Tying the knot on one of the destination farms or on the cliffs of a breathtaking beach by a lighthouse on stunning San Juan Island will make your wedding day truly the most important day of your life. For one with an average of 267 sunny days per year San Juan Island is a pretty safe bet for an outdoor wedding in our beautiful Washington State. If this is your year to get hitched, then these tips are for you. Find 10 Amazing Insider Tips for your Outdoor Wedding Reception on San Juan Island here.
5 Sensational Spring Hikes on San Juan Island
It’s Spring on San Juan Island. Flowers and baby animals everywhere. Come join us on the isle for an unhurried island getaway. Let the wind blow in your hair, get your blood pumping in the fresh, salty island air, renew and rejuvenate with Mother Earth and hear nothing but birds chirping. Find directions to and what you might see on the 5 Most Sensational Spring Hikes on San Juan Island here.
San Juan Island Getaway for the Creative-Minded
Creating something where there was nothing before, making people laugh and think and see the world in a new way, is one of the most rewarding experiences of all. Whether you are a professional artist or simply a creative dabbler, San Juan Island is an incredible place to nourish the creative mind. Living proof are the isle’s working artists, more than in any other county in Washington State. Here are our favorite places by art form to hone your skills, get fresh ideas and/or unique materials.
1. Painting at American Camp National Historical Park
Head to American Camp National Historical Park early in the morning. Find a place which inspires you, like South Beach – San Juan Island’s longest beach – or the prairies surrounding Cattle Point Light House. When still, this place is astonishing for wildlife watching. Observe seabirds, Bald Eagles, foxes, otters and sea lions. Enjoy drawing sailboats bobbing by or the fog lifting off the water with, wildflowers, a rugged coastline and the snowcapped Olympic Mountains on the horizon.
2. Writing on Mt. Young
Hike the 1.5 steep(ish) miles up Mount Young in English Camp National Historical Park and be rewarded with breathtaking views of all the other islands. Watch hawks and eagles ride the thermals above and below you. Take note of the majestic Garry oaks on the hike up. Sit in the soft moss and write. If you don’t feel like you’re making progress on your work, just write what you see, how your body feels, about your thoughts or make a gratitude list.
3. Photography at the Whale Watch Park
Nothing says “San Juan Island” like the historic Lime Kiln Light House at Lime Kiln State Park, also known as the Whale Watch Park. Stop by the Friday Harbor Whale Museum before you go and ask about recent whale sightings. If the Orcas are on their way to the park, you’ll find yourself among many like-minded, often professional photographers, waiting in excited anticipation for the Black Fish, who -- due to the very deep waters surrounding the park – feed exceptionally close to shore. Stay for the sunset, you will not regret it.
4. Knitting at the Alpaca Farm
Visit the adorable, open year-round Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm and treat yourself to Alpaca wool from their herds at their county store. Alpaca wool is more than five times warmer than sheep wool. It comes in 22 natural colors, a wider range than any other animal and is so soft that most people can’t tell the difference from cashmere. Find a spot overlooking the rolling farm fields and knit the softest socks you’ve ever made.
5. Get Cooking Ingredients at the San Juan Island Farmer’s Market
The Saturday San Juan Island Farmer’s Market is a food lover’s paradise. Discover abundant fresh, clean, seasonal food from land and sea, plus unique ingredients you may hardly find anyplace else, like San Juan Sea Salt, their rubs and spice mixes or fresh sea asparagus. There are other lovely things to get every cook yearns for: hand carved wooden spoons or the most delightful pottery by local potter Paula West.
6. Get inspired by San Juan Island Artists
Inspiration is the mother of creativity. Take yourself on an artist date around the isle. Visit the San Juan Sculpture Park displaying over 150 sculptures and poems on five trails winding through forest, along beautiful Westcott Bay and a natural lake. Check out the three museums and seven galleries within walking distance of the ferry in Friday Harbor. Come for the self-guided Artist Studio Tour every June, or explore the numerous artist booths at the Lavender Festival at Pelindaba Lavender Farm every July.
7. Make Beach Art
Making ephemeral art, like a fairy garden on the beach the next high tide will take, is such a good exercise for us creatives and a sweet reminder that nothing here is permanent and none of us can take anything with us.
The Foxes of San Juan Island
The Red Fox, Vulpes Vulpes, was introduced to San Juan Island in the mid 20th century to control the invasive rabbit population. All San Juan Island foxes are part of the Red Fox species, regardless of color – they come in black, grey, brown and, of course, red. In addition to making a dent in the rabbit population, they also dine on rodents and snakes. Red Foxes are easily found year-round on the prairies above South Beach in American Camp National Historical Park. The most rewarding time to observe them is late Spring, when they have pups and the prairie is alive with activity.
Please always stay at least 75 feet away and never feed foxes to keep them wild. Just sit in your car, by a trail or on the beach around dusk, be still and wait.
The above picture was taken on a Winter evening on South Beach, where upon returning to our car and opening a bag of chips the fox followed us for a while in vain hopes of a free snack.
How to Plan a Baby Moon to San Juan Island
A Baby Moon is so much more than an awesome opportunity to take beautiful maternity pictures. It gives the parents-to-be a chance to take a break from planning, reflect on their new roles in life and sort out their emotions. A Baby Moon means time for romance, rest and relaxation. Because soon nothing will ever be the same. In a really good way! Check out these 7 Tips on how to Plan an unforgettable Baby Moon to San Juan Island.
Dogcation San Juan Island – Four Beaches in One Day
San Juan Island is a spectacular place to vacation with your entire family, including the four-legged members. Countless businesses in the completely walkable coastal town of Friday Harbor place water dishes outside their doors and offer treats (with permission from the humans) to dogs. All restaurants with outside seating allow well-behaved pups on leashes to dine with their people. There is a dog park and a lovely pebble stone beach just a mile out of town. Dogs on leashes are allowed on all beaches and in all National and County Parks. The picture above is of Falcor, a seven-year old mutt, who recently had the time of his life on a San Juan Island Weekend Getaway. Check out Falcor’s San Juan Island Vacation here.
How Many Days to Spend on San Juan Island?
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.
Make this week as Beautiful as the Winter Rose at the Friday Harbor docks!
Strolling the Friday Harbor docks is great fun. The aptly named “Clock Dock” pictured here is where the whale watching boats depart and the Victoria Clipper docks. There is a small aquarium to explore inside the Clock Dock Building. Spring Street Landing, to your right, is the home of the renowned Downriggers Restaurant, serving Pacific Northwest Cuisine with a view, as well as the Riptide Café and the office of San Juan Safaris, a comfy place to get a snack and a good cup of Joe before departing on a whale watching adventure. The building complex also houses Seize and Desist, a very popular tap room with the locals. One can only imagine how their tongue in cheek name came about.
The Best Time to visit San Juan Island
On San Juan Island life is extremely seasonal. Not only do we enjoy the four seasons of the year, like the rest of our glorious state; each with their own festivities and fairs. We also go from being one of the best places to watch whales and 30,000 yearly Summer visitors to a sleepy Winter island, where, if you stay a few days, everybody knows your name. We cherish that so much. And so can you. Find The San Juan Island Season Right for You in this comprehensive article from our friends at the Bird Rock Hotel.
A Wedding at the Lavender Farm on San Juan Island
“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” ― Dr. Seuss
As the time for romance approaches—when Sweethearts check out places to propose, and couples in love plan their glorious Summer weddings—we want to showcase one of our favorite places to get married on San Juan Island and share the story of one couple’s journey into marital bliss. Read about Laura & Gary’s lovely Wedding at the Pelindaba Lavender Farm here.