Want an island paradise that doesn’t necessitate a bikini wax? Head to the archipelago off the coast of Seattle known as the San Juan Islands. In the summertime, the two largest isles, Orcas and San Juan, are a breezy idyll, where bald eagles soar, orca whales play, and the beaver population remains unapologetically hirsute.
It’s some kind of Juan-derful.
Located in the only town, San Juan’s Friday Harbor, the Bird Rock Hotel houses pristine, modern rooms with the right dose of luxe (flat-screen TVs, courtesy beach-cruiser bikes).
Glampers bunk in log or canvas cabins, or a retro-inspired airstream at lakeside resort Lakedale. All cabins come stocked with the resort’s granola and mix for the waffle maker.
The best part of waking up is The Doctor’s Office Cafe, where the coffee beans are locally roasted, the pastries homemade, and the juice (marionberry, anyone?) fresh squeezed.
Find the lunch bunch at Market Chef (also in Friday Harbor). Snag a prime patio seat and nosh a sandwich or salad.
For dinner, reserve a table at upscale Duck Soup Inn, where kelp-dusted scallops and corn souffle steal the show.
Take a good whiff of the rolling acres at Pelindaba Lavender Farm on San Juan. For more of the purple stuff, head to Lavendera Day Spa, which incorporates the farm’s lavender-infused oils and scents into treatments.
The summit of Mount Constitution on Orcas provides countless Kodak moments. The highest point in the San Juan Islands, the peak delivers showstopping panoramic views (fun fact: On a clear day, you can see to Vancouver).
Care to catch Shamu in her natural habitat? Pack a picnic lunch and park yourself on the rocks surrounding Lime Kiln Point State Park’s lighthouse. Now through early fall is prime orca-watching season.
May through early fall is prime orca-watching season. For a “killer” close-up of a pod or parade, book an Outdoor Odysseys sea-kayaking excursion. The beginner-friendly company offers half- and full-day trips that bring you within oar’s reach of the (mostly) gentle giants.
All in all, it’s a whale of a good time.
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