The San Juan Islands By Land And Sea | Road Scholar

Robert – Class of 2024 | San Diego, CA

A great way to experience San Juan islands

— Review left October 22, 2025

Margo – Class of 2012 | Philadelphia, PA

This trip was one of my all time favorites. It was so well organized, everything went smoothly. It was exciting to explore the San Juan Islands, learn their history. Our boat was so comfortable and the crew helpful. Being on the water was special. Food on the boat and land was great. Walking on the islands was special. A great trip.

— Review left October 17, 2025

Gail – Class of 2015 | Green Valley, AZ

Looking for an adventure exploring island life and culture and experiencing the magnificence of marine wildlife, then this trip is for you!

— Review left September 16, 2025

This participant did not give a star rating.

Barbara – Class of 2025 | Eugene, OR

The San Juan Islands are absolutely gorgeous. Friday Harbor is a lovely little town. Our wildlife sitings were a treat (but no orcas). And I loved learning more about the history of the area. The trip was very well organized - literally everything went smoothly. Kelley, our guide, was knowledgeable and friendly. I have two criticisms, which are significant enough to keep me from taking a trip like this one again: This trip did not earn its "Keep the Pace" rating ("I like to spend most of the day exploring and walking"). This trip includes many hours sitting on a boat (enjoyable, but sedentary) and a fair amount of time riding in a shuttle van. As a vegetarian, I struggled a bit with the meals provided - they included lots of fresh, local produce (lovely!) but virtually no vegetarian protein sources. Full disclosure - there was an improvement mid-week - I think the other vegetarian in the group said something.

— Review left September 1, 2025

Phyllis – Class of 2019 | Nutley, NJ

The boat rides were great. However, we didn't see much wildlife. We only saw one whale!

— Review left August 27, 2025

Kim – Class of 2022 | Montgomery, TX

Our group leader, Kelley, had amazing stories. This trip was so well organized and we know that doesn’t happen by accident!! Everything was seamless. The materials, maps and other information were so well done. Kelley was so easy going and introduced us all to the concept of Island Time which helped us all to adopt that mind set. All of our guides and speakers were outstanding. We had a very large group of 38 but such a nice, interesting group of people. Our meals were excellent. The San Juan Islands are so beautiful - I highly recommend this adventure!!

— Review left August 27, 2025

This participant did not give a star rating.

Janet – Class of 2017 | Denver, CO

We couldn’t have had anything close to our experiences had we tried to do this trip on our own. Kelley, our primary guide, and all of our speakers were long time residents so we went to places newbies wouldn’t know about or would have had personal history and knowledge of them. All the guides/lecturers were excellent but Kelley knocked it out of the park with his knowledge, love of the islands, and attentiveness. I confess I initially didn’t know how I’d do with 34! other travelers but outside of the use of a smaller boat we had one day that allowed us to get into small ports, everything was done efficiently and comfortably. I owe some of this to the experienced group we were with that were always on time and ready to go. And as usual, they were friendly, interesting, and thoughtful companions. A fun memory ended the trip with all 35 of us grouped together in the ferry waiting room when one traveler broke into his very loud impression of Frank Sinatra singing New York, New York. Soon we were ALL singing along and some young backpackers accompanied us with some chorus line dancing. What a great ending to a great week!

— Review left August 23, 2025

John – Class of 2023 | Asheville, NC

Some of the meals on this program are not as good as experienced on other RS programs.

— Review left August 17, 2025

Sonja – Class of 2023 | Eden Prairie, MN

Want to take a three day cruise with under 40 people? Do I have a trip for you. :) The on-boat experience was nothing short of amazing. There are plenty of other positive things to say about the trip, but I would highlight the three days at sea. The leader and the crew are friendly and knowledgeable professionals. The Salish Sea is another universe. Give it a try.

— Review left August 14, 2025

Karen – Class of 2017 | Beaufort, NC

The San Juan Islands by Land & Sea: Hidden Anchorages was a wonderful experience. We were very lucky in having great weather, a good group of people and excellent leadership. The 3 days aboard a boat was a wonderful highlight. We were able to find a group of Orcas and Puffins as we traversed lots of beautiful waterways. The Islands off of Washington are memorable.

— Review left August 11, 2025

Ronald – Class of 2025 | Olympia, WA

This tour was an extraordinary experience. The tour director and staff provided fascinating information on the history, geology, marine life and culture of the area. The time on the water was glorious. Even the food was exceptional.

— Review left July 21, 2025

Patricia – Class of 2021 | Burien, WA

When the Orca whale came up to our boat and went under it twice and our guide Kelley, knew its name and history, it was a thrill I will never forget. Beautiful scenery! I learned so much about a place I thought I knew..

— Review left July 20, 2025

Charles – Class of 2025 | Medford, OR

Enjoy a tour with friends you ar3e yet to meet and learn things you don't know.

— Review left July 20, 2025

Nancy | Medford, OR

The trip was an incredible experience especially when an Orca swam along the side our boat for us to witness his beauty and majesty!

— Review left July 20, 2025

Samantha – Class of 2022 | Black Mountain, NC

Best Road Scholar experience we’ve ever enjoyed-outstanding tour director, gorgeous scenery, exciting whale-watching, and lots of fresh air and exercise.

— Review left July 19, 2025

This participant did not give a star rating.

Rosalie – Class of 2025 | Johnson City, TX

What a wonderful place to visit! Our ship outings were great and we saw orcas on 2 of the 3 trips. The hotel and meals were fine - the staff very friendly and eager to help. It is quite a steep hike up and down to the harbor- fortunately the hotel shuttle was available. Sally was our leader and was great. Our speakers were good. I especially enjoyed Nancy Spaulding the artist and the speaker about land conservancy. It would have been nice to have a group outing to see the area on SJI before our free time - we ended up taking the trolley- but feel that RS could do something similar. I did enjoy the art museum that had a new exhibit- we arranged that ourselves and a number of our group cut other things short to see the exhibit. A nice surprise was the quilt museum - I had not seen that in the itenerary. I was very disappointed that our bus from the ferry terminal to the airport was a no show. Those of us with earlier flights had to scramble to get an uber - a very frustrating hiccough to a nice trip. Ruth who was transporting the baggage was scrambling to get a bus to pick up the group and finally succeeded. (I understand this ‘glitch’ has happened before). This was my first RS trip. I’m looking for the next one.

— Review left June 29, 2025

Reply from Road Scholar

Dear Rosalie, We are delighted you enjoyed the Group leader, instructors, staff and many of the itinerary components. The motor coach on departure day was an unfortunate glitch at the conclusion of the program. We've worked with this company for six years because of their customer service, professionalism, excellent safety record, and reliability. This miss was the first time it has occurred, and the bus company took ownership of the mistake and has reassured us steps were taken so that it won’t happen again. Our Group Leader was commended for working quickly to get a backup bus from another company, and also help participants with early flights arrange an uber. They did make their flights, and they were compensated for the cost of the ride share on the next business day. Our experience and local connections helped us resolve the issue efficiently. We thank you for your comments and look forward to seeing where your next adventure takes you. Sincerely, Road Scholar

This participant did not give a star rating.

Mark – Class of 2013 | Topeka, KS

Met expectations.

— Review left May 28, 2025

Patrick – Class of 2024 | Clarendon Hills, IL

If you wish to have an interesting, physical, and educational experience in a beautiful environment with knowledgeable and likable leaders, this is the trip for you!

— Review left October 14, 2024

Lawrence – Class of 2000 | Eugene, OR

Interesting program in a beautiful area. Very knowledgable staff and lecturers. For us, unusually fine weather and cooperative marine wildlife.

— Review left October 13, 2024

Judith | Redmond, OR

This program offers an excellent opportunity to explore the San Juan Islands on boats which put you close to the water and marine life, on foot on one of the smaller islands (Sucia), and in small buses circumnavigating historical areas of San Juan Island itself. The expertise of the group leader, the boat captain, and guest presenters added to the overall quality of the learning experiences.

— Review left September 15, 2024

Sherry – Class of 2024 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Excellent boat and land trip of the many San Juan Islands, most of which are inhabitant. Make sure you can walk on trails and sometimes rocky surfaces without help. Tour guides were excellent and reside on the island for many years. They provided a great history of the islands.

— Review left September 10, 2024

Peggy – Class of 2000 | Audubon, NJ

San Juan Islands are a beautiful location for a memorable trip!

— Review left August 20, 2024

Marie – Class of 2013 | Austin, TX

Rebecca is a terrific trip leader. She was very diligent about making sure everyone was happy and got what they needed. It's evident that she enjoys what she does. Kevin was delightful as was all of the other guides. The presenters were terrific. They held my interest and were very informative. Our boat Captain and crew were also great and extremely accommodating. What I didn't enjoy about the trip was the amount of down time we spent on the boat, especially the first day. The last day on the boat we transferred to a smaller vessel. There were 36 of us (plus crew and leader) crammed in a space which became very loud and uncomfortable to be so close together. Mostly all of the food was very good. My least favorite meal was the farewell dinner which was pasta. It was very dry and the shrimp was overcooked. The students that served us were terrific and very willing to help us with anything that we needed. The accommodations were decent.

— Review left August 11, 2024

Reply from Road Scholar

Dear Marie, We do have some wonderful staff that work on this adventure and are happy to hear you were able to enjoy this first hand. We use the Salish Express, a 100 foot motor yacht that can accommodate 75 people and our custom Road Scholar chartered trips have fewer than half that capacity. It is indeed spacious and wonderful! For our third day on the water, we’ve intentionally arranged for a small vessel, the Salish Sea, which handles smaller groups but more than ample capacity for our group. This smaller vessel allows us to access a remote Sucia Island which is only accessible by the smaller vessel. Sucia Island is a beautiful opportunity to explore light hiking to various bays and shorelines including one of the few places to find fossils (Fossil Bay) in the San Juan Islands. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Elizabeth – Class of 2009 | Potomac, MD

Our adventure in the San Juan Islands was wonderful! The topography is truly a unique part of our country. The first 3 days we were on a private boat cruising among the islands while we sighted a Humpback whale and an Orcas whale, seals and birds; also viewing the beautiful nature scenery. It was often foggy and misty, having an other worldly feel while cruising on the boat. It was relaxing and fun! We also learned much about the San Juan Islands. Our land hikes were informative and enlightening.

— Review left August 6, 2024

Christopher – Class of 2024 | Murray, UT

We had a wonderful experience on the San Juan Islands by Land and Sea: Hidden Anchorages trip. The experience was an incredible value for the cost and allowed to reach places and have experiences that would have been difficult to arrange on our own.

— Review left July 1, 2024

Gloria – Class of 2008 | Jacksonville, FL

Beautiful area to visit. This trip includes three days on the water, and that is a a great addition, both for seeing lots of islands from the water, and for the chance to see whales, seals, and eagles.

— Review left June 8, 2024

Stephen – Class of 2021 | Dover, NH

The 3 day cruise on the Salish Express around the San Juan Islands in the best part of the trip.

— Review left June 4, 2024

William | Westmoreland, NH

This Road Scholar was a well rounded educational experience in aan exceptional location in our country.

— Review left October 17, 2023

Ellen – Class of 2018 | Austin, TX

Whales, yes. So happy I saw killer whales (two separate pods) first day out on the boat. Thanks Road Scholar. Thats what I came for. Then we had a wonderful display by a humpback the second day. Third day beautiful scenery, no whales. This trip met my expectations and then some. Last trip of the season meant no crowds which appealed to me. I'll come back this time of year.

— Review left October 9, 2023

Carolyn – Class of 2015 | San Diego, CA

Cruising in the San Juan Islands on a Road Scholar dedicated boat allows you to both glimpse a historic past and peer into a changing future. You float by historic locations few would probably visit, and visit tourist sites that are off the beaten path.

— Review left August 30, 2023

Jo – Class of 2012 | Georgetown, TX

Well run program.

— Review left August 14, 2023

Mary Beth – Class of 2012 | Sunnyvale, CA

This is a wonderful program with beautiful scenery, excellent speakers about life in the San Juan Islands, the history of the area, and the inhabitants of the waters! Our guides were very enthusiastic and shared their love for the islands.

— Review left August 9, 2023

Regina – Class of 2014 | San Francisco, CA

This tour is a wonderful way to learn about the San Juan Islands and to see the wildlife. Couldn’t have asked for better guides.

— Review left August 8, 2023

Kenneth – Class of 2015 | Lakewood Ranch, FL

An excellent program in a small region, the San Juan Islands, that we hadn’t visited before. Nice balance between days on the ship and land days. Very well designed program with very experienced leaders. Wonderful weather while much of the country had significant heat concerns. Also, nice having one “home base” in Friday Harbor, eliminating the need to frequently pack up and move to a new location. Well worth taking this tour!

— Review left July 30, 2023

Virginia – Class of 2015 | Colorado Springs, CO

we had a great time!

— Review left July 3, 2023

Robert – Class of 2015 | Chocowinity, NC

We had an outstanding experience with a pair of Humpback Whales on this trip. The whales performed as if they were aware of our presence and put on a show. Breachng and waving their flukes.

— Review left July 2, 2023

Phillip – Class of 2019 | Mesa, AZ

This was an excellent week of cruising around the San Juan Islands and being bussed around on land with frequent guest lectures. I highly recommend this program for anyone not familiar with the San Juan Islands.

— Review left June 22, 2023

Lynn – Class of 2020 | Festus, MO

Knew little about this area and learned a wealth of information on this wonderful trip. Being on a private 100 foot boat with a crew of 3 with wonderful meals served and 2 great restrooms was a big surprise. The land portion was also great. Our leader, Kevin, was the consummate professional.

— Review left June 14, 2023

Julia – Class of 2016 | Portland, OR

A great Road Scholar trip.

— Review left October 14, 2022

Bonnie – Class of 2019 | Escondido, CA

Recruited into the trip by a friend, I had no idea how much I would end up enjoying this program. We had amazing wildlife views and heard about some really interesting history. I liked both the boat time and the Friday Harbor museums and lectures. The staff were wonderful and I met a lot of intelligent friendly people.

— Review left October 9, 2022

Barbara – Class of 1998 | Saint Paul, MN

This was a fun program based in Friday Harbor, the San Juan Islands, and included 3 full days on a spacious boat cruising the islands. The food on Board was superb. A nice combination of education and enjoyment, things like the Whale Museum, and the usual "single ladies" joining up for our free night out for fish dinners at a lovely harbor restaurant. Seeing the orcas and sea lions was my high point! Barb in St. Paul

— Review left October 4, 2022

Roxie – Class of 2022 | Saint Paul, MN

Was a great adventure. Learned a lot. We had such interesting group. Made life lasting friends.

— Review left September 28, 2022

R Cheryl – Class of 2000 | Walla Walla, WA

I just returned from my 1st ROAD SCHOLAR trip. I loved it! I am a single woman traveling alone, but never felt alone or left out. There were 7 or 8 other single gals in the group and we all hung out together. We had loads of fun! As for the tour, it was all and more than I anticipated. We saw wonderful sites, learned mew things, and enjoyed God's great out of doors. The price was right and the planning & execution excellent. Leaders and speakers were knowledgeable and interesting. What more could you want?

— Review left September 26, 2022

Melinda – Class of 2022 | Benicia, CA

Beautiful scenery, wonderful guide, relaxed pace, all the joy of seeing new places without the hassles of logistics.

— Review left August 13, 2022

Jill – Class of 2018 | Houston, TX

We've always wanted to experience the San Juan Islands and this was the perfect way to do it. Three days on a boat, with a top notch captain and crew, gave us a view of the islands that few experience. Lots of wildlife viewing and the fun of creating your own map of the passages between islands. Then two days on land with lots of great information about historical, cultural and ecological values. The group leader, Kevin, was so informative and fun. He had just the right touch for our group. Highly recommend.

— Review left August 6, 2022

Susan – Class of 2009 | Boulder, CO

A very memorable and excellent program. The area is a spectacular part of our beautiful country

— Review left August 3, 2022

Carol – Class of 2016 | Freeland, WA

This is a wonderful way to learn about the San Juan Islands, both their history and present day issues.

— Review left July 21, 2022

Robert – Class of 2022 | McKinleyville, CA

A terrific trip overall! The day-long cruises on the Salish Express were amazing. Scenic beauty, wildlife galore, great educational presentations, good food, friendly and solicitous staff, generally compatible fellow travelers, and comfortable accommodations were all present in abundance. If you're an island lover or merely someone who enjoys getting off the beaten path this trip comes highly recommended.

— Review left July 20, 2022

Linda – Class of 2014 | Grand Forks, ND

A beautiful part of the world. Roads Scholar makes it easy to explore by boat, bus. I am so happy that I was able to see this lovely area.

— Review left July 16, 2022

Sandra – Class of 2022 | Green Valley, AZ

This trip offers an opportunity to spend time in a beautiful place that would be tricky to explore on one’s own. Our group leader, Kevin, along with Captain Dale and his crew were knowledgeable, informative, and engaging. Additional speakers provided delightful personal insights into living and working on the islands. I felt well taken care of throughout. I highly recommend.

— Review left June 22, 2022

This participant did not give a star rating.

Pamela – Class of 2017 | Moraga, CA

The San Juan Islands are beautiful, learning about the island lifestyle enjoyable, and the trip relaxing. All the people responsible for our comfort and well-being, as well as the educational component of the program, put forth their best efforts. Fellow travelers were patient and resilient when circumstances called for it, and very kind. The only hesitation I have in recommending this program is that a *minimum* of 3 people contracted Covid while on this trip or immediately following. During the three days on the boat, we ate meals and spent hours in close quarters which is not wise when there is a very transmissible Covid variant going around.

— Review left June 21, 2022

Judith – Class of 2014 | Austin, TX

This is an outstanding trip with breathtaking scenery and expert educational content. Highly recommended.

— Review left June 12, 2022

James – Class of 2015 | Oak Park, IL

This was a fascinating program in a very beautiful part of our country. Kevin is an exceptional, knowledgeable, sincere, and approachable program leader who capably and creatively guided us - including coming up with an excellent "Plan B" for each of several unexpected occurrences.

— Review left October 17, 2021

Fred – Class of 2020 | Leesburg, VA

This was a beautiful and well run program. Certainly worth the money and very, very informative about the area and environmental issues related to the sea and human activity damage that is resulting. Very interesting.

— Review left October 6, 2021

Lynda – Class of 2020 | Las Cruces, NM

The San Juan Archipelago is a beautiful area. Taking a land and sea tour enabled our tour group to experience a variety of places in the area

— Review left October 6, 2021

Janis | Rohnert Park, CA

The best Road Scholar trip I have taken thus far. The San Juan Islands are beautiful, the food was delicious and plentiful, and the program extremely well done. Doesn't get much better than this. J. Brokaw/Calif.

— Review left September 29, 2021

Jeanne – Class of 2017 | Maple Grove, MN

This was my first Road Scholar experience and it was outstanding. The San Juan Island and Hidden Anchorages was beautiful in so many ways. A must see. I can't wait for the next catalog to come so I can start planning another trip.

— Review left September 7, 2021

Mary Pat – Class of 2019 | Lincoln, CA

This trip provided ample time on the water and land to learn about the islands and view the many animals and beautiful sites of the area.

— Review left October 28, 2019

Gail – Class of 2013 | Redwood City, CA

This was my 1st time at San Juan Islands & this RS tour was wonderful, met all my expectations. Our tour leader Kevin was a delight & very knowledgeable about his home. Meals prepared by our Chef Frank were delicious, healthy & made with local ingredients. The beauty of the islands is magical. We were very fortunate to see many Orcas during the three days on our private boat. The boat Captain & his crew were wonderful, friendly & very informative. I definitely recommend this tour!

— Review left September 3, 2019

Gideon – Class of 2003 | San Francisco, CA

Great program to explore the San Juan islands by boat and by land.

— Review left August 11, 2019

Dolores – Class of 2019 | Clearlake, CA

The San Juan Island trip was a wonderful tour including 3 days of boat travel thru the islands seeing small coves and wildlife. The weather in the protective islands was very comfortable and the guides were all friendly and knowledgable.

— Review left June 9, 2019

Toni – Class of 2016 | Winona, MN

Once again, I have traveled to a place that I had never been and had very little knowledge of. And you have changed all that. The program was a good mix of boat, bus and foot travel. Our group of 23 or 24 was a good size and you could easily get acquainted with everyone. The expert speakers were just that...and entertaining too. I have already recommended this trip to many friends. Thank you!

— Review left May 27, 2019

The San Juan Islands by Land and Sea: Hidden Anchorages