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)