Top Things to do in San Juan Islands
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The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in San Juan Islands, San Juan Islands
Start your Pacific Northwest vacation in style, with a seaplane or ferry ride to the San Juan Islands from Seattle. It’s the ultimate way to take in the beauty of this region that Mother Nature has so abundantly blessed. You have a choice of three alluring islands – Lopez, the most rural, a mix of rolling farmland and beaches; Orcas, the largest of the San Juan Islands and replete with verdant mountains and placid lakes; and San Juan Island, where vibrant Friday Harbor welcomes ferry and seaplane guests and offers an array of charming accommodations and gourmet eateries.
Whether it’s whale-watching and sea kayaking, touring an art gallery or browsing a local farmers’ market, the San Juan Islands offer pleasing diversions for every age and interest. For the best chance to view orca whales and other sea life, plan your trip between April and September – a number of tour operators are available throughout the islands. Rev up your energy level with biking tours through rolling meadows and farmland, go birding on San Juan Island, hike the region’s modest mountains – offering outstanding vistas from the top – or go charter fishing for the day. Other favorites include hiking to Lime Kiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island, taking a scenic flight over the area, attending an outdoor summer concert in the park and horseback riding.
Restaurants in San Juan Islands
1. Outdoor Odysseys
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 321 reviews
Since 1987, Outdoor Odysseys has been offering quality guided sea kayaking and whale watch tours in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Our tours feature an opportunity to search for Orca whales and eagles while paddling. We offer great camp cuisine including Dutch oven cookery and naturalist guides that are extremely knowledgable about the biological, geological and natural history of the area. We have been selected by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the "200 best outfitters" in the world.
2. Zip San Juan
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 439 reviews
Come and experience for yourself the only Zip Line Tour in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Our family friendly zip tour features 8 zip lines that will take you through a beautiful forest, across an otter inhabited lake and over protected wetlands. This tour is an amazing way to experience the natural landscape of San Juan Island while zipping from platform to platform through the forest canopy.Upon reaching the site, you will be given an orientation and then have the opportunity to practice zipping on our smaller practice zip lines. After this, our guides will lead you on a brief hike to the first of the zip lines. Throughout your tour you will soar past tall Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, and experience the forest and wetlands from a viewpoint usually exclusive to birds.Tours last approximately 3 hours, which includes travel time to and from the course. The Zip San Juan course is approximately 10 minutes from Friday Harbor. Zip San Juan can provide your transportation to and from Friday Harbor to the zip site.
Reviewed By NCApple - Everett, United States
We took an early ferry so had a chance to visit the Whale Museum and have a tail gate lunch before we were picked up for our tour at the appointed time. Guides were great & reassuring with their backgrounds, information & instructions. Only 1 of the 6 of us had zipped before so they were patient, reassuring and had fun demonstrating what to do & what not to do and why. Beautiful day with lots of Zip and Do Dah!
3. Buck Bay Shellfish Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 133 reviews
Reviewed By Y8905VKbeckyw
It had been several years since we'd been to Buck Bay Farm, and boy, had it grown! No longer a single room and counter, there are now essentially three rooms/barns to serve you: a restaurant/bar area, a barn where you can select your own clams, oysters, etc, and the original shed with the shellfish market portion. Staff are doing a terrific job of keeping things clean and trying to ensure social distancing, quite a feat when you consider the crowds they're serving. If you stop, be sure to try their halibut ceviche (so amazing, we had to return a second day to have it), fish & chips (salmon--hubby said it was amazing), or pick up fresh shellfish for dinner. The crab we picked up--though certainly a bit tedious to clean--was well worth the effort! We'll certainly return on our next trip.
4. Orcas Island Pottery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 340 reviews
Reviewed By karencN3549PQ - Defiance, United States
Once you take the drive down the path you find a beautiful setting with a great display of pottery throughout the yard and shop.
5. All Aboard Sailing
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 195 reviews
Of things to do in Friday Harbor All Aboard Sailing offers a unique experience - to charter a traditional wood boat and day sail with whales. Daily close to nature encounters can include watching and listening to the sounds of Orcas, Humpback whales, Minke whales, Sealions, Seals, Eagles and Diving Seabirds. We sail the coastline of the islands exploring the forested shoreline and narrow passes. S/V Peniel is a beautifully restored 1956 42' pilot house sloop of yellow cedar on steam bent oak. Very spacious we sail with up to 6 passengers plus Captain David Howitt and his wife naturalist and photographer Barbara Howitt. Take the helm or sit back on the bean bag chairs on the foredeck. Barbecued steelhead salmon and veggies for supper. Please visit our web site and check our Blog posts to learn more about our sails. To book we answer emails almost always on the same day and enjoy communicating with our guests.
6. Westcott Bay Shellfish Co.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 89 reviews
Shellfish farm and restaurant, growing oysters, clams and mussels. Open seasonally to the public. From Memorial Day to Labor Day open Wednesdays -Mondays 11-5 (closed Tuesdays). Off-season (September - April), open Saturdays 12-3PM. Reservations for eating at the Tide Tables highly recommended.
Reviewed By maydull
This isn't just a place to eat, it is a destination. Best value and best overall oysters I've had. The perfect PNW food experience
7. San Juan Islands Sculpture Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 178 reviews
Reviewed By jdankers - Monroe, United States
The 22 acre Sculpture Park on San Juan Island in Roche Harbor was the highlight of a recent get away trip my wife and I made. We spent several hours there along well maintained wooded trails, open fields and a pond, viewing a wide variety of stunning sculpture pieces of all sizes created by artists in the region. Among the art are plaques of poetry written by David Jenkins. There is something for everyone- Nature, wildlife (both real and created), and plenty of places to rest for reflection. This is a wonderful escape for the whole family to get outside and appreciate the beauty in the world. No admittance fee but donations are welcomed.
8. San Juan Island Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By DigitalRabbit - Los Gatos, United States
San Juan Island Distillery makes an amazing number of alcoholic beverages from hard cider to gins, brandy, and liqueurs. They use local apples and botanicals. Gin lovers will especially enjoy tasting the result of modifying both the base and the botanical ingredients. You can't taste everything and stay sober. So I suggest first visiting their website to see what appeals to you, and then narrow your tasting to just a few of those items. Then plan for a repeat visit another time! If you are staying at the nearby Roche Harbor resort, it is possible to walk the one mile or so to the tasting barn.
9. Turtleback Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Reviewed By jgold10529 - Portland, United States
While Mt Constitution gets all the love, the view from Orcas knob (AKA Turtlehead) I think are thebest on the Island. You gotta hike there and while not super hard, it is a bit of up and down, but terrain is solid so not technically difficult at all. Make sure you take the Turtlehead trail to the end, you will be rewarded
10. Pelindaba Lavender Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 563 reviews
Pelindaba Lavender Farm, spread over 25 beautiful acres with lake and Olympic Mountain views, has become one of the San Juans' most popular visitor destinations. More than 200 lavender-based, botanical, culinary, personal care, therapeutic, household & pet care products are handcrafted and sold on-site.
Reviewed By DoloresJacoby - West Palm Beach, United States
The store in town is lovely to visit and the staff is very helpful. They have everything lavender from creams, pet formulas, oils and even ice cream. I’ve wanted to visit the farm outside town fir three years and finally made it! One can arrive by car, moped or a $10 trolly ride and hop off for a nice two hour visit. The lavender fields are breathtaking and the only ones on San Juan Island. Owned by a gentleman from South Africa
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