First of all, take Friday off! Have everything ready to go Thursday night, load up the boat in the morning and get out on the water! This one week San Juan Island cruise disembarks from your port of call on a Friday creating a 10 day trip!
Friday Night
Get into the islands quickly and take in arguably the best sunset spot in the San Juans. The Blakely Island Marina is a great spot to quickly get you where you can say… “I am on Vacation!”
Have a look at our Cruising NW TV Destinations episode …
Saturday Night
Rosario Resort
Built in 1909 by Robert Moran, the building (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) alone is worth the trip to Rosario. Rosario has had a few ownership and management changes over the years, but it is definitely back! Old world elegance and charm abound here at Rosario… you won’t be disappointed. While you are here, take a shuttle or call the island cab and go up to Mt. Constitution on a clear day to see breathtaking views.
Deer Harbor is a great spot. The store is on the pier and the shops are in floating buildings on the dock, pretty cool. Deer is a hang out and relax kind of place. The pool at the resort is available to the marina customers.
Kayaking the inlet is great at high tide, make sure you check the tides or you will have a muddy walk back.There are a couple of restaurant options if you are looking for off boat dining. Kayak rentals are here as well. Crabbing is good just south of the marina.
Deer Harbor Marina
5164 Deer Harbor Road
Orcas Island, WA 98243
(360) 376-3037
VHF 78A www.deerharbormarina.com
Tuesday Night
Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor simply has something for everyone. Walk up to town and check it all out. There are a variety of restaurants, a movie theatre, the whale museum, local farmers market on Saturdays. King’s Market has anything you’ll need to re-stock the boat. There are simply too many options to cover here, there are marine suppies, a fuel dock, groceries and a liquor store… what more do you need?
Port of Friday Harbor
204 Front Street N.
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-2688
VHF 66A
Fuel Dock www.portoffridayharbor.org
Wednesday and Thursday Nights
Sucia Island– One of the many State Park Islands in the San Juans, it is a scenic wonder. If you have good luck, you’ll get a place on the dock. Otherwise, Sucia has an abundance of great anchoring spots. Dinghy in to the dock and go explore! Sucia is a 564-acre marine park with 77,700 feet of shoreline. The state’s website proclaims “It is consistently ranked as one of the top boating destinations in the world”. At night, build a campfire at one of the designated places an make some smores, sing songs and enjoy. It is truly a magical place.
Friday Night and Saturday Night
Roche Harbor
A perfect place to finish up the cruise. You won’t want to leave. The Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Company started here in the late 1800’s before the Tarte family bought it in shambles and transformed it into the perfect cruising destination in 1955. Ask if Neil Tarte is around and to you a story or two, if he isn’t, go buy his book in the ‘Company Store’ and read all about it in his own words.The kids will love everything from the pool and the play areas to the ice cream and the night time shrimping on the pilings.Get in a game of Bocce Ball next to the Quarryman Hall and then take in the beautiful gardens. Walking the docks at Roche is a must, you will see a little bit of everything. Take a group walk up to Sculpture Park on your way to the Mausoleum. Go over and watch some planes take off from the airfield on your way back.Make sure that you get dinner started a little early so that you are done before the colors ceremony, something you simply have to see. My guess is that Roche Harbor will become a annual tradition for you too.
Roche Harbor Resort
248 Reuben Memorial Drive
Roche Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-2155
VHF 78A
Fuel Dock www.rocheharbor.com
That wraps up the San Juan Island Cruise. There are so many other places to visit and see up in these islands. Just north of Roche Harbor you cross into Canadian waters which opens up a whole new world to cruise.
If there is a destination you would like to know more about, or if you have a place you would like to recommend, send your comments and suggestions to editor@cruisingnw.com
Friday Harbor
Roche Harbor