TGIF ... for a shortened work week, it sure took Friday a while to get here!
First time blogger and ready to give this a whirl. Hope everyone's looking forward to a great weekend, only made better by being on the water! I've always loved the boating lifestyle and have the fondest memories of many days spent on various Midwest rivers and lakes.
Recently took a trip to Seattle for a friend's wedding and while this is one of my absolute favorite cities, I snuck in a few days early to explore a boater's paradise just a few hours north. The San Juan Islands (SJIs) have been atop my list of 'places to see' and they did not disappoint.
Stayed in Friday Harbor, which is the largest port in the SJIs, and filled the days with a variety of water activities. The car ferry from Anacortes kicked off the journey and it's an adventure in itself -- with picturesque Pacific Northwest scenery -- island after island, mountains in nearly all directions and a sea of evergreens. Exactly why I love it out here!
Had a blast whale-watching from a 30-foot rigid inflatable (RIB) -- that boat sure could move and we saw dozens of Orca whales on the trip (SJIs are a whale-watcher's dream).
The SJIs seem made for boaters -- loved kayaking and envied seeing all the sail and powerboats leave the harbors to explore the islands. Even watching the ferries and boats cruise by from an Adirondack chair at my hilltop hotel was picture-perfect.
Back in Seattle, I managed to find my way onto a friend's powerboat for a pre-wedding ride on Lake Washington -- what amazing scenery and places to dock practically downtown (btw, had dinner at a great place called Ray's -- delicious salmon while taking in an amazing view of the Puget Sound and Olympics at sunset)! I'm sure ideal weather conditions (75/sunny) added to the experience, but I was impressed with all the boats I saw on the water and in harbors lining Lakes Washington and Union, as well as the Puget Sound.
And, the wedding was great, too! A perfect kickoff to boating season.