Whole Zine

© Angela Ivy
© Angela Ivy
atrip to the San Juan Islands is always a special treat. A nice
get away for a day or three, the San Juan Islands have plenty
of areas to explore and to enjoy the quiet, slower pace of
the islands. Located in the northwest corner of Washington,
there are 4 main islands that the Washington State Ferries will
take you to: Orcas Island, the largest of the islands, San Juan
Island, the second largest and most populated, and Lopez and
Shaw Island.
A stop to Orcas Island will treat you with a relaxing time. Most
of Orcas Island's 57 square miles are rural and hilly, a pleasure for
drivers and a challenge for cyclists, with curving roads that wind
through forests and past artists' studios, fields, and the occasional
turn-of-the-century prune drying barn.
Visit one of the nation's most beautiful parks to hike, bike, swim,
or go horseback riding through the forest — the 5,252-acre Moran
State Park, with several lakes and more than 38 miles of hiking
trails. There, you can drive, bike, or hike up Mount Constitution,
the islands' highest point, for a spectacular view of island-dotted
sea and snow-capped Mount Baker.
Head out on the water on a kayak trip (guided or alone), whale
watching tour, or fishing or sailboat charter. You can book any of
these adventures on the island, as well as rent bikes and check out
guided horseback rides.
Over on San Juan Island — You’ll discover something new
around every bend in the road — an alpaca ranch, a sweeping
valley dotted with cows or sheep, the terraces of a lavender farm,
vineyards with a tasting room in a historic schoolhouse, deep forest
giving way to shining sea, a pod of orca whales, and two iconic
lighthouses. Variety, beauty, serenity — day after amazing day.
© Angela Ivy
Zip-lining over the forest
© Patick Fore
© Amy Pumputis
Top: Pine tree sits alone on a tiny island
Middle: Orca whale caught in action
Lower: A kayaker catches the last glimpse of day
Historic and just one square mile in size, Friday Harbor is the
very walkable hub of San Juan Island. In this visitor-, family-, and
dog-friendly town of Friday Harbor, you'll find many of the San
Juan whale and kayaking tour headquarters, the Chamber of
Commerce Visitors' Center, historic Palace Theater, the San Juan
Community Theatre for plays and musical events, and a plethora
of B&Bs and other lodgings.
Add an adrenaline kick to your adventure with the only public
zip line experience in the islands. The family friendly zip tour features
8 zip lines that will take you through a beautiful forest, across
an otter inhabited lake and over protected wetlands. This tour is
an amazing way to experience the natural landscape of San Juan
Island while zipping from platform to platform through the forest
canopy. Upon reaching the site, you will be given an orientation
and then have the opportunity to practice zipping on our smaller
practice zip lines. After this, your guides will lead you on a brief
hike to the first of the zip lines. Throughout your tour you will soar
past tall Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, and experience the
forest and wetlands from a viewpoint usually exclusive to birds.
Tours last approximately 2-3 hours, which includes travel time to
and from the course. The guides are there to make you laugh, and
to keep you safe. The Zip San Juan course is approximately 10
minutes from Friday Harbor. Zip San Juan provides your transportation
to and from Friday Harbor to the zip site.
(360) 317-8434 | zipsanjuan.com
180 feet in the air
“
throughout your tour you
will soar past tall Douglas
Firs western red Cedars and
experience the forest and
wetlands from a viewpoint
usually exclusive to birds.
August/September 2017 | 47