You love them, your family. You long to get them all together, hold the new baby, see all the kids grow up, lovingly tease your siblings, hug your grandpa. But your house is too small and your husband is allergic to the albeit cute dog that your brother insists on bringing everywhere. Then there is the food issue: grandma is diabetic, your aunt can’t do gluten and your nephew has just become a vegan. Where will they all sleep? How will you keep them entertained?

With kids in school and 9 to 5 jobs you are most likely going on vacation when everybody else is; in the Summer, on weekends and holidays.  Everything is crowded, takes a little longer and is more expensive. Not so on beautiful San Juan Island.

Visiting San Juan Island’s Pelindaba Lavender Farm is always a treat. The serenity and beauty of this place with its rolling lavender fields, speckled with gorgeous sculptures, adorable, historic farm store and snow covered Olympics as the backdrop, makes for the perfect spot to indulge all your senses. The only thing better is coming for the annual Lavender Festival on July 15 & 16 during the “height of purpleness”.

Winter is spectacular on San Juan Island. The Olympic Rain Shadow allows for crystal clear, sunny days to make you feel at times like you have landed in the Caribbean, but without the palm trees.

Taking your family on a road trip to an island is a brave and challenging adventure. Fear not!  We understand that the logistics can be complicated and the cost a little daunting, but we have some great travel tips for you, which will make your San Juan Island vacation the relaxing, memory making, fun break you and your family deserve.

Are you looking for a little more joy in your holiday season?  Visit us on San Juan Island, where the slower pace of island life will greet you the moment you step off the ferry, where the quaint small town Holiday happenings will fill your heart with joy and put a smile on your face. Create meaningful memories with your family without breaking the bank or your patience. For many of us we’ve forgotten how to really enjoy the Holiday Season. We encourage you to take break and to take back your holidays.

When the thick fall fog lays silence over the harvested valleys of our island; when the humpbacks are gone to have babies in the warm waters of Hawaii; when the veil between our world and the next is the thinnest; then it’s time for Halloween on San Juan Island.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year to visit San Juan Island. The long sunny days are made for endless walks on the beach and I absolutely love the color of the light.  I dream about the fall harvests as I stroll through the Farmers Market with its colorful abundance. I feel grateful and calm. These are my favorite spots to visit in the fall. I’m certain you will fall in love with them as well.

San Juan Island is nicknamed the “banana belt” of Washington State, because it is in a rain shadow, protected by the Olympic Mountains on one side and Vancouver Island on the other. The beautiful valleys in the center of the island are lush, rolling pastures for cattle, sheep and goats. Countless farms, producing lavender, sea salt, apple cider, wine, flowers, wool, produce, cheese and meat, are calling San Juan Island their home.

The name “Mt Grant” disappeared from maps of San Juan Island around the 1920’s and was slowly replaced with “Lawson’s Ridge”.  The 141-acre property towering over West Valley Road and Lawson’s Pond, was, up until recently, for sale, destined to become subdivisions for a few.  The fantastic people at the San Juan Preservation Trust wouldn’t let that happen.