This review is about the San Juan Island in total, not just the Parks and Recreation…read more One of the most wonderful places I have ever been. I have traveled the ENTIRE United States, and a handful of other countries. I lived in the Seattle area from 1979 to 2010 and this island is simply spectacular. Drive to the top by the light house. Visit the resorts. Bike it, hike it, camp it. I've seen countless eagles, dozens of deer, Orcas, sea lions, and so many other critters. The plant life is incredible. It is at least a two-day event, if not more. Orcas Island is wonderful too. If you live in the area and have young children, you simply HAVE to enroll them in Camp Orkila for a summer session. I was a camp counselor there and to this day am SO impressed at what they do there. Why this with a review of San Juan? As a counselor the curriculum included SO much about the island life. MUST DO - MUST DO

There are so many great parks on the Island! Te only trouble after getting here is which one to…read morespend your time at. My favorite one is on the south side of the island and offers an unobstructed view of the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the Olympics looking south. It's probably one of the most beautiful views you can attain. If you come here be sure to bring your camera.

Moran state park was top of our list to visit while on Orcas Island. It's a beautiful park to…read morevisit, with unbelievable views and you can drive to the top making the views accessible to everyone. You need a Discovery Pass to park at the park. They have lovely lakes, and amazing trails to explore them. We completed a couple lake trails and absolutely enjoyed them. So calming and peaceful. A must visit while on Orcas Island.

My family and I had a beautiful visit to this park. It's small. It's on the island and there's a…read morelot of historic buildings around and it was worth the side trip. Located in a beautiful area next to the water plenty of places to walk around and the tallest mountain in the San Juan Island Chain, is something to cherish. Plan a little bit of extra time for the walking. It's not hard and it's absolutely gorgeous there. I meant the Ranger both of them and they were absolutely great history. They know how to treat a you. Thank you people for showing us incredible hospitality, and immaculate Property. It was very clean very well. Every corner is a picture waiting to be taken.

Lovely beach! Great expansive views! Saw some bald eagles…read moreflying around here. Such a peaceful place to just kick back and listen to the waves. Bathrooms were relatively clean.

Loved our visit to South Beach at San Juan. It's certainly not your lay in the sun beach, but there…read moreare beautiful meadows around you, vast beaches with almost no one around, and the crisp island air all around you. What could be better? You could easily spend 30 minutes or a whole day here.

What can I say that I haven't said? Great question. This place is always and will always be our…read moreplace to go visit. Watching the sunset is amazing. It's just a great place to go unwind, relax and enjoy the view. This place is breathtaking all of the time. We went here tonight to enjoy an adult beverage and relax.

I made a short exploring stop at the Westside Preserve on Friday the 22nd of May 2020. The preserve…read moreis located along the water and Westside Road and provides some spectacular views of the Haro Strait. Signage along the road marks the edge of the preserve. Additional signs by the parking lots provide background information, rules, and trail maps. It is a bit of a windy place, so make sure to dress accordingly. There are also few trees, which is nice if you want to soak in the sunlight. A number of people were there when I stopped (around 12:30 p.m.) sitting in various places and watching the water. I ventured along part of the trail system taking in the different views, plants, and wildlife. Lots of space on the rocks overlooking the water to sit and rest and/or have a picnic.

One of the newer public spaces in town, Overlook Park couldn't be more perfectly situated above the…read morePort of Friday Harbor. What the park lacks in square footage, it makes up for it in panorama. The view is outstanding! Located just off one of the two main streets in town, Overlook Park shares a small parking lot with several neighboring businesses. There's not much to the park; a few benches and picnic tables, as well as public viewing binoculars helping folks take in the scenery below. Perched high on the bluff, the park benefits from a refreshing breeze coming off the harbor. There are comfortable seating areas in both sun and shade thanks to the variety of shrubs and trees that create an inviting respite for weary tourists and locals alike.

Charming and easy trail, lined with wild blackberry thickets And clean bathrooms! We only went…read morepart way, because we ran out of time

I was visiting friends and we stopped here for a walk on the boardwalk and visit to a small rock…read morebeach. Nice, dusty, trail lined with blackberry bushes and the occasional sweet pea vine. A few hundred feet from where we started there is a tee where you can continue on the sidewalk or head down to the boardwalk that is about 35' over the water. The boardwalk is nice and wide with a couple of points along the way to stop and drink in the view. The day of this visit was super warm, ~90 degrees, and it was a nice treat to walk down to the beach once the boardwalk hit earth again. There were shells and rocks to pick through, and overall the beach wasn't busy at all. When I say beach I mean like 40ft X 20ft of sand and rocks before the water. There is neat rock foundation that the ocean carved into that could be cool bouldering if there were more surface area available. The address says Bellingham, but there is this place called Fairhaven that existed 200 years ago but was enveloped into Bellingham over time. So, if you're asking for direction in the new Bellingham area mention Fairhaven to reduce confusion.

My mom and I found Jackson Beach while out on a walk in the area on the morning of the 27th of July…read more2019. We spotted it from afar so made it a personal adventure/challenge to see if we could find our way to the beach. We did and without complication! It is a beautiful place to walk along the shore and see what has washed onshore. Nice space if you want to run, or have a dog and and like to take it to the beach. There is a small lagoon between the beach and the rest of San Juan Island, which helps make the beach feel secluded.

Very beautiful island! The marine has amazing sunsets and this place is a worthwhile sightseeing…read morelocation. Many of the land is privately owned.