Top Things to do in San Juan Islands
Countries
What to do and see in San Juan Islands, San Juan Islands: The Best Food & Drink
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. Madrone Cellars & Cider
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
We are a family run boutique winery & cidery located on San Juan Island, WA. The wines & ciders are made with minimal intervention, with a goal of revealing the grape, terroir and story behind each glass. Shaun has a key interest in natural, unfiltered wines & ciders, with the goal of planting and farming an organic and bio-dynamic vineyard & orchard on San Juan Island.
2. Doe Bay Wine Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 32 reviews
We are a Bottleshop featuring small production Wine, Beer and Cider from around the world. We are also a tasting room featuring our wine, "The Orcas Project", paired with cheese and charcuterie boards. We offer private events and host weekly tastings and dinners.
3. Boathouse Ciderworks
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Atinyhousevegan
We were waiting for the ferry and wanted to stop here so we allowed an extra hour, I’m glad we did. (We’re going to go that every time). We fell in love with their plum cider and had a nice sit with a nice view and an interesting little sitting area (all kinds of musical instruments on the walls) to contemplate our trip. I’m sure it’s lively in high season with all the outdoor seating but we were nice and warm inside on a crisp & cool fall day.
4. Salish Sea Tour Co.
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Welcome to Salish Sea Tour and Adventure Co. on beautiful Orcas Island. We are the premier sightseeing operator in the San Juan Islands and created with one goal in mind - to offer you custom designed and completely unforgettable island experiences. Raised on Orcas we know and understand it intimately - places to go, people to see and how to get from point A to point B. We pride ourselves in opening windows and doors to natural beauty and alternative ways of life while always respecting and remaining stewards of the island. With relationships since birth, and an extensive network of partners throughout the San Juan’s, there is no other business who can offer these types of access and experiences during your visit. We make it easy. We can pick you up and drop you off at the ferry dock, your hotel or your vacation rental. Arriving on a plane from Seattle or a boat from one of the outer islands? We can pick you up at the marina or airport in the morning and drop you back off for dinner
5. 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.
6. San Juan Islands Tourism Bureau
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Welcome to the official travel site for the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Join us for world-class wildlife watching, local food, and stunning sunsets.
7. Island Hoppin' Brewery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
8. San Juan Island Farmers Market
9. Orcas Island Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
REOPENED AS A FULL WINE GARDEN EXPERIENCE --Boutique family winery & vineyard committed to crafting premium WA state wines. You will find our modern farmhouse, tasting room, retail shop curated with fine local goods and 16 acres of property nestled at the base of Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island. We produce both red & white varietals using small batch, hand made, old school methods. Coming in 2020: BUBBLY! We also offer picnic style bites and cozy blankets for your perfect winery picnic. With your direct supervision, we are a family and dog friendly winery. We look forward to hosting you, sharing a few laughs and making your visit a remarkable experience. Now owned and operated by local family - Wesley, Tera and little Winston Landman.
Reviewed By eholstadt - Willamette Valley, United States
I went out of my way to share my google review here (and create a TripAdvisor account which I haven't used before for this little place- they are so deserving- and really enhanced our OI experience) --- Fantastic wines! Wow. I was very surprised. We were visiting family on the island and are from OR wine country (where we have access to some of the best wines)... and stumbled upon this beautiful spot. This place really knows how to host an experience. From the fantastic, warm customer service to the beautifully balanced, smooth, dry wines to the food (they call it picnic style) and to the well appointed decor - they thoroughly answered all my questions and shared education when prompted. Not a pretentious winery at all.. I've been to my fair share and don't care for the snobbery that can come with wine tasting. Family oriented, family friendly. Genuine. I don't go out of my way to write reviews but this place surprised, wowed and left a lasting impression. Rare to come across such caring, engaged owners, too. Our favorite memory from our trip. We will be back.
10. Lopez Island Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 14 reviews
Nestled on the northwest end of Lopez Island in the San Juan archipelago, just a 45-minute ferry ride from Anacortes, is home of San Juan County’s oldest vineyard and winery. We specialize in unique, gold medal winning, estate grown organic grapes: Madeleine Angevine & Siegerrebe. We also produce and bottle wines from other varietals such as Sangiovese, Malbec & more… harvested from select Eastern WA vineyards. We have lived and grown grapes on our land for over 30 years, and with the help of our family and community, have harvested and produced award-winning vintages consistently since 1989.
