option to view the stunning landscape.
When you rent from Susie's, you get to take a scenic 48-mile loop ride around the island. This loop will take about two hours to complete if one does not choose to make any stop.
Still, you will probably wish to be slow because there are many good places to visit along the way. Although there is a lot of sunshine on the islands, it can get cold so be sure to layer up with a jacket.
Downriggers is a local and friendly restaurant at Friday Harbor which is close to a water body. They have nice views of the harbor and make an excellent place to enjoy food.
It is also a Pacific Northwest restaurant that serves seafood most of the time. They also serve different courses such as smoked salmon, crab cakes even delicious burgers.
When it comes to additional services, they also offer fantastic refreshing cocktails, made with fresh ingredients. Also, there is a terrace where one can taste wine whilst gazing at the beautiful view.
Wonderful area to walk around and learn the history of the San Juan Islands, the Pig War, and the border conflict between the US and CA. Many of the buildings are still intact.
The rangers wear traditional British uniforms and give walking tours and there are groomed trails and signage for self-tours. There is even a telescope set up to view nesting ospreys.
The little onsite shop sells vintage-style toys and crafts for the kiddos and a good selection of books on local history and nature. The dinghy dock is well-maintained and seal watching is good. There are hiking trails, vistas, and sculptured gardens too.
