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    Home » On the Road

    Visit the San Juan Islands for Whale Watching, Adventure and Fine Dining

    Published: Apr 16, 2019 · Modified: Nov 15, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley

    967 shares
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    Have you ever heard of the San Juan Islands? If you don’t already know where they’re located you might envision a tropical paradise somewhere in the Caribbean. 

    view of the harbor on Friday Harbor of the San Juan Islands

    Where are the San Juan Islands?

    The San Juans (as they’re referred to) is an archipelago in the northwest corner of Washington State between the U.S. mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. There are 172 named islands and reefs in San Juan County, but only four of them are accessible by ferry.

    people on the Washington State Ferry from Whidbey Island to San Juan Island

    San Juan Island, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island are the most populous and host the vast majority of lodging and dining options and tourism activities. Shaw Island is also accessible by ferry but has limited camping and visitor amenities.

    Why are they called the San Juan Islands?

    The name “San Juan” was given to the islands by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza, who charted the islands in 1791, naming them Isla y Archiepelago de San Juan. The expedition sailed under the authority of the Viceroy of Mexico, Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo and Eliza named several places for him, including the San Juan Islands, Orcas Island (short for “Horcasitas”) and Guemes Island. 

    San Juan Island’s first European discoverer was one of the officers under Eliza’s command, Gonzalo López de Haro, for whom Haro Strait is named. 

    Will I find Wildlife on the San Juan Islands?

    Bald Eagle on rocks with Mount Baker in the background

    photo courtesy of James Mead Maya and San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau

    The San Juan Islands host the greatest concentration of bald eagles in the contiguous United States. You’ll also find a large assortment of other birds throughout the summer season.

    pod of orcas with a baby orca coming out of the water

    image courtesy of Monika Wieland Shields and The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau

    The islands are famous for their resident pods of orcas and transient orcas.

    harbor seal with its head up out of the water

    Sea lions, harbor seals, common minke whales and Dall’s porpoise can also be found in the waters surrounding the San Juan Islands.

    What is there to do in the San Juan Islands?

    Here’s a delightful dilemma: what will you do first during your visit to the San Juan Islands? Go whale watching? Head out on a kayak trip, cycle around Lopez, hike trails through forests or along the water? Climb Mount Constitution on Orcas?

    Take a drive on the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway? Sample as many island eateries as you can? Stroll the galleries rich with local artists’ works or the enticing boutiques in Friday Harbor, Eastsound and Lopez Village? Relax on a beach and enjoy the long views of sea and mountains? Every island offers you an abundance of choices—luckily, you can’t go wrong.

    One of the highlights of our trip was taking a whale watching tour with San Juan Safaris. Not only did we get to see Orca’s we also got a good look at Sea lions, Harbor Seals and Dolphins.

    sea lions on the jetty and playing in the water

    Here you see the Stellar Sea Lions lying on the jetty relaxing, with a few in the water just enjoying life.

    the fronts of two kayaks on the water looking out onto islands and the water

    photo courtesy of Dana Halferty and the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau

    If you enjoy Kayaking the San Juans are the perfect spot for your adventures. The beautiful waters are teeming with life with accessible shorelines to continue exploring the area on foot if you enjoy hiking. 

    The San Juans are also perfect for biking, fishing, and just about any type of water fun you imagine. Rent a sailboat or charter a tour, there is something for everyone on the San Juan Islands. And let’s not forget shopping, the arts, history and just plain old site seeing.

    How is the Culinary scene on the San Juan Islands?

    If you think that a small group of islands wouldn’t have much to offer in the way of a culinary scene, but you’d be wrong!

    Chefs all reach a point in their lives when they get tired of the rat race and feeding thousands. That’s the time that they return to their roots and remember why they fell in love with food.

    Working on an island has its challenges since most foods need to be ferried in, but it also has its advantages. Access to fresh seafood and a better way of life. 

    brown bowl of steamed Pacific clams garnishes with parsley

    photo courtesy of Barbara Marrett and the San Juan Visitors Bureau

    Both of these factors come into play when you dine in the San Juans. This bowl of local steamed clams at the Doe Bay Cafe on Orca’s Island is a sampling of the fresh local seafood you can expect.

    mussels with a sauce in a white bowl with grilled slices of french bread

    photo courtesy of Stephanie Forre and the San Juan Visitors Bureau

    And when you visit the Pacific Northwest you can expect dishes like this beautiful bowl of local mussels in a delightfully delicious sauce. This is from one of my favorite restaurants on Friday Harbor, Duck Soup.

    three cocktails in different glasses on a bar

    photo courtesy of San Juan Visitors Bureau

    And cocktails at the Friday Harbor House is always a good idea.

    How do I get to the San Juan Islands?

    There are no bridges to the San Juan Islands but you will find four ferry systems that serve some of the San Juan Islands.

    • Washington State Ferries serves Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island, and San Juan Island from terminals in Anacortes, Washington and Sidney, British Columbia.
    • Puget Sound Express provides passenger-only service from Port Townsend, on the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula, to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island.
    • Clippers Vacation, Victoria Clipper provides ferry service to Friday Harbor.
    • Guemes Island Ferry provides service from Anacortes to Guemes Island.

    Passenger-only ferries serve more islands. Passenger-only ferry service is usually seasonal and offered by private business.

    • San Juan Cruises offers charter service to Eliza Island, Sinclair Island, Blakely Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island and daily seasonal service to San Juan Island from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Bellingham, Washington.
    • North Shore Charters provides high-speed water taxi service to all of the San Juan Islands

    Air service to the San Juan Islands is provided by the following:

    • Kenmore Air flies to Fridays Harbor, Orcas Island and Vancouver, BC. Kenmore flies out of Seattle/Lake Union, Kenmore, Lake Washington, Seattle Boeing Field and Sea-Tac.
    • San Juan Airlines has daily flights to five locations in the San Juans: Orcas Island, Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Lopez Island, and Blakely Island. These flights leave from Bellingham and Anacortes. Charter flights are available to the other islands.

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Gladys Nava

      April 21, 2019 at 12:01 pm

      Such a wonderful Island that I want to visit. So beautiful and the place was amazing! Thanks for sharing this with us!

      Reply
    2. Heather Barber McMechan

      April 19, 2019 at 11:03 am

      I haven’t been to San Juan Islands, but it seems like an interesting place to be by the water.

      Reply
    3. Nikka Shae

      April 19, 2019 at 1:27 am

      Those drinks, and view has me wanting to visit right away. Let me talk to my hubby! 😃😃

      Reply
    4. Swathi

      April 19, 2019 at 12:23 am

      San Juan island is really beautiful may be someday I can visit there. Not sure when. Your post is so amazing making to book the ticket right now. food looks delicious too.

      Reply
    5. Heather

      April 18, 2019 at 11:31 pm

      I would love to visit here. It looks so beautiful and calming. Grat pics.

      Reply
    6. Marysa

      April 18, 2019 at 9:14 pm

      This sounds like an amazing trip. I would love to explore out on the west coast. You saw a lot of great wildlife!

      Reply
    7. Beth

      April 18, 2019 at 4:11 pm

      I just learned about San Juan Island recently! It looks like a wonderful place to visit (or live!)

      Reply
    8. Lynndee

      April 18, 2019 at 9:30 am

      This is the first time that I’ve heard of San Juan Islands. The place looks gorgeous and the seafood is making me drool. I would certainly love to go there someday.

      Reply
    9. Tomi

      April 18, 2019 at 9:16 am

      Thanks for sharing this information, there’s so much to see and do. Hoping to add a visit to the San Juan Islands.

      Reply
    10. Ruth I

      April 18, 2019 at 8:53 am

      Oh wow. This is a perfect place to visit! I’d love to see the wildlife and taste all the food!

      Reply
    11. Tasheena

      April 17, 2019 at 4:12 pm

      I’ve never been to Juan Island. This looks like a pretty amazing experience. I would love to visit.

      Reply
    12. Doria

      April 17, 2019 at 2:25 pm

      I had no idea where the San Juan Islands were! And wow, so much to do and see! Thank you for sharing , totally going on our travel list now 🙂

      Reply
    13. Sarah Bailey

      April 17, 2019 at 2:14 pm

      Oh wow I bet this was absolutely incredible to get to see the whales so close up! I would love to do something similar myself one day.

      Reply
    14. Jenn@Engineermommy

      April 17, 2019 at 10:49 am

      I never heard of these islands, but I would love to explore them someday. The whale-watching sounds like so much fun.

      Reply
    15. Alli Smith

      April 17, 2019 at 10:49 am

      I’ve never been to the San Juan Islands. We usually vacation in the Caribbean. I would love to visit and go whale watching. I’ve always wanted to take one of those tours.

      Reply
    16. candy

      April 17, 2019 at 8:23 am

      We have seen the whales in Alaska but have not visited San Juan Island to experience the whales. Totally amazing site to see. All the food looks delicious.

      Reply
    17. Amber Myers

      April 17, 2019 at 8:14 am

      I’d know I’d love it here. I always enjoy being near the water. Plus, seeing the whales would be amazing. My husband would be all about the fresh seafood.

      Reply
    18. robin rue

      April 17, 2019 at 7:52 am

      That sounds like such an amazing place to visit. I will have to add it to my bucket list.

      Reply

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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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