The San Juan Islands by Land and Sea: Hidden Anchorages

Program Registration & Orientation: After you have your room assignment, head to the conference room at 5:00pm 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.

In the Conference Room, we’ll enjoy a catered Northwest-style dinner plus coffee, tea, water.

Continuing to get acquainted with our fellow Road Scholars, we’ll settle in for a short presentation given by our Group Leader on the Salish Sea and the San Juan Islands, during which we’ll learn some of the basics about the archipelago and prepare for what we will see and learn throughout the program. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

You'll receive a breakfast voucher. Breakfast is served in the lobby restaurant.

Once checked out of the hotel, we will board a motor coach for transfer to Bellingham where we will meet our vessel, the Salish Express, a comfortable 100-foot motor vessel with spacious indoor and outdoor viewing areas. During our coach ride to the port of Bellingham, our group leader will give a presentation highlighting contemporary life in the islands, with emphasis on current issues facing the islands. Once onboard the vessel and upon clearing Bellingham Bay, we will work our way south to explore the southern end of the San Juan archipelago and keep our eyes on the sights as we cruise past Burrows Island Lighthouse and other points of interest such as Iceberg Point, Deadman's Island, and Cattle Pass. Our yacht captain and Group Leader will provide informative and entertaining commentary on the area’s history and native species as we progress on our field trip.

Aboard the boat, we’ll have a hearty buffet meal, plus salad, bread, and dessert; coffee, tea, water included.

As we navigate Rosario Strait and the southern San Juan Channel in the late afternoon, we will be treated to an early evening wine tasting led by the crew during our cruise to Friday Harbor. Upon arrival in Friday Harbor, we will transfer with our luggage to the hotel.

At the hotel cafe, we’ll enjoy a tasty meal featuring salad, a main entrée, sides, vegetables, and dessert, plus coffee, tea, water. Other beverages will be available for purchase.

At leisure.

Aboard the boat, we will be served a buffet breakfast featuring an egg dish, breakfast meats and breads, jam and honey butter, fresh fruit, and a choice of juice, coffee, tea, water.

As we eat, enjoy a presentation from a local expert on our area's resident orca pods. After breakfast, we will be making our way east through the San Juan archipelago to circumnavigate Fidalgo Island. In order to do this, we’ll venture into the narrow Swinomish Channel through the Skagit River Delta farmland area. We’ll dock in the quaint historic artists’ colony of La Conner. Settled in 1867, La Conner is filled with art, history, and scenic beauty. Many of the buildings in the town’s historic downtown corridor are listed on the National Historic Register. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Museum of Northwest Art. If you prefer, you may wish to explore on your own.

In the early afternoon, we’ll re-board the Salish Express for lunch aboard and continue our journey. Aboard the boat, we’ll enjoy buffet meal - an old fashioned cracked crab feast, featuring a choice of entrée, sides, bread, and dessert, plus coffee, tea, water.

As lunch is served, we’ll cruise out under LaConner’s iconic “Rainbow Bridge” and out the southern end of the Swinomish Channel for an exciting exploration through Deception Pass. This dramatic saltwater gorge is rich with native and European lore, and known for its extreme tidal currents. The seascape and scenery is stunning as we pass under the twin bridges connecting Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island, making Deception Pass one of the top “must see” locations in Washington State. Upon arrival at the dock, we’ll take the short walk back to the hotel.

Served in the hotel cafe. Coffee, tea, and water are provided and other beverages may be purchased.

At leisure.

A breakfast featuring hot and cold choices and beverages will be served in the hotel cafe.

After breakfast, we'll walk down to the dock to board our second sailing vessel, the Salish Sea vessel. Once aboard, making our way toward the top of the San Juan archipelago aboard the boat, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for orca whales, bald eagles, harbor seals, Dall's porpoise, minke whales, sea birds and other magnificent wildlife. Catching a glimpse of these animals in their natural environment is always a treat to behold! On our way up north to the unique, horseshoe shaped destination called Sucia Island State Park, we’ll continue soaking in the informational narratives of our captain focused on the islands, their history, and marine life. We’ll then have an opportunity to stretch our legs by taking a short hike with our Group Leader through the forest and along the coast while enjoying some of the most stunning shorelines and views that the Northwest has to offer. During our exquisite private island adventure, we’ll take in the untamed flora and fauna while keeping our eyes peeled because we may just happen upon some marine fossils on the beaches of Fossil Bay on the Southeast arm of the island. After returning to the boat, we’ll transfer back to San Juan Island.

Aboard the boat on our return trip back to San Juan Island, we will be treated to a freshly prepared buffet lunch with various dishes, plus dessert, sparkling wine or non-alcoholic cider, water.

On our final leg of the voyage traveling through channels and past islands not yet explored, we’ll return to the hotel.

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.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

Joined by a local artist, we’ll enjoy a presentation showcasing the creative and artistic spirits that are abundant in the archipelago. Following our presentation, we will split into two groups and each will set out for a walking field trip to either the San Juan Island Historical Museum or the Whale Museum. A docent will lead an exploration showcasing the exhibits at each. Tomorrow, these activities will be repeated and the groups swapped so everyone will have a chance to do both. We’ll then return to the hotel.

Served in the hotel cafe.

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 stop at the Visitor’s Center for 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. We’ll then return to the hotel.

Served in the hotel cafe.

After dinner, an expert historian will join us for a presentation on some dynamic pioneers of the region. We will learn about and discuss three influential women as we review their voyages and reflections on life in the Gulf and San Juan Islands.

Served in the hotel cafe.

We’ll gather in the hotel conference room for a presentation by a local expert from San Juan Island Preservation Trust Stewardship, which will highlight the island's most precious resource: undeveloped land! Swapping activities from yesterday, we will then split into two groups and set out for walking field trips to either the San Juan Island Historical Museum or the Whale Museum. A docent will lead an exploration showcasing the exhibits at each.

Served in the hotel cafe.

Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Some excursions may require a reservation in advance. Please plan accordingly.

At the hotel cafe, we’ll enjoy a tasty farewell dinner, including coffee, tea, water. Other beverages will be available for purchase.

In the conference room, we'll gather for a quick wrap-up and review of the program, including a review of the departure details. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Early breakfast will be served in the hotel cafe.

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!