San Juan Islands

A two hour drive north to Anacortes and a Washington State Ferry ride west will get you to the three major islands: Lopez, Orcas and San Juan. I like to leave my car at the Anacortes dock and walk aboard.

It’s wonderful to cruise through the beautiful San Juan Islands.

Whale Watching is great in the San Juans. End your island cruise at Friday Harbor where you can rent a moped or take a bus to Lime Kiln Point State Park for the best chance to see a pod of Orcas.

A park naturalist is on duty to help you spot the great black & white creatures as they search for salmon.

Or, arrange for a whale watching cruise at the Friday Harbor marina, next to the Ferry Terminal.

The Whale Museum is just off the main street and well worth visiting.

Next to whales, the spectacular view from Mt. Constitution in Moran State Park on Orcas Island is my favorite.

Stretched out below the peak are the forested San Juans with Mt. Baker in the Cascade Range and the Olympic Mountains in view.The San Juans are a recreational favorite destination for hiking, biking, kayaking and sailing.

www.parks.wa.gov/parks.

I'll show you more of the San Juan's in my award winning travel video:

From Friday Harbor the Washington State Ferry sails on to Sidney, British Columbia in Canada for a very British experience. (See my Victoria and Vancouver pages)

Sailing back through the San Juans the ferry stops at Orcas and Lopez before landing in Anacortes. Hiway 20 will get you back to I-5. What about stopping for coffee in La Conner before you hit the freeway?

You’ll find the turn off to La Conner by the popular Farmhouse Restaurant. In addition to coffee shops and bakeries you'll want to browse the galleries, museums and shops in this historic fishing village.

And, if you are lucky enough to be travelling in the springtime, the Skagit Valley will be a blaze with bright fields of tulips and daffodils.

One other suggestion: on the way back to Seattle I like to stop for a meal at the Tulalip Casino off Interstate 5 at Marysville. You can enjoy a salmon dinner at a reasonable price, plus there are lots of penny slots and a nearby Seattle Premium Outlet Center.