The sailing experience aboard the Spike Africa was everything I hoped for. The entire family…read moreenjoyed the sail. The captain, first mate, and deckhand were all knowledgeable and friendly. The captain even let kiddo steer the ship for a while. Booking can be difficult if you're not standing in the office. Online booking isn't an option. When you click the link it merely has the customer fill out an information card and they're supposed to call you. If you cal the number listed you'll always be routed to an answering service. Basically customers just have to leave a message and hope someone calls you back. Even through all that, the experience was totally worth it.

Spike Africa turned one of our unplanned evenings into a delight. We were accidental guests on it…read morewhen we discovered that they had slots open for a few more when it was just about to sail. Everything about the sail was memorable. Right from the humorous introduction to sailing and water protocols to the camaraderie and warmth of the crew. First hand Chris is a very interesting person and knows how to make visitors feel involved in the sailing by drawing volunteers for stowing ropes and hoisting the mast. He is helped very ably by his crew Rosy! Captain Gunner keeps a leisurely pace allowing even the most hesitant of sea-farers to relax and take in the sights. Sunset over Pugetsound onboard Spike Africa will be one of my most-cherished moments from the San Juan Islands trip. The schooner allows for your own beverages on board and the open sea makes for an excellent place to have a sip of wine. The sail is pleasant with the added element of other like-minded strangers joining you on a ride, added to that, the very reasonable price makes for an offer hard to refuse! An evening well spent..

A wonderful day on the water with Captain Amio!…read more Since we were on Lopez Island, and the ferry to get back to Friday Harbor was so complicated, Amio picked us up where we were staying, and took us on a fabulous ride. The weather was perfect. We saw porpoise, heron, eagles and seals-as well as a host of beautiful boats The whales didn't make an appearance but we got to see a number of the different harbors through & around the different islands. . Captain Amio's knowledge of the area enhanced our journey. Great day on the water. Noah's communication made it easy to figure out everything. The boat was clean, had a bathroom and OUR 3 hour tour ended successfully. (It was supposed to be a 4 hour tour, but we sacrificed a half hour on each end since he picked us up on Lopez, we thought it was worth it).

Noah and Friday Harbor Boat Rentals (FHBR) were fantastic. I rented the Nordic Sun for an…read moreafternoon island cruise on 7/17/2024 to show my mom and wife more of the San Juan Islands. He is very professional as he sent me a text in the AM asking if we needed anything special to help us prepare etc...so first the Boat...Nordic Sun is a wonderfully restored tug that easily accommodates 6 so having 3 on the boat with Noah was very spacious...the boat is very clean and has a full head!!! Our tour was awesome and Noah added color and history as we cruised while giving us our space to enjoy the beauty and have a glass of wine!!! CAN'T RECOMMEND NOAH ENOUGH....oh and I thought the price for a 4 hour private cruise was very fair!!! we will us Noah and FHBR again!!! Tim B.

I checked out all the boats offering whale watching. Odyssey is #1 for comfort and viewing. Super…read morehelpful, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Dry and warm blankets allowed me to sit in the bow area with powerful binoculars provided by staff. Snacks and drinks available for a $1. Bountiful wildlife were spotted - killer whales in hot pursuit of a seal lunch, huge sea lions, various birds of prey, and a magnificent bald eagle. Our boat had the best viewing advantage. Captain Pete and the crew are the best.

Bucket List - Orca Jackpot!…read more Family of 13 (including 4 kids under 12) all really enjoyed the voyage aboard Odyssey. All were comfortable and plenty of room for a good view. The crew was amazing. Very knowledgeable, my grandkids loved learning about sea creatures and the Orca names of the two families we saw. This was a dream trip - bucket list!

My son and his best friend were gifted a salmon charter experience for their 16th birthdays…read more Captain Steve was so warm and welcoming, the boys had a blast. My son had a "big one" on the line and it slipped off. He now has his own "the big one that got away" story. They loved every second of the charter.

Recently went on a ling cod trip with Stoutfish Charters. Captain Steven wasn't available so we had…read moreAustin and his brother. Hard working crew, very knowledgeable and a pleasure to fish with. While we only caught one delicious keeper, we did get a few bites. Saw some spectacular scenery and had a great time. Would do it again.

Another sunny PNW weekend, another chance to explore and find a new beach! Snoo-oosh is a…read moresmall-but-mighty little slice of paradise with a beautiful view of Whidbey Island. It's a level, rocky beach, with some driftwood - perfect for exploring, beach walking, or just sitting on a log and taking it all in. There's a bit of a rough parking area (watch out for potholes) and zero facilities, so keep that in mind as it's a bit of a drive to the nearest restroom. This would make a great beach for kayaking or canoeing, as the bay it sits on is semi-protected and seemed insulated from the wind. Note: the map indicates there's a boat launch here, but there is not. There appears to have been one at some point, but it's been mostly washed away and covered with rocks and driftwood - definitely no way to actually use it to launch anything but a portable watercraft.

When on island time I love to seek out a high viewpoint. Our hike on Turtleback Mountain had some…read moreof the most breathtaking views we had. There are two parking lots, one at the South trailhead and the other at the North. We took the South Trail to the West Overlook to the Ridge trail and stayed on it to the Ravens Ridge trail and the outside of Center Loop trail to return. The South Trail starts in the woods as it goes up and up to the ridge and mountaintop. The first mile and the early part of the hike were tough, it felt like walking on my elliptical with the ramp all the way up. You'll be quickly rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding islands. Did you pack a lunch or a beer? This was a perfect break spot. Carry on through the woods, fields and cliffs and complete your loop. Wildflowers were blooming anywhere the sunlight found it's way through the canopy. Simply stunning. Take a photo of the map at the trailhead Pack a lunch and beer You're going through the woods and exposed at the top, you need bug spray and sunblock Pack it in, pack it

Second Stop: "A Perfect Day on Orcas island" Collection…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/collection/Bgd9G40BjYMmHuJoM5MpHw Well this is an awesome hiking trail system with spectacular views. We did the short 1.5 mile to Ship Peak. 931" straight up and 931' straight down. That ham and egg omelet was sitting pretty heavy on the way up. LOL We have done other trails and they are all awesome. Check it out.

We embarked on a 4 hour day sail around the San Juan's during our honeymoon. I chose Emerald Isle…read morebecause of their reasonable prices and proximity to where we were staying. We also really wanted to go sailing (neither of us had been before) and not on a whale watching charter. We're glad we went with Dave as he is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate about sailing, and willing to teach. He involved us in helping run the boat during our adventure, which was fun. He has a beautiful boat, and he was open to us poking around to see all the sleeping quarters. His favorite sails are actually his multi-day trips. He was telling us all about the trips they take up to the rainforest in Canada and Alaska. We checked out photos online on his website, and wow! Those trips look like phenomenal, once in a lifetime experiences! During our trip, we saw seals, sea lions, porpoises, and exotic varieties of sheep and deer on Spieden Island (former hunting retreat). The weather was beautiful, although a little cold when the boat was moving. He provided blankets and seating pads, and we were welcome to sit anywhere on the boat - inside or outside. He also provided a snack of cheese and crackers, and we brought along sandwiches to eat, too. In the cooler, we had the option of a couple different sparkling waters, which I appreciated over soda. We had a lot of fun and would love to return for a multi day trip one day!

We splurged this summer and took our family of 5 on an unforgettable sailing trip around the San…read moreJuan Islands. It was the best trip of our lives. Dave and Katy were so accommodating and patient and are just plain good people. Thank you Dave for a great summer trip - we are hoping to book another summer trip with you soon!

This was a nice beach park. There were about 20 parking spots give or take with a couple of those…read morebeing ADA. There is also a porta potty The area is small due to private land on either side, which includes the beach. What there is was nice with easy beach access, fishing, swimming, and a good show from the Naval Air Station. If you want to watch jets roar overhead, this is about as close as the public can get. We love planes, so this was a doubly good spot. There is a bench for sitting and loads of driftwood that allows different areas to park your behind and watch the surroundings. A very nice place to visit that is a little off the beaten pass.

It was yet another glorious sunny weekend in the PNW, so we grabbed our buckets and headed to…read moreWhidbey Island for some beachcombing - discovering this beautiful beach along the way. It's a small, but mighty, little strip of land that's bordered on three sides by private property, so while it might not be a great place to hang out with 1000 of your closest friends, you can't beat the vibe here for a small romantic picnic or playtime with the kid. The beach is pretty typical PNW: driftwood, rocks, mud, and lots of stinky seaweed to give the place atmosphere. We were there at low tide, so it definitely had wading potential (if you're into cold, Puget Sound water). The thing I liked most, besides the stunning views out to the Olympics, was that there were only two other people on the beach. This would also be a great place for some sea kayaking on a calm day. There is a port-a-potty in the small parking lot, but other than that there are few amenities here, so bring along your own water, shade, and seating. But if you're looking to cross yet another gorgeous PNW beach off your list, this one is definitely worth a visit.