When people visit the Pacific Northwest they often seek out the San Juans. As one of the best places to see orca whales and other marine mammals, it gets pretty busy here during the summer months. Friday Harbor, on San Juan island is a great place to stay and start your exploration of the collective San Juan Islands.
The ferry terminal is right in downtown Friday Harbor and you can head to places like Orcas Island or on a whale watching tour, all from the same spot. Below are just a few things you can do while visiting San Juan Island.
Go on a whale watching tour
The top thing to do is a boat tour to see the incredible wildlife that graces this area. The best time to go, for the best chances to see the orcas is during the summer months. There are resident orcas who call these waters home as well as some transients.
If you head out on a clear day, you can also get great views of Mount Baker, turtleback mountain, and Mount Constitution, the highest point on Orcas Island.
Some of the wildlife you might see include common murres, sea otters (their populations in this area are making a slow comeback, so it is a special site if you can glimpse one of these cuties during your trip), minke whales, seals, bald eagles, sea lions and orcas. I recommend going with San Juan excursions, their people are extremely knowledgeable, they take photos of the animals during your trip and send you a copy of the best for you to keep for free, and also give you a raincheck if you don’t see any orcas on your trip.
Wander around Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor is the biggest town on the island and one of the best spots to stay on the island. You can check out a gift shop along the water or stop at one of the many coffee shops, like Salty Fox Coffee, which have great alternatives for those with dietary restrictions.
In the evening you can check out San Juan Brewing Company, the only brewery on the island and grab a beer and some pizza (they even have gluten free crusts and vegan cheese as options).
Visit Lime Kiln State Park
This is a the perfect place to go to see some of the natural beauty of the island. Lime Kiln Point State park is considered a whale watch park as one of the best things to do there is walk along the trail by the water with your binoculars. There are regular whale sightings from here.
It is also a stopping point for some of the bike tours that occur around the island. This can be problematic during the busy summer months as the parking lot fills up quickly and the bike tours often take up multiple spots with a trailer where they set up lunch. So, make sure to arrive early and bring a lunch, so you can spend the day watching for the whales.
One of the other cool things is the display next to the lighthouse. There is constant recordings of the life in the water that you can listen to, giving you the opportunity to hear the whales before you see them.
Visit Westcott Bay Shellfish Company
This, in my opinion, was one of the more beautiful places on the island and a great spot for lunch in the summer (their hours a significantly limited in the fall and other times of the year, so check out their website before heading out). Take a tour of the shellfish farm, where they grow two types of oysters as well as clams before grabbing a picnic table and ordering some of the best oysters you will ever have.
You can shuck your own or have them do it for you. This spot has a lot of interesting history and the people who work there are so passionate about what they do and the animals they are raising that it makes you want to join them.
Go on a sea kayaking adventure
Another great way to see the marine life in the area is to go on a sea kayaking tour. The best time for this is of course during the summer months, when it is rather busy in the San Juans, but it is the best way to slow down and explore.
It is also less disruptive to the marine life, compared to engine driven boats, and is a great way to see the animals. Though I will say those in the area running the whale watching tours are also extremely respectful of the animals and keep their distance, slow down, and sometimes even turn off the boat, so that they minimize the impacts they are having.
Concluding Thoughts
This relatively small island has a lot to offer and is a great place to explore. The orcas are a good reason to visit but it’s also a good place to slow down and live on island time for a while. These beautiful islands are a must explore, so hop on one of the Washington State ferries (and make sure to get round trip reservations, especially in the summer) and go see it for yourself.
From there you can also head up to Canada to go hiking on Vancouver Island, for island time, Canadian style.
