Celebrate spring’s arrival with a day-trip to San Juan Island

When the cherry blossoms begin to bloom and azure blue skies bound Mount Baker, we Northwesterners tend to forget the long gray slog of winter.

But let’s admit it: We’ve been dealing all winter with a case of cabin fever.

So what better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than a trip to San Juan Island?

Even a day trip gives you a sense of a true getaway. It’s easy to catch a morning ferry in Anacortes and arrive in time for a quick lunch before exploring the island — or just hanging out in Friday Harbor.

Here’s one other incentive. The island, the archipelago’s most populous, gets half the rainfall of the Everett area.

“It’s true. We do have better weather here,” said Barbara Marrett, a spokeswoman for the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau.

So what are you waiting for? Here are some places to consider for a day or weekend trip:

Friday Harbor

The islands’ only incorporated town is easy to explore on foot, so feel free to leave your car in Anacortes.

You’ll find restaurants and shops a short walk from the ferry landing. Other walkable destinations include:

San Juan Islands

Museum of Art: About four blocks from the ferry terminal, the museum at 540 Spring St. has earned a reputation for staging top-notch exhibits in its three galleries.

Opening April 5 will be “My War: Wartime Photographs by Vietnam Veterans,” a series of wartime photographs and other personal artifacts from 25 Vietnam veterans from around the nation. In the north gallery will be a local component to “My War,” focused on personal items from veterans who live in the San Juan Islands. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Monday through May. Call 360-370-5050 or go to www.sjima.org for more.

The Whale Museum: The museum at 62 First St. N., about three blocks from the ferry dock, promotes the stewardship of whales in the Salish Sea through education and research. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Call 800-946-7227 ext. 30, or visit www.whalemuseum.org.

San Juan Historical Museum: This is a 15-minute walk from the ferry landing, at 323 and 405 Price St. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, May 15 through September. Call 360-378-3949 or go to sjmuseum.org for more information.

Jackson Beach: Find this beach at Jackson Beach Road off Pear Point Road. If you’re willing to stretch your legs a bit, enjoy a sandy beach 1.6 miles from the ferry. More at www.visitsanjuans.com/attractions/jackson-beach.

Around the island

If you drove on the ferry, here are places you won’t want to miss. And even if you walked on, there are ways to get around the island. More about that later.

Lime Kiln State Park: The 42-acre park at 1567 West Side Road is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It’s named for the lime kilns that operated there from the 1860s to the 1920s. The park’s lighthouse is one of the most photographed on the West Coast, Marrett said. It traditionally has been known as a place to spot whales, but because there’s currently a shortage of chinook salmon, the orcas’ primary food, the resident whales are more dispersed. “If you want to see whales, the best thing to do is go on a tour boat,” Marrett said. “Seeing them from shore is really hit and miss.” They’re typically spotted June through early October. More at www.visitsanjuans.com/members/lime-kiln-point-state-park.

San Juan Island National Historical Park: The park is split into two sections on either end of the island. It commemorates joint U.S. and British control of the island in the mid-19th century. The Americans were headquartered at the south end of the island, and the Brits occupied the northern tip. Eventually, the entire island was awarded to the U.S. by a third-party arbitrator.

American Camp is due south of Friday Harbor on Cattle Point Road. The Visitor Bureau’s Marrett said she always steers visiting friends to Cattle Point Lighthouse at American Camp. “There’s this incredible view of the lighthouse, and then the prairies of American Camp, and in the background all of southern Lopez Island,” she said. “It’s a beautiful view.” Call 360-378-2240 or go to www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/historyculture/american-camp.htm for more.

English Camp, the other half of the historical park, is located near Roche Harbor at the island’s north end. “I like to (hike) up Young Hill with its amazing view of the Canadian Gulf Islands,” Marrett said. “That’s a 1-mile hike, fairly steep, but gives you a great view.” More at www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/historyculture/english-camp.htm.

Other San Juan sites

Roche Harbor: While you’re at English Camp, check out the Hotel De Haro, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s also a pioneer cemetery, the John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum, and the Roche Harbor Lime Works, where lime processing began in the 1850s. With its cafes, restaurants and artist kiosks in the summer, “it’s a charming village,” Marrett said. “It has a formal garden that’s often voted the premier wedding destination in the Northwest.”

Pelindaba Lavender: Some 35,000 lavender plants grow on the 20-acre farm at 45 Hawthorne Lane, which opens in April. Its busiest times are Memorial Day through Labor Day. English lavenders begin blooming in June, but the peak season for the fields is mid-July to mid-August. Call 866-819-1911 or go to www.pelindabalavender.com for more.

Scenic Byway: This driving tour of San Juan Island hits all the highlights we’ve already listed and adds a few more, such as the hike to the summit of Mount Finlayson on the island’s southern tip. More at www.visitsanjuans.com/what-to-do/experiences/touring-islands-scenic-byway.

Getting there

If you’re driving aboard the ferry, Washington State Ferries recommends you make a reservation. Go to secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Reservations/Vehicle, or call 888-808-7977.

If you walk or ride a bike on the ferry, you don’t need a reservation, but you will need to park your car for a fee in one of several parking lots at the Anacortes terminal. You also can park for free at the March Point Park & Ride and ride a Skagit Transit bus to the terminal. For more about that, go to www.skagittransit.org/route-410EW.

Getting around

San Juan Transit: The spring schedule starts in May, with routes that connect the ferry dock in Friday Harbor with Roche Harbor, Alpaca Ranch, English Camp, Lavender Farm, San Juan County Park, Whale Watch Park, Snug Harbor, Sculpture Park, American Camp, Lakedale Resort and San Juan Vineyards. Call 360-378-8887. More at www.sanjuantransit.com/schedules.html.

Jolly Trolley: These decorated buses are scheduled to begin its round-the-island trips May 17, although weekend service may be available earlier. Check the website for details. Four trolleys will operate this year, two going clockwise and two going counterclockwise around the island. Passengers can hop off, take a look around and then grab a trolley to move on. Trolleys will be available to pick up passengers at designated spots once each hour. Tickets are available at a kiosk near the ferry terminal. Visitors can catch the trolley to Lime Kiln State Park and pick up a box lunch for $9. Call 360-298-8873. More at www.fridayharborjollytrolley.com.

Moped, electric bike and car rentals: Susie’s Mopeds, at 125 Nichols St., Friday Harbor, rents electric bikes, mopeds, car-like “scoot coupes” and a small SUV. Call 360-378-5244 or 800-532-0087. Go to www.susiesmopeds.com for more.

Kayak rentals: Discovery Sea Kayaks, 260 Spring St., Friday Harbor, rents bikes, too. It opens in May. Call 360-378-2559 or 866-461-2559. Visit www.discoveryseakayak.com.

Lodging: If you decide to spend more than a day, some local businesses offer spring break discounts, starting in March and continuing through April. More at www.visitsanjuans.com/spring-break-specials-events.

General visitor information

For more information on San Juan Island’s attractions, restaurants and lodging, contact the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau at 888-468-3701 or go to www.visitsanjuans.com.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

Washington North Coast Magazine

This article is featured in the spring issue of Washington North Coast Magazine, a supplement of The Daily Herald. Explore Snohomish and Island counties with each quarterly magazine. Each issue is $3.99. Subscribe to receive all four editions for $14 per year. Call 425-339-3200 or go to www.washingtonnorthcoast.com for more information.