Location: Friday Harbor
Top Things to do in Friday Harbor
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What to do and see in Friday Harbor, Washington (WA): The Best Things to do
Sleepy and secluded Friday Harbor is a tiny town with big personality and rich history. Small enough to walk from one end to the other, the coastal fishing village is dotted with picturesque turn of the century wood frame houses, historic storefronts, Coast Salish native carvings and not a stoplight in sight. Stroll through the Historic District, visit informative museums, explore the Port of Friday Harbor waterfront park and see the local populations of orcas and whales from the shore.
Restaurants in Friday Harbor
1. Islands Stage Left
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
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. The Whale Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 750 reviews
Thank you for your interest in learning about The Whale Museum. The Whale Museum is completely reopened! We are open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm every day. Thank you for your support. https://whalemuseum.org/
Reviewed By V9009DDrichardd - Friday Harbor, United States
This place has a beautiful display of all things whales. Full skeleton and amazing photos plus some retail.
4. Cattle Point
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 253 reviews
Rocky promontory on San Juan Island that offers a dramatic view of the whales and wildlife of Puget Sound.
Reviewed By lilly_happy_traveler - La Conner, United States
This is a great beach to walk along and explore. We went when it was mid-tide so the tidal pools with sea anemones and all the other fun creatures weren’t accessible. It still was a great place to explore. There weren’t many people there on a Saturday which was great, albeit it is January in the midst of covid. I would definitely come back here.
5. 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
6. Horseshu Guest Ranch
7. Lime Kiln Point State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 745 reviews
This 36.32-acre park, located on the west side of San Juan Island, boasts over 2,550 feet of scenic shoreline.
Reviewed By E6573WEryanb - Ellensburg, United States
Great place to explore with kids and adults. My wife, 2 girls (8 & 11), and I spent a over half a day of our vacation walking the trails, beach combing in Deadman Bay, and then watching the sunset. There are picnic tables all along the trail from Lime Kiln lighthouse south/east to Deadman Bay that you can hang out at, watch for whales/orcas, and then later watch the sunset. The park is free BUT you do need a Discovery Pass to park since it's a state park (this is a Washington State permit that you can buy a day pass or year pass for on site). There are bathrooms on site, a small gift shop (that did take debit/credit cards), and there was a small food truck that offered food (never went to close to it to see what the options were though). Well worth your time if you're on SJ island.
8. IMA - San Juan Islands Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
IMA (San Juan Islands Museum of Art) A short walk from the ferry, IMA is the first art museum in the San Juan Islands. Along with a revolving repertoire of major exhibits of fine visual arts and workshops, IMA also offers a forum for local artists to display their work as part of its Artists Registry. IMA raises and distributes money to support art in the Friday Harbor elementary and middle schools, and runs the popular free "Family Art Days" program every Saturday in July and August in the orchard beside the museum. IMA is a registered 501 C 3 nonprofit organization and depends on donations, memberships, fundraising and a cadre of experienced, capable and dedicated volunteers.
9. Schooners North
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By shirleyb816
I am never so happy as being out on the water no matter whether in: a fishing, paddle or power boat, kayak, small sailboat or masted tall ship. The three hour afternoon sail on Schooner North’s eighty-foot Spike Africa was smooth sailing with picturesque sights of: islands, yachts, and smaller sailboats dotting the water. The 1230 afternoon sail was on a lovely, sunny July 3rd day.[ My family had already lunched locally at Friday Harbor’s “where the locals eat” Rocky Bay Cafe.] There were about twenty passengers on that large, elegant wooden two-masted schooner with a crew of about three. Spike Africa was built about forty years ago by an inveterate sailor Bob Sloan. Spike Africa was constructed of fir over oak. Fir is a local tree in the San Juan area. “She” has been completely refit which started in 2009. Her classic design and beautiful wood made sailing on her a wonderful adventure. Passengers sat and moved fore and aft sitting on the cabin top deck (with or without available cushions) or on the wooden deck itself throughout the sail. Many of us sitting right on the deck stretched out to enjoy the feel of the sailing. As we sailed on that tall ship, we spotted many stationary boats lined up along the Salish Sea. As Spike Africa approached that area, many on board immediately spotted orcas... one, then two, three and then four of them all rising and diving. This rare and exceptional sight didn’t last “just for a few minutes,” but for at least thirty to forty minutes. By maintaining proper distance from those swimming northward orcas, we were thrilled watching the continual movements of the orcas and not only saw their: fins, heads, bodies but even their flapping tails. (I think the flapping of the tails scare the fish that they were chasing.) Did we get tired or jaded watching those magnificent orcas during our afternoon sail? No, not at all. As the time of our three hour sail continued, we were again surprised and delighted to see that another pod of three orcas joined the previously mentioned four orcas. That was just another extraordinary plus to our time and sights of our Spike Africa sail. The crew not only was very proficient, cautious, and knowledgable, but also very passenger friendly. On a ten point (ten being highest) scale, I would rate our experience and enjoyment ELEVEN. I cannot be remiss in not mentioning both Gary (a sailor himself) and Bernadette who work in the office. I had many phone and e-mail “conversations” with them before our sail and afterwards. I recommend Schooner North expeditions as a destination TO DO experience. When I return to the San Juan islands, I will book a whole day trip. We had booked the Spike Africa to enjoy: the movement of the tall ship, the smell of the seas, the feel of the breezes, and the sight of the sea and landscapes. We were additionally rewarded with rare and long sightings of orcas. What a special experience it was being out on the Spike Africa! btw--San Juan Island is reached by car ferry (yes, there is a senior discount) from Anacortes, WA (which is about a two-hours drive north from Seattle.)
10. Island Studios
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By kiffieh - Belleair Beach, United States
Our third year in a row to San Juan Islands, and we always look forward to browsing and buying something at Island Studios! Very nice people work there and they are helpful.
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