Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
campground is open May through October. Campsites are $33 per night for one
or two people, and campers must be 14 or older.
WHERE TO DINE
When it's time for espresso, head to Lopez Village and drop by
Isabel's Espresso
(
&
360/468-4114
), a locals' hangout in the Village House Building on the cor-
ner of Lopez Road North, Lopez Road South, and Old Post Road. Across the
street, you'll find divinely decadent pastries and other baked goods at
Holly B's
Bakery
(
&
360/468-2133
). For fresh-squeezed juices and healthy light meals,
try
Vortex Juice Bar & Good Food,
Lopez Road South (
&
360/468-4740
),
which is located in Lopez Village in the Old Homestead. Turn up Village Road
North and you'll find
Vita's Wildly Delicious
(
&
360/468-4268
), which is
housed in a colorfully painted Victorian house and sells wines and delicious
gourmet takeout food. A little farther along this same street is the
Lopez Island
Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain,
157 Village Rd. (
&
360/468-4511
), which is
located in the Lopez Island Pharmacy. During the summer, there's a Saturday
farmers market across the street from these latter two businesses.
Bay Café
NORTHWEST/INTERNATIONAL Housed in an eclecti-
cally decorated old waterfront commercial building with a deck that overlooks
Fisherman Bay, the Bay Café serves some of the best food in the state. This is
the sort of place where diners animatedly discuss what that other flavor is in the
molé sauce on the pork tenderloin and where people walk through the door and
exclaim, “I want whatever it is that smells so good!” The menu, though short,
spans the globe and changes frequently. Come with a hearty appetite; meals
include soup and salad, and the desserts are absolutely to die for and often come
decorated with colorful flower petals. Accompany your meal with a bottle of
wine from Lopez Island Vineyards for the quintessential Lopez dinner.
Village Center, Lopez Village.
&
360/468-3700.
Reservations highly recommended. Main courses $18-$26.
AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 5-8:30pm (hours may vary in winter).
Bucky's
AMERICAN With a laid-back island feeling and an outside water-
front deck, this tiny place is where the locals hang out. The food, though simple,
is consistently good—nothing fancy, just delicious. The black-and-blue burger
with blue cheese and Cajun spices definitely gets our vote for best burger in the
islands. If you feel more like seafood, there are fish tacos and fish and chips.
Lopez Village Plaza.
&
360/468-2595.
Reservations taken for parties of 5 or more only. Main courses
$6-$16. MC, V. Apr-Sept daily 11:30am-8:30pm. Closed Oct-Mar.
SHAW ISLAND
Shaw Island is the least developed of the four San Juan Islands served by regular
ferries. Most San Juan visitors know Shaw Island only as the island where the
nuns run the ferry dock. In addition to having a convent, the island is home to
a few hundred tranquillity-loving residents who like the solitude of the island
and want to keep it undeveloped. If you enjoy leisurely drives (or bike rides) in
the country, Shaw Island makes a good day trip from any of the other three
islands. However, there are no hotels, B&Bs, or restaurants, only a general store
at the ferry landing and one small county park down at the south end of the
island. The park,
Shaw Island County Park
(
&
360/378-1842
), does, how-
ever, have a small campground (that takes summer reservations) and is popular
with sea kayakers. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance.
