Our Unique Island Home The paddling, hiking, local food and quite town are all a draw for people visiting Friday Harbor and San Juan Island, but the true gem of this outdoor oasis is the wildlife in and around the islands. Whether you’re watching a bald eagle scoop a fish out of the water, getting splashed by Popeye the seal in the harbor, or delighting at the breaching of a young whale, the wildlife of the San Juan Islands never disappoint. Ever Changing Wildlife The wildlife here in the Salish Sea sure love to keep us on our toes. For…
Kayaking the San Juan Islands in Spring
Plan Now to Get The Best Dates & Best Deals at One of Western Washington’s Top Destinations! As the secret gets outs, we’re seeing a growing numbers of visitors to our idyllic little island every year, especially in the summer months. This makes spring the perfect time to plan your trip to Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands! Book now to get the room with a view, the reservation at the private table tucked away in the corner, or a coveted spot on our wine maker’s kayak tour before it’s too late. If you’re headed to the San Juan…
Visiting Friday Harbor
Visiting Friday Harbor After your San Juan Island kayak tour, but before you head home, take time to visit beautiful Friday Harbor. Whether you have a few moments while waiting for your ferry, or a few days to spend here, Friday Harbor has a variety of activities to enjoy. Book a whale watching trip, grab an ice cream cone, or wander down to the docks to say hi to Popeye the resident harbor seal. Historic Friday Harbor Nestled in the rain shadow of Washington State’s Olympic Mountains, Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands get almost half as much rain per…
How to Plan your Day Trip to the San Juan Islands this Summer: A First Time Visitor’s Guide
The most beautiful islands in Western Washington! The San Juan Islands are gorgeous in so many different ways. From the cool quiet days of winter to the bustling hot summer days, Friday Harbor makes for a great escape. While the main draw to the island is kayaking with orcas, on any given visit you can expect to see a variety of wildlife. The orcas, though more prevalent in June, July and August pass through here every month of the year. Low tide walks unveil sea stars, anemones and crabs, with views of seals and sea lions playing in the water…
Grilled Pesto Eggplant and Polenta
This dish is vegetarian and gluten free and can be made vegan by omitting the goat cheese. Fresh ingredients make cooking outdoors feel like home! Serves 6-8 1 eggplant, sliced into 1 inch discs (preferably 2 slices per person) ½ cup of salt (to prevent eggplant from becoming bitter and soggy, will be washed off) 20 small tomatoes (about 3 per person), chopped 18 white mushrooms (about 3 per person), sliced 1 large onion (any color), diced 5 cloves of garlic, diced 2-3 chopped tablespoons of each: fresh basil, rosemary, oregano, and parsley 1 roll of pre-prepared polenta, sliced into…
San Juan Island Makes the New York Times!
Check out this great New York Times article about Tucker the dog, the world’s only canine whale researcher! The writer, Kirk Johnson, came out on a three-day kayak tour with us in August of this year. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/us/sniffing-out-a-subtle-scent-to-help-save-some-whales.html?_r=2&hp
Whales, Whales, Whales!
It’s been an exciting week here on San Juan Island, with orcas and a few humpbacks making appearances off the coast of San Juan! This past Saturday, August 5, visitors to the west side of the island were treated to a rare showing by a humpback whale headed north through Haro Strait. One of our groups of kayakers, who had launched from the San Juan County Park early on Saturday morning for the first day of a two-day whale camp, saw the whale just before noon on Saturday as it came close to shore around Hannah Heights. A little later…
San Juan Island Sea Kayaking Trips with Outdoor Odysseys
Experience one to four day San Juan Island kayaking tours that incorporate whale watching, camping, hiking and “the best” in outdoor cuisine as we celebrate our 28th year! Outdoor Odysseys Sea Kayak Tours has operated one of a kind sea kayaking trips from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, (north of Seattle), Washington since 1987. The owner, Tom Murphy, continues to keep the company relatively small. “Our priority is on exceptional customer service. We also offer the widest variety of sea kayak tours in the San Juan Islands.” Check out our new 2 Day Whale Adventure and our NW Winemakers 3-Day.…
Video: Kayak the San Juans
Food, Glorious Food!
We pride ourselves on preparing excellent cuisine. First night dinner: Smoked salmon pesto linguini with sun dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives, organically grown mixed salad greens, garlic bread and for dessert a Dutch oven pear/apple crisp. We also don’t skimp on quality ingredients such as: Real maple syrup, bottled wines, high quality chocolate and our own distinctive “Orca blend” coffee. More About Our Kayak Cuisine