From the rolling hills and valleys to the rocky seaside, San Juan Island is known for its natural beauty and a stay here should take full advantage of these awe-inspiring landscapes. To help you plan your visit, we’ve put together a list of six San Juan Island accommodations with a view.
© Friday Harbor House
Located just next door to The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor House features 23 guestrooms, most of which have been newly...
[Naturalist Sarah – 11/18/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00]
November whale watching in the San Juan Islands is exciting. When we leave the dock we have no idea what we might find. Typically this time of year I expect to see amazing bird activity, harbor seals, Steller’s sea lions, humpback whales, Bigg’s killer whales, minke whales, and many other amazing species. Every now and again we get a sighting surprise.
As I was getting the boat ready for our trip, our...
(October 28, 2017) Autumn is the best season to experience the San Juan Islands. The crowds of visitors have thinned dramatically, weather is often epic, and wildlife is more abundant than in the summer. This fall has been exceptional. Bobbing out upon the Salish Sea under crystal clear skies, my eyes have been busy drinking in the vibrant golds and rusty hues of maple, oak, willow, and cherry burrowed into the deep green canvas of Pacific Northwest firs. Competing for my...
[Naturalist Sarah – 10/24/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00]
Today felt more like a summer day than a late October departure! With clear blue skies and a great group of guests Captain Brian and I were excited to explore the Salish Sea on the search for whales.
Leaving the harbor we elected to head north towards the Canadian Gulf Islands. Unusually for this time of year we had a report of killer whales before leaving the dock. There had been vocalizations on the hydrophone reported in the...
[Naturalist Sarah – 10/22/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00pm]
Yesterday, we had a beautiful day avoiding the raindrops in the Salish Sea. Leaving Friday Harbor we elected to head north on a possible rumor of a humpback whale in the Canadian Gulf Islands. This time of year our reports often start as sightings from the public reaching out to company offices, or even from the commercial fishing fleet!
As we left Friday Harbor we found a pair of bald eagles up in the trees along...
[Naturalist Sarah – 10/16/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00pm]
Yesterday was a great day out on the water enjoying the beautiful scenery and wildlife of the San Juan Islands. We started the day by heading south through San Juan Channel from Friday Harbor.
Just south of Griffin Bay we found some Steller’s sea lions feeding on chum salmon. We watched the large pinnipeds shaking the fish and ripping them apart above the surface. In the turbulent water we also got great looks at harbor...
[Naturalist Sarah – 10/12/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00pm]
October continues to impress in the Salish Sea. Weather-wise we have come to expect rain in the morning clearing to beautiful, sweeping cloudscapes in the afternoon. Yesterday, Captain Mike and I steered the M/V Sea Lion south through San Juan Channel towards Haro Strait on the search for whales and wildlife.
We ventured out into the wide-open water of the straits on the Westside of the island. The water was wonderfully glassy...
Saturday, October 7 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00 PM :
When the M/V Sea Lion began its voyage today, the captain, crew, and guests had no idea that we’d be witnessing the pure power and agility of our namesake! As we left Friday Harbor, we headed through Upright Channel and down the east side of Lopez Island. We had gorgeous views of Anacortes, and, as we rounded the southern tip of Lopez, of the Olympic Peninsula, with its mountains raising high above the Salish Sea. Captain Mike slid the...
09/27/17 – M/V Sea Lion – 12 PM
With great morning reports, M/V Sea Lion departed Friday Harbor Marina in search of Southern Resident orcas. The warm air giving the illusion that summer hadn’t left just yet, passengers relaxed in the sun on the bow as we headed to the south side of San Juan Island. Just as we rounded Cattle Point, there they were! Off in the distance were black knife-like dorsal fins cutting the surface after a bush of mist exhalation. Captain Gabe slowed our speed...
9/24/2017 – M/V Sea Lion—Noon
On this sunny Sunday afternoon the M/V Sea Lion departed Friday Harbor and headed north, exploring the east coast of San Juan Island. Continuing on, we ventured through Boundary Pass and into Canadian waters, but no passports were needed for our visit today! Motoring into the Trincomali Channel we passed by a number of the Southern Gulf Islands and there’s no better a backdrop for the exciting sighting of Southern Resident Killer Whales for which we were...