Erick | Saturday, March 9, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00 

If you can imagine a perfect March day, then that day was today. The sun was shining bright, there were a few fluffy white clouds hanging out above the islands, and the breeze was slight. Captain Mike, Sarah, and I took a pretty large group out aboard M/V Sea Lion. We left from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. And headed south into San Juan Channel. The channels in between the main islands of the San Juan Islands are not very...

Sarah | 03/08/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

Wowza what a day whale watching in the San Juan Islands. March is one of my favorite times to be out on the water because there is just so much wildlife that can be found in and around the islands while there is always the possibility of finding whales. Leaving Friday Harbor we experienced all of the possible weather conditions we could think of - flurries, a drizzle, clouds, and then bright sunshine – and we found amazing wildlife!

Based...

Sarah | 03/07/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

Today we had a marvelous day exploring the Salish Sea. The day was full of wildlife and beautiful cloudscapes.

This time of year we often do not have any reports when leaving Friday Harbor, but as we left the mouth of our protected home Captain Mike steered the M/V Sea Lion south towards Cattle Pass. I poked my head in the wheelhouse… a report of orcas near Victoria! This time of year a report is kind of like a rumor until we put our eyes...

Sarah | 03/02/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

Captain Mike and I had a whirlwind of a trip on Saturday that was so incredibly wonderful. Leaving the dock here in Friday Harbor there was a whisper of the potential of some whales spotted from shore far to our south. We decided that it was worth the trip, and pointed in their direction! Traveling down San Juan Channel we stopped to check out some bald eagles and harbor seals before continuing to travel south.

We rounded the bottom of...

Sarah | 02/16/2019 | 12:00pm | M/V Sea Lion

Today we were treated to an amazing day on the water with great conditions and wonderful wildlife. Captain Mike and I left Friday Harbor and decided to head north. This time of year, the weather and sea conditions often create incredibly productive waters to our north yielding great wildlife sightings.

At Green Point we stopped to check out some Steller’s sea lions hauled out on the rocks. These massive sea lions are the largest species of...

San Juan Island is not only an excellent place for people to visit, but it is great for your pooch too! From beaches to romp on to dog friendly patios, San Juan Island is a top destination for man’s best friend.

Cora, my three-year-old Australian Shephard, and I have been living and recreating on San Juan Island since she was a wee puppy. Read below for some of our favorite places to explore and relax on San Juan.

1. Walk at The Gravel Pit

While the name...

Sarah | 10/29/2018 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

We had a great trip on M/V Sea Lion, enjoying the sweeping scenery of the Salish Sea as well as great encounters with wildlife. Heading north out of Friday Harbor, we decided to point the boat towards the Outer Islands of the San Juans, and into Canadian waters. After some rain in the morning we were treated to a high clog ceiling and even some blue skies over smooth water.

With no reports of whales or other wildlife as we left the dock we...

Sarah | 10/27/2018 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

This time of year you just have no idea what you’ll see out on the water here in the Salish Sea, and Saturday’s trip was a great example of the amazing array of wildlife you can see in a single trip!

After leaving Friday Harbor we started encountering wildlife. Almost immediately we encountered a pair of bald eagles and a Steller’s sea lion. After some great looks with the wildlife we continued north towards Canada. On the way we stopped to...

Sarah | 10/26/2018 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

On a stunning Pacific Northwest October afternoon Captain Mike and I loaded up a group of wonderful people who were excited to enjoy the Salish Sea. Mike and I decided to head north towards Canadian waters, and to divide and conquer with other whale watch boats out on the water. The San Juan Island whale watch fleet spread out as we left Friday Harbor, communicating with everyone else via radio!

We wove our way through the islands...

October 7- M/V Sea Lion- 12 PM

Right before we left the dock we got a report that one of our kayak guides, Clai, had found whales in Spieden Channel.  We headed that way and came across a group of whales looking for food.  We got to see them make a quick kill.  They were traveling at about 9 knots, which is a pretty fast travel pace for our orcas.  The water was so calm, it was so nice to see the whales break the surface of the water.  We headed back towards some of the other island...