Description

Just 55 square miles, San Juan Island is thesecond largest in the San Juan Islands archipelago. Located at thenorthern tip of the Salish Sea (a body of water off the famedStrait of Juan de Fuca that includes the Puget Sound to the south),San Juan Island is a perfect vacation destination - equidistantbetween Seattle and Vancouver, BC. A day on San Juan Island offersmany natural adventures - from orca whale watching, kayaking andhiking to shopping, art, entertainment and fine dining. You may seeblack-tailed deer munching apples beside a country road, red foxand bald eagles dining on a thriving and beloved population ofwell-contained European rabbits, or resident orca whales "spyhopping" in search of their favorite meal, salmon. A drive aroundthe island (which you can do in an hour if you don't get distractedand want to stop to take pictures!) reveals a diverse landscape.Long pebble beaches are lined with a virtual museum of driftwooddeposited over the centuries. There are lighthouses, two historicparks, pastoral stretches of island farmland, vast woods of tallfragrant Douglas fir and red-barked madrona trees. You will seecows, sheep, alpacas, and if you're lucky - a camel named Mona withher trusty friend, Lisa the Llama, pastured on 10 acres just acrossfrom the local vineyard. A luscious lavender farm in the center ofthe island is open all year for picnics and family fun. Travel toSan Juan Island is via ferry from Anacortes - a beautiful hour-longjourney through the 172 islands that comprise San Juan County - ora small aircraft that lands in the not-so-huge Friday HarborAirport, a short walk to town. The ferry docks at Friday Harbor, aquaint seaport full of shops, restaurants, cafes and galleries.Friday Harbor is a town devoted to art. Mural enthusiasts willthrill at the art about town and the many festivals celebrating theunique talents of island artists. San Juan Community Theatre offersbetter-than-small-town year-round entertainment. In summer, thereare finely-produced outdoor Shakespeare plays and outdoor markets,all in cool summer temperatures that rarely exceed 75 degreesfarenheit. The local museums will fill you in on San Juan Island'scolorful past, including the famous Pig War of 1812. Indigenouspeoples are remembered and honored as the first to settle this trueisland jewel. San Juan Island is a traveller's paradise destinationin all seasons, with plenty of lodging choices. There are abundantcampsites on county and private campgrounds, rustic cabins, manycomfortable and friendly bed and breakfast inns, and numeroushotels, ranging from simple and affordable hostels to luxuriouswaterfront suites. The holiday season is truly special, withcaroling, sparkling lights and a warm, friendly quiet islandatmosphere. Roche Harbor to the north, listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Sites, is a resort of fine lodging, shops anddining, gorgeous gardens, an outdoor sculpture park and a charmingmarina harboring some of the most beautiful yachts in the world. Itisn't hard to see why Roche Harbor is a popular site for weddingsand honeymoons! For maps and more information, contact the San JuanIsland Chamber of Commerce at (360) 378-5240(www.SanJuanIsland.org) or the San Juan Island Visitors Bureau at(888) 468-3701 (www.VisitSanJuans.com). For lodging information,visit the B&B Association of San Juan Island at (866) 645-303(www.San-Juan-Island.net) What better place than San Juan Island?Cross the water by ferry, have dinner at one of the island'stop-notch restaurants, enjoy a night at one of the many bed andbreakfasts or hotels in Friday Harbor and around the countrysideGetting to San Juan Island is a big part of the fun. An hour-longferry ride through the Salish Sea in the San Juan archipelagopromises views found nowhere else on earth. You might see a stellarsea lion huffing its way through the water, bald eagles swoopingfor their dinners, and maybe even...