Want to visit the San Juan Islands without the burden of spending a lot of money?
Take a day trip to Friday Harbor.
Leave early, drive to Anacortes, walk on the one-hour ferry to San Juan Island, spend three to five hours in town, get back on the boat, drive home.
If you do it right, you’ll have time to explore, eat and enjoy easygoing island life.
Consider making the trip midweek. Take the ferry that sails at 9:05 a.m.
That means if you live in Everett, for example, you need to leave home at about 7:45 a.m. Too early? Head out at 10 a.m. to get on the 11:55 sailing.
Bring along a $10 bill for parking in the lower lot along Ship Harbor Park.
Buy your walk-on ticket at the terminal. Right now it costs $13.25 for a round-trip ride.
Board the boat with the crowd, stake out a place to sit inside or out, buy a cuppa and you are set.
Some people like to climb to the top deck and walk around and around while the ferry sails. Others sit outside. A few folks work on the jigsaw puzzles left on tables. The locals are the readers you see inside.
In my family, the ferry is called the “poor man’s yacht.” A cruise through the San Juan Islands is one of the most scenic and satisfying short trips a person can make anywhere in the world.
Look for Mount Baker, the Olympics, birds and whales and other sea mammals. Go up front and feel the wind in your hair. Take a nap in the fresh air and sun. We even like winter trips in the fog or rain.
As the ferry pulls into the harbor, note that you will walk off the car deck.
Friday Harbor is a nice tourist town, but it also doubles as the San Juan County seat. Lots of people live and work there.
Be a good tourist; act like a local.
Stop at the visitor center across Spring Street from King’s Market to find out what is happening. In early November, for example, the Friday Harbor Film Festival is showing movies, documentaries and short films.
On my short list of stops in Friday Harbor is the excellent Griffin Bay Bookstore, The Whale Museum (because the orca population is always changing) and WaterWorks Gallery, which features local artists.
And someplace to eat. You basically can’t go wrong in this town, so it’s a matter just chosing what you want for lunch. On a recent visit, we purposely went to Friday’s Crabhouse on Front Street.
I had never been to this most-touristy of eateries, but it turned out to be pretty good.
Fish and chips and a lemonade came to about $15. The cod was tasty, but not fishy, and lightly covered with salty capers. The cole slaw was creamy and crunchy. The fries held up under a load of ketchup. Friday’s is a good spot to look across the street and watch for the ferry.
You can bring your lunch instead, but don’t lug too much around.
Some good places to picnic or just take a break from shopping and walking are Overlook Park off First Street, Fairweather Park, which is near the docks and features a longhouse sculpture by Coast Salish artist Susan Point; or the Spring Street Landing adjacent to the ferry dock, which is great for people watching.
The best sailing back to Anacortes is the 3:45 p.m., but if you arrive late then take the 6:30 return. Remember that half of the joy of this trip is the ferry ride.
For my recent day trip, I spent less than $40.
If you want to skip downtown Friday Harbor and get around the island to see to Lime Kiln Point State Park, the Sculpture Garden, Roche Harbor or the American and British camps run by the National Park Service, check out the San Juan Transit shuttle. A day pass is $15 and the bus leaves from Cannery Landing adjacent to the ferry dock.
Or bring your car and drive around the island. If your budget is even bigger, then stay a couple of nights and plan a whale-watch/wildlife boat cruise.
San Juan Island is a wonderful destination, and a day trip just might do the trick.
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