Beautiful view on San Juan Island by Benjamin Massello

48-ish Hours Exploring San Juan Island

Beautiful view on San Juan Island by Benjamin Massello

While it’s not the largest island in the San Juans, nor does it have the tallest peaks, San Juan Island is arguably the most popular. Home to the biggest town (downtown Friday Harbor), along with one of the world’s best land-based whale watching destinations (Lime Kiln Lighthouse), this iconic getaway is the perfect place to rest, refresh, and refuel. 

With travel to San Juan Island taking as little as 25 minutes, it’s easy to maximize your time for a quick weekend getaway — a serious boon when there are so many fun things to do. This 48-hour itinerary is a sampling of the best things to do in Friday Harbor and throughout the island. Enjoy.

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Friday Harbor House Fire Pits

Friday Harbor House. Prime Location. Fireside Views.

Fire Pits at Friday Harbor House

A picturesque refuge, Friday Harbor House is nestled on a bluff just one block above Front Street. The dead-end road offers a sense of quiet in the most populated of the San Juan Island towns, while the elevated perch treats visitors to expansive views of Friday Harbor Marina.

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Girlfriends by the beach having fun

Why Orcas Island Should be Your Next Girls Getaway

Girlfriends by the beach

Low-key adventures loaded with scenic views and an internationally acclaimed food and wine scene, make Orcas Island the ideal testosterone-free, comfy jean destination.

Even those born and raised in the Pacific Northwest may not have heard of the San Juan Islands. The remote archipelago sits as close to Canada as it does to the lower 48. Like a marooned captain’s daydream, the roughly 175 forest-covered rocky inlets feature lush farmland, freshwater lakes, and protected coves.

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Zackarya Leck Blacksmith on Orcas Island

Zackarya Leck, Orcas Island Artist-Blacksmith

Zackarya Leck Orcas Island Artist-Blacksmith

On the western horseshoe of Orcas Island, where the cell service is spotty and the rolling farmland is studded with forest groves and rainwater ponds, Zackarya Leck turns iron to playdough in his 2,000-degree forge. A bespoke blacksmith, his weathered hands coax salvaged junkyard scraps into new forms — some functional, some sculptural, all stunning.

His work can be found as far east as Maine and as high as the Colorado Rockies. However, the bulk of his mastery is scattered throughout Orcas Island among large public art installations and private homes. Most prominent are Zackarya’s 70-foot kelp-inspired sculpture, installed at the Orcas Island Ferry Terminal, and his slide that is part of the Playground-on-the-Green at the heart of Eastsound.

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Kenmore Air Mechanic Jason Wills

Meet A&P Mechanic Jason Wills

Kenmore Air Mechanic Jason Wills

Specializing in de Havilland Otter Annuals, Jason Wills has been part of the Kenmore Air family for 17 years. 

Kenmore’s changed a lot since Jason Wills first started fueling planes and washing windows on the dock 17 years ago — not just the landscape, but also the fleet. And yet, some things are just as true today as they were when he first joined the Kenmore Air family as a young college student. 

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Orcas Island Resorts. Outlook Inn in Eastsound

Where to Stay on Orcas Island

Orcas Island Resorts. Outlook Inn

When searching for the ideal place to stay on Orcas Island, you’ll discover a plethora of remarkable options. This enchanting destination, nestled within the picturesque San Juan archipelago of Washington State, offers a range of accommodations that cater to diverse preferences. From charming bed and breakfasts tucked in lush forests to luxurious waterfront resorts boasting breathtaking views, Orcas has it all. 

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Friends enjoying summer on San Juan Island

40 Things To Do On San Juan Island This Summer

Summer on San Juan Island

Rolling pastoral farmland, rocky shorelines, and windswept hills offer a pristine, sun-filled oasis in the far reaches of the Salish Sea. Here, outdoor activities abound, ranging from thrilling whale watching adventures to brilliant sunset strolls. Among the most popular of the archipelago, you’ll find a plethora of things to do on San Juan Island this summer. Discover some of our favorites!

Looking for the fastest and most scenic way to travel up to San Juan Island from Seattle? Skip the ferry lines and hop aboard a scenic seaplane flight from Lake Washington or Lake Union. Direct flights aboard our wheeled aircraft, Kenmore Air Express, are also available from Boeing Field to Friday Harbor Airport.

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Chef Cynthia Burke on San Juan Island

Cynthia Burke on San Juan Island

Cynthia Burke on San Juan Island

If you know anything about Cynthia Burke, you know she makes good food. It’s not necessarily a work of art. Her kitchen isn’t equipped with tweezers. Her staff doesn’t make gold leaf garnishes. And her cuisine doesn’t fall into a specific Mexican, Italian or Mediterranean camp. 

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Bobby Ryan of Inspired Earth Teas on San Juan Island

Inspired Earth Tea – Handcrafted on San Juan Island

Bobby Ryan of Inspired Earth Teas

The salty crispness of a craggy, windswept shore. The heady scent of damp wood. The warmth of sweet sunshine. The San Juan Islands have long been a refuge for weary hearts and creative minds — and it’s this wildly scenic and peacefully unimposing beauty Bobby Ryan is capturing in a cup. 

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Fisherman Bay Spit Preserve on Lopez Island

Walking Trails at Fisherman Bay Spit Preserve

Fisherman Bay Spit Preserve

Fisherman Bay is a calm and protected inlet located near the northern end of Lopez Island. Boaters both love and dread the protected anchoring grounds, as the one-way entrance and exit is well-known for its narrow navigation lines. (Spanning just five feet in some sections at low tide, boaters are strongly encouraged to come and go when the water is at its peak.)

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