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San Juan Suggestions?
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Jake B



Joined: 06 Jun 2012
Posts: 521
City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
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Vessel Name: PLUS 3
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 11:25 am    Post subject: San Juan Suggestions? Reply with quote

So we Leave Tuesday evening for almost a week in the San Juan’s. we had no plans or itinerary other than we were spending two days with the little ones on board and planned to stay in marinas with them on the dock. Thursday mid-day we would run them back to Sequim and they were going with grandparents and we were meeting up with some friends in there sea sport and just winging it. well plans have changed friends can’t go and we have decided to take the kids for the whole trip. Because of this we are leaning/hopping to be on a dock of some kind for the over nighter and anchoring just for day trips. Also with the kids I would like to have a bit more planned and less winging it. Anyone have suggestion on certain state parks or places we have a shot at getting some dock space? we plan to stay in Friday harbor and Roche one night each for showers and whatnot, and Sucia is a must on this trip. Also just curious if there are kid parks within walking distance of landing or short hikes to tire them out. kids are 5 and 3. but have done numerous 2-3 night trips in the boat not a week though. Also we have really only gone across and stayed in Friday harbor we didn’t really branch out last year and our goal is to do that this year.
Also we have the waggoner and dreamspeaker books to help out as well.

open to suggestion or tipa and ideas, thanks!
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Pat Anderson



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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll just mention that James Island has a small dock if you're lucky enough to get there at the right time. Only room for about 4 boats our size. Stewart and Jones also have docks and there are frequently deer at Jones that are very tame.
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Dreamer



Joined: 01 Jan 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm sure you have comfortable PFD's for the kids. Get a couple if small dip nets and buckets. That will amuse the kids for hours.

Jones Island is a great place with trails to hike. Lock up everything on the boat, especially at night, Raccoons will raid your food and ice chest if left out.

Reid Harbor on Stuart Island offers hikes galore, some long, some short. The dock usually has an open spot mid morning as folks move on to other ports.

Fossil Bay on Sucia Island. has nice docks too and fun places to hike.

Have a great time!
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SanBill



Joined: 18 Feb 2014
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City/Region: San Juan Island
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 1:53 pm    Post subject: San Juan islands with kids Reply with quote

This summer a new business opened in Friday Harbor called "A Place to Play". http://www.aplacetoplay.biz. It appears to be an indoor playground / drop-in center for all age kids. Right on Spring Street next to 'the Pearl' restaurant. My kids are a bit too old (40+), so I can't comment on how well it works.
Bill

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Jake B



Joined: 06 Jun 2012
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City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
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Vessel Name: PLUS 3
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the tips, Yes both kids have mustang jackets and are used to wearing them all day. we have one dip net and will get another when up there, the kids had a blast with them last year on teh dock.Thanks for the hike info we are looking forward to the trip, just would of made better plans had we known kids were going for the whole time.

In the event we don’t get dock space we will have the dingy and can use mooring balls or drop anchor too. However we have never tied to a mooring ball before, reading online looks like there are two ways people do it. Either through mooring ring and shackle it to a rope on the bow eye. or tie both port and starboard side off to cleats one better than the other?

I figured easiest way would be to have a 10-12' rope attached to bow eye and shackle on the other and just cleat off between stops.

And reading on the Friday harbor gas deal where is the preferred fueling spot? Usually we have enough to make it across and back and fuel up at home. But we will need fuel this trip.


Last edited by Jake B on Mon Aug 18, 2014 1:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Jake B



Joined: 06 Jun 2012
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks sanbill and for the Pm also
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MikeR



Joined: 21 Apr 2013
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Since you have a dinghy, one of my favorite anchorages is Garrison bay at the Northwest end of San Juan Island - big, protected bay with a dinghy dock, and lots to do for the kids (historical English Camp, many short hiking trails). Even though it's on San Juan Island, the bay is really more of a park setting due to being surrounded by a park. But Roche Harbor is also a short dinghy trip, depending on how big/fast your dinghy is. Not sure if there are any buoys in Garrison bay but I've anchored there for several days in a stiff breeze and the anchor did not budge.
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Dreamer



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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jake, There's fuel at Deer Harbor and at Roche Harbor.
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Jake B



Joined: 06 Jun 2012
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City/Region: Sequim
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MikeR thanks for that spot we will check it out. while we have a dingy it is still human powered so really only good for short trips to and from shore. thanks for all the ideas we should be able to keep them entertained for a while........We hope
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Jake B



Joined: 06 Jun 2012
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City/Region: Sequim
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 4:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

good to hear about the fuel options too, I have heard more than one story of bad fuel at friday, although it happens everywhere, I would figure a big place like FH would be more rare.
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chriscarrera



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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, having 2 girls, almost 6 and 3.5, I should chime in.
They love Sucia, shallow bay with its caves and sandy beach.
However a dock is nice for dip netting, our major passtime.
Any place with a pool is nice too. Deere harbor, Roche, Rosario is awesome.

Basically at this age my wife needs a dock for the kids. So that is what we try to do.

Oh yeah, headlamps are great for evening dip netting.

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Salmon Fisher



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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I second Deer Harbor. Great little marina and has a store right there with a grill for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Really good food and hand dipped ice cream, too. There is also a nice beach right there for the kids to wade and swim. Very low key place. The pool is included in your moorage and it's heated so the kids would like that. Really cool walk along a closed road now a park. Just turn right after walking off the dock and up the hill. After 1/4 mile it becomes a trail.

I also think Sucia is one of the gems. Lots of hiking. Shallow Bay is our favorite. Great swimming beach on the north part of the cove and anchoring is easy if a mooring ball is not available. Very peaceful.

Good choice for this weekend. Hopefully you see some orcas, too!

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DuckDogTitus



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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jake,

I recommend calling West Beach and seeing if you can get dock space there. they have some daily kids activities, an ice cream bar and you can walk around the area. the walk to east sound is a little long though at 3 miles but you could probably call a cab if you wanted to.

OR Rosario resort is a little more grown up but does have a family pool as well.

at west beach I saw lots of kids last week and they were fishing/crabbing on the dock etc. its family oriented place. showers and bathrooms available. they also have fuel and mooring buoys and are just a few miles from Sucia.

I really liked Blakely Island Marina but its a little small for entertaining kids.

Jones Island is a fun hike if you can get space on the dock or buoys.

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JamesTXSD



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PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 10:41 pm    Post subject: Re: San Juan islands with kids Reply with quote

SanBill wrote:
This summer a new business opened in Friday Harbor called "A Place to Play". http://www.aplacetoplay.biz. It appears to be an indoor playground / drop-in center for all age kids. Right on Spring Street next to 'the Pearl' restaurant. My kids are a bit too old (40+), so I can't comment on how well it works.
Bill


All great suggestions. The San Juans offer so many options! The place mentioned above has been getting rave reviews from our guests with kids... parents have to stay with the kids (it isn't a baby sitting service), but the parents seem to be as entertained as the kids.

We see kids on the docks with their nets every day - and they are having a ball! Get to the shallow areas in the marina and you can easily see right to the bottom.

If you want to do a fun land activity, check out Suzie's Mopeds - they have Scoot Coupes, a side-by-side conveyance (so you'd have to do two of them) that would get you all around San Juan Island.

There is a farmers market in FH on Saturdays.

You can rent kayaks in Roche Harbor.

Garrison Bay is a great recommendation - the kids may be too young to understand the historical aspect, but there is a flower garden that some kids think is "a maze". Wink

The whales have been around more this season than any other we've experienced. While they are NOT in a specific place at a particular time, it can be fun for kids to scan for them.

Stuart Island (also mentioned) has good hiking trails, and a "treasure chest" (you will have to buy them a t-shirt if you find it) and a one room schoolhouse that is open so you can see the work the kids are doing. It is a pretty good uphill hike from either Reid or Prevost Harbors - you may wind up carrying the 3 year old. Not sure if the swing is still there along the gravel road/path (haven't been there this season), but if so, it would be a fun rest stop along the way.

Deer Harbor and Cap Sante in Anacortes both have NON-ethanol fuel. That's where we buy our boat fuel.

If you bring your passports, an overnight (or two) in Victoria is big fun. Stay on the Causeway Docks, and the kids can be entertained by the buskers (music, juggling, etc) just steps away from the boat, on the waterfront.

Have fun!

Jim B.

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Jake B



Joined: 06 Jun 2012
Posts: 521
City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
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Vessel Name: PLUS 3
Photos: PLUS 3
PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 2:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thank you all for all the tips I am printing this out so we have it with us. the mopeds seem like a fun way to kill an afternoon and we were planning on checking them out when it was just adults, good to hear they have side by side we will look into that.
Also thanks for the info on the deer harbor, if the kids got to swim in an actual pool they would never want to leave so we will be trying to get there for one night. can you reserve ahead of time?
boat is mostly packed up after work tonight we will finish loading and launch out of john Wayne and tie up to Sequim bay state park, weather looks decent tomorrow so I will head out for an early crossing. Sucia is one thing we really want to see and also the furthest so weather permitting we will head there first either west side of San Juan or through the islands through cattle pass. then work our way back. thanks again for all the info
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