San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula: Insider’s Guide to Washington

The insider advice on this page is from one of Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts for the Pacific Northwest: Sheri Doyle of Pacific Northwest Journeys.

Trusted Travel Expert

Sheri Doyle

A former corporate attorney, Sheri Doyle brings her legal-eagle eye for detail to the itineraries she crafts. She plans urban and adventure trips all over the Pacific Northwest—in both the United States and Canada—as well as the northern California coast and parts of the Canadian Rockies. Her self-drive itineraries typically run to 20 pages, covering everything from detailed driving directions to activity suggestions and restaurant recommendations in each location. Geared to your interests and preferences, each itinerary is a personalized guidebook to save you hours of research time. As a resident of Seattle for nearly three decades, Sheri has traveled extensively within the region; she’s repeatedly hiked the trails, kayaked the waters, slurped the oysters, and attended the jazz concerts at every place she recommends. She has slept at most of the hotels, too, and gets preferred rates at many of the top properties, which saves her clients a bundle—especially in the popular summer months.

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Expect trips orchestrated by Sheri to start at $650 per day for two travelers.

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Where to Stay and Eat

Best bang-for-your-buck hotel
The Inn at Ship Bay on Orcas Island. This is the best value in the islands in summer: water-view rooms for just $224 a night. They are comfortable rather than swanky, but when you’re able to enjoy the view from your balcony—and then walk a few steps to the hotel restaurant, which is one of the island’s best—you won’t worry about the motel-style bathrooms.

Restaurants the locals love
On San Juan Island: Duck Soup Inn has been around for years and is the go-to place for fine but casual dining on this island, about four miles from Friday Harbor. There’s no water view, but the cabin-in-the-woods vibe is charming and the food is terrific—the scallops are particularly noteworthy.

On Orcas Island: The outdoor bistro at Buck Bay Shellfish Farm, on the far side of Moran State Park, overlooks the shellfish beds where the restaurant sources their clams and oysters. Start with fresh local oysters or seafood chowder, then add a big bowl of steamed clams for a satisfying meal.

In Sequim: Alderwood Bistro is the best restaurant on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s known for wood-fired pizzas, but they do local fish very well too. Save room for the carrot cake, an almost-healthy organic version made with carrots and flour from the nearby Nash’s farm.

What to Do and See

Hurricane Ridge in the vast Olympic National Park, Washington. Photo: Shutterstock

Don’t miss
Port Angeles, on the Olympic Peninsula. It still shows its blue-collar logging and fishing roots, but it’s grown into a town worth spending some time in. The waterfront is refurbished and the Feiro Marine Life Center is worth visiting for its interactive aquariums. Next Door Gastropub serves pub cuisine made with fresh local ingredients, pours local craft beers, and hosts local bands.

Don’t bother
Friday Harbor. This town in San Juan Island is nice enough and has excellent restaurants, but you don’t go to the San Juans to stay in a town—you want to be out in the countryside.

Hidden gem
Dungeness Wildlife Refuge. Between Sequim and Port Angeles, this seven-mile-long sandspit is a well-kept secret, teeming with birds and marine mammals including seals. There’s a lighthouse at the end that you can visit or, better yet, staff: Volunteers can play lightstation keeper for a full week.

Instagram Moment
The view from the top of Mount Constitution on Orcas Island at dusk. Walk down one of the trails to get away from any crowds clustered at the top and to get the best photo of the surrounding islands, with the Cascade Mountains in the background. On your way back down, stop at the west-facing viewpoint to get a sunset shot.

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