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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon: Program Registration & Orientation: After you have your room assignment, head to the conference room at 5:00 p.m. to register with the Road Scholar program staff, which is also where our Orientation session will take place. You’ll receive a welcome packet with your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, and other important information. If you will arrive later than 8:00 p.m., please ask for your packet when you check in. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: In the Conference Dining Room, we’ll enjoy a catered Northwest-style dinner plus coffee, tea, water.
Evening: Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Driving approx. 96 miles total; about 3 hours. Morning drive of approx. 81 miles to LaConner, WA; about 1.5 hours. Afternoon drive of approx. 15 miles to Anacortes; about .5 hour. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout day; standing for up to 2 hours at museum. Getting on/off ferry; ride is approx. 20 miles from Anacortes to Friday Harbor; about 1.5 hours. Short shuttle ride from ferry to Friday Harbor hotel.
Breakfast: Breakfast will be served in the conference room.
Morning: Once checked out of the hotel, we’ll visit the artfully designed Hibulb Cultural Center for a field trip led by a museum docent. The cultural center has over 23,000 square feet of exhibits and classrooms and the natural history preserve is 50 acres dedicated to telling the story of the “salmon people,” the Tulalip Nation. The artifacts, carvings, art and interactive displays weave insight and understanding to the land, the people, and the culture of the many Northwest Tribal ancestors.
Lunch: In our motor coach, we'll travel to Anacortes, WA. At a local restaurant, we’ll have lunch with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon: We'll board the Washington State ferry bound for San Juan Island. You may wish to enjoy the view of the National Scenic Byway through a tapestry of Islands from the inside passenger cabins or from the outside decks as we take our 1.5 hour journey through the archipelago to Friday Harbor. Upon arrival at the dock in the late afternoon, we’ll make a quick transfer via shuttle check into the hotel.
Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a tasty meal featuring salad, a main entrée, sides, vegetables, and dessert, plus coffee, tea, water. You may bring other beverages of your own with you.
Evening: A local resident expert joins us to offer an insider’s look at contemporary life in the Islands and explores issues affecting island life.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; some paved walkways, some uneven pathways and dirt trails with exposed rocks and tree roots. Riding in mini-buses for approx. 55 miles total; 4 ride segments of about 1/2 hour each.
Breakfast: In the hotel conference room, the breakfast will feature an egg dish, fresh fruit, assorted hot/cold cereals and breakfast breads, plus juice, milk, coffee, tea, water.
Morning: A local resident historian will join us in the hotel conference room for a presentation on San Juan Island history. Then, we’ll set out via mini-buses for a field trip with our Group Leader around the south end of San Juan Island to American Camp National Park where we will get an overview of the Pig War, during which both American and British troops occupied the island. Afterwards, we’ll walk to the redoubt area and view the remaining American Camp structures. Our field trip will continue with our Group Leader at Limekiln Point State Park, one of the best places in the world to view whales from land, and home to Orca research outpost and lighthouse. Keeping an eye out for the whales as they search for their main food source, salmon, we’ll make our way with our Group Leader to the lighthouse research center to see the studies being done on Orcas.
Lunch: At Limekiln Lighthouse, we’ll have our sack lunches featuring a sandwich, chips or deli salad, beverage, and a chef’s choice fresh bakery treat for everyone.
Afternoon: Continuing, we'll travel to the northern tip of San Juan Island to explore the National Historical Park at English Camp with our Group Leader. While here, we’ll see the parade grounds, formal garden, historical buildings, and the blockhouse, all of which remain from the British occupation. As we look around, we’ll take note of contrasts with the American encampment we saw earlier on the south end of the island.
Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a tasty meal in the conference room featuring salad, an entrée, sides, and dessert, plus coffee, tea, water. You may bring other beverages of your own with you.
Evening: Gathering in the hotel conference room, we’ll attend a presentation given by a local guest artist showcasing the creative and artistic spirits that are abundant in these islands.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; some paved walkways, some dirt paths with uneven surfaces or exposed tree roots; some stairs (less than 60 steps total for all stairways); periods of standing up to 1 hours at all locations. Getting on/off mini-buses; riding on mini buses for approx. 20 miles total; 4 ride segments of about 1/2 hour each. Getting on/off ferry; ride is approx. 20 miles roundtrip; approx. 1 hour each way.
Breakfast: Early hotel breakfast.
Morning: We’ll start out by boarding the inter-island ferry for the scenic cruise to Orcas Island. Arriving at the dock, we’ll transfer via mini-bus to Moran State Park and Mount Constitution (the highest point in the islands). At Mount Constitution, we’ll enjoy panoramic views of surrounding islands and the Cascade Mountain range while we learn about the unique history of Moran State Park.
Lunch: On Orcas Island, we’ll have our sack lunches featuring a sandwich, chips or deli salad, beverage, and a chef’s choice fresh bakery treat for everyone.
Afternoon: After lunch, take some time to independently enjoy and explore the galleries, bookstores, and shops in the waterfront Village of Eastsound. After rendezvousing at a predetermined time and place, our field trip continues to an historic 1800’s schoolhouse. A local historian joins us to share the story of this preserved one-room schoolhouse and its role in the community. Next, we’ll visit a unique Farm Preserve designed to ensure the future of local agriculture. The 185 acres Preserve spans Orcas Island’s Crow Valley, encompassing an expanse of scenic open-space, habitat resources, and productive agricultural land that is made perpetually available to future generations of farmers. Back aboard the ferry in the late afternoon, we’ll cruise through the islands and return to Friday Harbor in time for dinner.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; 25 steps with railing at Whale Museum; standing for up to 1.5 hours at each museum; mostly sidewalks or paved walkways.
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast.
Morning: A wildlife rehabilitation expert will join us in the hotel conference room to begin our morning with an informative presentation about the wildlife that call the San Juan Islands home. We’ll learn about the rehabilitation efforts and techniques of the organization while also learning about the specific characteristics of local species. Following our presentation, we will set out for a walking field trip to the San Juan Island Historical Museum. A docent / education curator will lead our exploration at the museum.
Lunch: Lunch at hotel.
Afternoon: Everyone will go on a walking field trip to the Whale Museum (the nation's first museum dedicated to whales living in the wild). Enjoy some afternoon free time to explore Friday Harbor or otherwise enjoy as you wish! We’ll meet up at the hotel late afternoon to walk to a local gallery and artist cooperative. Enjoy social time at a private hosted reception and learn about the many artists that call the islands home and see their creative works first-hand.
Dinner: Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Evening: After a full day, the evening is yours to enjoy. Visit with fellow group members, explore the quaint town of Friday Harbor, or simply relax and enjoy the hotel amenities.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; some paved walkways, some dirt paths with uneven surfaces and exposed tree roots; some stairs (less than 30 steps total for all stairways); periods of standing up to 1 hour outside at farm. Driving approx. 20 miles; 3 ride segments of less than 1/2 hour each. Getting on/off ferry; approx. 20 miles total; about 2.5 hours round trip.
Breakfast: Early hotel breakfast.
Morning: Hopping aboard the Washington State Ferry again, this time we will sail to Lopez Island. The morning begins with a visit a local land preserve to learn about its important ecological and cultural impact in the community. After, we’ll transfer to a local waterfront location to hear first-hand from a Lopez Community Land Trust representative about an acclaimed local organization dedicated to building a diverse, sustainable Lopez Island community through award-winning environmentally designed affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, and other dynamic and successful rural development programs.
Lunch: Lunch will be at a local restaurant & grill, where you can enjoy the scenic island water and marina views.
Afternoon: After some free time to explore Lopez Village, we'll visit a beautifully restored historic farm, home to a goat dairy, gardens, and a fruit orchard. Upon arrival, a local resident farmer will lead us around while teaching us about the history of the farm, the process it underwent in order to convert to a USDA-approved goat dairy, and how sustainable farming has enhanced the community. Afterwards, we'll return to the ferry and make our way back to San Juan.
Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a tasty farewell dinner. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening: As our program winds to a close, we’ll celebrate the final evening with a brief review of our week and go over the morning departure details. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 6:15 a.m. Ferry transfer to Anacortes, WA, is approx. 20 miles; about 1.5 hours. Driving approx. 100 miles from Anacortes to Seattle; about 2.5 hours. Drop-offs at SeaTac International Airport and the starting hotel will be at approximately 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., respectively. Scheduling outbound flights after 2:30 p.m. is advised.
Breakfast: Early hotel breakfast.
Morning: Once checked-out of the hotel, we’ll depart Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, via the Washington State Ferry. Upon docking in Anacortes, we’ll transfer to a chartered motorcoach and ride to Seattle with drop-offs at SeaTac International Airport and the starting hotel. This concludes our program. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!