Washington
Best of the Pacific N.W.: Exploring Three of Washington’s San Juan Islands
Program No. 18520RJ
Enjoy nature, learn about orca whales, visit a lighthouse, discover museums and immerse yourself in history and tradition as you explore San Juan, Orcas and Lopez islands.
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
16 meals (
6B, 5L, 5D
)
7 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Seattle
Meals:
D
Stay:
Skybridge Seattle Airport Hotel
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 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 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.
Day
2
Hibulb Cultural Center, To San Juan Island, Island Life
Location:
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Earthbox Inn & Spa
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:
Vouchers for breakfast will be available and breakfast will be served in the lobby restaurant.
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:
At a local restaurant, we’ll have lunch. Coffee, tea, and water are provided, and other beverages are 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.
Day
3
Island History,San Juan Island Excursion, Meet Local Artist
Location:
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Earthbox Inn & Spa
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:
Served in the hotel conference room.
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, chef's choice side (whole fresh fruit, 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:
Served in the hotel conference room. Coffee, tea, and water are provided. You may bring other beverages of your own with you to dinner.
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.
Day
4
Orcas Island, Mt. Constitution, Historic Schoolhouse
Location:
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Earthbox Inn & Spa
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 breakfast served in hotel conference room.
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, chef's choice side (whole fresh fruit, 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.
Day
5
Wildlife, Friday Harbor Museums, Pre-Dinner Reception
Location:
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Earthbox Inn & Spa
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:
Served in the hotel conference room.
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, where a docent will lead an exploration showcasing the exhibits. We’ll then return to the hotel for lunch.
Lunch:
Served in the hotel conference room.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will set out for a walking field trip to the Whale Museum. A docent will lead an exploration showcasing the exhibits. Enjoy some afternoon free time to explore Friday Harbor or otherwise enjoy as you wish! We’ll meet up at the hotel before dinner to enjoy social time together in the hotel conference room. Enjoy a wine reception featuring Washington wines hosted by Skagit Valley College and your group leader. Celebrate the long term partnership of SVC and Road Scholar, and take time to socialize before dinner and connect with program staff and your fellow participants.
Dinner:
Served in the hotel conference room. Coffee, tea, and water are provided. You may bring other beverages of your own with you to dinner.
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.
Day
6
Lopez Island, Preservation, Sustainable Farming & Living
Location:
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Earthbox Inn & Spa
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 breakfast served in the hotel conference room.
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 conference room, 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.
Day
7
Program Concludes
Location:
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Meals:
B
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 breakfast served in the hotel conference room.
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!
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.