A truly magical, short ferry ride from Friday Harbor to Orcas Island separates you and your stay at Lakedale from the next leg of your adventure. San Juan Island’s close sibling, Orcas Island, has its own extraordinary history worth exploring. The landscape...
Blog
8 Ways to Include Your Kids in Summer Vacation Planning
You stayed up until midnight to sign up for as many camps as you (and they) can handle, coordinated calendars, scheduled an afternoon babysitter home from college for a few weeks, and left a week for your little (or big!) family to get away to somewhere new. Now it’s...
The Lakedale To-Do List: Episode 4
It’s not a very well-kept secret that the rhythm of life on San Juan Island is largely driven by the seasons, and because Lakedale calls this beautiful place home, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that we move to a similar beat. The “s” in summer stands for “sun,” and...
5 Reasons the San Juan Islands Make the Best Couples Romantic Getaway
We’re clearly pretty keen on the islands, and one of the many things that gets us excited to come to work every day is seeing so many of you check in for a romantic weekend, chocolates and bottle of bubbles optional (but always recommended). Infinite things make the...
Exploring the San Juan Island Art Scene
We live in an art lover’s paradise. It may be easy for you, dear reader, to think that statement is a deeply biased opinion, and you’re not wrong. However, it’s also supported by sites like America the Beautiful, which voted Friday Harbor as one of its “Top Ten...
The Best Ways to Get From Seattle to the San Juan Islands
There’s never a bad time to visit the San Juan Islands. And as we wrote about in our guide to the best activities on San Juan Island, our archipelago offers a little something for everyone—from fishing excursions sure to entice any angler to exceptional dining and...
Top 2021 Fall and Winter Activities on San Juan Island
Fall and Winter on San Juan Island are full of magic: the changing leaves, the smaller crowds, the beautiful stillness that doesn’t always exist during other seasons. It’s not only a great time to visit us at Lakedale, but also the perfect opportunity to spend a good...
How to Plan a Wedding in the San Juans
The San Juan Islands are the perfect location for the couple who wants to make an experience out of their wedding day. Plan a wedding weekend (mid-week works too!) for a relaxing destination wedding that you and your guests will long remember. Think laid-back island...
Winter Wildlife on San Juan Island
Winter is the “quiet season” on San Juan Island, but quiet doesn’t necessarily mean boring, especially when wildlife is involved! At Lakedale, we herald the end of fall and the start of winter when we hear the first loud honks (think a big brass horn) of the Trumpeter...
A Local’s Guide: The Top 10 Best Things to Do on San Juan Island
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Nothing quite compares to the breathtaking scenery, friendly faces, and unique vibes of San Juan Island. From delicious local cuisine to activities for folks of all ages—not to mention swoon-worthy natural backdrops fit for...
Our Picks for The Top 10 Best Restaurants On San Juan Island
The San Juan archipelago is becoming increasingly well-known in foodie circles. We love that. We embrace that. It means more people are coming to experience the otherworldly beauty that envelops us here. It means more people are soaking in the magic of the San Juans....
Our Guide to Glamping in Washington State
Let’s face it: Camping isn’t for everyone. But, once those unhappy campers go glamping, they’ll be eager to get outside all seasons of the year. Glamping is about experiencing the beauty of the outdoors while holding onto little luxuries (like running water), which...