The Perfect 2- or 3-Day San Juan Islands Itinerary
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From the bow of the Washington State Ferry, the wind is strong and the skies are a clear, bright blue. The boat carves a path between several of the San Juan Islands; while the ferry only services four of them, there are over 400 islands in this archipelago. With so many to choose from, how on earth can you plan a simple yet memorable San Juan Islands itinerary?
After living in the Pacific Northwest for several years, I was fortunate to spend a weekend island hopping, whale watching, and immersed in the history of the San Juans. PNW locals love to visit these islands because there’s something for everyone: outdoor adventure, history, good food and wine, and wildlife, just to name a few!
In this post, I’ll share a ton of travel tips to help you plan a San Juan Islands itinerary for a weekend getaway. This won’t cover everything β in fact, my suggested 2-day and 3-day San Juan Islands weekend itineraries only visit two of the four main islands β but it will give you the guidance to sample what the San Juans have to offer. Don’t be surprised if you come home and immediately want to plan another trip!
Short on time and just want to see the itinerary? Click the Table of Contents and then click “A 2- or 3-Day San Juan Islands Itinerary” to jump to that section.
In this post, I promote travel to a destination that is the traditional lands of the Semiahmoo, SβKlallam, Γ,LEαΉENEΘ» Θ½TE (WΜ±SΓNEΔ), Hulβqumiβnum Treaty Group, Lhaqβtemish (Lummi), Samish, Tulalip peoples. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.
This post was originally published in April 2020, and was updated most recently in November 2022.
San Juan Islands Travel Tips
When it comes to planning a San Juan Islands weekend itinerary, there is so much to cover β ferry schedules and choosing islands and what to do on each… As such, I have to include a lot of travel tips to help you cover all the details!
How to Get to the San Juan Islands
It’s a little complicated to visit the San Juan Islands, but I promise it’s worth it! It’s a 90-minute drive north from Seattle to the town of Anacortes. From Anacortes, you have to board a Washington State Ferry to one of the four ferry terminals in the San Juan Islands: Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, or Shaw islands.
There are several ferry routes to choose from, depending on which island(s) you want to stop at; the best way to plan your trip is by visiting the WSDOT website and consulting their timetables.
Pro-tip: Book reservations for the Washington State Ferry in advance if you plan to visit the San Juan Islands, especially in summer. Reservations are usually available two weeks and two days before sailing.
Which of the San Juan Islands Should You Visit?
When you plan your trip to the San Juan Islands, it’s important to consider which island(s) you want to visit.
- San Juan Island β San Juan Island is the second largest island by size, but the most populated by far. On San Juan Island, you’ll be able to choose almost any activity: food and wine tasting, outdoor experiences, whale watching tours, or just strolling and shopping in towns like Friday Harbor.
- Orcas Island β Orcas Island is the largest island in the San Juan archipelago, but is less populated and developed than San Juan Island. With a slower pace of life than its smaller sibling, Orcas is perfect if you want to go camping, hiking, or cycling across a surprisingly diverse landscape.
- Lopez Island β Lopez is the third island you can visit from the ferry system. Cycling is especially popular, as is wine tasting from local vineyards.
- Shaw Island β Shaw is the least developed of the four islands you can visit by ferry; there isn’t even a gas station on this island! Shaw is good for a day trip if you can time the ferries right, or camp overnight in one of the island’s state parks.
What to Pack for a San Juans Weekend Trip
The San Juan Islands have some of the best weather in all of Western Washington, thanks to the geography of the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound. As such, pretty much everything on my Seattle packing list will work for a weekend on the San Juans β it never hurts to bring a rain jacket in case of unseasonably damp weather, or just as an extra layer.
How to Go Whale Watching in the San Juan Islands
Whale watching is one of the main experiences in the San Juan Islands, which is perfect as there are waterways all around!
There are several resident pods of orca whales that live in the waters around the San Juan Islands year-round. The best place to set out for a tour is from Friday Harbor; it’s the closest to the places you can usually see whales.
As I mentioned, these whales are all part of pods that are classified as “residents” of the waters around the San Juan Islands. They don’t migrate away throughout the year, and this gives scientists a chance to really study them.
There are several providers of whale-watching tours from Friday Harbor. Tours with San Juan Island Whale & Wildlife ToursΒ start from $125 for adults and $115 for children.
San Juan Island Travel Guide
As the second-largest but most populous of the San Juan Islands, the namesake San Juan Island is where most travelers visit. San Juan Island has the largest tourism base, historic sites across the island, and plenty of different experiences to enjoy, from museums and old military forts to whale-watching tours and wine tastings.
On San Juan Island, there are two primary communities: Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor.
- Friday Harbor: Where most tourist amenities can be found, including hotels, restaurants, and tour providers. From Friday Harbor, you can set out on a whale-watching tour, drive to see some of the historic and cultural sites on San Juan Island, or just relax in your waterfront hotel room and eat at some of the delicious restaurants.
- Roche Harbor: A private community, though there are still a few things to do by way of shops and restaurants, and one main hotel, the Hotel de Haro. Roche Harbor has a slightly more posh feeling than Friday Harbor and is a great escape if you’re just looking for a luxury getaway without planning to see much of the island.
Things to Do on San Juan Island
There is absolutely no shortage of things to do on San Juan Island, as it’s the biggest and most established island for visitors. I have an entire list of things to do on San Juan Island, but for now, here are some of the highlights:
- The Whale Museum is a must-visit for all travelers; this small museum highlights the cultural and historical significance of Orca whales in the area.
- There is plenty of hiking throughout the state parks. The most popular is Lime Kiln State Park, where you can also watch for whales off the shore.
- Lots of people visit the San Juans specifically to see the resident orca pods, so booking a whale-watching tour is also essential.
- Kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding are also popular options if you love water sports.
- The local lavender farm and alpaca farm are both good options if you want to be less active.
- Food and drink lovers will also want to stop by either San Juan Vineyard or San Juan Island Distillery.
But there’s so much more! Be sure to check my full list of things to do on San Juan Island, if you want more ideas or more detail about these ideas.
Speaking of food and drink though…
Where to Eat on San Juan Island
You’ll find the most restaurant choices on San Juan Island in Friday Harbor:
- Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I usually skip it in favor of brunch. For that, try Cynthia’s on Nicolas Street. Delicious, savory, and filling, the tomato skillet baked eggs was a perfect dish for a day of exploration.
- If you’re a no-breakfast-just-give-me-coffee kind of person, sip a lavender latte at The Bean Cafe, which uses lavender products from Pelindaba Lavender.
- For lunch, enjoy a made-to-order sandwich from The Market Chef, which you can take away with you to keep exploring, or enjoy with a bottle of wine on their patio.
- Cask & Schooner Public House & Restaurant is located right on the main street in Friday Harbor. This English-style pub is great for a casual dinner. If you want to really enjoy the British vibe, opt for bangers and mash or sticky toffee pudding.
- For a fancier option, try The Bluff Restaurant in Friday Harbor House. Enjoy Pacific Manila Clams or the Butcher’s Cut while overlooking the harbor; watch the lights twinkle on boats as you enjoy cobbler made with berries picked right on San Juan Island.
Outside Friday Harbor, here are some good options:
- Duck Soup is located on the shores of Dream Lake on inland San Juan Island. They’re known for delicious local ingredients and seasonal dishes.
- In Roche Harbor, Lime Kiln Cafe offers a casual, waterfront dining option along the main pier.
- Similarly, McMillin’s waterfront restaurant and dining room is a more upscale option that usually draws a crowd for dinner each day.
Where to Stay on San Juan Island
From hotels to vacation rentals and traditional bed and breakfast options to camping, you can find almost any kind of accommodation on San Juan Island. Here are a couple of choices:
- If you want a hotel with a view, Friday Harbor House or the Hotel de Haro in Roche Harbor are your best options. Be prepared for the cost that comes with stunning waterfront views!
- The Island Inn at 123 West is an interesting blend of accommodation styles, with both private suites and private rooms that share common areas.
- If you’re looking for something smaller or more private, Bird Rock Hotel or Earthbox Inn & Spa are good options.
- For vacation rentals that are more unique, consider Churchill Plaza #1, this Artist’s Suite, or at the Cannery Inn (Room 1, 2, 3, 4).
- If you want to camp, there are four campsites on San Juan Island: The Fairground, Lakedale Resort, County Parks, and Free Horse Farm.
Orcas Island Travel Guide
Though Orcas Island is bigger in size than San Juan Island, it is smaller in attitude and draws a totally different crowd of locals and visitors. From the moment you disembark the ferry, you’ll see why locals call Orcas “the gem of the San Juans.”
- The largest town on Orcas is Eastsound, home to 3,700 people. Located ‘in the bend’ of horseshoe-shaped Orcas Island, it’s also the perfect place to base yourself for exploring the whole of the island. You can reach either end of the island within a 30-minute drive.
- Other small communities you can pass through include Westsound, Olga, and Deer Harbor, where I stayed at the Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast.
Things to Do on Orcas Island
On Orcas Island, the main attractions are all provided courtesy of mother nature. If you want to experience nature, Orcas is the place to do it.
Moran State Park is the main attraction, home to 38 miles of hiking trails and the 2,398-foot Mount Constitution. Whether you hike, bike, or drive to the top, you can enjoy stunning views from the top of the mountain β the highest point in the San Juan Islands.
Kayaking, whale-watching, and sailing are the other main physical activities to choose from on Orcas Island. As you’ll find on all of the San Juans, cycling along Orcas’ winding roads is another popular activity for those who love to combine fitness with sightseeing.
The west side of Orcas Island hides a beautiful treasure for the ones with an appreciation for art. Orcas Island Pottery is a lovely place tucked in the woods with an overlook of the water and mountains. Youβll find a wide selection of beautifully designed pottery by local artisans.
However, even if you don’t enjoy or desire to purchase pottery, the trails, gardens, and views are incredible. Take the journey down the meandering driveway amongst the giant trees and you’ll be overwhelmed by the quiet peaceful sanctuary that awaits you here. The pottery, including the myriad of styles, types, and colors is a nice compliment to the wonder of this place.
Open for more than 35 years, Darvillβs Bookstore is an independent bookstore thatβs a must-hit stop during every island visit. It stocks all the standards, but its fantastic selection of local island and PNW theme books and magazines will inspire you to explore the area deeper. They also have a quaint coffee stand in the back where you can start reading your last literary purchase.
Beware, this is a dangerous store! You will have a hard time leaving with only one thing. So consider it if youβre visiting with limited suitcase space.
Where to Stay on Orcas Island
Most accommodation on Orcas Island is rustic and local. I consider that a plus since you’re looking to actually experience the San Juan Islands.
Based on that, here are some of my favorite properties:
- For a guesthouse option, the Orcas Hotel is a stone’s throw from the ferry terminal. In Eastsound, the Outlook Inn is a well-located option with stunning waterfront views.
- If you want to experience nature without sacrificing comfort, Orcas Island is a surprising glamping hotspot. Leanto has beautiful glamping options in Moran State Park.
- The Blue Heron B&B has changed a lot since my stay β they now offer traditional bed & breakfast rooms, glamping, a trailer, and even the option to sleep aboard a 74-foot schooner.
- For vacation rentals, a couple of options catch my eye: this gorgeous modern home has plenty of space, this huge home with room for the whole family, and β letβs just call it what it is β this hobbit house that I might literally never leave.
Lopez Island Travel Guide
For most travelers, visiting San Juan and/or Orcas island is enough for a San Juan Islands weekend trip. Lopez Island is less visited and thus more local, and as you’ll see firsthand. You can wander through Lopez Village or cycle along Lopez’s easy, flat roads to one of the wineries and farms for a tasting tour.
Things to Do on Lopez Island
As mentioned, one of the most popular activities on Lopez Island is cycling. It’s best “paired with a destination: Lopez Island Vineyard & Winery has delicious local wines, in search of a geocaching spot, or through historic Lopez Village.
Where to Stay on Lopez Island
Like Orcas Island, accommodation on Lopez is more rustic and cozy β but you won’t sacrifice comfort in the process.
- Edenwild Boutique Inn is one of the most modern options, with beautiful rooms and easy access to the heart of Lopez Village.
- If youβd prefer a vacation rental all to yourself, you could rent a quiet cabin, a seaview cottage, or take over a boathouse.
- There are also a few camping options on Lopez Island, including Odlin County Park and Spencer Spit State Park β as well as Lopez Islander Resort.
Shaw Island Travel Guide
Shaw Island is the smallest of the four ferry-serviced San Juan Islands. It’s a mere 10 square miles in size. This makes it perfect for a day trip: you can catch a ferry from one of the other islands in the morning, spend the day walking or cycling around, have a picnic, or enjoy the scenery, then catch the ferry back.
There are no restaurants, hotels, or markets, so be sure to bring anything you need with you for a day trip to Shaw Island. If you forget something, the small general store and deli might have it, but it’s best to bring what you want to know you have it.
A 2- or 3-Day San Juan Islands Itinerary
With all that to choose from, you might wonder how to actually plan a San Juan Islands weekend trip. Don’t worry β I can help with that too! If you only have a weekend to visit the San Juan Islands, I recommend spending one day on Orcas Island and one day on San Juan Island. That plus travel time will take up the whole weekend β and you can always plan a trip back to visit Lopez and/or Shaw.
Day 1 – Arrive & Relax (Orcas)
For a weekend on the San Juan Islands, I recommend you set out on a Friday in the mid-afternoon to beat the rush hour traffic in Seattle. You’ll arrive in time for an early dinner in Anacortes; I have a complet guide for visiting Anacortes to help you there.
Since you have a ferry reservation, you’ll be able to drive right on, park your car, and get out to stretch your legs during the ride to Orcas Island. Once you arrive, it will probably be getting late, so head to your accommodation for the night. There’s plenty of time for an adventure tomorrow!
Day 2 – Seeing Sights & Ferry Rides (Orcas/San Juan)
Rise and shine early to make the most of this full day! On Orcas Island, start by traveling to Eastsound, the largest community on the island, for breakfast. Afterward, you can make a quick visit to Moran State Park for a hike before heading to the ferry terminal.
Catch a midday ferry from Orcas to San Juan Island, where you’ll spend the rest of the weekend.
On San Juan Island, disembark the ferry and stop in Friday Harbor for lunch. Then it’s time to head out to explore the island! You can head straight to Lime Kiln State Park, or make your way to American Camp or English Camp for a history lesson. For dinner, consider your options: you could start with an appetizer and drink up in Roche Harbor before heading back to Friday Harbor for the main part of the meal.
In the evening, take a short stroll through Friday Harbor to enjoy the twinkling lights on the water and cozy storefronts and restaurant windows. If you love pubs, end with a nightcap at Cask & Schooner Public House before calling it a night.
Day 3 – Whale Watching & Return Home (San Juan)
On your final day in the San Juan Islands, you could rise early to rent a stand-up paddleboard and get your heart pumping before brunch. Then it’s time to board a boat for a whale-watching tour, which usually takes 3-4 hours.
After your tour ends, you can enjoy lunch in Friday Harbor before either boarding the ferry home or doing one last expedition on San Juan Island. The ferry from San Juan Island to Anacortes takes about an hour. You could either grab dinner in Anacortes again (and maybe stay a night to explore more!) or head back to Seattle.
And that’s it! Have any other questions about planning your San Juan Islands itinerary? Let me know in the comments below!
Valerie
I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest βΒ but my heart will always be out West. I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge.
25 Comments
Kathy
I hope you email me back. My husband and I are seniors, planning on coming to the San Juan islands end of Aug 2019. We do not want to keep changing hotels, since we also will stay in Seattle a few days. After reading your article, it looks like you are saying orcas is the best island as a base hotel.. If so, can we walk onto the ferry and spend the day at San Juan island or Shaw island for the day? Is the ferry expensive to take it to the islands for the day and back to orcas our base hotel? Having never been here, it is confusing to plan this trip. I appreciate any advice about lodging and shuttling the ferry between islands.
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Kathy! I recommend basing yourself on San Juan Island, in Friday Harbor. If you’re just walking onto the ferry, it should be very affordable to walk-on for day trips to the other islands. The ferry pricing can be found on their website: https://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/scheduledetailbyroute.aspx?route=ana-sj-sid
Karen K Watson
Hello, My husband and I are planning a trip to the San Juan Islands from Seattle, flying in to SEA-TAC and renting a car . Do you have information on how to get back to Seattle after the trip? Is it the same to take the ferry and drive 90 miles to Seattle from Anacortes? Thank you!
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Karen! Yep – you’ve got it exactly right – you take the ferry back to Anacortes and drive home from there. Have a great trip!
Carol Denton
We visited on San Juan Island for a few days in June of 2018. We had lunch at a really nice and fancy restaurant on the Main Street in Friday Harbor. Our son lives in Friday Harbor and works at Roche Harbor. We ate dinner at McMiilins where our son works. Our son and a friend showed us around the island. We spent two nights at Roche Harbor. We ate breakfast and lunch at Roche Harbor restaurants. We very much enjoyed our visit to San Juan Island. Our son is still working and living on the island.
Barbara Marrett
Hi Valerie,
Thanks for your great article! I see you’ve had quite a few questions about the ferry from your readers. It’s free to walk on the ferry in any direction. Folks can find answers to questions at http://www.visitsanjuans.com on “how to get here” questions or they can call our toll free number 888.468.3701.
One thing: San Juan Whales and Wildlife Tours, is no longer doing tours, but there are many other great whale and wildlife tour companies operating out of Friday Harbor. Thanks again!
Barbara Marrett
Oops I meant to say in my comment above that walk-ons on the inter-island ferry are free. If you are coming from Anacortes then there is a walk on charge.
Valerie
Thanks for all the extra info, Barbara! I’ll point people to your comment if I get any more questions about these topics.
Kitty
Hi Valerie, thank you for the article. Is it also posssible to get get to Anacortes ferry by public transport from Seattle?
Valerie
Great question, Kitty! Yep, you can. Here are some details from Visit San Juans: https://www.visitsanjuans.com/transportation/all-san-juan-islands/travel-train
Lindsey Carpenter
Hi thanks for the great information. I found that most of the Air Bnb links do not take you to a listing. One of them took me to Italy! How lovely, but that’s for another time. π
L
Valerie
Lindsey, I’m so sorry about that! I just went in and checked/fixed all of those links βΒ I hope they work better and you find one you want to book.
Judy
We are heading to Lopez Island to pick up a boat we purchased. We’ll be arriving around September 15, 2020. We plan on cruising the San Juans for 2-3 weeks, weather permitting. Any tips for marina and island hopping, grocery shopping? We’ll be sleeping aboard. We want to cruise to visit friends in Bellingham and Port Townsend too ~ before trailering our boat home to Santa Barbara. Many thanks!
Mr.V
Hi Judy! Mr. V here. I am SO excited for you, the San Juans are easily one of my favorite places – and seeing by boat just makes it that much better. I did this exact cruise on a 30′ sloop a number of years ago and would easily do it again given the chance.
When you pick up in Lopez, make sure to spend a little time on the island exploring all they have to offer. Lopez Island is home to some of the most interesting vineyards in Washington (In my humble opinion), Lopez Island Vineyards being my favorite. They also have a great state park called Spencer Spit that is worth a walk around. For provisioning, make sure to swing by Lopez Village on the West side of the island. That is the main village on the island and also worth walking around in its own right.
From there, I’d suggest cruising over to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. This is one of the largest towns in the archipelago and will be your best place for some great restaurants (and more provisioning). Head’s up though! The ferry docks here and seaplanes take off from here, so make sure to check your charts and keep an eye out for that traffic. For moorage, there are a few marinas here if you want convenience. Otherwise, there is a small half-moon cove just to the north of the main harbor where a lot of cruisers like to anchor up (I don’t remember if there are mooring balls here or not). It’s a short dinghy ride into the harbor, so it’s still fairly convenient. There is also a little stretch to the W/SW side of Brown Island right next to Friday Harbor where some folks will tie up for the night, but the current comes through the channel pretty quick and there’s a lot of traffic. I’d recommend either staying in the Harbor itself or mooring up in that little cove to the north.
Departing Friday Harbor, you have two choices and I’d suggest checking the weather and tide report to determine which one to take. The first option is to head North, following the San Juan Channel along the West side of Shaw Island. This will be more protected from weather and a shorter day of cruising, but that current can get pretty strong between the islands so time it so the tides work in your favor if possible. The other option is a much longer day of sailing and that is to head South out the channel and around Cattle Pt. The current can really get going here as its a narrow passage and Salmon Bank just outside the mouth gets pretty shallow. But once you clear the point, head NW to follow the Western side of San Juan Island. This whole coast line up to Lime Kiln State Park is the regular cruising grounds for the local Orca pods and are usually your best chances for seeing whales (though they do range all over the islands, so keep an eye out!). Beware that False Bay is aptly named and not a good place to hole up as it is a tidal mud flat at low tide! Whichever route you take, Roche Harbor at the North end of the island is where I’d suggest aiming to reach. This harbor is more fancy and you’re just as likely to see a superyacht there as a trailer-sailor. The main reason for heading up here is to have a meal at the famous Haro Hotel. If you want a night to splurge a little, this is the place. Fun fact – Spieden Island just across the way was once a private game reserve for African animals and you can still see some exotic animals living there from a distance!
From here, I’d stock up at “The Company Store” in Roche Harbor and head NE through President Channel along the back side of Orcas Island with my favorite island, Sucia, as your target. This island is 100% off-grid and you can only access it by private boat, no public tours come here. Head into Echo Bay on the East side of the island for a nice, protected anchorage. There are numerous State Park mooring buoys here as well. This is a great place to relax and really ‘get away’. You will likely have other folks around in the bay, but it’s big enough and usually people are pretty responsible, so there shouldn’t be any problems. You can also dinghy into shore and hike around. The island is criss-crossed with trails that go all over, picnic shelters, and the beach is a great place for beach fires at sunset. It’s also a safe place to swim if you’re feeling so inclined.
Once you’ve had your fill of Sucia, I’d suggest heading South and following the coastline of Orcas island down and around into East Sound. This village is another one that you can reprovision at and have some of the comforts of home (or not!). Orcas Island is much bigger and thus more difficult to get around on without a vehicle, but there are some amazing hiking trails in Moran State Park. At this point you can either keep exploring Orcas by heading over into the next bay to the West, Westsound, or you can head East and over into Bellingham Bay.
I hope that helps give you some ideas for sailing the San Juan Islands! This is my personal favorite route, but there are lots of little nooks and crannys that you can explore around the islands and create your own favorite route. Just make sure to be checking those weather and tide charts daily, and definitely have a working VHS radio just in case anything should happen.
Fair winds and following seas,
Mr. V
Mr. V
OH! An PS – Pick up this chart if you don’t already have it: https://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18421.shtml
Gillian Smith
You don’t have to post this, but you might want to edit your article for accuracy’s sake. I’ve lived on Orcas for 27 years and while it’s true that there were about 3700 in the Eastsound, WA *zip code* in the last census, there are definitely not 3700 people living in the actual *town* of Eastsound, which is tiny :)! So, to say that there are 3700 people living in town would give the impression that Eastsound is a much bigger town than it is; 98245 is the zip code for almost the entire island. (I’ve lived on both sides of the horseshoe, a number of miles from town, and always had a 98245 zip.) The other zip codes are Olga, Orcas, and Deer Harbor, and each has a few hundred residents, so altogether there are around 5000 people living on the whole island, at least according to the last census. Population may have increased due to popularity, but there are also a lot of people leaving because they’re being priced out as well, as Airbnb’s replace almost all long-term rentals, so I imagine it’ll turn out to be 5000 – 6000 for the whole island when we get new numbers.
Valerie
Thanks so much for the clarification, Gillian!
Trista S.
Hi! My husband and I are planning a trip to the San Juan Islands – we are new to Washington and are loving getting out and exploring! What time of year would you suggest taking this trip? Would late fall be simply too cold? Thanks!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Trista! I recommend summer or early fall if you have a choice. Late fall is likely to be chillier and rainier despite the islands being in the rain shadow of the Olympics β which is no fun in the San Juans.
Russell
We are looking for a house to rent for a week on Orcas Island in September of 2022 for four adults. Any recommendations
Valerie
I have my recommendations in this post π
Cassandra Deane
Hey There,
My name is Cassandra and I grew up on Shaw Island and went to school at Spring Street International in Friday Harbor. I would like to say that although Shaw does not have a gas station, it does have an amazing history. We have a beautiful Museum and Library that is just kiddy corner to the oldest running school in Washington State called “The Little Red School ” which has a fantastic playground, everyone can enjoy. This is a great island for bike riding and the kids will love our perfect South Beach that has all sand and driftwood (no sharp shells to walk on.) Once you have had a beautiful ride and enjoyed the sandy beach you can rest at our store by the ferry landing, which has a cafe and ice cream shop inside. I love Shaw Island and highly recommend giving this quiet and scenery filled little island a day to see how the island life is lived without all the tourist attractions and heavy traffic.
– I am happy to help suggest more if anyone is planning on a trip to my favorite Island!
Sassyldeane@hotmail.com
Valerie
Thanks for sharing this extra info on Shaw, Cassandra!
John Fortunato
My wife and I are planning to visit in July. We enjoy Hiking, Kayaking, biking. We do not have to do all three. Which island would you suggest that we stay having to move everyday? We would like to see orcas. we do not have to be there on a weekend.
Our trip will be combined with time at Olympic nat park.
Valerie
I’d recommend San Juan island βΒ it has it all!