Travel Trade. The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.The San Juan Islands are part of Washington state, and form the core of San Juan County.. Membership. Other times when the winds are howling and the rains are gushing down, you want to find a cozy place to sit by the fire with a glass of wine and watch the storm. Whether alone, with your love or the entire family, San Juan Island in the Winter will let you unwind, relax and replenish without straining your pocket book. On a cold and rainy day, stay close to home and visit one of Friday Harbor’s outstanding museums. When I visit the San Juan Islands, I’m fortunate to have access to a close friend’s boat for all my whale watching (and crabbing) experiences. But for visitors, here's my take - the daylight hours are relatively few; the water is cold so any wind off water will be very cold; if it rains, vertically or sideways, you'll probably be indoors and will not experience the islands. * This email is used only to keep track of your favorites. Lime Kiln Point State Park Interpretive Center. The best outdoor activities in San Juan Islands according to Tripadvisor travelers are: Moran State Park; Lime Kiln Point State Park; Lime Kiln Point State Park Interpretive Center; Cattle Point; Shark Reef Sanctuary; See all outdoor activities in San Juan Islands on Tripadvisor Some smaller islands are wildlife reserves and are off-limits. The heritage museum’s structures will be lovingly decorated with the Winter-wonderland train winding through. Storm Watching. The annual SJIMA Artists' Registry Show is an exhibition of artworks by 92 Artists' Registry members from San Juan County. Make a bonfire, bring a blanket and some hot dogs or a slab of salmon for the grill, watch for eagles and foxes, bunnies and seals and breath the fresh, salty air, before going back to your comfy hotel bed to dream about the sea. It could be cold and stormy, with the high tide smashing majestic drift wood logs onto the pebbly beach or absolutely still, with a couple of loons swimming by as if on a lake. An … Family Friendly travel ideas, wildlife tours, art and history and outdoor activities on the San Juan Islands. Christopher Peacock, accomplished musician, Rosario general manager and historian, walks guests through the history of the Moran family and the Rosario estate with piano and pipe organ music, film clips, and photographs from the historic Moran Photograph Collection. Across the street from the Bird Rock Hotel, you’ll find the Friday Harbor Whale Museum, the first in the nation solely devoted to a species living in the wild. Dark winter days call for meeting with friends over food, drink and great conversation. The snacks and wine bar are great too. There is a trail that runs around the island's perimeter. Every year there is always an impressive diversity of talent, with paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and encaustic, as well as pastels, photography, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, glass, wood, textiles, and jewelry by Artists’ Registry members. Things to Do on San Juan Island – Top 10 Experiences Ride the San Juan Island Ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor. Locals in the San Juan Islands know that after a busy summer is over, local restaurants start up their weekly specials and happy hours that offer small plates, wine, beer and cocktails for a great price. 10 Fun Things to Do in the San Juan Islands. However, I pushed aside my intense fear of the ocean and allowed myself to drift out to sea inside a pointy fiberglass tube—and I’m so glad I did. Visit the towns, hamlets and villages on the three main islands—Lopez, Orcas and San Juan—all decked in holiday lights. The welcome mat is out year-round in the charming and beautiful San Juan Islands! Winter brings one of the best art shows of the year to the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. Drive high above South Beach, through rolling hills of prairie grass. The San Juan Islands farm tours on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan are a wonderful way to enjoy a fine fall day. Winter Romance In The San Juan Islands. When Seattleites are bundling up in rain gear and have said goodbye to the sun for months to come, the San Juan Islands, just 65 miles north, are enjoying many sunny, crystal clear days, courtesy of the Olympic Rain Shadow. The rest of the San Juans can be visited by boat including state parks like Turn Island State Park which is not far from Friday Harbor. Captain Maya with Maya’s Legacy Charters offers whale and wild life tours year-round. Imagine walking from unique boutiques to extraordinary galleries to splendid antique stores in a quaint, small town to get your holiday shopping done. Highlights include Phantom of the Opera music performed on the Mansion’s 1,972 Aeolian pipe organ, along with the clips from the silent film, and fascinating stories of the Mansion’s most colorful residents. Here are some of the best things to see and do during your San Juan Islands vacation. Or drive out to Lime Kiln State Park along Westside Road, through fertile farmland dotted with cows and sheep, until the road bends and reveals breathtaking views of the crystal clear Straits with the snow-covered Olympic Mountains in the background. Not gonna lie, I was terrified of capsizing and drowning (not being able to swim does that to ya). In winter, mountain bikers take to the hills - no mountain biking is allowed in the summer months - so the wide, soft trails and steep, heart-stopping ridges are open to the thrills of biking. 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