Think about combining small town peace and quiet with unspoiled views of water, sky, mountains, and wildlife. If you want to get away from it all but still enjoy all the creature comforts a vacation should afford, it might be time to consider a stay at a Friday Harbor Bed and Breakfast. You'll find a whole list of places to stay in the resort town that's also the San Juan Island county seat.
This island became important as a salmon cannery. Later, island residents raised vegetables and fruit for export to the mainland. Today the economy depends largely on tourism. This island chain is one of the most scenic parts of Washington state. Friday Harbor is the capital of San Juan county and its major commercial center.
The town has a permanent population of between 2,000 and 3,000 people, according to census records. The pace is slow; visitors are encouraged to take time to stroll along the beaches, look at the sea and the sky, gaze at the mountains, and take a deep breath of serenity.
Visitors can take a ferry to the island, fly into the busy airport, hop on a seaplane, or come by private boat. For getting around town, there are taxis for those who didn't bring their automobiles over by ferry. There are bicycles and mopeds for rent, and most things are accessible to pedestrians. The whole town is about two miles square. B&Bs are among the most popular accommodations; reservations are pretty much required, especially for the summertime.
There are quite a few B&Bs in town. One establishment offers one fabulous suite to provide the height of privacy and individual attention. Others have up to seven. Several appear to actually be hotels, but they promise an authentic B&B experience, with comfort, privacy, and gourmet breakfast food.
It's actually a lot of fun to search the B&Bs in Friday Harbor. There's a great interactive site that rates the different establishments, posts photo galleries of each so you can see for yourself, and includes customer reviews. You'll find Victorian mansions and accommodations that are very contemporary. You may opt for a private suite with its own balcony overlooking the water or the garden, or you may prefer to enter into a home and share the common areas with your hosts.
One couple provides surprisingly spacious rooms on their boat. This is fun to see, even if you're not planning a trip to this island resort in the immediate future. The cabins are inviting, and the upper deck looks perfect for relaxing and watching boats come and go in the marina.
This is a laid-back destination with lots to do. There are shops, an open-air market, galleries, restaurants, museums, and parks. You can stroll along the beaches and look for flotsam or for whales. There are bus tours, ferry trips, whale watching boats, and bird watching hikes. Wildlife includes deer, two species of whales, Trumpeter Swans, eagles, seals, rabbits, and raccoons. You can rent a bike or a kayak, hike up a mountain, take a moped ride around the island, or book a scenic plane toup.
This island became important as a salmon cannery. Later, island residents raised vegetables and fruit for export to the mainland. Today the economy depends largely on tourism. This island chain is one of the most scenic parts of Washington state. Friday Harbor is the capital of San Juan county and its major commercial center.
The town has a permanent population of between 2,000 and 3,000 people, according to census records. The pace is slow; visitors are encouraged to take time to stroll along the beaches, look at the sea and the sky, gaze at the mountains, and take a deep breath of serenity.
Visitors can take a ferry to the island, fly into the busy airport, hop on a seaplane, or come by private boat. For getting around town, there are taxis for those who didn't bring their automobiles over by ferry. There are bicycles and mopeds for rent, and most things are accessible to pedestrians. The whole town is about two miles square. B&Bs are among the most popular accommodations; reservations are pretty much required, especially for the summertime.
There are quite a few B&Bs in town. One establishment offers one fabulous suite to provide the height of privacy and individual attention. Others have up to seven. Several appear to actually be hotels, but they promise an authentic B&B experience, with comfort, privacy, and gourmet breakfast food.
It's actually a lot of fun to search the B&Bs in Friday Harbor. There's a great interactive site that rates the different establishments, posts photo galleries of each so you can see for yourself, and includes customer reviews. You'll find Victorian mansions and accommodations that are very contemporary. You may opt for a private suite with its own balcony overlooking the water or the garden, or you may prefer to enter into a home and share the common areas with your hosts.
One couple provides surprisingly spacious rooms on their boat. This is fun to see, even if you're not planning a trip to this island resort in the immediate future. The cabins are inviting, and the upper deck looks perfect for relaxing and watching boats come and go in the marina.
This is a laid-back destination with lots to do. There are shops, an open-air market, galleries, restaurants, museums, and parks. You can stroll along the beaches and look for flotsam or for whales. There are bus tours, ferry trips, whale watching boats, and bird watching hikes. Wildlife includes deer, two species of whales, Trumpeter Swans, eagles, seals, rabbits, and raccoons. You can rent a bike or a kayak, hike up a mountain, take a moped ride around the island, or book a scenic plane toup.
