Quick Escape: Family Jaunt to San Juan Island

Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, San Juan… for many Pacific Northwesterners, these words are synonymous with one thing: vacation! Of the four San Juan Islands reachable by ferry, San Juan Island is my favorite easy family getaway. It’s definitely the easiest island to escape to sans car. The ferry drops you off in the town of Friday […]

Q: Where to Go Whale Watching in Washington?

Dear TripFinder, We’ve lived in Seattle for two years now and have yet to see an orca whale. How can we see one? Thanks! -Selma in Seattle Dear Selma, My first glimpse of an orca in Puget Sound was a chance sighting from a ferryboat crossing from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island. Note the word chance. […]

CAMP: San Juan County Park

If ever there was a popular campground, this is it. We stop here frequently while on San Juan Island because you can sometimes spot killer whales from the park in the summertime. (Lime Kiln State Park is the spot for whale watching and a short distance south of here). Campsites can be reserved for May – September […]

GO: San Juan Kayak Expeditions

Sponsored by San Juan Kayak Expeditions 745C  Tarabochia Ln. Friday Harbor WA 98250 map and directions phone: 360.378.4436 website: sanjuankayak.com email: sanjuankayak@rockisland.com Description: Formed in 1980, San Juan Kayak Expeditions is the ORIGINAL sea kayaking outfitter in the San Juan Islands! Sea kayak with orca whales, stellar sea lions, river otters, porpoise, harbor seals, bald eagles and more! […]

Sea Kayaking the San Juan Islands with Outdoor Odysseys

Sponsored by Outdoor Odysseys 86 Cedar St Friday Harbor WA 98250 map and directions phone: 800.647.4621 website: outdoorodysseys.com email: kayaker1987@gmail.com Description: With 175-forested islands surrounded by crystal-green waters and snow-capped mountains, the San Juan Islands are an idyllic sea-kayaking destination. Most of our tours are conducted off the west side of San Juan Island – the prime area […]

San Juan Island Trip Guide

WHY GO Of the four ferry-served islands in the archipelago, San Juan Island is the most populated and tourist-friendly. It’s the only one that is truly easy to reach by ferry without your car–the ferry drops you off smack-dab in the middle of the town of Friday Harbor, which is the county seat, and offers […]

Win a Stay in the San Juan Islands

Why do you travel? For some people, travel is a way of life.  I know people who’ve ditched their jobs, hoisted on a backpack, and traveled the world on a shoestring, forever changed. For others, travel is an escape, like the young couple I know who are  saving up all their vacation time to swap […]

Romancing the Camel on San Juan Island

Joshua Johnson is a Seattle-based travel blogger who specializes in social media content creation and promotion. His website is Travel Media Ninja, and his personal blog is right here. Josh also writes for the popular travel site The Travelers Notebook and heads the team at the travel video site MatadorTV. Don’t miss the camel video […]

Earthbox Inn is an Oasis on San Juan Island

I’ll happily pitch a tent almost anywhere when I am sleeping outside. But when it comes to indoor accommodations, I can be a hard person to please. Too many bed and breakfasts go crazy with floral prints, or cabin themes, or what have you. Go corporate and you can get stuck under a terrible watercolor […]