The cute, coastal, tourist town of Friday Harbor offers an abundance of unique gift shops, as well as restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries and museums. But that’s not all. There is also an array of distinct places selling antiques, second hand clothing and previously owned books, musical instruments, furniture, arts and crafts and odds and ends.

Beautiful San Juan Island is nestled between the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island, just 65 miles north of Seattle. Precisely because of those mountains the isle enjoys a rain shadow and approximately 247 sunny days per year, making autumn the most astonishing time to visit. The hotels offer lodging specials, the restaurants proudly serve freshly harvested island fare. There are lovely shops, galleries and museums and you have the beaches all to yourself. But that’s not all. There is so much fun to be had on San Juan Island. Here are 10 ideas of things to do on San Juan Island in the Fall.

“Is not the kiss the very autograph of love?” – Henry Finck

What can be more romantic than visiting a small island with breathtaking scenery and staying in a cute small town, where you can walk to everything? Kissing in such a place is more romantic. I have to admit I’m biased. Friday Harbor and San Juan Island are about the most romantic places in my world. My husband proposed here. We got married here. We visit often and retrace our steps…and kiss, with eyes and hearts wide open.

San Juan Island, with its fertile valleys kept sunny and warm by the Olympic Rain Shadow and its fresh air and clean water, is a culinary paradise. Our busy island farmers, fishermen and foragers tirelessly produce and catch ingredients that our talented island chefs whisk into a Locavore’s dream!

One of the cool things about staying at the Earthbox Inn & Spa in Friday Harbor is that you can do anything there is to do in town by foot.  No need to worry about traffic, parking, or who is going to be the designated driver. For a small town of only about 2,500 people living here year round, Friday Harbor has an incredible bar scene and something for every taste. The people from Orcas and Lopez Island even call our quaint town “Sin City”, with a little wink.

As if you needed a reason to visit paradise, or permission for that matter. You know you deserve a break and you are worth it. On the off chance you need to quell that tiny voice of doubt, here they are, your top 10 reasons why you need a San Juan Island vacation: