We'll be visiting by boat this summer and really need to get my son swimming. Would prefer to do it in a pool. Are there any pools with dingy access?

We'll be visiting by boat this summer and really need to get my son swimming. Would prefer to do it in a pool. Are there any pools with dingy access?

In SamJuan for a couple nights. What are the best dive bars?

Hi, does anyone know of anywhere that it's free or cheaper to park for about 10 days? The cheapest I've found is Skyline Marina ($9) or Washington Park ($11) which is $100 to leave my car for about a week... I do not mind walking up to ~2 miles or so. Can I park outside of the city limits for more than 72 hours for street parking?

Hello, I will be camping in the San Juan Islands for the next week. Any recommendations on cafes, bakery, and/or coffee shops?

Thanks!

Hi all,

Canadian here - my partner and I are going down to the San Juan Islands for a week at beginning of August, and after taking a look at the prices of Airbnb and VRBOs nowadays, I was thinking it might be worthwhile to look into tent camping. The first sponsored link that came up was $75 USD which struck me as a tad high, albeit certainly more affordable than AirBnbs haha. I am wondering if there are any suggestions for state parks or national parks that have camping with a few amenities. We don’t need everything that a resort style campground designed primarily for RVs would have, but showers would be nice. Thanks for any feedback, very excited to finally see the islands!

Hey y'all. Iv been to the islands a handful of times before and am leading a bike tour of Lopez and San Juan with some friends this summer (6/14-16) and I'd really like to find some live music. Google hasn't given me much results but I know Iv heard of shows happening in Friday harbor before, and we're open to any kind of performances; Jazz, Metal, EDM, whatever. Lmk if u have any reccs or know of any shows happening that weekend!!

I’m visiting this weekend and would love to fly my drone and take some pictures. Strictly recreational and obviously I can’t fly in state/national park areas, but I’m having a hard time finding any info around other areas on the island. Mostly curious about Friday harbor proper and Roche Harbor. Any insights would be wonderful! Thank you!

We are researching areas to move to in the next year or two. We currently live in the southeast US, and our top priority is finding a more progressive, open minded community. We work remotely, so other than needing strong, reliable internet, that isn’t a concern. We will have a kid starting high school at that time, so a good experience there is important. I prefer laid back communities, but I like more rural settings. Cost is a factor but we have good flexibility there. Is there an area in the islands that sounds like a good fit? Suggestions of other areas are appreciated as well. We will make a short list of places to visit once we narrow it down some.

I'm producing a short documentary about the rising phenomenon of employers providing housing to their employees, and the issues that are caused when the landlord-tenant and employer-employee relationship get mashed together.

I'm looking for two employees living in employer-provided housing, and one employer who's providing it from Orcas Island who would be interested in being interviewed. (I'm from Orcas, also.)

This is not a "hit piece" film — it's an exploration of the complexity around this issue and how, for some, employer housing is the only way to keep a foot in our island community.

If you are living in employer-provided housing on Orcas, or you're an employer offering such accommodations, or you know someone in these situations (who would consider participating in a documentary), drop a comment or shoot me a DM!

Hey! I'm planning to go to San Juan this summer, mostly to try and catch a glimpse of the night sky (I'm from NYC). Would it be safe to stay in the national park after sunset? I'm planning on Ubering or Lyfting back.

Also, if it is safe, any recommendations on where to go to see the night sky best? I know overcast skies are common, but just in case the forecast looks clear :)

I am trying to reserve a car spot for tomorrow’s anacortes to friday harbor. I see plenty of ways to reserve. Just confused as hell on which is the valid way. What is the difference between wave2go and saveaspot? Also Wave2go has no time selection for this reservation.

Second question, are these roundtrip if I buy one of these tickets.

Hello, my friends and I had an airbnb booked in lopez island this weekend, just received a text saying no more ferries this evening due to transfer span issues? Do any locals or otherwise know if there are other ways of getting to/from lopez island?

Hi! My parents recently moved here and I'm home for a few weeks as my school has ended and I'm waiting to go to DC for an internship. I'm from Seattle originally and feeling a bit isolated as I don't know how to meet people (particularly in my age range, early 20s) here! If you have any advice, please let me know!!

Hi Everyone,

I've never been to Orcas Island and am planning to visit with my young kids and my senior citizen parents. Any recommendations for a place to stay that could accommodate this kind of a crew? Ideally it would have a kitchen. We are avoiding Airbnb and the like. Thanks!

(Also any other advice I ought to keep in mind for a visit like this (restaurants, activities, etc) is very welcome)

I’m worried about being able to catch a ferry with car from Orcas to Friday Harbor in August. But I’m guessing going by foot on the ferry is quite easier. I’m just wondering how to get around Friday Harbor without a car.

Another question- I was under the impression that I can pay my fare/ticket once there at the ferry but now I’m reading that I should pay for it online? I’ve made my reservations already from & back to Anacortes. Am I still guaranteed my reservation even if I decide to pay the fare/ticket when I get there to the ferry?

Hi! I'm planning my first Pacific Northwest trip in mid-June (flexible through mid-July) and am planning to stay a couple of nights on the San Juan Islands. I'm going to link up with a friend in Seattle and then we'll do a couple of days in the islands and a couple of days on the coast/parks.

Ideally, the more adventurous part of the trip will be the coast and national parks, so we're looking for a mix of relaxing, enjoying the scenery/nature, easy to moderate activities, and eating some delicious food.

My primary goals for this trip are to relax and to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and nature in the Pacific NW. I'm from DC, so that's pretty non-existent here :).

I have a couple of questions for the "pros" out there:

1. For planning purposes, is it easier to get to the islands from Seattle or from the coast (Rialto Beach or Olympic Park area)? We're still working out logistics, so we're flexible as to what leg of the trip the islands land on. Also, if anyone has any recs for national/state parks/lakes or the coast that are somewhat "close," feel free to let me know.

2. A friend recommended staying on either San Juan Island or Orcas Island. Is one better than the other? How easy is it to ferry around between the islands? We'll have a car, but we don't necessarily need it to traverse between the islands, correct? I'm also open to other islands.

3. How difficult is it to get ferry reservations from the mainland to the islands?

4. Is 3-4 days enough?

5. Any recommendations for lodging? Where should we look to book if we want scenic views?

6. Food recommendations?

7. Any must-do activities or places to visit while there?

8. How far out should be book everything?

9. How much should I realistically be prepared to spend?

Thanks so much in advance!

Greetings,

I'm visiting a great friend who lives in Anacortes in mid-May and would like to visit your paradise. I am wondering if folks would recommend general highlights on each island, but especially related to birdwatching and wildlife.

Is there a guide newer than the 1987 "Birding in the San Juan Islands" by Lewis & Sharpe?

A second inquiry: can you recommend a spot (or boat tour) to recommend to see the orcas? Is May a good month to see them?

I look forward to hearing from everyone and am excited to enjoy the islands in the most lightly treading manner, aside from spending some money there!

Cheers,

Paul

When I've had a beer or two, I love to go on about the importance of re-introducing apex predators to habitats. TheYellowstone wolf reintroduction is the classic example, and I just learned about this effort to bring lynxes back to Scotland.

Your island have, and I believe this is a technical term, a fuckton of deer. You've got coyotes, but they're rarely big enough to take down deer on their own. Too many deer degrade forests by preventing new growth, reduce biodiversity in prairies, are dangerous for drivers, fuck up rivers. Would you trade off the risks of having more predators on your island for the benefits of less deer?

Lynxes or bobcats? What about wolves? Mountain lions?

Trying to go from Orcas to Friday Harbor—am I correct that my options are only the ones that show a time in both columns, such as 10:35 and 12:40 leaving Orcas, and that the 11:45 leaving Orcas would not stop in Friday Harbor? How early do we need to be at the terminal?

Going for about a week. 2 people.

Traveling from Anacortes to Orcas then from Orcas to Friday Harbor then Friday Harbor back to Anacortes.

So… this is my understanding of what I need to reserve.

Anacortes to Orcas (car +driver) & one additional passenger as there will be two of us. I will pay when I get there. The reservation fee I pay online is just for the reservation not the actual fare.

Orcas to Friday Harbor I have to make another reservation of car+driver plus 1 additional passenger. Same as before only paying online for reservation not actual fare.

Question: Will I pay fare again here?

Friday Harbor to Anacortes another reservation same as before car+driver plus 1 additional passenger.

Same question: Will I pay fare again?

We are looking at coming to SJI in late July for 2-3 nights with our two teenagers. We are trying to choose between an airbnb or a Lakedale canvas cottage. Lakedale is about $650 less for three nights but doesn’t have a kitchen, and it looks like the general store is only open on weekends (our trip doesn’t fall on a weekend). So, for all meals, drinks, etc. outside of breakfast we will need to head into town. We are used to having at least a mini fridge if not a full kitchen, and we would bring a cooler but since we are flying into Seattle that won’t happen. Just looking for some ideas - I’m probably making this more complicated than I need to! It looks like Friday Habor is just about 10 minutes away so not a big deal to drive over. Just bring some water jugs and non perishable snacks for the evenings and spend our days sightseeing and eating out? I am so freaking excited for this trip, just need to buckle down this last detail!

Staying on San Juan and Orcas in a few weeks and thinking about "popping" over to Lopez for Setsunai on Fri or Sat evening, but realizing the ferry logistics will eat up a good bit of time in the getting there and back. Worth it to figure out and commit time to? Alternatives to consider? Appreciate any thoughts.