Top 10 Things to do Good for Kids in San Juan Islands, San Juan Islands

June 10, 2021 Florencio Paulino

Start your Pacific Northwest vacation in style, with a seaplane or ferry ride to the San Juan Islands from Seattle. It’s the ultimate way to take in the beauty of this region that Mother Nature has so abundantly blessed. You have a choice of three alluring islands – Lopez, the most rural, a mix of rolling farmland and beaches; Orcas, the largest of the San Juan Islands and replete with verdant mountains and placid lakes; and San Juan Island, where vibrant Friday Harbor welcomes ferry and seaplane guests and offers an array of charming accommodations and gourmet eateries.

Whether it’s whale-watching and sea kayaking, touring an art gallery or browsing a local farmers’ market, the San Juan Islands offer pleasing diversions for every age and interest. For the best chance to view orca whales and other sea life, plan your trip between April and September – a number of tour operators are available throughout the islands. Rev up your energy level with biking tours through rolling meadows and farmland, go birding on San Juan Island, hike the region’s modest mountains – offering outstanding vistas from the top – or go charter fishing for the day. Other favorites include hiking to Lime Kiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island, taking a scenic flight over the area, attending an outdoor summer concert in the park and horseback riding.


Restaurants in San Juan Islands

1. Moran State Park

3572 Olga Rd, Olga, Orcas Island, WA 98279-8556 +1 800-452-5687 http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Moran
Excellent
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5.0 based on 582 reviews

Moran State Park

Reviewed By debsimmonds

Thus is an awesome park with great hiking options. Some trails have beautiful views of the San Juan Islands others take you through old growth forests next to streams,lakes and waterfalls. Really beautiful. Plenty of deer on the island in including an unusual pure white buck we saw on the Little Summit hike.

2. Deer Harbor Charters

Excellent
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5.0 based on 305 reviews

Deer Harbor Charters

Join us for a fun and exciting tour today! Our mission at Deer Harbor Charters is to educate and inform our guests about the current changes in our marine ecosystem, while maintaining respectful and responsible behavior around our local wildlife. We are proud to work with our local researchers to ensure our footprint remains as small as possible. Locally family owned business founded in 1988, we are in our third decade of providing high quality, responsible Whale & Wildlife tours and we are excited to show our guests our amazing "backyard"! We operating Whale & Wildlife Tours, Day Sailing, Sunset Cruises and more from three departure locations on Orcas Island, WA - Deer Harbor Marina, Rosario Resort & Orcas Ferry Landing. We are the first established Wildlife Tours company on Orcas Island, and we are very proud to offer entertaining & responsible marine tours for guests, our friends and neighbors for the last 32 years. We look forward to seeing you soon!

3. Western Prince Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

Excellent
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5.0 based on 1,111 reviews

Western Prince Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

Just 90 miles north of Seattle, Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington. Owner Operated, Experienced Local Naturalist Guides, Small Groups, Two Great Boats. Choose from the fast and comfortable 46' Western Prince II (limited to 32 passengers or less, with seating for 41) or, for the more adventurous, the Expedition Style 40' Western Explorer II (limited to 25 passengers or less).

4. Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

Excellent
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5.0 based on 1,490 reviews

Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching provides small group whale watching & wildlife tours from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, the best location to experience Orca whales in the wild. We also offer private charter whale watch & wildlife tours for small groups and larger parties. Recreational, engaging and informative, we offer memorable experiences with a passionate crew , custom-built whale watching boats, and small groups of passengers. We offer two convenient departure locations on San Juan Island. Our whale watching & wildlife tours depart year-round from downtown Friday Harbor, next to the ferry landing, and Snug Harbor Resort, on the west side of San Juan Island.

5. San Juan Excursions

Excellent
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5.0 based on 778 reviews

San Juan Excursions

Our Guarantee: See whales or your next trip is free! Fun and educational whale watch/wildlife cruises you'll never forget! April through September from Friday Harbor in the "sunny San Juan Islands" aboard the spacious, comfortable and stable 65 foot vessel "Odyssey." Locally owned and operated with local naturalist guides. 10% AAA, military, teacher and other discounts.

6. Spirit of Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

Excellent
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5.0 based on 574 reviews

Spirit of Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

The Most Loved Cetaceans of the World, Friday Harbor WA 'An Intimate and Personal Experience with your captain and the whales' 6 Passenger Limit! Observing whales in the 'WILD' in their 'Natural Environment' is one of our greatest passions and after touring with us we know it will be one of yours too. Your captain is a retired captain with 38 years experience sailing mostly oceans in Pacific and Atlantic. He is a certified Naturalist and loves to share personal stories about the whales you will be seeing.

7. San Juan Safaris

Excellent
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5.0 based on 628 reviews

San Juan Safaris

The waters surrounding San Juan Island are the #1 place in North America to see wild orca whales. San Juan Safaris, located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, is in the perfect location to provide you with the thrill of seeing orcas in their natural habitat. For over 20 years, San Juan Safaris has been offering the highest quality whale watching tours with a focus on our guests’ experiences and respectful wildlife viewing. Experience orcas, seals, sea lions, eagles, and more from the comfort of our safe, fast, and US Coast Guard approved vessels. With four vessels and multiple daily departure times, there’s sure to be a tour that’s right for you. Our seasoned Captains will keep you safe while aboard our vessels and position the boat in prime locations for whale and wildlife viewing. All of our tours are staffed by seasoned Captains and passionate Marine Naturalists who will teach you about the wildlife, ecology, and geology of the Salish Sea. We encourage you to ask questions and love to share stories about orcas and the local area. Choose from two vessel tours: M/V Sea Lion: The Sea Lion is our flagship vessel, built specifically for whale watching & wildlife viewing. 55 feet, comfortable, stable, great for passengers of all ages and mobility levels. Restroom on board, 360* viewing deck, heated inside cabin. Great for families and groups. M/V Kestrel: The Kestrel is our new high-speed adventure vessel-- perfect for anyone looking for an exciting excursion! Fast, safe, and comfortable. 360* viewing deck, all-weather exposure suits keep you warm and dry, plus on board marine bathroom. Fun and fast! This tour is great for passengers 8 years and older. Our brand new Whale Watch Headquarters is located just feet from the ferry terminal in Friday Harbor, and steps from local restaurants and shops. Stop by and say “hello” to learn more about our tours and the best spots on San Juan Island to explore. Visit our retail and gift shop for the latest in northwest guide style. Don’t forget to stop by our new Ridetide Café for coffee, sandwiches, desserts, and more!

8. San Juan Outfitters

Excellent
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5.0 based on 290 reviews

San Juan Outfitters

The San Juan Islands are considered one the best places in the world to observe Orca (Killer) Whales and other wildlife. We specialize in providing high quality whale watching, kayaking, and adventure tours for groups, families, and independent travelers. San Juan Outfitters believes that getting people out in the natural environment is the first step in developing an appreciation for the natural world. We believe people have an innate drive to be outdoors, and we enjoy the opportunity make it happen. We hope that what comes out of that appreciation are steps taken to curb individual impact and decrease one's footprint on the environment. Decreasing our individual foot-print, and preserving our natural world is our long term goal. We're starting by setting an example here on San Juan Island. Learn more about our goals to decrease our footprint by checking out our carbon neutral goals, and our view on responsible capitalism.

9. Sucia Island State Park

Eastsound, Orcas Island, WA http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Sucia%20Island
Excellent
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5.0 based on 78 reviews

Sucia Island State Park

Reviewed By gregorybL4462JE - Eastsound, United States

Hard to get to, but worth the trip. Fossil beds (leave them in place), tranquil camping. Superb views. Salish Sea at tis best.

10. Zip San Juan

1959 Egg Lake Rd, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA 98250 +1 360-317-8434 [email protected] http://www.zipsanjuan.com
Excellent
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5.0 based on 439 reviews

Zip San Juan

Come and experience for yourself the only Zip Line Tour in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Our family friendly zip tour features 8 zip lines that will take you through a beautiful forest, across an otter inhabited lake and over protected wetlands. This tour is an amazing way to experience the natural landscape of San Juan Island while zipping from platform to platform through the forest canopy.Upon reaching the site, you will be given an orientation and then have the opportunity to practice zipping on our smaller practice zip lines. After this, our guides will lead you on a brief hike to the first of the zip lines. Throughout your tour you will soar past tall Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, and experience the forest and wetlands from a viewpoint usually exclusive to birds.Tours last approximately 3 hours, which includes travel time to and from the course. The Zip San Juan course is approximately 10 minutes from Friday Harbor. Zip San Juan can provide your transportation to and from Friday Harbor to the zip site.

Reviewed By NCApple - Everett, United States

We took an early ferry so had a chance to visit the Whale Museum and have a tail gate lunch before we were picked up for our tour at the appointed time. Guides were great & reassuring with their backgrounds, information & instructions. Only 1 of the 6 of us had zipped before so they were patient, reassuring and had fun demonstrating what to do & what not to do and why. Beautiful day with lots of Zip and Do Dah!

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