Just 60 miles north of Seattle lies some of the best cruising in the country. Hundreds of miles of protected waters encompass the Salish Sea and the San Juan Islands, still the premiere destination for Pacific Northwest yachtsmen. The archipelago includes four islands served by Washington State Ferries and 11 islands that are part of the state park system. If you have a boat, cruising here is still a great value.
The heart of the region is the city of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. The Port of Friday Harbor Marina accommodates 500 boats and has 150 slips dedicated to transient boaters. Port Manager Tami Hayes will go out of her way to make your experience a good one. The port will let you tie up for a maximum of four hours free of charge while you provision, do laundry and chores, etc. King’s Market is only about three blocks from the marina, and you can arrange for a ride if your load is too large to carry. The port has a great laundry facility adjacent to the customs office — by far the cleanest I’ve ever seen. Boating services abound: Friday Harbor Marine Center (at the docks), Kings Marine, Jensen & Sons Boatyard and Marina and West Marine (360-378-1086) are all easy to access.
Friday Harbor is a walker’s dream, and there are plenty of things to do: two grocery stores, a pharmacy, the Whale Museum, whale-watching excursions, bike and kayak rentals and lots of fun shopping. Don’t miss the local farmer’s market on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the courthouse parking lot for local crafts, freshly baked goods, vegetables, cheese and seafood. There are lots of options when it comes to dining. My personal favorites that are not to be missed include: Cask and Schooner Public House, Downriggers, Rocky Bay Cafe (360-378-5051), San Juan Ice Cream Co., the Backdoor Kitchen, the Bean Cafe and the Doctor’s Office Cafe. Come casual because the uniform du jour is usually fleece and jeans. 
Boating enthusiasts will never tire of walking Friday Harbor's town docks. Cool boats abound. Photo: Trish Rodriguez
San Juan Island is home to Pelindaba Lavender, a premier grower of lavender plants and seller of handcrafted lavender products. One of its products is Hydrosol, a virtually universal cleaner that I use on everything, from my iPad screen to the engine, from the galley to the head. This product is remarkable, as well as being 100 percent natural. I know folks that swear by it as an insect repellent. Be sure to stop by Pelindaba’s shop on First Street.
