Many islands and islets make up the spectacular San Juan Islands in Washington Sate (USA). The islands are a popular stop en route to Vancouver Island from Anacortes in Washington. Eagles nest here and pods of orca feed in the rich waters just beyond the outstretched fingers of the U.S. mainland. Quaint accommodations provide the perfect base for hiking, biking and wildlife-viewing forays on country roads and through old-growth forests. The three main islands of the San Juan group are Lopez Island, Orcas Island, and San Juan Island.
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the first stop on the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes. Lopez on beautiful Lopez Island has a 1904 church, a historical museum, hiking, bicycling and more. Enjoy nearby Spencer Spit State Park. Lopez island is 15 miles long and 8 miles wide, with a resident population of 2,100.
Orcas Island
Orcas Island is a friendly, Victorian port village with restaurants, shops, whale watching, lodging, and bike rentals. The main village on Orcas Island is Eastsound, an 1800s town that is the hub of island shopping, with restaurants, activities, day dock, and parks. The beautiful and quiet rural town of Doe Bay on the southern end of Orcas Island offers a restaurant, general store and resort. Deer Harbor features winding country roads, great views, breathtaking sunsets, whale watching, kayaking, and a marina.
San Juan Island
On the east side of San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is known for it’s natural beauty. Visitors are attracted here to kayak (expansive views, quite water, seashore wildlife) bicycle (through rural countryside with sheep, alpacas, llamas, bald eagles), whale watch (we have 3 local pods for a total of approximately 80 orca, plus minke whales, gray whales, porpoise and dolphin), birding (over 250 species throughout the year) and just plain relaxing. Friday Harbor is a village that allows you to have it all. We have exclusive restaurants, a live theatre, a movie theatre, art galleries, gift shops, latte shops, The Whale Museum, The Historic Museum, and all the usual amenities of a small town. It’s just a short drive in any direction to the ocean.
Roche Harbor Village is a picturesque little entry port on the northern end of San Juan Island. Listed on the National Register of Historical Sites it is approximately ten miles from Friday Harbor. This Village will take you back in time to a quiet, relaxed pace as you stroll the beautiful Victorian gardens and enjoy the ambiance of the historical buildings. Roche Harbor has an airstrip, marina, lodging, grocery store, restaurants, shopping and activities, and is a favorite anchorage for yachts.
Location: The San Juan Islands are located in Washington State in the Pacific Northwest, between the mainland of Washington and Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The San Juans are accessible by water and air. The most common means of travel are by Washington State Ferry, with service from Anacortes and Sidney in Victoria, BC, and by the popular high-speed Victoria Clipper Ferry Service from Seattle and Victoria.
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