San Juan Islands or Victoria
 

My husband and I are planning a trip to Seattle in September. We have four days to spend on the San Juan Islands and/or Victoria. We plan to go on a whale watch, sea kyack and bike and do a day trip to Victoria.

Is there enough to do in the islands to keep us busy for the 4 days? Should we skip the San Juan Island and spend the time in Victoria and tour the coastal areas of Victoria island?

Any suggestions on places to stay are also welcomed.

If I was going to choose, I would skip Victoria and go to San Juan. It seems reasonable to jump from San Juan to Vancouver Island by ferry and include both. A day in Victoria would be nice, but a week on San Juan Island is not enough for me. One caveat, there are thousands of artists studios you can visit in the coastal areas of Vancouver Island and also on the Canadian Gulf Island of Galiano. That is a favorite activity of ours. There are some on San Juan too, but not the shear volume. I truely hate to put you off of San Juan, but maybe you would like to visit Galiano and continue on the Vancouver Island.

We've been to Victoria and liked it. I thnk the next time I would go to the BC Gulf Islands, as was previously stated, and spend some time visiting them and perhaps also include a trip to Victoria. The ferrys seem to run frequently in that area.

I don't know if you could get in, but Yellow Point Lodge near Naniamo on Vancouver Island would be a great place for you. They have kayaks and great sea kayaking right off their rocky cliffs. It's the kind of place people go back to year after year. You could visit Saltspring Island, tour all the art studios, particularly if you're there on a Thursday, and take the ferry to nearby Naniamo. I think it's Saltspring that I was thinking of not Galiano (both are nice). Art studios are open to visitors on Thursday and then there's a great Saturday market in the town of Ganges.

I haven't been to the San Juans, but having just spent 2 weeks in BC - would recommend 2 days on Salt Spring and 2 days in Victoria. Salt Spring has beautiful scenerey, art galleries and great sea kaykaing. Biking would be a problem due to steep hills, unless you are in really good shape. Victoria is a great small city and has a marked bike trail around its perimeter that has wonderful views.

Here's a link to my trip report: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34642935

Thank you all for your great tips. We are really looking forward to this troip

I've been to both and the San Juans would be my pick, although the Buchard Gardens in Victoria are beautiful. But the San Juans are more spectacular in terms of natural beauty and hiking and such. I think it depends on what you like to do.