Give your family the gift of island time this holiday season. Sneak away to San Juan Island for old-fashioned holiday magic, maker’s markets with hayrides and s’mores, Winterfest and Santa at the Whale Watching Park. Get your Christmas presents from local artists and artisans in cute, walkable Friday Harbor and have the blustering beaches to yourself. Find the most Magical Things to Do on San Juan Island with Kids here.
30+ Things to do in November on San Juan Island
November on San Juan Island is total relaxation, having the beaches and sunsets to yourself, getting the window table at your favorite restaurant, and tasting your way through the isle’s wines grown this Summer. Ring in the holiday season with a truly relaxing, easy-to-plan getaway to San Juan Island. Treat your family to Thanksgiving on the isle and have someone else do the cooking. Get a head start on your holiday shopping without ever stepping into a mall and partake in the unique, lovely island events only available in November.
Savor San Juan Island this October
Come savor San Juan Island with excellent food and libations, the arts and long walks on the beach this Fall.
30+ Reasons to visit San Juan Island in September
September on San Juan Island feels a lot like Summer, but with fewer people and better food. The island is graced with long, sunny days. Lodging and the ferries are less expensive, while none of the seasonal restaurants and adventure companies have packed up shop yet. Farmers and fishermen are hauling in their abundant harvest for you to enjoy in the local restaurants and there are so many fun things to do.
Find 30+ Reasons to visit San Juan Island in September here.
August Vacation on San Juan Island
San Juan Island in August offers something for everyone in your family. Treat yourself to bucket list adventures, like sunset kayaking, guided whale watching or a scenic flight over the archipelago. Walk to waterfront restaurants, wine tastings, the ice cream shop and live music and markets from your hotel room and make new memories with these fantastic, August only, family fun events: San Juan Island and Friday Harbor in August.
10 Best Things to do for FREE on San Juan Island
I love exploring free activities on my summer vacations. It’s incredibly liberating to truly be in the moment without thinking in terms of monetary transactions. Even more so if what I’m doing involves making giant art with a bunch of adorable kids or observing Orca whales in the wild. Friday Harbor and San Juan Island offer tons of fun, cool, unique, free things to do in Summer.
Find the 10 Best Things to do for Free on San Juan Island this Summer here.
4th of July on San Juan Island
4th of July on San Juan Island is a festive affair, complete with small town parade, community picnic, live music, kids activities and several awe-inspiring firework displays. Find the Schedule and the Most Fun 4th of July Activities on San Juan Island here.
The San Juan Island Ferry Explained
Planning to take the Washington State Ferry to Friday Harbor and San Juan Island and aren’t quite sure how to go about it? Find everything you ever needed to know on how to take the Washington State Ferry to your San Juan Island getaway here:
Photo by Maya’s legacy Whale Watching
The Washington State Ferry, part of Washington’s highway system, services the San Juan Islands year-round, several times per day. The trip from Anacortes to Friday Harbor takes between an hour and two and is simply stunning. The ferries feature a comfy galley for an easy snack or a cold glass of beer on the ride. There are puzzles on the tables for all passengers to play with. Contemporary art exhibitions adorn the walls. Every once in a while the ferry has to stop for whales, the sweetest traffic delay you’ll ever experience.
Reservations
Walk on passengers and bicycle riders do not need reservations and will never be turned away.
If you are planning on bringing a car, reservations are recommended, especially in the busy Summer season. Make ferry reservations here. Be there 45 minutes before the sailing.
What if you can’t get a reservation for your travel day?
Worry not. Reservable space is released according to the following schedule: 25% of standard vehicle space is released 2 months before your travel date starting at 10:00 a.m. An additional 25% of standard vehicle space is released 2 days before your travel date at 7:00 a.m. On the day of your travel 25% of standard vehicle space is available for drivers showing up without reservation.
What if I don’t get on?
If you don’t get on the ferry because you had no reservation, you’ll be on the next one. Check out the Cheese Cake Café and gift shop at the Anacortes ferry terminal. Do the board walk around the gorgeous bay adjacent to the terminal and watch Blue Herons fish. Sit on the beach and read your book or have a picnic at the tables overlooking the water.
What about cancelled sailings?
It is a huge endeavor to manage ten ferry routes on 20 terminals with 21 vessels around Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. And sometimes a crew member gets sick or a ferry needs repair. The first order of business is to relax. You are in one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. Slow down. Get an ice cream. Know the ferry folks have been doing this for over 50 years. More often than not a solution is found in no time.
Did you know?
The fare you pay in Anacortes is round-trip.
WSF is the largest ferry system in the United States and the second-largest vehicular ferry system in the world behind BC Ferries. Treat yourself to a ride. Getting here is so much fun.
5 Tips to plan the Perfect Mother’s Day on San Juan Island
If you are in the midst of raising children and want to honor the mother of your babes with an unforgettable weekend or if you are all raised up yourself and plan on taking Mom on a mother-daughter (or son!) island getaway, then these tips are for you. San Juan Island in the Spring is marvelous and offers just the right mix of romance, relaxation and adventure. Find out how to Plan the Perfect Mother’s Day Getaway to San Juan Island here.
How to Spring Break on San Juan Island
It’s not always sunny in Friday Harbor, only about twice as much as in Seattle. San Juan Island lays in the Olympic rain-shadow and enjoys on average 247 sunny days per year. Spring is an amazing time to visit when the Humpbacks are returning from Hawaii with their calves in tow, the isle is carpeted with wildflowers and baby animals are frolicking everywhere on land and sea. All the while the cute boutiques and restaurants in walkable Friday Harbor are showing off what’s new. All that’s missing is you.
Whale Watching Tour
Treat yourself to one of the first guided whale watching tours of the season and search for Orcas, Humpbacks, the occasional Grey Whale and other wildlife. San Juan Safaris’ fast, double decker Osprey is not only San Juan Island's largest whale watching boat, with plenty of space to stretch out, Osprey also features a galley, where you can purchase grab and go items, concession snacks, a variety of soda, beer, wine, hot chocolate, coffee, water and more.
Friday Harbor Art Scene
Explore Friday Harbor’s three museums and eight galleries in walking distance to the ferry, while taking plenty of cocktail and dessert breaks along the way. Poke your head into the Seize & Desist Beerhouse or the San Juan Brewery for free, live, danceable music. Treat yourself to the Salish Sea Early Music Festival at Brickworks or Volar Flamenco en Vivo at the Grange. Explore the poetry gardens on the waterfront and by the Community Theatre and don’t miss the awe-inspiring Portals of Welcome totem at Fairweather park overlooking the harbor.
Baby Wildlife Everywhere
You haven’t lived until you saw the baby foxes frolic on the prairie of American Camp National Historical Park. Respectfully observe baby seals and sea lions sunning on off-shore rocks, waiting for their moms to return from hunting. Watch Bald Eagles teach their chicks how to fly and tread lightly. Keep your pup on a leash always and never get closer than 75 feet to wild animals, to keep them wild and healthy.
Spring Wildflower Hike
San Juan Island’s meadows, mountains, forest floors and prairies are abloom with Fairy Slippers, Fawn Lilies, Blue Camas, Indian Paintbrush, Buttercups and much more in Spring. You can’t pick or replant them, they won’t keep. You just have to be there, in the moment, and enjoy their sweet smells and the way they sway with the wind.
Spa Day
Indulge in a spa day at the adorable Spa at Earthbox. Treat yourself to the most relaxing massage and a Spring facial. Add on a hydrotherapy pass and enjoy their lovely indoor heated pool, sauna and hot tub on the day of your treatment.
When in Rome
The San Juan Islands are often called the “gourmet archipelago” for the many, outstanding farm-to-table restaurants offering local, seasonal fare made from scratch with love. Have a wine tasting at one of Friday Harbor’s five wine bars. Don’t miss the Oystertale on Friday Harbor’s waterfront, serving the freshest mollusks and sushi, paired with the finest Champagne and seasonal cocktails. Acclaimed COHO Restaurant offers a First Seating this time of the year, a four course set menu for just $45 if you come dine between 5:00pm and 5:30pm.