San Juan Island with kids: a two-day itinerary

We love the San Juan Islands, situated north of Seattle at the very last reaches of Washington State. The San Juans are ideal to visit in summer and fall, but can make for a great (and affordable) winter or spring retreat as well. If you haven’t visited these islands and don’t know where to start, we recommend a two-day itinerary on San Juan Island with kids.

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Base yourself in picturesque Friday Harbor, with lodging and dining just steps from the ferry landing. From here, you’ll be set for a day of exploration of this quaint town, followed by a wider tour of the island on your second day. Ready?

Day 1: Friday Harbor sights and history

From the outside, Friday Harbor looks like the perfect tourist town: pretty and filled with shops and dining picks. It is all that, but it’s also so much more. This town harbors (pun intended) a lot of history. After arriving on the ferry, grab a bite to eat, then walk into the heart of town. By all means, stop to poke around the art galleries and shops, but make your way up the hill as you go.

Whale Museum: You’ll encounter the Whale Museum on 1st Street (right up from Spring Street). This small yet very well-done museum is ideal for all ages. Its exhibits are playful and accessible for young kids, and each room offers deeper exploration for older kids. The emphasis of the Whale Museum is not on whale hunting, but rather on whale conservation. There’s a strong eco-friendly message. Best of all, the Whale Museum is open year-round, and affordable for families at only $3-$5 admission.

San Juan Historical Museum: This museum and historical complex is just a bit further up Spring Street, on the 1894 James King farmstead. The museum itself is open seasonally (summer hours), but the grounds remain open for families to visit. Each outdoor exhibit is well-marked, and include a historical shipwreck, an 1891 log cabin converted to a replica schoolhouse, and a county jail. The Museum of History and Industry within the San Juan Historical Museum has two wings currently open, and work is progressing on the Farming and Fishing sections.

san-juan-islands-history

Whale watching: We went with Spirit of Orca, and saw whales from two of the three pods in this region, J, K & L­—the Southern Residentsand some transients that can be seen year round, as well as Steller sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, and more. Captain Ken was fantastic! Another option is to try to see orcas from the shore, or while on kayak toursThe orca whale population in the San Juan Islands is suffering, and it can be harder and harder to spot orcas on tours. It’s important to be respectful of the best standards of practice while whale watching in this area, which includes keeping all boats a required distance away. Always go with an operator following these practices.

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By this time, the kids may be tired of walking and you all may be ready for some downtime. Head back to the pier where kids can check out the totem poles recently commissioned to display overlooking the bay, and watch the many boats coming and going. Families can book a whale watching tour, or take a ride in a historic ship.

For dinner, stay down by the water, and grab a bite at any one of the seafood restaurants. You really can’t go wrong!

Where to stay: Get our top picks!

Day 2: Roche Harbor and the Pig War

Any kid would be interested in learning about something called the Pig War, right? Start your day at Roche Harbor, a short drive from Friday Harbor. Here, families can check out the historic site where a lime and cement company once reigned, causing the population of this sleepy area to boom. On the way, stop at the sculpture garden for a nice walk.

roche-harbor

Kayaking Roche Harbor: See the harbor and adjacent islands up close on a kayak tour with San Juan Outfitters. This company operates right off the pier (as well as at Friday Harbor) and offers 3-hour tours perfect for family outings. Our guide Alex kept us all entertained with interesting stories of kayaking adventure, and was able to point out marine life and nautical knowledge along the way. We made our way to giant bull kelp beds, where Alex showcased his talents as a bull kelp musician. (You had to be there!)

After kayaking, you’ll be hungry, so stop at the Lime Kiln Cafe for sandwiches. The lines can get long, which is how you know it’s worth it!

san-juan-outfitters

Exploring English Camp: After lunch, it’s time to learn about this Pig War business. Every San Juan Island school child knows the story: in short, the English and Americans co-occupied the island in the first half of the 19th century. In 1859, an English citizen killed an American’s pig, prompting a stand-off regarding who had control over the island. It was settled peacefully, which means this story has a happy ending. Families can visit both English Camp and American Camp (located at separate ends of the island). Our pick is English Camp, which is a national historic site. Hiking trails criss-cross the park, and families can make their way from the bluffs where the English officers built their homes to the bay, where a garrison still stands. Kids can see what herbs might have been grown in the gardens, and earn Junior Ranger badges (weekends only in the off-season).

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Where to eat:

With the kids, you can’t go wrong along Front Street by the ferry terminal in Friday Harbor, because there’s always something to see. We loved our dining experience at Downriggers, which offers a very nice selection of cocktails, beer and wine and has deckside seating overlooking the ferry.

For a nice dinner out (perhaps without the kids, though they’re welcome), Duck Soup offers a rustic island ambiance with outstanding cocktails and entrees using foraged edibles and the freshest seafood. Be sure to try a white wine from San Juan Vineyards during your stay on the island, as well!

How to get here:

Getting to San Juan Island is half the fun! Families will most likely want to have their car, so a ferry ride on Washington State Ferries from Anacortes, Washington is the way to go. Should you not need a car, it’s possible to take the Victoria Clipper from Seattle or the Puget Sound Express from Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula, during the summer months.

Have you been to San Juan Island? What do you recommend?

Lakedale Resort: San Juan Islands glamping

After a stay in 2015, we listed Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes as our #1 kid-friendly resort pick on San Juan Island Washington. And guess what? In the years since, they’ve only improved their offerings. New this summer, Lakedale has become the premier location for San Juan Islands glamping, as well as continuing to offer a diverse list of additional accommodation options.

Located conveniently between Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor (less than a ten-minute drive from both), Lakedale began humbly as a private campground and has been adding to its offerings ever since. Visitors can now choose between a lodge stay (16 years and up), a cabin stay, canvas tent cabins and cottages, tent camping spaces, a vintage Airstream, or, new this year, glamping yurts. Here’s what you need to know about all your options:

Glamping yurts:

The yurt village is located at the far end of the property, tucked away past an area called ‘the meadow’ by Fish Hook Lake. All seven 24 foot-diameter yurts feel secluded enough, and private. You get 450-square-feet of room, and inside and out, it’s all luxury.

The living room area includes a full sleeper sofa, rocking chair, dining table and chairs for four, and a flat-panel smart TV (just log in with your own Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon account). Adjacent you get a kitchenette, including a wet bar and mid-sized fridge. The bedroom area (all open concept) has a king-sized bed that’s extremely comfortable. And yes, you get a bathroom inside the yurt, with full plumbing. It’s roomy and equipped with everything you need, from towels to a hair dryer.

Each yurt has full electricity (though no air conditioning…don’t worry, you don’t need it) and a big deck with a hot tub (yes, truly!), two chairs, and an outdoor dining area with table and four chairs, plus a barbeque. All your linens, blankets and towels are at the ready, including hot tub/beach towels, and there’s a communal fire pit for the yurt village adjacent. The kitchen area is fully equipped with dishes, cups, a coffee service, and a microwave.

Additional lodging options:

Log cabins:

When our family came in 2015, we stayed in one of Lakedale’s two bedroom, two full bath cabins, with a sofa bed that sleeps six. If you need a full kitchen and lots of space, this is the place to be. Outdoors, you get your own fire ring, and there’s a communal hot tub for the cabins.

Canvas cottages:

Lakedale’s original glamping option is found in the canvas cottage village, located in the middle of the property.  You get 350 square feet of space, with king-size pillow top beds with flannel duvet covers, your own bathroom complete with shower, daybed sleeper (extending to king-size) a chandelier (yep!), a table with four chairs and a fire ring. All cottages are lakefront, which might make them even more popular for families than the yurts.

Canvas tents:

Want a hybrid between tent camping and glamping?  The smaller canvas cabins feature a queen-size bed with pillow-top bedding and flannel duvet, a table and four chairs, a cordless lantern, bath linens, as well as a full-size futon that sleeps two. You get turn-down service in both the cottages and the tents, during which Lakedale will deliver two fleece-covered hot water bottles to keep you warm. Note: there is no electricity or running water in the canvas tents, but the shower building is located right across the way.

With both the canvas cottages and tents, your nightly rate includes a complimentary breakfast in the Mess Hall Tent, located in the heart of the village. You’ll find a pancake machine, granola, oatmeal, yogurt hard-boiled eggs, cereal, fruit, danishes, and coffee, tea, and juices.

Note: the Airstream is bundled with the canvas village and enjoys the same continental breakfast offerings in the Mess Hall Tent.

Tent camping sites:

There are a wide variety of campsites, which all share a shower building and bathroom, with additional port-a-potties throughout the meandering campground. I love that each site is different, and many are tucked away (it is easy to find privacy, usually hard to come by at a large campground). The classic campsite accommodates one tent (four people) and one vehicle. Every campsite has a fire pit and picnic table. Family campsites are larger and can fit more than one tent and two vehicles. You can also upgrade to a lakeside campsite in either size, which I recommend. There are a few really large group sites and some hike-in/bike-in sites for ultimate quiet and privacy.

Tip: for an extra $45, Lakedale will set up a two-person tent, two cots, and two chairs for you before you arrive. It can be difficult to bring all your camping gear with you if you’re not driving over (walk-on ferry passenger), so this is a great option.

If you don’t want to be near a neighbor, I recommend a site in the 200-loop (there are not 200+ sites; they are simply numbered this way) on the outer edge of the ring. Site 110 and site 30 are also ideal.

Note: there are only five RV sites in Lakedale. There simply isn’t space, as their camping sites are all different shapes and sizes to fit the natural surroundings.

Lodge stay:

Lodge rooms are limited and for adults only (each sleep two). You get a full breakfast in the lodge included in your stay, and the back deck of the lodge is a very tranquil place. I recommend coming to Lakedale with kids, then returning in the off-season to enjoy the lodge as a grown-up getaway. The lodge and log cabins are open year-round at Lakedale, but camping and glamping is currently seasonal.

Lakedale Activities:

There is so much to do on-site! Bring bikes, as you’ll want them cruising around the resort (or borrow one of the bikes available on a first-come, first-served basis). The General Store is the central hub of activity, where watersport rentals are offered (water trikes, paddleboards, kayaks, etc) and fishing gear can be procured. You can also grab lunch here, plus ice cream, fire wood, and gourmet items for the grill, such as pre-made kabobs and burgers.

Swimming is popular at Lakedale, and there’s a nice beach area with shallow entry for young kids. Lawn games such as horseshoes, bocce ball and giant chess are plentiful. The activities tent always has activities for kids, such as boat races, birdhouse building, t-shirt tie-dying, and more. Some activities come with an added cost, but most are free. And of course, you’re close to all San Juan Island has to offer. Check out our suggested two-day itinerary, which could be stretched to 3-4 days while staying at Lakedale.

For pricing on lodging options at Lakedale, we suggest calling the friendly front desk of the lodge, as prices do vary by season and they can help you find just the right option for your family.

Disclosure: I experienced San Juan glamping at Lakedale as a guest of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain my own.

Best travel experiences of 2015: Our top family trips

In the travel industry, there are a lot of articles and advertising messages that tell parents to hurry up and see it all. Go before they grow up. See it before they’re out of school. You only have X number of years left. While I appreciate the effort to get families out their front door, I urge parents to remember that primarily, travel is about time together, sharing experiences and new places, wherever that may be.

best travel experiences of 2015

Fun contests like the #LuvRitzSweepstakes get this, and help parents take the pressure off travel and add the fun. After checking out our favorite destinations for 2015, let us know where you’d like to go, for a chance to win $5000 in Southwest gift cards. (More info below!)

In the meantime, here are our top travel experiences for 2015! We logged over 70 travel days in 2015. We visited many good destinations, a few just ok ones, a couple of duds, and a handful of absolutely amazing ones. Picking just five for our top travel picks proved hard, as usual!

Three Bars Ranch, Cranbrook BC:

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Snagging the top spot is an all-inclusive dude ranch tucked into the Canadian Rockies. Three Bars Ranch eclipsed even our already high standards when it came to dude ranch vacations (Wyoming’s Triangle X Ranch made our top five in 2014). What made it so special: somehow, the team at Three Bars have managed to find that perfect balance of relaxation and adventure, all wrapped up in a friendly atmosphere. It’s 1/3 summer camp, 1/3 cruise, and 1/3 mountain lodge. A week at Three Bars actually leaves you feeling refreshed, instead of needing ‘a vacation from your vacation’.

Black Hills, South Dakota:

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Readers of Pit Stops for Kids know we like our vacations rugged, usually with some mountain air thrown in. I didn’t expect to enjoy South Dakota as much as I did. What made it special: beyond Mt. Rushmore, much more history awaits, ready to be peeled like layers on the proverbial onion. Badlands National Park doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves (think of it as a less crowded Canyonlands), and Custer State Park sports over 1000 buffalo, making us wonder why more families don’t opt to come here in lieu of Yellowstone.

Hanalei, Kauai:

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I haven’t met a Hawaiian island I didn’t like, but I fell in love with Kauai. With a less touristy and more artsy feel than any other tropical island I’ve experienced, Kauai also offers some of the best hiking I’ve seen. We recommend basing a stay in the small town of Hanalei (or in a home rental in nearby Princeville), and spending the majority of your vacation on the wilder, rainier North Shore. Hit an authentic farmer’s market, swim, and try surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, or tubing. Check out all our Kauai coverage.

Palm Beach, Florida:

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Families on the East Coast wanting sun, sand, and Caribbean waters can find all of the above within an easy flight or drive into West Palm Beaches. (There is something to be said for accessibility!) I liked the way city and ocean meet in West Palm Beach, making it easy to spend a full day in the surf followed by a night out with kids in one of the many open-air restaurants. Plus, there are excellent harbor waters in the area, perfect for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. This part of Florida has interesting history, too: we liked checking out the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Hands down, stay in a Marriott Vacation Club property like Oceana Palms for the convenience of in-room kitchens.

San Juan Islands, WA:

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If you want one location that combines family-friendly activities, outdoor exploration, fine dining, and quaint town life, and you’re on the wrong coast for a visit to Nantucket, head to San Juan Islands, WA. What we love: the natural beauty of the islands, the ferry-entrance, the many state park beaches and coves, the cute towns, and the excellent lodging options. To up your adventure a few notches, book a 2-3 day kayak trip with Crystal Seas.

Honorable mention: Idaho Panhandle

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We have to give this awesome region of Idaho a shout-out, because it never fails to surprise us…in great ways! In summer, families can base themselves in either the mountain lake towns of Coeur d’ Alene or Sandpoint, or tuck themselves into the mountains at Kellogg or Wallace. This entire area is rich in mining history and abundant with outdoor opportunities: bike on the newly constructed Hiawatha trail, kayak or swim, or fish. In winter, the skiing is excellent (and affordable) at Silver Mountain and Lookout Pass.

Where would YOU like to go?

Ritz and Southwest Airlines want to know where you want to go and how you enjoy Ritz Crackers. One lucky winner will win $5,000 in Southwest gift cards! Just Tweet or Instagram your response along with #LuvRitzSweepstakes to be entered. (Example: “I want to go to #Dallas for the holidays and enjoy Ritz Mint Thins #LuvRitzSweepstakes”) Personally, the peanut butter, banana, and honey snacks get my vote!

Need more inspiration? Read about our best trips of 2014 and top experiences of 2013!

I partnered with Southwest Airlines and Ritz Crackers on this post. All opinions and destination picks remain my own.

 

Multi-day kayaking in the San Juan Islands

Families will always see more detail of the area they’re traveling by car rather than by plane, and even more by bicycle than by car. In the San Juan Islands, there’s no better way to explore this vast network of islands than by kayak.

overnight-kayaking

On our previous trips to the San Juan Islands, we arrived by ferry, then visited two islands: Orcas and San Juan. This time, we decided we were ready for the bigger adventure of a multi-day kayak trip in the San Juan Islands, camping on remoter islands en route. We embarked with Crystal Seas Kayak, setting out on a perfectly sunny June morning. For two nights and three days, nothing stood between us and the tides, islands, sea, and sky.

What to expect on a Crystal Seas Kayak trip:

After booking our Crystal Seas trip, we were emailed a detailed packing list and FAQs, so we’d know what to bring. In a nutshell, we needed personal items such as clothing, sleeping bags, headlamps, sun protection, and toiletries. Crystal Seas provided everything else, including all food (and meal preparation), tents, sleeping pads, kayaks, and of course, guidance in the form of two guides.

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We met our guides, Brett and Corey, at a designated pick-up location on San Juan Island. This location is usually the ferry dock at Friday Harbor, but Crystal Seas will work with you if a different pick-up location is more convenient. Both Brett and Corey are local to the islands; having grown up in the San Juans, they knew all the ins and outs of the many islands, currents, and tide flows. We were happy to spend three days with both of them.

We shuttled by van to our put-in spot, the San Juan County Park campground and kayak launch on the east side of the island. We transferred our gear to dry bags, and learned how to load our sea kayaks (they’re like clown cars…it’s amazing how much gear fits!). We headed off by mid-morning, paddling to adjacent Henry Island for our first lunch. We then continued across a few miles of open water to reach Stuart Island, our home for the next two nights.

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We paddled approximately 14 miles from our launch site on San Juan Island, but we took most of the day to do it, stopping to look at interesting sites in our kayaks and taking occasional land breaks. As an occasional kayaker (not a total newbie), I didn’t find the distance too strenuous, but we did find it satisfyingly challenging.

Our kids, ages 16, 13, and 10, fared just as well, if not better, than me and my mom, who joined us for this multi-generational trip. The paddling was less challenging for the teens of course, but it was crucial that they listen to instructions by our guides, because while the water looks calm in this part of the Salish Sea most of the time, the currents and tides are to be respected. Without our guides, we absolutely would have made big mistakes, even though we could see land of some sort at all times.

The ‘marine trail’ campsites at Stuart Island’s Reid Harbor are dedicated for human-powered watercraft only, which means kayaks, not motorboats, sailboats, or yachts. The latter can anchor in the bay, and we enjoyed seeing all the watercraft there, but appreciated that the campsites were more isolated, tucked away in the trees just past the beach.

We set up camp before dinner, each group of two finding a spot for their tent and setting it up. We explored the beach and dock, the kids taking a swim (brrr!) and spotting seals, sea stars, and seabirds of all sorts. After appetizers (yes, really!), we sat down to a dinner of salmon, freshly mashed potatoes, and salad with local greens and homemade dressing. Dessert was a pecan pie brought from a local bakery in San Juan (more on food later).

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We settled in for the night by 10 pm (when it starts getting dark at this time of year), and while I woke at first light, the kids all slept in. We planned to remain camped in cozy Reid Harbor, taking a day paddle to explore nearby islands and hike. We enjoyed this more leisurely day, but Brett and Corey also offered an alternative itinerary, which would have included packing up and camping at another island, Jones. While Crystal Seas has a general itinerary set for each trip, we found there was a lot of flexibility when possible.

stuart-island

Our Day 2 included a beautiful paddle around Johns Island, where we floated past a colony of seals and looked for orcas in the strait (no luck this time!). We picnicked lunch on a tiny island (I’m sure it has a name, but I don’t know it, and my map shows it only as a speck!), then paddled ‘home’ to Reid Harbor, where we rested (and they kids played on the beach) before our hike up the nearest ridge to view the islands from 800 feet above sea level. This may have been one of my favorite moments on the trip: the view looked like the most perfect 3D map of the islands I could have asked for. In the sunlight under a blue sky, we could see all the way to the Olympics in one direction and Mt. Baker in the other. We spotted all the islands we’d paddled by, and Brett and Corey pointed out Roche Harbor, on the east side of San Juan. It looked surprisingly close, which is a lesson we learned kayaking in this area: distances are very hard to gauge on the water.

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We enjoyed another amazing meal, then rewarded the kids with a full buffet of s’mores ingredients. Our teens loved making campfires each night, and having the freedom to explore the campsites and nearby trails.

One of the things that makes backcountry trips, of any sort, so special for our family is the together-time. Without electronics, friends, or schedules in the way, the kids play together like they used to when they had less responsibilities and less social life. This trip was no different. Our youngest got his brothers back, and the teens got their childhood back.

They made swords out of sticks, skipped pebbles, spotted schools of fish, jumped off the dock, and wrestled on fallen logs. In other words, they had untethered ‘boy’ time.

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Our last day, we packed up camp early, in order to paddle back to San Juan with the current in our favor. Thank goodness for Brett and Corey, who know these things! We paddled hard the distance back, with few breaks, necessary in this direction, but again, it felt satisfying to accomplish a hard day’s paddle in just a morning! We picnicked lunch back at the put-in spot, then shuttled back to our car. Looking out over the view of the Salish Sea while we ate our last meal together, we weren’t quite ready to leave!

Food on Crystal Seas trips:

In a word, the food is fantastic. We’ve been on several multi-day rafting and kayaking trips, and the food is always good, but Crystal Seas takes it a step further, serving as many local foods as possible. I’d estimate 70% of the foods served were locally sourced or grown. In addition to our salmon meal, we had a wonderful meal of beef and veggie tacos, plus lunches of caprice sandwiches and salmon wraps and breakfasts of bagel sandwiches and yogurt parfaits. There was always fresh fruit, fresh veggies, and snacks like organic chips, top quality trail mix and bars, and spread and dips.

crystal-seas-food

Note: no alternatives to the meal served were offered to children, so if you have a pick eater, let them know ahead of time. They absolutely accommodate all dietary needs, so I’m sure they could accommodate a child who needs a simpler meal. Our teens ate everything in sight, and our 10-year-old like 90% of the meals, but would have been happy with a plain PB&J a few times.

Helpful planning tips:

If you book at multi-day kayak trip with Crystal Seas, here are a few tricks and tips we learned along the way:

  • If you have a car, but you’ve checked out of your accommodations, park at the courthouse parking lot in Friday Harbor. We parked here on recommendation of Crystal Seas, and our car was secure without a parking fee. They picked us up here, too.
  • Organize your gear the night before. While you won’t have your dry bags until you’re at the put-in spot, you don’t want to be organizing your gear from your suitcase or duffle full of clothes at the dock. We set aside all the clothing and personal items we’d need for each person, and packed them in one large packing cube per person. They we only had to transfer the packing cube to the dry bag.
  • You’ll get a separate dry bag for your sleeping bag. The best type to bring is a lightweight down or down alternative bag, which packs down smaller than a camping bag.
  • Don’t forget any medications you might need. We all needed allergy medication during the trip, and luckily we had it with us. The guides will have a medical kit, so we probably could have left ours in the car.
  • Be prepared to get dirty! The campsites are rustic, and there are no showers (though there is a composting toilet at the campground). We brought Wilderness Wipes with us to freshen up a few times.
  • Be prepared for all weather. We lucked out with three perfect days, but we all had rain jackets and down sweaters with us, as well as gloves and beanie knit hats for everyone. On the flip side, we also had sunglasses (a must on the water!) and sun hats.
  • You’ll have a ‘skirt’ on in the kayak, keeping your lower half dry, so don’t worry about being wet and cold while paddling. Arms will get a bit wet from the paddles, but if it makes you cold, wear a rain jacket under your life vest.
  • Don’t forget to tip your guides. Our worked so hard…they definitely deserved it!

Disclosure: we experienced Crystal Seas on a media rate, for the purpose of review. As always, all opinions are our own.

Flying for the fun of it: Take a trip with San Juan Airlines

Yes, you read that right: flying can be fun! In an era when it’s 99% hassle (even for kids!), I had a great time remembering what I love about flying when I spent a morning with San Juan Airlines. Check out my flight from Seattle to Friday Harbor, WA:

Yes, I’m smiling. Actually, I grinned most of the flight. Why? On a small plane–in this case, a Cessna 172 three-seater–it’s easy to remember why flying is fun! Gone are the barriers between you and the act of flight, such as large airline cabins, in-flight service, and movies on your laptop. Gone, too, are the discomforts: overcrowded conditions, delays, and grumpy fellow passengers. Instead, it’s just you and the pilot, an empty runway before you, and the heady sense of disbelief when you actually do defy gravity.

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Do I really do this all the time?

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Not like this!

San Juan Airlines, like several other small carriers in the Northwest, operate flights primarily between the small islands that dot the landscape between Seattle and Canada. They fly out of Bellingham, with stops in Anacortes, Friday Harbor, and smaller island and mainland destinations. However, they are also available for charter flights to over 16 destinations, from Spokane to Kamloops BC. Occasionally, they fly out of Boeing Field in Seattle, which is where I caught a ride.

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When to consider a small carrier flight:

Obviously, flying on a 2-3 passenger airline is rarely going to be the economical choice. However, it’s worth considering whenever you’re traveling to hard-to-reach destinations, because sometimes, it will make the most sense. When I flew San Juan Airlines, I did so because I needed to be on San Juan Island at a specific time, and had I driven and taken a ferry, I would have had to leave my home 24 hours earlier in order to make the schedule work for me! In this case, time was indeed money.

san-juan-airlines

Other times, flying instead of driving may be the best choice if you want to make your travel day as memorable as your vacation. On my San Juan Airlines flight, my pilot, Brett, doubled as a tour guide, pointing out many landmarks as we flew. When I wanted to see something closer, he happily did a circle around the harbor, allowing me to get all the photos I wanted. We’ve paid for scenic helicopter flights when on vacation before; I’d consider a flight with San Juan Airlines to be just as exciting and fun (plus you’re actually getting to your destination!).

Plus, consider this: no security lines, no boarding passes, no baggage carrousels…no waiting! Now that’s flying!

How to book with San Juan Airlines:

Their website makes it pretty clear, especially if you’re traveling their regular route. If you’d like a charter flight, simply fill out their form or give them a call. They’re a small operation, which means you’ll talk to a real live person when you pick up the phone. Tell them what you need, and they’ll work with you to find the route that’s best. Since I had flown into Seattle at SeaTac, for instance, I needed a flight from Boeing Field (in Seattle), not their regular location in Bellingham. Luckily, a flight was available for me!

How to find San Juan Airlines at Boeing:

Boeing Field is located less than 10 miles from SeaTac, but it’s a big place. San Juan Airlines operates out of the Landmark Terminal, which is located at 7149 Perimeter Road. Give your cab driver the exact address, or you could be circling around Boeing for a while! If you don’t get lost, the cab fare will be about $25 in normal traffic conditions. The waiting room is casual and comfortable, with fresh fruit, coffee, and wifi available.

Have you taken a charter flight? Where?