San Juans

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bshillam

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Ok - so we're going to be heading to Neah Bay and then for the week following we'd like to visit the San Jauns. I think marina' and a few quite places would be nice. Any suggestions brats? I just got some info from Washington State on the San Juans and I don't feel a week is going to be long enough. But that's all the time we have this summer. :wink
 
We still love to go to blakley island marina to get away from the noise and crowds of the bigger ports. Small and well protected, close to good fishing and crabbing, clean hot showers and great ice cream with fresh waffle cones. and dont forget the internet hotspot in the head.
 
WAY too many great places in the San Juans to answer off the cuff...our two favorite places are not marinas. Eagle Harbor on Cypress Island and Matia Cove (the southeast cove) on Matia Island are just great spots, as is Shallow Bay (or any other bay) on Sucia Island. Will have to let others answer about marinas, we would rather eat dirt than stay willingly in a marina when we could be swinging on the hook!
 
Rosario on Orcas Island is a great place to go if you want to combine an old time hotel with a decent but small marina. The staff is very anxious to please and there are several swimming pools and a hot tub. Not really a boating experience per se but a very nice destination for a day or two of being pampered. Not cheap, we paid $55 a night. Also, they do not have a pumpout.

Warren
 
Yes - we do like the nicer marina's with a good location to shopping or good food. At the same time a nice spot that has an isolated cove would be great too. I'd enjoy testing our dingy out as a tender, this would be a great excuse to do so. Keep the ideas coming! :thup
 
We really love Jones Island. Great bay on the northeast side, you can anchor or grab a mooring. We also love Yellow Island ( next to Jones), it is owned by the nature conservancy and is open to the public, just anchor off of the south facing beach, and take a wonderful hike . Lastly don't over look Turn Island. Turn and Jones are state parks. All three of these islands are within five miles of Friday Harbor.
and don't forget Parks Bay on Shaw.
The list really could go on and on, but these three are really nice and so close to Friday Harbor
ENJOY!!!!!.
 
Well, a week to do the San Juans. As you said, not enough time but a good start. Here are a few suggestions :

Marinas/towns: Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Rosario Resort, Eastsound
State Park anchorages/docks: Sucia Island, Matia Island, Doe island, Garrison Bay, Olga, Jones Island, Stuart island-Reid Harbor/Prevost Harbor, Blind bay, James island.

There's much more but these are all worth seeing. I'll be glad to give more detail on any particular places you might be interested in.
 
We enjoy Deer Harbor Marina on Orcas Island. Probably our teenage daughter's favorite because of the well maintained swimming pool. A very small marina store with elevated prices, however Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is a quick cruise away with a reasonable and busy grocery store and many other businesses (restaurants, pubs, marine supply store, hardware....etc. etc.). Additionally, Deer Harbor is centrally located for the San Juan Islands. In recent years we've been staying there and using it as a "home" base for daily cruises to explore other islands and seek out whales to watch.
 
There lits of great places get a guide book that is part of the fun. For
resorts we like Rasario. Gary the dockmaster is great and a joy to watch
bring the boats in keep you radio on 68 to enjoy. The pools are very warm.
Don't miss the organ concert most every night check when you make
a reservation which is a good idea there. You can also pick up one of there
mooring balls for 25.00 and still have use of the resort. Its only a short
dinghy ride away. Note the restarant in the hotel is pricey and ok but not a
great value.
:smiled john schuler :smiled
 
Yeah, probably the best plan is to get a MapTech Waterproof Charbook of the San Juans (~$50) and a Waggoner Cruising Guide (~$20). The chartbook will show you where everything is located, and the Waggoner will pretty much tell you everything you need to know to decide where you want to go.
 
Too big a question, too little time. There's a place for just about every cruising need in the San Juans. I agree with Daydream, a good set of charts and a guidebook will allow you to find your perfect place.
A few of mine are Sucia and Stuart, any bay on either. Both offer great hiking. My favorite hike is to the light house on Stuart. Favorite quiet anchorage is Hunter Bay on Lopez. The shore is all private but there is a launch pier a short dinghy ride away. Best lunch stop was near the public pier in West Sound but the restaurant there has gone upscale and no longer serves lunch. This only shows that the islands are always changing. Your place is there but you will have to discover it. Have fun.
 
bshillam, where are you going to launch from? are you going to run from neah bay to the islands? long hull. or are you going to pull out of neah and put in where? for the run to the SJ?
 
Pat Anderson":13gakgad said:
...our two favorite places are not marinas. Matia Cove (the southeast cove) on Matia Island are just great spots, as is Shallow Bay (or any other bay) on Sucia Island. !
Click to expand...

Second that! Both great spots. The sunset from Sucia is awesome.
 
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