Visiting some of the San Juan Islands feels like your on a voyage to a new adventure! Well at least it feels like that to me! I’m embarrassed to say, before I moved here 4 years ago, I had no IDEA Washington had islands that were so near by and were so cool. The 2 islands we hit this summer were Lopez Island, it was our second time back, and Decatur Island, which was a brand new experience for us.

The San Juan Islands are located in northwest Washington – as far northwest as you can go! There are 3 islands that you can take a ferry to and offer more touristy amenities and several that you can take a water taxi to but once your on the island you need to have your own food, and way to get around.

1st Stop – Lopez Island

You can reach Lopez via the Anacortes Ferry Boat. You can drive on. Be sure to make your reservation as early as you can. You have to plan ahead, there are only a few commercial type accomodation properties, that are older. We found more luck with a VRBO. Lopez Island isn’t very touristy which is why I personally love it. The attraction is nature! We property we stayed on had a private beach and it’s as if I rented the entire island, the beach was perfect. The kids had a blast and sunsets were incredible. Be sure to try and hit some good weather, we have been to the San Juan’s during spring break and it has always rained on us. May – August is a dream.

There are things to see however, that are just so special. Here are my favorites for families:

1. Nature walk in Spencer Spit Park. We made this an all day thing and had so much fun walking out to the middle of the ocean! You have to go to see what I’m talking about!
2. If the weather get’s bad, go to the cutest library you have ever seen! The Lopez Island Library has the best children’s area ever!
3. Lopez Island Creamery. This isn’t just your average ice cream – this is famous, handmade, made one batch at a time! Don’t you dare go to Lopez Island and not visit this famous place.
4. Local Farms. Lopez island has a farm culture for sure. Lopez has it all, fresh meat, wine, fruit and veggies, drive around and great your meals made from local farmers! How cool is THAT? Here is a map of all the local farms on Lopez Island.

Stop 2: Decatur Island

We were invited to Decatur Island by friends and it was one of the most unique experiences ever! To get there, prepare to take all food, and supplies with you and in the most consolidated way you can. Think camping… but cooler if you have a house to go to, which we did thank goodness. We headed out and I was reminded that we don’t drive onto this island, we have to take a water taxi in (check out how to get to Decatur Island via water taxi) . DOH! So I back tracked and took all my shopping bags with bread and coffee and chips and fruit and put it into a giant rolling suit case. Much better. Once you get past the packing, this adventure is incredible!

My top things to do:

1. Hiking! We were lucky in that we had some really great guides to take us hiking along these magical trails covered in fairy looking moss. There was one trail that used to be a road and had a bunch of old cars parked along the side that had ‘grown into’ the trail. It was incredible.!
2. Drift wood fun! We stayed in a house located in Davis Bay, there was this adorable pirate ship made out of drift wood and club houses made out of drift wood, the kids had a blast and everything is so near by they could play while we sat on the porch.
3. Kayaking! The water was like glass. Not even kidding. I was gliding out there WAY faster than the lakes I usually hit.
4. Campfires!

Another fascinating thing about Decatur Island is we had to take our TRASH off the island. To most this would be a HUGE inconvenience, but I thought it was a great opportunity to teach the kids that we REALLY need to think thru what we are throwing away. Try and see the positive in your trash! ha ha! We had a ‘burn’ trash, this consisted of items we could burn in the camp fire like paper, tissue, cardboard items ect., We had a recycle trash – we would wash everything for reuse, and of course a rubbish trash. For 2 families of 12 people staying 4 days, we only produced 1 bag of trash and 1 bag of recycle. GO US!