I’ll admit it: I’m a huge fan of the holiday season. The music, the decorations, the lights, the food, and spending time with friends and family all come together to make this “The most wonderful time of the year”! If you’re like me, you’ve been caught once or twice...
This blog was written in 2017 and updated in 2023. San Juan Island is one of the most beautiful places on earth (OK, we are a little bit biased). Although we’re famous for our summers, our Salish Sea archipelago is a paradise in winter, too, with plenty to see and do...
Friday Harbor Film Festival Blog Grab your popcorn, your M&M's and your seat for the fifth annual Friday Harbor Film Festival happening on November 3,4, and 5th! Our local and amazing film festival features documentary films that "Entertain – Inspire – Enlighten"...
The San Juan Islands have a long history of creating exceptional beer, wine, and spirits from local ingredients with careful craftsmanship. In fact, some locals affectionately call Friday Harbor “a little drinking village with a fishing problem!” Here's our guide to a...
Each fall, San Juan Island slows down after a busy summer and appreciates the bounty that nature has thrown our way. Leaves are turning vibrant shades of red and orange, grapes are begging to be picked over at San Juan Vineyards, and island farmers are harvesting the...
San Juan Island is a paradise for kids (and kids at heart) and the fun starts with getting to the island! Hop aboard a Washington State Ferry in Anacortes for the hour-long journey, explore the ship, watch the islands pass by and keep your eyes open for seals, whales,...
San Juan Island is one of the best places in the world to whale watch. And you don’t have to be on board a chartered ship to do it! You can spot these majestic marine animals from many of the shores on the western side of our island. For most visitors, San Juan’s...
Even with so much to do on San Juan Island, we occasionally get a hankering to do a little “off-island” exploring. And the Washington State Ferries make it so easy to travel from your San Juan Island lodging to Orcas, home of Moran State Park and some of the best...
Do you want to travel to San Juan Island, but you’ve got your pet in tow? Don’t worry, our island loves dogs, and we’ve got plenty of dog-friendly activities to keep you and your pup occupied during your stay on the island! Here are 6 of our favorite places to bring...
One of the best things about San Juan Island and Friday Harbor is the small town vibe...no stop lights, lots of local stores and the fact that we LOVE the 4th of July! As a matter of fact, we even have a beach on the island called 4th of July Beach! The day starts...
If you thought there was only one way to kayak, you’ve never been to San Juan Island! Get your sea legs going with a quick paddle around Lakedale’s calm lakes and then work your way up to a multi-day tour, a sunrise or sunset paddle, a trip through glowing...
Who loves to eat? Us! We are complete foodies and over the years have scoped out all the best eats on the island, and we’d love to share our insider island eating tips with you! From the moment you step off the ferry, you’ll have great choices all day long, so let’s...