The San Juan Island Community Theatre, just three blocks from the Bird Rock Hotel, presents world class entertainment by the sea. 1. Locals in the San Juan Islands know that after a busy summer is over, local restaurants start up their weekly specials and happy hours that offer small plates, wine, beer and cocktails for a great price. Christopher Peacock, accomplished musician, Rosario general manager and historian, walks guests through the history of the Moran family and the Rosario estate with piano and pipe organ music, film clips, and photographs from the historic Moran Photograph Collection. Family Friendly travel ideas, wildlife tours, art and history and outdoor activities on the San Juan Islands. Lime Kiln Point State Park Interpretive Center. Winter is a “quiet” season for the San Juan Islands. Make a bonfire, bring a blanket and some hot dogs or a slab of salmon for the grill, watch for eagles and foxes, bunnies and seals and breath the fresh, salty air, before going back to your comfy hotel bed to dream about the sea. The 20-acre San Juan Island Sculpture Park on the north end of the island, combines wandering along pristine Westcott Bay with experiencing amazing sculptures from all around the world. There are many ways to get to the San Juan Islands, and each option is a unique and beautiful journey. 10 Fun Things to Do in the San Juan Islands. People build little beach huts out of driftwood logs, and you can sit inside as the wind and waves rise and Nature offers up a dramatic show. It's an island vacation unlike any other. As with any travel destination, it depends on your personal expectations. Get information on The San Juan Islands Travel Guide - Expert Picks for your Vacation hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and activities. From “the Met Live in HD” showings to Christmas concerts with our talented island musicians, from thought provoking plays to contemporary music performances by nationally acclaimed artists, you’ll be entertained and inspired. Turn Island is a 34-acre island in the San Juan Channel, about 900 feet off the eastern coast of San Juan Island, Washington State. Stroll an empty beach, browse in uncrowded shops and indulge in spas, local wines, and delicious cuisine. The welcome mat is out year-round in the charming and beautiful San Juan Islands! Member Login. Spend a soothing self-care day at our sister hotel the Earthbox Inn & Spa, just two blocks from the Bird Rock Hotel. Imagine walking from unique boutiques to extraordinary galleries to splendid antique stores in a quaint, small town to get your holiday shopping done. Thinking of a trip to the San Juan Islands in Washington? Winters on San Juan Island are invigorating, quiet, festive and just what the doctor ordered when holiday planning, cooking and shopping gets you down. In winter, the state, county and national parks and forests are quiet and serene. In the archipelago, four islands are accessible to vehicular and foot traffic via the Washington State Ferries system. You’ll sleep like a baby and will wake up a new person. The island is part of Turn Island Marine State Park and the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. You'll find the wine shop on the immediate left as you leave the ferry. What a great gift idea…. You never know what to expect when visiting South Beach, San Juan Island’s longest beach, in the winter. Let your legs take you up Historic American camp as you experience a clear view to the Olympic Peninsula, or stand at 295-foot-tall Mount Finlayson while casting your eyes over to Vancouver Island and the Olympic Mountains. There are 172 named islands and reefs in San Juan County, however the four ferry served Islands; San Juan Island (with the county seat Friday Harbor), Orcas Island, Lopez Island and Shaw Island are the most populous and host the vast majority of tourism activities. The shorter your stay in the islands, the more important it is to plan ahead. Contact Us: info@visitsanjuans.com 1-888-468-3701 | (360) 378-9551 P.O. Drive high above South Beach, through rolling hills of prairie grass. You can see several fascinating displays of whale skeletons, watch videos, and learn about the behavior of these magnificent sea creatures. Several resorts in the San Juan Islands have ongoing yoga classes all year-round, and there are other small yoga studios where you can find classes as well. The most popular things to do in San Juan Island with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are: Maya's Legacy Whale Watching; Western Prince Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours; All Aboard Sailing; Spirit of Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours; San Juan Excursions; See all kid friendly things to do in San Juan Island on Tripadvisor $ Booking activities, lodging, and dining in advance will make your trip run smoothly and you'll be more likely to get your first picks. Regardless of weather and time of the year, San Juan Island offers absolutely stunning hikes, featuring every terrain and vista imaginable. Hey there! You will not receive emails from visitsanjuans.com at this email address unless you sign up for one of our mailing lists. Things to Do on San Juan Island – Top 10 Experiences Ride the San Juan Island Ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor. Box 1330, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Subscribe: Additional Resources Media. Go sea kayaking! Which is true for a lot of popular summer vacation spots, however, we found it to be the … Pacific Whale Watch Association. The heritage museum’s structures will be lovingly decorated with the Winter-wonderland train winding through. READ MORE > Things To Do This Winter. Dark winter days call for meeting with friends over food, drink and great conversation. Brighten Up the Holiday Season - Island Style, Travel Advisory: Find the latest information HERE, best hikes on Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Islands, Cask & Schooner Public House & Restaurant, Music Concert & Historical Narrative at Rosario Resort. If you visit over the holidays, leave the cooking to COHO Restaurant, where they put on amazing, Farm to Table chef’s dinners for all major (and minor) occasions. See Tripadvisor's 18,117 traveller reviews and photos of San Juan Islands rainy day attractions San Juan Historical Museum, just a few blocks from the Earthbox, invites everyone to their Old-fashioned Christmas Celebration in early December. Find some Unique San Juan Island Gift Ideas here. Whale Watching In The San Juans . Ironically, we, too, will be on San Juan Island that day and 4 subsequent days.. We enjoy hiking and birding, so keep pretty busy regardless of the weather. Make a day of it and visit historic Roche Harbor Resort and one of its acclaimed restaurants afterwards. The smaller islands have community events, especially during the summer months. San Juan Island offers stunning vistas you can enjoy without ever getting out of your car. Soak in the bubbly hot tub, take a sauna and a swim in the pool, before getting pampered with a rejuvenating body wrap, an Open Sky Signature Massage or a long, cleansing Tree of Life Face Treatment at The Spa at Earthbox. Across the street from the Bird Rock Hotel, you’ll find the Friday Harbor Whale Museum, the first in the nation solely devoted to a species living in the wild. Because of the Olympic Rainshadow, we get far less rain and storms than the mainland. Answer 1 of 4: I have family coming in from out of state, and in addition to some "in the city" destinations and activities i've got up my sleeve, we were thinking of going to one of the islands overnight. * This email is used only to keep track of your favorites. It could be cold and stormy, with the high tide smashing majestic drift wood logs onto the pebbly beach or absolutely still, with a couple of loons swimming by as if on a lake. Only 4 of the San Juan Islands have ferry service: San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, and Shaw Island. The San Juan Islands are perfect for a relaxing but eventful getaway. Top 10 Things to Do in the Winter. Also, there's nothing like a winter trail ride on beautiful horses through quiet forests on San Juan Island. With an average daily temperature of 66 degrees in September, 58 in October and 50 in November, autumn in the San Juan Islands is a beautiful season, with many sunny days. Membership. At The Mansion Lounge at Rosario Resort, you can hang out, have a cocktail and listen to the talented jazz pianist Martin Lund. Cattle Point. Things to Do in San Juan Island, Washington: See Tripadvisor's 12,618 traveler reviews and photos of San Juan Island attractions. The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.The San Juan Islands are part of Washington state, and form the core of San Juan County.. The San Juan Islands in winter offer plenty of activities that you can still enjoy both in and out of doors, though you might have to add some extra layers! The great thing about the San Juan Islands is that the main towns: Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor on San Juan Island and Eastsound on Orcas Island can be explored in 30 minutes or in a full day of hopping around from gallery to shop, and restaurant to bar. At Cask & Schooner Public House & Restaurant there is a great happy hour menu and you may catch musician Mike Cohen performing traditional sea shanties on his concertina. Watch foxes play and eagles soar, while the Salish Sea beneath you roars. Winter Paradise in the San Juan Islands. I even spent one trip boat camping off Orcas Island, which is something I recommend at … Find travel ideas and itineraries to visit the San Juan Islands. 800/248-WINE or 360/378-3229; www.sanjuancellars.com), sells a wide variety of Washington wines and is the only place you can buy wine from the shop's own San Juan Cellars. Other times when the winds are howling and the rains are gushing down, you want to find a cozy place to sit by the fire with a glass of wine and watch the storm. Follow the San Juan Island Scenic Byway; Visit the San Juan Island National Historic Park; Hike up Mt. The tasting room at Island Wine Company, 2 Cannery Landing (tel. Highly rated activities for a rainy day in San Juan Islands: The top indoor things to do in San Juan Islands. Fall is a good time to pull on your favorite sweater and go for a leisurely hike or enjoy a bonfire on the beach. Your journey to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island begins in Anacortes (just a 2 hour drive from Seattle). The annual SJIMA Artists' Registry Show is an exhibition of artworks by 92 Artists' Registry members from San Juan County. Truly one of the best free things to do in the San Juan Islands—the Music Concert & Historical Narrative at Rosario Resort is a visual and aural treat. Top 10 things to do on San Juan Island without a car: Sea kayaking for the first time! In This Guide: Explore the Island’s Outdoor Offerings; Get Active – Walk, Hike, Bike or Paddle Your Way Around San Juan Island; Soak in Vibrant Island History and Culture; Take a Bite out of San Juan Island ; Getting There and Frequently Asked Questions . To help you decide which hike is for you, we put together our 5 Favorite Hikes. Winter Romance In The San Juan Islands. No one died! Let the fresh, salty air breeze through your hair while the knowledgeable, entertaining captain shows you his secret spots for Bald Eagles, Steller Sea Lions, exotic wild game on a small dessert island off our coast, Porpoises and the occasional Orca family or Humpback Whale. Sure beats a crowded mall! Not gonna lie, I was terrified of capsizing and drowning (not being able to swim does that to ya). Each year the show has a different theme, and features emerging and established local artists expressing the beauty, identity, authenticity and connectedness of the San Juan Islands community. Or drive out to Lime Kiln State Park along Westside Road, through fertile farmland dotted with cows and sheep, until the road bends and reveals breathtaking views of the crystal clear Straits with the snow-covered Olympic Mountains in the background. Then get a relaxing massage at one of the islands many massage studios and spas. After a blustering day playing outdoors, have a made-from-scratch shepherd’s pie and local brew at the Cask & Schooner, and warm up by their huge fireplace upstairs. The staff is wonderful and the little extras, To change the HTML for the HEADER. Also, there's nothing like a winter trail ride on beautiful horses through quiet forests on San Juan Island. Our brisk, sunny days – courtesy of the Olympic Rain Shadow – when the rest of Washington experiences its infamous rainfall, invite to recharging walks on empty beaches, cozy candlelit dinners at quaint restaurants you can walk Treat yourself to a weekend away from it all. Find the best hikes on Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Islands. Log on on as birdrock, password. Sometimes, music is on the menu, too. Also check out the community theaters on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands for ongoing shows throughout the winter. If you do nothing else, drive down Cattle Point Road to the old lighthouse. They say “getting to San Juan Island is half the fun”, and after enjoying several rides to/from the mainland and between the islands, we’d have to agree! Some smaller islands are wildlife reserves and are off-limits. You’ll learn about the history as well as the current status of the whales in the Salish Sea including recent sightings, see real whale skeletons and artifacts, and you can even adopt an orca as an individual, family or classroom. Winter is spectacular on San Juan Island. READ MORE > @VisitSanJuans #VisitSanJuans Order Brochure/Map. The rocky and pebbled beaches of the islands, strewn with massive old-growth driftwood, are an incredible place to stroll and hike, especially when a storm is blowing. Other Things to do in the San Juan Islands. It is a favorite among the kayakers, who love its pebble beaches and scenic shoreside campsites. Visit the towns, hamlets and villages on the three main islands—Lopez, Orcas and San Juan—all decked in holiday lights. There are no lines at the ferry or at restaurants and It takes around 3.5 – 4 hours to reach Friday Harbor from Seattle Seatac Airport. Every year there is always an impressive diversity of talent, with paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and encaustic, as well as pastels, photography, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, glass, wood, textiles, and jewelry by Artists’ Registry members. Granted, some of the shops close down in January and February, but San Juan Island is beautiful in all seasons - you can hike over 42 trails, fish, kayak, and hang out with the locals, who are really friendly and interesting. Top Places to Visit in San Juan Island, Washington: See Tripadvisor's 34,867 traveller reviews and photos of San Juan Island attractions. Friday Harbor things to do include tasty cuisine and eclectic shopping. Our brisk, sunny days – courtesy of the Olympic Rain Shadow – when the rest of Washington experiences its infamous rainfall, invite to recharging walks on empty beaches, cozy candlelit dinners at quaint restaurants you can walk to, and unique holiday shopping without crowds, traffic or stress. Things to Do in San Juan Islands, Washington: See Tripadvisor's 57 970 traveller reviews and photos of 120 San Juan Islands attractions. Lopez has regular music and dance events. But for visitors, here's my take - the daylight hours are relatively few; the water is cold so any wind off water will be very cold; if it rains, vertically or sideways, you'll probably be indoors and will not experience the islands. Once the short days of winter push away those paint-brushed September sunsets, the population of San Juan, the most heavily populated of the four main islands, is … When I visit the San Juan Islands, I’m fortunate to have access to a close friend’s boat for all my whale watching (and crabbing) experiences. Whether alone, with your love or the entire family, San Juan Island in the Winter will let you unwind, relax and replenish without straining your pocket book. In Friday Harbor, the Whale Museum is one of the best ways to learn about marine wildlife, especially before you go out on a whale and wildlife watching tour, a few of which run year-round. In the Whale Museum, you can listen to orcas, humpbacks and other types of whales on hydrophone recordings. Washington / May 30, 2019 by Allison / 2 Comments This article may contain sponsored content or affiliate links. San Juan Island and its quaint coastal town of Friday Harbor are especially charming in the Winter. The best outdoor activities in Friday Harbor according to Tripadvisor travelers are: Lime Kiln Point State Park. Winter brings one of the best art shows of the year to the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. Here are some of the best things to see and do during your San Juan Islands vacation. Storm Watching. The snacks and wine bar are great too. 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