Cara

I'll be up in Seattle in a few weeks for an extended weekend and want to try something new in the area. I'm considering a day trip over to the San Juan Islands and was curious if anyone had a recommendation on which one to check out? Thanks for any advice.

vicki

Try to go foot passenger over to San Juan Island (Friday Harbor). The town is right there at the dock and can be easily walked, lunched, and shopped before you get back on the ferry to Anacortes. Foot passenger is easier, cheaper and quite relaxing.

John

Going as a foot passenger is a great suggestion, but try to go from Bellingham instead of Anacortes. The boats are smaller and they stop at small islands not served by the huge, bulky state ferries, AND they also stop on Orcas Island and in Friday Harbor.
For info, call the SAN JUAN ISLAND COMMUTER at 360.734.8180, or check it out on the web at www.whales.com/ic

tim

from seattle you can take a ferry directly...the victoria clipper goes right from seattle to the san juans so you don't have to drive to annacortes or bellingham (which is even further from seattle). you say you want a day trip from seattle so enjoy yourself by going from seattle instead of having to drive to annacortes or bellingham and waste so much of your day.

John

I wouldn't call a visit to Bellingham a waste--it's rather a treat. If you take the boat from Seattle, the ride will be rather boring--a wide open strait and low hills to either side, with the North Cascades and the Olympics in the distance (you can see them just about as well, or better, from land). If you take the boat from Bellingham, you'll get a better feel for the islands, because you'll wind your way through narrow channels, brace tide rips, and all that real boating stuff. You may even get to see a few whales and a bald eagle or two.

sheri

Yet another option for a day trip from is flying on a float plane (or sea plane--the kind that takes off and lands on the water) from Seattle to Friday Harbor. Last year, Kenmore Air had a day-trip deal where you could fly into Friday Harbor, explore for a while, then take a shuttle to Roche Harbor, a resort and marina (with some HUGE private boats) at the north end of the island, then fly out of Roche.

The float plane option is on the pricey side, but it's a big time-saver and the scenery is fantastic. Plus it's a fun experience if you've never taken one.

John

Cara:
Sheri is right. Great suggestion. The views from this flight are great! (We once saw a horizontal, circular rainbow right below us. Truly awesome!) You really get a feel for the landscape (sound, islands, mountains) from these low altitude flights, and you're low enough to spot seals, orcas, whales, and even bald eagles.
Call Kenmore Air at 800.543.9595 or check out the web site at www.kenmoreair.com (Right now, the rates are $150 per adult).