Grandma’s Cove in American Camp National Park is one of the few sandy beaches on San Juan Island. The shallow, weather protected cove gets warm enough to swim in the Summer. Grandma’s Cove is a lovely place to watch birds, seals, river otters and sometimes Orca whales.

Have you ever felt like you needed a vacation after the holidays? You loved seeing everybody, cooking all that good food, going to the holiday markets and concerts and festivities and now you feel a touch of Winter Fatigue and a tad impoverished?

Called the “Gourmet Archipelago”, San Juan Island is a locavore’s heaven, with countless, intimate Farm-to-Table-Restaurants headed by famous chefs, serving beautifully presented seasonal and local fare. 

A starry Winter night on San Juan Island’s west side with view of Victoria BC under a shroud of fog, above Haro Strait.

One of the best kept secrets, when it comes to Washington Weekend Getaways, may be visiting gorgeous San Juan Island in the Winter. 

It is the season of giving and most of us have enough. Relatively speaking, compared to most of the world, we have enough stuff, which makes giving thoughtful gifts a challenge at times. Why not consider a donation to a whale conservation group

If you live in Washington State you are one, you are married to one, you are related to one and/or your best friend is one –  a 12th Man. That means from August through at least December, you plan your weekends around the game. No rustic cabin in the mountains without TV, no motel on the ocean with slow wifi and definitely no camping in the wild for you. But wait, can’t you have it all? Outdoorsy weekends in our gorgeous state and an awesome place to watch the game? Yes, you can! On gorgeous San Juan Island. 

There is just something extra special about talking to someone who really knows you, who knows you from before kids, before your current relationship and career. Someone, who calls you on your BS without being mean and who really knows how far you’ve come. Your girlfriends. It’s truly rejuvenating and recharging to hang with your BBF’s and so much cheaper than therapy. Plus, it’s the 50-shades-of-grey time of the year and then there are the holidays. So, plan a girlfriend getaway for after Christmas and have something to look forward to. 

Mt Baker is a familiar backdrop to many San Juan Island vistas. Located 31 miles east of Bellingham, it is the youngest active glaciated volcano and third highest mountain in Washington State

Having deeply meaningful experiences and building memories of a lifetime doesn’t have to cost a dime, especially when you are surrounded by natural beauty, lush farmland, and breathtaking beaches.