Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South of English Camp, watch for the Bay Road turnoff. This connects to the
Westside Road, which leads down the island's west coast. Along this road, you'll
find
San Juan County Park,
a great spot for a picnic. A little farther south you'll
come to
Lime Kiln State Park
, the country's first whale-watching park and
a great place to spot these gentle giants in summer. As Westside Road moves
inland, a left onto Wold Road will bring you to
Pelindaba Lavender Farms,
33
Hawthorne Lane (
&
360/378-4248;
www.pelindaba.com). The farm has more
than 5 acres of lavender plants, and although most of the flowers grown on these
fields go into various products sold by the farm, there is a small field where vis-
itors can cut their own lavender. The plants are at their peak bloom in July and
August, and guided tours are offered May through October. The Gatehouse
Store is packed full of an amazing variety of lavender products. Between May
and October, the farm is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Other months, it is
open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm, with the exception of
January when the farm is closed.
Near the south end of the island you'll find the windswept promontory on
which stood the
American Camp
during the Pig War. Here you'll find a few
reconstructed buildings, a beach, several miles of trails, and a visitor center
(open daily 8am-5pm; in winter, Thurs-Sun 8:30am-4:30pm). Before the
American Camp was built here, this was the site of a Hudson's Bay Company
farm. The meadows sweeping down to the sea were once grazed by sheep and
cattle, but today you'll see only rabbits browsing amid the high grasses and wild-
flowers. Some of the hiking trails here lead along the grassy bluffs and down to
the beach. Our favorite area trails are the
Mt. Finlayson Trail,
which leads to
the top of a grassy hill, and the
Lagoon Trail,
which leads through a dark for-
est of Douglas firs to a small log-choked Jackle's Lagoon, which is a good spot
for bird-watching. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles.
Continuing past American Camp will bring you to Cattle Point, site of a
lighthouse and the
Cattle Point Interpretive Area.
This latter locale was, in the
1920s, a Navy Radio Compass Station that helped ships navigate the nearby
waters. Today, there are rock outcrops, two tiny beaches, great views of Lopez
Island, interpretive signs, and a few picnic tables that make this one of the best
picnic spots on the island. Cattle Point is also a good destination for a bike ride
from Friday Harbor.
BOAT & BUS TOURS
If you come over to San Juan Island without a car and want to see as much of
the island as possible in a short amount of time, consider taking a narrated bus
tour through
San Juan Transit,
Cannery Landing building, Front and East
streets (
&
800/887-8387
or 360/378-8887; www.sanjuantransit.com), which
has its office right at the ferry landing and charges $17 for adults, $16 for sen-
iors, $10 for kids 8 to 17 with adult, free for children under 8 with adult.
SPORTS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
BICYCLING
Bicycling is a favorite sport of island visitors. Winding country
roads are almost ideal for leisurely trips. If you didn't bring your own wheels, you
can rent a bike in Friday Harbor from
Island Bicycles,
380 Argyle St. (
&
360/
378-4941
), which charges $6 per hour (2-hr. minimum) and $30 per day. Here
on San Juan Island you can also rent scooters and mopeds. They're available in
Friday Harbor by the hour or by the day from
Island Scooter Rental,
85 Front
