Olena, her two boys and non-cooking husband from Vancouver, British Columbia, gave up eating processed food about 5 years ago. They travel the world as a family, in search of authentic experiences and real food. They are not rich or hippies. They are not weird. Just a family trying to live a life worth living.

It was a dark and stormy night…. No, it actually wasn’t. It was an overcast, cool, windy day in the “shoulder season” (before or after the summer season on San Juan Island) and the Orca whales had not been seen or heard anywhere. I tried not to be disappointed. Being out on Maya’s brand new J1, a Zodiac boat with an enclosed cabin and head (that’s “boat” for “toilet”), zipping by lighthouses and seeing some sea lions would be fun too.

There is nothing like a fresh seafood dinner while watching the sunset over the Salish Sea after a long day of whale watching, hiking and beach combing on San Juan Island. The former fishing village turned culinary destination of Friday Harbor offers a wide array of places where seafood sourcing is as important as preparation and presentation, where dishes are prepared from scratch with care and paired with island grown ingredients. Trust us, you will taste the difference.

We Americans have less vacation time than any other developed country and even when we are taking time off, we are still checking in with work, responding to emails, taking phone calls, texting, checking social media, well, you know… It is questionable whether you checking in with work is actually lightening your work load once you come back. It is equally questionable whether you are actually relaxing and recharging on a beach in paradise, while your mind is at work.

The crystal clear, deep green waters surrounding San Juan Island look incredibly inviting for a swim, but take note--they are at a (brr….) 50 degrees, even in the Summer, largely too cold to take a dip, except for the young and hearty.  And yet, that doesn’t mean you have to go without a nice swim on your Summer island vacation. We found 5 lovely spots to play in the water on the isle. Find out which one floats your boat.

There is nothing like Summer on San Juan Island. The killer whales are here, sailboats are bobbing in the port of Friday Harbor, there are colorful arts festivals, delightful wine and spirit tastings, historical re-enactments, flowers stands and flourishing farms everywhere and the beaches, mountains and parks are just waiting to be explored. Here are five San Juan Island Summer activities not to be missed:

Laughing reduces stress, anxiety and depression. It even diminishes pain. Go see a comedy at the San Juan Community Theatre or at the historic Palace Movie Theater. As the saying goes:  laughter is the best medicine.

A Summer vacation or weekend getaway to San Juan Island is such a treat. There are so many fun adventures to be had: whale watching, kayaking, zip lining, hiking, biking, to name a few. Yet even in the height of Summer, there is a different pace on the island. We call it “island time”. You’ll feel it as soon as you set foot on the isle: no fast foods chains, no billboards, no traffic lights, people are so friendly

It’s Summer on San Juan Island! The Orcas are here, the sun is out, the isle is bustling with amazing activities, festivals and events. Come on up and revel in the breathtaking nature, amazing wildlife, rich history and small-town charm with big city culture that San Juan Island offers. Here are 10 San Juan Island Summer must-dos not to be missed!

If San Juan Island were to be summed up in one picture, it would be a picture of the Lime Kiln Lighthouse at the Lime Kiln State Park, one of the best places to watch Orcas Whales from land on Earth.