Watmough Bay Preserve surrounds the beautiful Watmough Bay which is a National Monument. The bay…read moreand the preserve share the same pull-off from Watmough Head Rd and the same parking lot. The trail system around and bordering the sides of the Bay are part of the Bay Preserve. I have been to this Preserve a few times, both on my own and with family. When I went most recently, on the 29th of April 2020 I hiked farther than I had before south-east wards along the trail system away from the bay. The trails are well maintained and the views stunning. Trees are tall and there is a variety of flowers and mosses interspersed in the area as well. Looking at the map provided on the San Juan County Land Bank's website I didn't realize just how beautiful the trail and views would be. One of those things you need to come in person to take in fully. I guess what I am trying to say is that I spent two hours on the trail system and only covered about a third of the entire trail system. Mind you, I was stopping frequently to take pictures and look at the different plants and wildlife and views. When I arrived at the preserve/bay parking lot I was the only car there and there were no boats in the bay. At the time I departed there were three other cars in the parking lot and a sailboat in the bay. What to know before you go? Mosquitos. When I was hiking southwards from the bay I reached a portion of the trail past the sign laying out the hunting and non-hunting regions in the Preserve area that had many mosquitos. If mosquitos don't love your blood and they don't bother you then this isn't a big deal. However, mosquitos love my blood and I didn't come with insect repellent, nor was I covered head-to-toe. The mosquitos ended up being the reason I turned around when I did, so I'd recommend insect repellent. Also, the restroom was temporarily not open due to COVID-19 during my most recent visit. An enjoyable and beautiful place to visit on Lopez Island, I would recommend a half-day or whole-day dedicated just to the Watmough Bay Preserve and Watmough Bay to explore. My two hours were not nearly enough time in my opinion. Watmough Bay is especially lovely on a clear or partially cloudy day where you can see the mountains in the distance with ducks swimming in the foreground. When the tide is out, there is lots to explore on the shore.

It's not a fun park unless you're a kid. Then it's a blast with a playground that has those weird…read morecircular htings that swing you around with your weight and other fancy playground items. But this park is more about the sunset. I was in town as a day trip and the weather was so nice that I wanted to check out the sunset. We sat there people watching on the bench as the sun started sinking over the water. People walked out down the pier and it made for really nice pictures. Once the sun went down, people left because there was a chill in the air, but until that moment, the sunset was magical. Definitely glad we hung around for twilight.

Washington Park is beautiful. The scenic loop is a great drive (go slow 10 mph there are…read morepedestrians on the paved road too). There are spots for cars to park on the loop to enjoy the view (and a disability parking spot). Take advantage of the easy and beautiful access to epic views of Burrows Island and the pass at this park before getting on the ferry to the San Juan islands or staying in Anacortes.

Awesome ferry ride over to the islands. With Beautiful views. Entering was easy and quick.read more

I only got to visit the American Camp side of this park, but it was wonderful!…read more Driving along Cattle Point Road you'll see signs to enter multiple different sites at the park. I mainly stopped at three locations: Cattle Point Interpretive Area: You can either take the steps down to the pebbly beach to feel more connected to the water, or go up the mossy mound to get a high ground view of... well, everything. I saw water, cliffs, islands, ducks, eagles, seals... unfortunately, no whales, though, prob because this is not the time of year they are around much. Cattle Point Lighthouse: Walked on a cute trail to the lighthouse, where I saw a humongous red fox on a hill, looking like it was digging or pouncing on something! On the other side of the lighthouse are views of miles of open sky and water. South Beach: On the road leading to the beach, we actually saw a black fox just chilling, lying on the road. It moved to the fenced area as we approached, and my gosh it was beautiful. I didn't even know black foxes existed! The beach itself is wide and has views of endless water, with some driftwood hanging out near you. I know there's so much more to the park that we didn't see, but I was quite happy with the wildlife and incredible scenery. Especially the foxes... I've only seen like one other (that I can remember), so seeing the ones here were such a bonus. The trails and sites that we missed are even more reason to return to San Juan Island National Historical Park. I just hope I'm able to come out to this island again someday.

Watmough Bay is located within the larger Watmough Bay Preserve. The Bay itself is a national…read moremonument thru the U.S. Department of the Interior while the Watmough Bay Preserve is run through the San Juan County Land Bank. Watmough Bay is also called the San Juan Islands National Monument. The view of the Cascade mountains and the Bay itself are beautiful. There is a small parking lot off a short drive from Watmough Head Rd with a number of parking spaces. The Bay and the Preserve share a parking lot and trailhead. A short trail takes you to the Bay and the beach. The Cascade mountains are visible straight-out from the beach. Depending on the time of year you go, they might even be snow-capped! The rocks on the beach are beautiful to look at (no taking/collecting though!) and the water crystal clear. The driftwood makes for a nice seat if watching the ducks swimming in the water. Occasionally one would dive down beneath the surface of the water, and it was fun waiting and watching to see where they would pop up again. The rocky cliffs forming the sides of the Bay were also beautiful. A great place to go and clear one's mind and take in the beauty of the San Juan Islands and the Pacific Northwest.

Love everything about this place! My friends and I found a place to sit and chill by the water…read more We watched people on their paddle boards and boats, so peaceful. There's a trail nearby that goes up, takes you through trees, and when you get to the top, breathtaking views!

it was not on our primary itinerary. But on plan B. Having more time on hand we decided to take our…read morekid there so he could see farm animals and peacocks. It truly is amazing park. Very similar to Golden Gate but still very different. The ey don't charge fees but there is suggested fee ($7 for adults $6 for kids. Or you can donate Howe much ever you like. The farm animals and specially petting goats was the best experience. We saw many peacocks and peahens roaming freely. The ducks and geese in all the ponds were keeping children's entertained. They have multiple pathways and trails to walk or bike. We visited two of the children's playgrounds on two different days. Definitely plenty of parking all over. If you have little ones definitely recommend to visit to have their play time. It also is mini Butchart gardens if you missed the real one.

A huge public resource to the area; lots of manicured lawns and plants and wildlife surprisingly…read more We saw deer, heron, ducks, geese, and for some reason, peacocks. Fairly large sized area for walking as well.

I hadn't planned to visit Lime Kiln Point State Park while staying on San Juan Island, but our BnB…read morehost INSISTED we include a visit to the park in our itinerary. Lesson learned; always trust the guidance of locals when visiting a new place. This park is a gem! Visitors will find this gorgeous park located on the west side of the Island, perfectly situated to offer stunning views of the Salish Sea. The park is named for its historic lime kiln used by settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An interpretive center has displays and activities about orcas and the area's lime kiln industry once important to the region. The coastline is incomparable! A five to ten minute downhill walk from the parking lot reveals remarkable views of the Olympic Mountains and an expansive view of sparkling water stretching far into the distance. It's said this site is one of the best whale watching locations in the islands, where visitors will most likely be able to see orcas! We weren't fortunate enough to find any during our visit, but the scenery was rewarding enough. The trail continues along the rocky shoreline, passing several pristine coves and thickets of madrones with twisted, curling red bark. The trail soon reveals a beautiful lighthouse on a rocky bluff, and the lime kilns in the distance. There is a well-curated gift shop back at the parking lot, as well as picnic tables, information kiosks, and public restrooms. There's a whole lot of beauty packed into this 42 acre park... something you won't want to miss!

Truly a picturesque park with beautiful coastal hikes. We certainly enjoyed walking along the…read morecoastline while taking in the scenery. Walking to the lighthouse was a perfect adventure and not strenuous if you are looking for a pretty easy hike. Stop and look out for whales (we didn't see any) and also check out the tide pools!

When I'm in the mood for some gorgeous views over Anacortes, Cap Sante Park is one of my go-to…read morespots. Perched high on a point across the harbor from downtown, it's the perfect spot to take it all in. And with its northerly views, you can not only watch the boats arrive at the marina far below, but peer across the mountains for breathtaking sunny day views of Mount Baker, too. It also has a "lover's lane" vibe, so I'll give it an extra star for romance potential. There are a view benches, as well as rocky outperches, to sit and ponder all the beauty. Fall potential is high, so I wouldn't let little ones wander around on their own here. Parking can be a hassle on sunny days.

Went during a sunset and it was spectacular. Even saw a rainbow. There were parking spots when we…read moregot there though it was also a lot of people concerning it was already past 9PM. Wonderful views of the marina and the islands! And beautiful Mountain views.

Nice and quiet sculpture forest, very tranquil and beautiful. The sculptures are very nice and a…read morefew are surprising. This is a nice place to bring the family. We came during tourist season and it was not overrun by people, there were plenty of parking spaces available.

An unusual sculpture garden and trail combined into one…read more I enjoyed the walk and the artwork along the trail. The trees, ferns and green growing things along the path were all so beautiful. Seeing the artwork and easy link to via the QR codes to the biography of the artist made it all the more interesting. It is a 40 minute bicycle ride the Ferry land to/from Port Townsend. Easy trip by car.

The summit view is obscured with tall trees so it can be difficult to get a good view unless you…read morewant to do a little more hiking beyond the summit parking lot. On clear days you can see Mount Baker. There's a neat statue on top called, Mountain Guardian, with a small information placard explaining the significance of the work. It really meshes into the surrounding forest. Nice hiking overall, pretty peaceful. The road to the top is well maintained, although it's a little twisty at times so definitely do not speed or else you might wipe out, or wipe out the oncoming traffic!

Some great views with good hiking trails…read more Can get windy so you might want to bring a coat