Rediscover the San Juan Islands: Adventure-seekers will love this Northwest destination.

The journey starts with either a ferry or a floatplane—there are no bridges to the San Juans Islands. Leave stress behind as you board in Anacortes and set sail on the marine segment of the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway. You can relax, you’re on island time now.

The San Juan archipelago in Washington State is nestled between three great cities for visitors – Seattle, Vancouver B.C., and Victoria B.C., surrounded by the Salish Sea. Of the 172 named islands in the San Juans, three of them – Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan – have accommodations, attractions, and amenities for visitors.

The archipelago is blessed with a temperate marine climate and life in the “rain shadow” of the Olympic Mountains means an average of 247 days with sunshine annually and about half the rainfall of the Seattle area. San Juan County has more than 400 miles of shoreline punctuated by rocks, bluffs and beaches.

The arts, historic preservation and environmental stewardship flourish in the Islands. San Juan County is considered an “Arts Hot Spot” by the Washington State Arts Commission for the number of artists and galleries in the islands. It is also the first county in the USA to be designated a voluntary “Leave No Trace” area. Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, the archipelago’s only incorporated town, was named a Destination of Distinction by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

No matter your style of vacation, you’re bound to find it in the San Juan Islands. For nature enthusiasts, there’s world-class wildlife watching including orcas, humpback whales, bald eagles, Steller sea lions, and red foxes. And there’s a variety of ways to see it: along a network of waterfront hiking trails, from shoreline parks, from tour boats and private vessels.

For adventure seekers, beautiful landscapes and a calm inland sea make the San Juans a prime sea kayaking spot. Paddle your own kayak or set out with one of the many knowledgeable kayaking outfitters on San Juan, Orcas, or Lopez Island for three-hour to three-day tours.

For foodies, find quality local products, and experience the sense of community shared by island chefs, growers, winemakers, distillers, brewers, and other agricultural artisans. Some local farms even offer stays for guests who want to get up close and personal to the islands’ bounty.

If art’s your thing, you’ll find a gem in the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, with three to four first class exhibitions a year. The San Juan Islands Sculpture Park at 20-acres is one of the largest outdoor sculpture parks in the Pacific Northwest.

Humpback calf 'Slate' breaching by Jeff Friedman

Find variety, beauty, serenity ... day after amazing day.

As we navigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we are following the guidelines set by the Washington State Department of Health and Governor Inslee’s office. San Juan County is currently in a modified Phase 2 of Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan. Accommodations are open at 100%, and restaurants vary between curbside pickup, delivery, and limited indoor and outdoor seating. Face coverings are required to enter all businesses and public spaces. Editor's Note: we are working with local tourism boards to highlight destinations that are ready for tourists. Given the ever-evolving situation on COVID-19, please make sure you check the tourism website for the most up-to-date planning information.

Magnificent orca (or killer) whales live in the San Juan Islands year round, and this is the best place in the world to see them. Whether from a whale watch boat or shore (like Lime Kiln Point State Park on the west side of San Juan Island), you can also spot migrating humpback and minke whales. Local whale watch operators adhere closely to state and federal guidelines developed to ensure the whales’ behavior and life cycles are disturbed as little as possible.

Fresh, local food and farms have fueled life in the San Juans for generations. Like many Pacific Northwestern outposts, the San Juan Islands are a mixture of Native American heritage and frontier spirit. Both are honored in a myriad of ways, with contemporary Coast Salish house posts overlooking the Port of Friday Harbor near the Town of Friday Harbor. The San Juan Island National Historical Park commemorates what is known as the “Pig War” crisis, and was created in 1966 based upon an idea: that individuals and nations can solve their problems peacefully without resorting to violence. In the late 1850s, when the San Juans were neither here nor there, neither American nor Canadian/English, an Englishman’s pig was snortling through an American settler’s garden, when the American (no surprise), shot it. A bloodless “standoff” ensued. For. Twelve. Years. Finally, in 1872, Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany ended the Pig War by making the decision to draw the watery border in favor of America.

From Nature to Nurture the San Juan Islands provide inspiration for the senses (www.visitsanjuans.com).

* This article was originally published here