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.