San Juan Islands Travel Information
Low tide in the San Juan Islands leaves 786 islands dry; few of that
number are named and fewer still inhabited, a fact that contributes to
their edge-of-the-world sort of appeal. Whales spouting offshore,
orca-sightings and
beautiful seascapes keep the area flush with visitors during the
summer months, who paddle (and sail) around protected inlets, islets
rock promontories, or peddle picturesque island trails. San Juan
Island, Orcas
Island, and Lopez Island have the largest year-round populations and
can be readily reached by ferry from the town of Anacortes, which
perches on the Puget Sound north of Seattle. Outdoors
enthusiasts will find no shortage of exploratory options on hand, from
independent kayak excursions to guided wildlife viewing tours,
multi-day cruises to whale-watching day-trips. And then, of course,
there is the Washington ferry system, which bills itself out as the
state's number one tourist attraction; with whales and orcas visible
from deck on a clear day, even your trip out and back can be a sort of
sight-seeing adventure. Once on land, the best way to get around is on foot, by bicycle or by moped, the latter two available for rent locally (the former you'll have to bring yourself).
San Juan Island is the largest of the
populated big three. The ferry docks in Friday Harbor, a pleasant
city in which to enjoy a leisurely wander and a glimpse of local galleries. Anglers can book charter fishing trips out
of the marina while divers will find that these chilly seas offer some of
the best cold-water diving in the world. Get a feel for the coast
before taking the plunge with a multi-day kayaking trip. Orcas
Island is home to Mount Constitution, the high spot in the islands.
Workout your legs peddling to the top, then cool down with a stop at
Cascade Falls. Finish off the day with a dose of history at the Orcas
Island Historical Museum and pitch a tent in Moran State Park once you've
exhausted the limits of island roads and daylight attractions.
Grab
a bike and join the throng of happy peddlers riding the circuit around
Lopez Island, the other major inhabited land-mass in the area. A good 30-minute ride, this won't do much to prepare
you for the Tour de France but you will be rewarded with pleasant
countryside scenery and friendly locals. Bring your tent along if
you're hankering for a night under the stars. Like the other islands,
the campsites on Lopez Island fill up quickly in summer, so stake your
reservation in advance. The San Juan Islands are northwest of
Seattle, an hour by ferry from Anacortes.
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