Updated Fall 2023
Introducing Friday Harbor, Washington – a cute little town on San Juan island!
San Juan Island – Alpacas, Orcas, whales, Kayking, Fishing, Lighthouses, Lavender fields, Harbor seals, Mopeds and Ice Cream! ALL of the good stuff
About San Juan Island
Friday Harbor, Washington is the main town on San Juan Island . which is located in the Salish Sea between Washington and Victoria, BC. It is actually the only incorporated town in all San Juan County. My daughters and I have been going for the last five years, and on this last trip, my husband decided to go to check it out because he had never been.
- San Juan County contains over 150 islands.
- The Department of Transportation has three Ferries that serve Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, and San Juan Island.
- Friday Harbor (which has the only incorporated town in the county) is also the county’s seed.
The Coffee Rating for San Juan Island
Sadly the best cup of coffee I had in Friday Harbor, Washington was from the Keirig at the Earthbox Inn LOL!
How to get there!
When you are ready to reserve your Ferry ride with the Department of Transpo, you head to the DOT website and go to “Make a reservation.” It can get a bit confusing so check out my blog on Making a Reservation
Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor is located on the east side of San Juan Island. When you get off the Ferry, you are essentially in downtown Friday Harbor. We usually stay at the Earthbox Inn because it is less than a mile away from the Ferry, and it is the ideal location to get to anywhere on the island. Earthbox Inn has amazing hospitality, and they are really centrally located. They are within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, grocery store, museums, and of course, the ice cream shop.
If you are taking a whale watching tour or a fishing tour, you can walk and be on the boat within five minutes from the Earthbox Inn. It’s definitely a badass location.
Earthbox Inn in Friday Harbor
Link to Earthbox Inn’s Blog
My kids love to “borrow a bike” and cruise through town. They also have an indoor pool that is open during the summer and a little coffee bar located right next to the pool. The pool and the coffee bar were not open when I went there for spring break, due to Covid. I’m not sure what their schedule will be this year and they are unsure as well. I would check ahead of time for details. I do know some places are requiring a pool reservation.
Remote check-in
Because of Covid, Earthbox Inn & Spa is doing something a little bit different. They send you a text a day or two before, asking you to do an early check-in. You communicate with them through text. A couple of hours before your check-in time, they text you the details of your stay. They include your room number, and when your room is ready. After you arrive, you park in front of the mailboxes, and you find a mailbox that coordinates with the letter of your last name, and there you will find a welcome letter and room key!
Their office is not open. If you need anything, you can text them back on the number they texted you on. There is a phone right outside the office in which you would press zero, get the operator, and help you with whatever you need. It’s a little bit different from our visit before, but they take Covid seriously, which I think people would appreciate.
The rooms are so nice and very clean. We had everything we needed for an amazing stay!
BELLA – BLACK + GREY + POLARIZED (Polarized / Black)
Roche Harbor
Roche Harbor is located on the opposite side of Friday Harbor. It has another huge boat dock, and right across from Roche Harbor is Henry Island, and a customs office on the dock. Henry Island is another island in the San Juans that you have to take a private boat to get there, which can be a long journey if your going there… but I do not think it caters to loads of visitors. We have never been there! We are looking at Henry Island in the photo below.
Roche Harbor has a couple of shops there, and they have a really good burger place that the kids enjoy. We like walking the docks and just hanging out by the water. In the last five years, it seems to have grown a lot. There are a lot more cabins for rent. This is also one of the locations where you can pick up Susie’s mopeds if you want to drive around in a little moped car. It’s definitely a place that we visit every time, but we usually just go once, and we just like seeing the progression of the little town they are in Roche Harbor.
BTW comment below if you think I should send these photos of these progressive photos to the “Tuff Day” Owners LOL!
Krystal Acres Apaca Farm
Every time we head to Friday Harbor, Washignton we have to go to Crystal Acres Alpaca Farm! There is no way we will miss an opportunity to see the sweet little alpacas looking all cute and curious when you show up. They also have an awesome store at the farm, where they sell things made from alpaca wool. I found it charming that some of the products have a picture of that particular alpaca that the wool came from. The products are good high-quality handcrafted stuff. I definitely put in my order for a wool blanket for Christmas with the hubby, LOL.
Pelindaba Lavender Farm
Of course, we went to the lavender farm, and even though the lavender was not in bloom, I still loved being on the farm. The Lavender farm is over 25 acres of organically certified lavender plants in Friday Harbor Washington.
They sell Lavender everything, including ice cream. I have bought plants for their nursery, and they are hanging out in my backyard.
The hours of the farm are different from fall to spring. They are only open Thursday through Monday from fall to spring. We went on Saturday, and the store there was open! It is early in the season so they did not have their full away of products. This trip we missed buying plants and my daughter’s favorite lavender ice cream.
I have an obsession with lavender and this farm. I bought things at the farm the day of the visit. Went to the downtown store the next day. Then the morning we were leaving, I also shopped again. It’ll probably be another year or two, so I had to get what I needed to get.
My favorite products would be the soaps and the oil itself. I make loads of homemade cleansers, and the essential oil is a staple. I also use the oil for bug repellent!
The business processes their lavender oils, and they make everything homemade right there on the farm in Friday Harbor Washington. In the past, we used to be able to take a tour. They showed us how everything was made and loved it. They did not do the same tours last summer because of Covid. No one is sure what’s going to change this summer. Still, hopefully, fingers crossed they can do those tours again because it is one of my favorite experiences.
National Parks English and American Camps in Friday Harbor Washington
English camp
Pig and potato WAR
So on San Juan Island, there are two national camps. One is the English camp, and the other one is the American Camp. In the 1800s, half the island belonged to Americans; the other half belonged to the English. There was a little tiff with a potato farmer and a pig farmer. In the end, they settled and San Juan Island and became an American territory. It’s a fascinating history, and two different camps tell the past and have some of the old buildings and replicas from the 1800s. When we went during spring break, American camp was closed. They were doing some upgrades and doing some maintenance on it. English camp was open, so we walked around and took photos. If you are into history, then this is a place you guys will want to check out.
Paddleboarding, Swimming and Kayaking
Click on the photos below for the links
Thee are affiliate links, so I do get a small precentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting the blog 🙂
I took up my inflatable Paddleboard because it was a great place to cruise around in the island. If you go swimming -I got a good tip from a local – Eagle Cove Beach. If you feel inclined to jump on the paddleboarding train here is the Paddleboard we use (which right now as of April 2021 are on deep discount). Check out my bog below for the essentials. Here is my PNW Guide for Paddleboarding!
Click here for the Paddleboard Essential Blog
I also included a link to REEF SAFE sunblock!
Check out my original San Juan Island Blog
Updated Fall 2023
Introducing Friday Harbor, Washington – a cute little town on San Juan island!
San Juan Island – Alpacas, Orcas, whales, Kayking, Fishing, Lighthouses, Lavender fields, Harbor seals, Mopeds and Ice Cream! ALL of the good stuff
About San Juan Island
Friday Harbor, Washington is the main town on San Juan Island . which is located in the Salish Sea between Washington and Victoria, BC. It is actually the only incorporated town in all San Juan County. My daughters and I have been going for the last five years, and on this last trip, my husband decided to go to check it out because he had never been.
- San Juan County contains over 150 islands.
- The Department of Transportation has three Ferries that serve Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, and San Juan Island.
- Friday Harbor (which has the only incorporated town in the county) is also the county’s seed.
The Coffee Rating for San Juan Island
Sadly the best cup of coffee I had in Friday Harbor, Washington was from the Keirig at the Earthbox Inn LOL!
How to get there!
When you are ready to reserve your Ferry ride with the Department of Transpo, you head to the DOT website and go to “Make a reservation.” It can get a bit confusing so check out my blog on Making a Reservation
Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor is located on the east side of San Juan Island. When you get off the Ferry, you are essentially in downtown Friday Harbor. We usually stay at the Earthbox Inn because it is less than a mile away from the Ferry, and it is the ideal location to get to anywhere on the island. Earthbox Inn has amazing hospitality, and they are really centrally located. They are within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, grocery store, museums, and of course, the ice cream shop.
If you are taking a whale watching tour or a fishing tour, you can walk and be on the boat within five minutes from the Earthbox Inn. It’s definitely a badass location.
Earthbox Inn in Friday Harbor
Link to Earthbox Inn’s Blog
My kids love to “borrow a bike” and cruise through town. They also have an indoor pool that is open during the summer and a little coffee bar located right next to the pool. The pool and the coffee bar were not open when I went there for spring break, due to Covid. I’m not sure what their schedule will be this year and they are unsure as well. I would check ahead of time for details. I do know some places are requiring a pool reservation.
Remote check-in
Because of Covid, Earthbox Inn & Spa is doing something a little bit different. They send you a text a day or two before, asking you to do an early check-in. You communicate with them through text. A couple of hours before your check-in time, they text you the details of your stay. They include your room number, and when your room is ready. After you arrive, you park in front of the mailboxes, and you find a mailbox that coordinates with the letter of your last name, and there you will find a welcome letter and room key!
Their office is not open. If you need anything, you can text them back on the number they texted you on. There is a phone right outside the office in which you would press zero, get the operator, and help you with whatever you need. It’s a little bit different from our visit before, but they take Covid seriously, which I think people would appreciate.
The rooms are so nice and very clean. We had everything we needed for an amazing stay!
BELLA – BLACK + GREY + POLARIZED (Polarized / Black)
Roche Harbor
Roche Harbor is located on the opposite side of Friday Harbor. It has another huge boat dock, and right across from Roche Harbor is Henry Island, and a customs office on the dock. Henry Island is another island in the San Juans that you have to take a private boat to get there, which can be a long journey if your going there… but I do not think it caters to loads of visitors. We have never been there! We are looking at Henry Island in the photo below.
Roche Harbor has a couple of shops there, and they have a really good burger place that the kids enjoy. We like walking the docks and just hanging out by the water. In the last five years, it seems to have grown a lot. There are a lot more cabins for rent. This is also one of the locations where you can pick up Susie’s mopeds if you want to drive around in a little moped car. It’s definitely a place that we visit every time, but we usually just go once, and we just like seeing the progression of the little town they are in Roche Harbor.
BTW comment below if you think I should send these photos of these progressive photos to the “Tuff Day” Owners LOL!
Krystal Acres Apaca Farm
Every time we head to Friday Harbor, Washignton we have to go to Crystal Acres Alpaca Farm! There is no way we will miss an opportunity to see the sweet little alpacas looking all cute and curious when you show up. They also have an awesome store at the farm, where they sell things made from alpaca wool. I found it charming that some of the products have a picture of that particular alpaca that the wool came from. The products are good high-quality handcrafted stuff. I definitely put in my order for a wool blanket for Christmas with the hubby, LOL.
Pelindaba Lavender Farm
Of course, we went to the lavender farm, and even though the lavender was not in bloom, I still loved being on the farm. The Lavender farm is over 25 acres of organically certified lavender plants in Friday Harbor Washington.
They sell Lavender everything, including ice cream. I have bought plants for their nursery, and they are hanging out in my backyard.
The hours of the farm are different from fall to spring. They are only open Thursday through Monday from fall to spring. We went on Saturday, and the store there was open! It is early in the season so they did not have their full away of products. This trip we missed buying plants and my daughter’s favorite lavender ice cream.
I have an obsession with lavender and this farm. I bought things at the farm the day of the visit. Went to the downtown store the next day. Then the morning we were leaving, I also shopped again. It’ll probably be another year or two, so I had to get what I needed to get.
My favorite products would be the soaps and the oil itself. I make loads of homemade cleansers, and the essential oil is a staple. I also use the oil for bug repellent!
The business processes their lavender oils, and they make everything homemade right there on the farm in Friday Harbor Washington. In the past, we used to be able to take a tour. They showed us how everything was made and loved it. They did not do the same tours last summer because of Covid. No one is sure what’s going to change this summer. Still, hopefully, fingers crossed they can do those tours again because it is one of my favorite experiences.
National Parks English and American Camps in Friday Harbor Washington
English camp
Pig and potato WAR
So on San Juan Island, there are two national camps. One is the English camp, and the other one is the American Camp. In the 1800s, half the island belonged to Americans; the other half belonged to the English. There was a little tiff with a potato farmer and a pig farmer. In the end, they settled and San Juan Island and became an American territory. It’s a fascinating history, and two different camps tell the past and have some of the old buildings and replicas from the 1800s. When we went during spring break, American camp was closed. They were doing some upgrades and doing some maintenance on it. English camp was open, so we walked around and took photos. If you are into history, then this is a place you guys will want to check out.
Paddleboarding, Swimming and Kayaking
Click on the photos below for the links
Thee are affiliate links, so I do get a small precentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting the blog 🙂
I took up my inflatable Paddleboard because it was a great place to cruise around in the island. If you go swimming -I got a good tip from a local – Eagle Cove Beach. If you feel inclined to jump on the paddleboarding train here is the Paddleboard we use (which right now as of April 2021 are on deep discount). Check out my bog below for the essentials. Here is my PNW Guide for Paddleboarding!
Click here for the Paddleboard Essential Blog
I also included a link to REEF SAFE sunblock!
Check out my original San Juan Island Blog
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