San Juan Islands Day Trips: Top 5 You Can’t Miss

The San Juan Islands, they’re an island cluster snuggled up in Washington State, offer, too, a bit of escape with incredible scenery, wildlife viewings, and some quaint, unique little towns. Getting over to the San Juans can be easier than you think. Ferries leave all the time from Anacortes. Or, in some respects, there are even some really small local flights you could check out. Let’s check out what five trips should definitely be on the radar, if you can.

Orcas Island: A Day in the Emerald of the San Juans

Orcas Island, often called the “Emerald Isle” is that lush gem that everybody loves, is that its rolling hills are just lovely, is that it features the tallest point in the San Juans, and, also, offers various experiences for people hitting the area for the day. Eastsound, the main town there, is actually pretty cute with its artsy shops and various eateries. A great idea is to spend a bit, really just walking around, grabbing something to eat, and just enjoying what makes it fun.

Moran State Park’s, anyway, another top choice if the outside is a consideration with you, where a must do, arguably, is a drive to the summit of Mount Constitution, too it’s almost, that the views are unreal – offering views stretching from the Cascades all the way over, in a way, to Canada. You can, similarly to, find a network of trails all over for hiking. Pack, really, a picnic to enjoy by one of the lakes, is that Cascade Lake happens to be super popular. The Rosario Resort & Spa, basically, has a really amazing history to uncover, and you can, for instance, often find some tours to book. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Orcas Island Getaway)

Read our full review: Orcas Island Full Review and Details

Friday Harbor: History, Whales, and Waterfront Charm

Friday Harbor, sitting there on San Juan Island, is like the hub of the San Juans, is that its waterfront features loads, basically, of activity, as well as interesting sights. A good activity involves walking around the Port of Friday Harbor and maybe looking over the boats and shops all around. Walking throughout, really, is just a lovely, a great place, really.

Whale watching trips, too it’s almost, that something a ton of vacationers think is cool; there exist plenty of charters departing from the port all throughout the season, and they will frequently ensure you see orcas and maybe humpback whales, and of course plenty of marine wildlife. Anyway, there’s the Whale Museum located just there to check out to get all of your insights. History nerds will, as a matter of fact, enjoy the San Juan Island National Historical Park, you could say with a bit of pride with two camps that tell tales of a border issue between America and Britain. Plus, so to speak, a very short drive there from town is a pretty popular alpaca farm. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Whale Watching in Friday Harbor)

Read our full review: Friday Harbor Whale Watching Full Review and Details

Lopez Island: A Cyclist’s Paradise and Peaceful Retreat

Lopez Island seems like, actually, a great pick if taking things easy, generally, feels like something interesting, being mostly all level with, generally, few hills, might make it perfect for biking adventures, and so the roads meander through spots of fields and farms.

Rent, that, is a bike near the ferry landing and so explore places such as the beautiful Agate Beach County Park. Bring your time along, for example, so to check out various tide pools and maybe beach comb around there at that scenic spot. Lopez Village, also, is a great town you should go to, if only for that handful of little eateries and places. Check out too, really, the historical museum so you could check out all sorts of historical spots around Lopez’s history. Islander Lopez, anyway, seems to be, usually, a spot that tourists like for lodging needs if one has decided, definitely, a trip for the whole day should change. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lopez Island Stays)

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Shaw Island: Step Back in Time

Shaw Island happens to be small, pretty, and super relaxing, might make a superb option to, arguably, avoid some heavy foot travel and just soak stuff in. One quirky fact: it might be that the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary will manage the island’s little ferry dock. The general store is one that they run which also functions, obviously, as a place that Post Office, basically, to have some basic snack items.

Visit, you know, the Shaw Island Historical Museum, I mean, that displays island stories as they relate through some stuff related to photos and artifacts if you want to gain understanding with respect to island happenings. Explore, similarly to, the Shaw County Park with waterfront parts alongside scenic lookouts, maybe something people would go with for, say, family meals or a break there on the shores, it’s something easy that has amazing beach access for exploration purposes. You may want to find various beachcombing spots during one of these travels! You, you know, you likely want to bring stuff along, is that the limited amount to get while near. Arguably, the overall small vibes there will appeal, I mean, in some capacity for day vacations there, arguably, with all there being for San Juan parts for travels overall. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Shaw Island Ferry Info)

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San Juan Island National Historical Park: History and Scenic Beauty

Even if you find, frankly, some base time while visiting Friday Harbor, right, San Juan Island National Historical Park seems worth, really, every quick, to explore for just a single calendar day, clearly offering dual camps: American Camp versus British Camp, really both for this area to be visited.

At American Camp, actually, one may witness that area is generally that of fantastic grasslands with all types near sea. See too, actually, some main ocean shoreline or perhaps find views via Griffin Bay with more than little, by the way, to hike around in general. The British Camp displays generally perfectly cultivated gardens which may showcase with finesse England vibe plus displays probably pretty good panoramic settings through the Garrison Bay perhaps maybe Vancouver Island from the way they are arranged. Maybe see, sort of, some Peace rock as that point when borders would get resolved when issues were to ever dissolve fully by there during that part during each historical spot during each travel option; San Juan Historical area features various different sides displaying fantastic natural scenic parts there which might highlight a must whenever traveling, that, with vacations for these zones that get a bit easier if seeing by Friday. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Explore San Juan History)

Read our full review: San Juan Island History Full Review and Details