Published on San Juan Islands Washington Visitors Bureau | Orcas Island | Lopez Island | Friday Harbor | San
Juan Island (https://www.visitsanjuans.com)
10 Fun Things to do this Summer in the San Juans
Long, sunny days let you love your endless summer in Friday
Harbor, San Juan Island, and on Lopez and Orcas Islands
Hike the Hills
The San Juan Islands are a hiking paradise, with thousands of acres of public lands
available to enjoy. The San Juan Islands Historical Parks at American Camp and English
Camp, Moran State Park on Orcas Island, County Parks on all three islands, historic
lighthouses, and San Juan Preservation Trust, San Juan County Land Bank and San Juan
Islands National Monument lands.
Two-wheeled Fun
Each island has its own terrain and feeling for bicyclists. Lopez Island is known for its
easy, rolling hills and beautiful farmland. Orcas Island is challenging in certain areas, and
San Juan Island has a little of both. Find out more about San Juan Islands bicycling.
Kayaker's Paradise
The San Juan Islands is a world-class destination for kayaking, with isolated bays, dozens
of uninhabited islands, rocky bluffs and vivid sunset paddles on gentle waves. You can
drop a kayak in at a San Juan County Park, a serene lake in Moran State Park, or many
other public access beaches. If you are a first-time kayaker, you might consider taking a
guided kayaking tour, where a helpful guide will teach you how to kayak safely, and take
you to their favorite kayaking spots.
Ziplining Adventures
If you are looking for a more adventurous experience, change your perspective with a ziplining trip through the evergreen forests of San Juan Island. Zip San Juan offers 8 zip-line
stations through Western Red Cedar and Douglas fir trees, for an exhilarating rush in a
beautiful setting. Kids under 18 can zip-line with an accompanying adult, as long as the
child weighs at least 60 pounds.
Outdoor Movies, Plays & Concerts
After a long day of hiking or kayaking, a drive-in movie is a classic way to spend a summer
night. In Friday Harbor, Movies in Sunken Park offers fun summer movies such as Robin
Hood: Men in Tights and Finding Nemo. At the Drive-in Movies at the Fairgrounds, you
can enjoy a series of classic blockbusters such as Jaws and Top Gun from your car or a
picnic blanket.
All three islands have performances of Shakespeare Under the Stars by Island Stage Left,
with a troupe of performers traveling to Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Island - a romantic
way to spend a summer night, with a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine. Before you
attend the outdoor theatre at Roche Harbor, stop by the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park,
a beautiful 20-acre site with more than 125 sculptures made of stone, metal, and more.
The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival draws world-class artists to commune with
traditional chamber music each August.
Fields of Lavender and Art
Each July, the Pelindaba Lavender farm hosts the San Juan Islands Lavender and
Summer Arts Fair. Wander the purple fields of lavender in full bloom, and watch
demonstrations about the history, growing and production of distilled essential oils and
other lavender products. Artists show and sell their work, and you can watch some artists
paint or make jewelry right on the farm.
Meet Me at the Fair
Every summer, people come from near and far to attend the popular San Juan County Fair
, just a few blocks from the ferry landing in Friday Harbor. You can see beautiful and
unique cows, horses, pigs, ducks and interesting displays about farming. The food court
offers the classic elephant ears, but also a variety of delicacies, from Greek to excellent
Mexican food. And evenings are when the crowds come out to see excellent musical acts
from around the region.
Food & Farms
No summer vacation is complete without great food. There are many places to find fresh
fish, crab, clams and oysters harvested from local waters, and its a fun way to spend a
day finding your favorite foods at local farms. There are oyster farms on each island:
Sweetwater Oyster Farm on Lopez Island, Buck Bay Shellfish Farm on Orcas Island, and
Westcott Bay Shellfish Company on San Juan Island. On Saturdays, visit the Farmers
Markets on Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Island.
Whale and Wildlife Watching
There’s nothing like a day on the water in the summertime. Orca whales follow their
favorite food, chinook salmon, all throughout the Salish Sea. You can start your whale
watching tour from Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, or from Orcas or
Lopez Islands. On a boat tour, you will have a chance to see eagles and other birds, sea
lions and seals, and the beautiful shorelines of the islands. You may also be lucky enough
to catch sight of passing orcas from the shores of Lime Kiln State Park (a.k.a. Whale
Watch Park), and you can also tour the lighthouse and hear the sounds of orcas
communicating with each other on the live hydrophone at the lighthouse.
Chill Out at the Beach
Island beaches range from tiny, sandy coves hidden among rocky bluffs, such as
Obstruction Pass State Park, to long wide pebbled beaches covered in old-growth
driftwood, like South Beach in American Camp at the San Juan Islands National Historical
Park. When you hike, bike, picnic or camp, make sure to leave the landscape as you
found it, by following the San Juan Islands' 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.
Featured Experience
Follow the Whale Trail
See orcas in the wild, learn about Salish Sea wildlife, and enjoy the ride into the whales'
world!
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Featured Experience
Fun Family Activities in the San Juans
A great family vacation is all about having fun with your kids. From hiking to ziplining,
paddleboating and facepainting, they'll talk about your family vacation all year.
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