Explore San Juan Island!

Once a mountain range, but now an archipelago, the 100-million-year-old San Juan Islands feature some of the most spectacular scenery in the Pacific Northwest. Depending on the tides, the San Juans number anywhere from 428 to 743 islands. Only about 170 have names, including the four largest: Orcas, San Juan, Shaw and Lopez. The islands were explored (1790-92) and named by the Spanish Francisco Eliza expedition.

San Juan Island is located in a "rain shadow." On days when the Seattle area is rainy and damp, chances are the sun is shining in Friday Harbor. Seattle averages 58" of rain, Friday Harbor averages about 22". We see the sun on an average 247 days out of the year. In the dry summer months and especially during September and early October, the islands often go for weeks without a cloud in the sky.

The islands are protected by surrounding ocean waters, and mountain ranges. The ocean temperatures average 45 degrees in the winter and 52 degrees in the summer. Thus, cooling the air in the summer and warming it in the winter. The Cascade Mountains to the east help to block the freezing cold weather systems that come down from Canada. The Olympics and Vancouver Island tend to push most prevailing winds up into cooler air and force them to dump their rain, meaning the San Juans receive about half the rainfall that Seattle does. Our own Mount Young and Mount Finlayson offer outstanding views of Vancouver Island, Mt. Baker, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Friday Harbor has long been recognized as one of the premier vacation destinations in Western Washington. For a relatively small island, San Juan offers a diverse topography ranging from pebbly beaches to mountain meadows and lush valleys. The wildlife includes such exciting creatures as Orca Whales, harbor seals, to sea otters, porpoises, and minke whales. It's not uncommon to see small black tail deer, fox, wild turkey, rabbit or raccoon.

The birds are lovely. Great bald eagles, blue herons, trumpeter swans, peregrine falcons, ospreys, woodpeckers, hawks, hummingbirds, cormorants, sea gulls and many more. We have no poisonous snakes, no lions, tigers or bears, so hiking and exploring is safe and fun.

Friday Harbor boasts a multitude of restaurants offering the finest in dining, to the lovely open-air bistros and ice cream parlors. You'll find shops galore and unique art, ranging from clothing and jewelry to paintings and sculpture, much of it created by local artists. Westcott Bay Reserve is a 19 acre Sculpture Garden with paths for an easy fascinating stroll. Bicycle, sail and motor boat, kayak, moped and car rentals are available.

There are charters for whale watching, sailing, kayaking, fishing, and island tours. Lodging ranges from B&B's and Inns, motels, to houseboats and camping. We have a 9 and 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, museums, a movie theatre, and a community theatre for plays and concerts. Our parks are lovely and our beaches scored higher than any other beaches in the U.S. in a recent national magazine survey.

Local breeders raise a variety of critters, such as sheep, goats, horses, cattle, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, and fowl. There are herb, vegetable, flower, lavender and fruit farms that often sell their wares at the Saturday summer market downtown. We also have a vineyard with a wine tasting room, and a micro brewery to quench even the fiercest thirst.

Whether you take a hike through its trails, kayak to explore its coves, or wander around Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor, there are no end of places to explore here. To help get you acquainted with the island, this is a good place to start!