San Juan Island in August
 

I am interested in the San Juan Islands primarily for whale watching. Are the whales active mid August? Is Friday Harbor the best place to base for sightseeing and whale-watching?

Thanks.

There are pods of Orcas who live in the Straits of Juan de Fuca/Puget Sound year around. Friday Harbor has the most whale watching tours, so is the best place to start from.

What kind of sightseeing do you want to do?

Double your fun by taking your whale watching tour out of Victoria (passport required, of course).The resident orca pods are usually found in the triangle formed by Port Angeles, Victoria, and Friday Harbor. The tour boat captains communicate their sightings and everyone ends up in the same place, no matter where they sailed from. Visit the Butchart Gardens while in Victoria. Check out www.clippervacations.com for details.

https://goo.gl/maps/npJ2cCNjBEU2

Thanks. We plan on driving from Reno to Mt Rainier to San Juan Isl, then back down the coast line. Just taking in the beauty of the country.

If you don't want to deal with the potentially long ferry waits, expensive accommodations and a lot of people on the islands in August, you might consider doing your whale watching from Port Townsend on the Olympic peninsula instead. Port Townsend is exceptionally scenic, and if you plan to drive down the coast afterward, it's convenient for a route that includes sites in Olympic National Park such as Hurricane Ridge, the beaches near La Push out in vampire country, the Hoh rain forest, etc.

You'll see the same whales, but at less cost and with fewer logistical headaches.

That's a great suggestion, Gardyloo. Port Townsend is charming.

I live in Seattle, own a family property on one of the San Juans, and generally avoid the San Juans in July and August because there are so many people! But if you decide to brave the crowds, do make ferry reservation.

Thanks. Sounds like a good suggestion. I will be coming from the Mt Rainier area (Greenwater?). Is their any sense to taking a longer route to Port Townsend; like taking a ferry to Whidbey Island, stop for lunch; then ferry to Port Townsend?

<i>Is their any sense to taking a longer route to Port Townsend; like taking a ferry to Whidbey Island, stop for lunch; then ferry to Port Townsend?</i>

If you have the time, absolutely. Allow 2 1/2 hours to the Mukilteo ferry dock (use Hwy 526, the "Boeing Freeway" which will take you past the Boeing Everett plant, home of the jumbo jets and the biggest building in the world.)

On Whidbey, stop in Langley for lunch, or at Whidbey Pies - http://www.whidbeypies.com/ - in Greenbank. If you still have more time, maybe have a look at the coastal gun batteries at Fort Casey, basically next to the Coupeville - Port Townsend ferry dock.

The Coupeville - Port Townsend ferry accepts (and needs) reservations - https://secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferr...e/default.aspx