Bed & Breakfast Association
of San Juan Island

Events and Activities in Friday Harbor and San Juan Island, Washington

 

Whether this is your first visit or you are an old friend, San Juan Island offers you a host of fascinating attractions, distractions and destinations.

San Juan Island Links and Information on this page
San Juan Island DVD available

The DVD is a high quality, 30-minute documentary, depicting island history and highlights.
Event Calendar Links
For the latest events happening on San Juan and other nearby islands visit any of these local event web sites:

Please also check individual venue web sites below for Special Events they may have scheduled throughout the year.
San Juan Island Treasures
Island Artists
San Juan Island offers an astounding array of galleries and artist studios, many in Friday Harbor, but also scattered throughout the island. If antiques are more to your tastes, there are plenty of shops to browse as well. A limited sample of galleries can be found at www.friday-harbor.net/gallery-guide. Design you own art tour!
Island Stage Left
Island Stage Left, the only professional theatre company in the San Juan Islands, combines the natural beauty and informal community of the islands with the expertise of professional actors. Their signature summer series, “Shakespeare Under the Stars”, performs outside in a stunning setting overlooking a lake. In the off-season, more contemporary work is produced. The company’s core belief is that the experience of live theatre should be made available to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. All performances are free of charge - donations are gratefully accepted. Please email or check their web site for more information.
www.islandestageleft.org
San Juan Community Theatre
The San Juan Community Theatre offers wonderful entertainment including fantastic plays during the summer months, and many other special events such as Chamber Music, Teddy Bear Tea, New Year's Eve Gala, Festival of Trees and so many more. Please check their web site for dates and times of upcoming events. www.sanjuancommunitytheatre.org
San Juan Island Farmers’ Market
Open Saturdays from Mid-April through Mid-October in the County Courthouse parking lot on 2nd Street in Friday Harbor. The Winter Market is held in the Grange Hall on First Street. Pick up fresh local products, foods, flowers, and one-of-a-kind finds, as well as meet the colorful local producers. Call 360-378-2372 for more information.
San Juan Historical Museum
Imagine a place where you can experience island life as it was at the turn of the century. The museum complex consists of an original farmhouse, the first county jail, a turn-of-the-century log cabin, barn, milk house and carriage house. Offers several activities: check their web site for dates. www.sjmuseum.org
The Whale Museum
Discover the natural history of whales with special focus on the resident Orcas of J, K and L pods. You will find a fascinating collection of exhibits, artwork, models and artifacts. You can listen to the songs of various species of whales through their special sound system. The museum also has a wonderful gift shop to browse. www.whale-museum.org
Lime Kiln Point State Park
The only whale watching park in the world, located 9 miles west of Friday Harbor on 36 acres with 2,550 feet of waterfront overlooking the Haro Straits. Orca Whales, porpoises, seals, dolphins, and eagles frequent these shorelines during the spring and summer months. Enjoy the hiking trails to lookout points; see the displays describing the abundant sea life; walk the high bank trail to Lime Kiln Lighthouse, which was maintained by lighthouse keepers from 1919 to 1962 to guide ships through the Haro Straits - it is now fully automated. Call 360-378-2044 for more information.
San Juan Island National Historical Parks

English Camp lies in tree-sheltered Garrison Bay on 530 acres with 2 miles of shoreline, about 9 miles northwest of Friday Harbor. See the formal garden, 1860's guardhouse and the parade grounds now home to wild turkeys and Canada geese. Beautiful trails lead to Bell Point on Westcott Bay, or take a 30 min. hike up Mt. Young and feel like you are on top of the world.

American Camp is located on the southern tip of the Island, about 7 miles southeast of Friday Harbor overlooking the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Two historic buildings survive, along with the remains of a redoubt (an earthen gun emplacement). Other building sites are identified, including the locations of the Hudson's Bay Company farm, the old town of San Juan, and the American Camp Cemetery. Visitor Center exhibits focus on archaeology and daily life in both camps, as well as an overview of the famous Pig War. This beautiful camp is on 1220 acres, which includes 5 miles of beaches charmed with unusual driftwood. A great place to enjoy the picnic tables, fire pits, and fantastic sunsets.


www.nps.gov/sajh
Things to do on San Juan Island
Biking on San Juan Island
San Juan Island offers a fine balance of tooling around and cardiovascular endurance training. San Juan has lengths of road that stretch out to the south and west, as well as a few brutal hills that make it an interesting mix for the novice and the experienced cyclist alike. Whether it is the breathtaking views of the Olympics on the south end of the Island, rural areas with their beautiful rolling farmlands in the center of the island, or the west side, a challenge but worth the ride to see the Orcas and ocean vistas. And, of course, you can always cycle onto the ferry to explore one of our neighboring islands for free. So many choices!
San Juan Island Birding
Birding on San Juan Island is incredible. There are hundreds of species of birds that call the San Juans home. The types of birds vary from seabirds, migrating marine birds, shorebirds and birds of prey. Some types of birds that you can spot are: great blue herons, oyster catchers, trumpeter swans, peregrine falcons, ospreys, and of course bald eagles. San Juan Island has the highest concentration of nesting bald eagles in the United States.
Hiking San Juan Island
The hiking trails are endless on the Island. The American Camp has miles upon miles of trails that pass through all sorts of habitats - beaches, sea cliffs, woods, prairie and saltwater lagoon wetlands. This is also the best place to see wildlife on the Island. The British Camp offers several good trails along Garrison Bay as well. One trail goes along Bell Point to Westcott Bay, while another climbs up toward the British Cemetery and up 650-foot Mount Young. This hill offers a spectacular view of the Garrison Bay, Mitchell Bay, and Henry Island areas, and beyond to the Canadian Gulf Islands, the Olympics, and Vancouver Island to the west. At the top, the trail also connects to some continued good hiking on adjoining Dept. of Natural Resource Lands. Other excellent hiking destinations include Lime Kiln State Park and surrounding Land Bank conservation areas, and the Roche Harbor area. The San Juan Island Trails Committee website is a great source of information and maps.
Sea Kayaking around San Juan Island

One of the best ways to see San Juan Island is from water level on a guided kayak tour. No experience necessary to gain the wonderful feeling of being so close to Mother Nature with all her wonders. The opportunity to see wildlife such as eagles, great blue heron, sea lions, seals, sea otters, and of course perhaps encounter the great Orca whales can be an experience of a lifetime. Our Things To Do Page includes some of our favorite kayak operators

Whale Watching around San Juan Island

Whale watching is one of the most popular pastimes in the San Juans. Resident killer whales (Orcas) play in the waters off the West Side of the Island providing a fulfilling experience for visitors watching from the shoreline or one of the many whale-watching tour boats. More than 100,000 people visit the Island each year in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Orcas, made famous by the "Free Willy" movies. There are three families of resident pods, J, K, and L, totaling approximately 80 Orcas all together and what a sight they can be!
Check our Things To Do Page for some of recommended whale watch companies
Unique Places To Visit on San Juan Island
Pelindaba Farms
San Juan Island's only Lavender Farm provides both beautiful fields of fragrant lavender plants along with a gift shop with terrific products - try their scrumptious Lavender Butter or the Lavender Pepper: they
will make you a gourmet chef! Harvesting periods are the middle of July through August, with the earliest harvest dedicated to culinary and sachet lavender and the August harvest generally for oil distillation.
Tours of the production center are offered. Please check their website for upcoming special events. On Wold Roadwww.pelincdaba.com
San Juan Vineyards
An historic 1896 schoolhouse set amid 34 acres creates a beautiful setting for the vineyard which locally grows Madeline Angevine, Siegerrebe, and Pinot Noir varietals. The Tasting Room has a very nice gift shop with some unique finds as well as an inviting patio that looks over the valley: a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine and take in the beauty of the Island. Such a fun place to visit! On Roche Harbor Road www.sanjuanvineyards.com
Westcott Bay Sea Farms
Primarily markets its exclusive products to restaurants, but their much sought-after oysters, clams and mussels are all available at its 23-acre site on beautiful Westcott Bay. They offer occasional pick-your-own days, and on-site retail sales. Gift packs can be shipped anywhere in US. Hours of operation are: Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00; Saturday, 10:00-5:00; Sunday (May-Sept.), 11:00-5:00.

www.westcottbay.com
Westcott Bay Institute for Art & Nature

Visit this 19-acre microcosm of the San Juan ecology: forests, meadows, freshwater and saltwater wetlands and rocky outcroppings. The trails throughout the Reserve are interspersed with interpretive displays about nature and installations of over 80 sculptures in all mediums. The combination of extraordinary art and extraordinary landscape will be sure to work its magic on you too! They also host a variety of workshops and community events throughout the year, be sure to check out their website for details.

www.wbay.org
Westcott Bay Orchards

This lovely old orchard dating back to the 1880's is unique among small Washington wineries. They produce and bottle a Vintage Hard Cider from 100% fresh-pressed heirloom apple varieties from their own 1150 seaside trees. Tours of the orchard and cider house are available by appointment, and be sure to look out for their cider in local markets and restaurants. 360-378-3880

www.westcottbaycider.com/
Shepherd's Croft

Tour a local sheep farm, located at the intersection of Bailer Hill and Wold Rd. They raise fine wool bred sheep, and produce wool yarn, bed comforters and washable sheepskin rugs that they invite you to inspect in their barn shop, as well as some hand-crafted ironwork from their exquisite property. Other attractions in the summer are spinning demonstrations, lambs, piglets, and a flock of laying chickens. Last but not least their working dog "Lace" will be there to greet and delight you with her many talents! A perfect stop on the way to or from whale watching at Lime Kiln State Park. 360-378-6372

Bed and Breakfast Association of San Juan Island
P.O. Box 3016
Friday Harbor, Washington 98250-3016
(866) 645-3030 Toll Free
(360) 378-3030

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