FAMILY VACATION

San Juan Islands Family Vacation

  • 6 Days
  • 18 People Max

    6 - 18 guests

  • Activity Level 2
    • Activity Level 2

      On the Move

      Sure, I own some hiking boots, they're even worn in, but they don't go on long trips. I like my creature comforts and I like to give a range of activities a go.

    Read more about the Active Range

  • Trip Start: Seattle, Washington
  • Trip End: Seattle, Washington
san juan islands

Be on the lookout for orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, sea lions, harbor seals, and bald eagles on a family-friendly San Juan Islands family vacation.

Discover the best of all worlds – spectacular scenery, a rich diversity of wildlife, and some of the best wining and dining the Pacific Northwest has to offer on this six-day San Juan Island adventure. Find out for yourself why the San Juan Islands are a destination for peacefulness and relaxation. Listen as your guide explains the intriguing history of the Lime Kiln Park Lighthouse, the last lighthouse in Washington to receive electricity. Perfect your expertise on breaching, spy-hopping, and lob-tailing as you keep a watchful eye out for killer whales in the rolling ocean waves. Find out why entering Moran Mansion is like taking a step back in time with its rich mahogany paneling, earth-tone tiles, stain glass lighting, and unique fireplace hearths. Explore the diverse landscapes of mountains, wooded countryside, and spectacular vistas at Orcas Island.

Experience a slice of paradise with your favorite people on this San Juan Islands family vacation.

Lime Kiln Park Lighthouse

HikingHiking

Mount Constitution

HikingHiking

Lavender Fields

BikingBiking

San Juan Island

KayakingKayaking

Whale-watching cruise

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Watch the sun set over a postcard-perfect cove

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Wine tasting

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San Juan Islands Family Vacation ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Seattle, Washington Trip End: Seattle, Washington
  • Day 1Bike to American Camp

  • Day 2Explore San Juan Island by kayak & bike

  • Day 3Hike & bike around San Juan Island

  • Day 4Explore Orcas Island and Whale-watching!

  • Day 5Hike Mount Constitution

  • Day 6Hike Cascade Falls, farewell!

  • Day 1

    Bike to American Camp

    #2045

    Our journey will start with a morning shuttle from Seattle to Anacortes before catching a ferry to San Juan Island. You'll notice the hustle and bustle of city life begin to fade as we pass the picturesque islands of Lopez and Shaw. We'll arrive onto the Island at Friday Harbor, a charming, historic, walkable seaport just steps from the ferry landing, and disembark, enjoying lunch before heading out to explore the coastal town. This afternoon we'll make our way to American Camp, located on the southern end of the Island. The camp was occupied by the U.S. Army from 1859 through to 1874 due to a water boundary disagreement with Great Britain, and American soldiers lived here during the peaceful 12-year joint occupation of San Juan Island. After you've checked out the site, saddle up for your first bike ride of the trip back to Friday Harbor. Our accommodation for the next 3 nights, the Discovery Inn, provides affordable comfort with handsomely appointed rooms designed for relaxing and close-by to downtown Friday Harbor where you’ll find award-winning dining, art galleries, and fun shops with souvenirs for browsing. Tonight we'll dine nearby at the Friday Harbor House before resting for the next days of activities and wildlife.

    Discovery Inn (Lunch, Dinner)

    Biking: 10 miles (16 kilometers)

  • Day 2

    Explore San Juan Island by kayak & bike

    #2046

    After a scrumptious breakfast overlooking Friday Harbor, we’ll make our way over to Roche Harbor, a historic seaside resort steeped in rich history and surrounded by lush gardens, for a morning of kayaking. After gearing up, we'll head out on the water to paddle the quiet bays and shoreline. Keep your eyes peeled for sea lions, bald eagles, otters, porpoise and – if you’re lucky – orca whales! This afternoon, after enjoying a lunch overlooking Roche Harbor at The Madrona Bar and Grill, we'll drive through cottage country to the San Juan Island National Historical Park where the English Camp is located. The English Camp is where the British soldiers lived during the boundary dispute over the ownership of the island until the islands were awarded to the United States by Kaiser Wilhelm I in an arbitration agreed by the parties in the 1872 Treaty of Washington. Once we've explored the camp we'll slowly make our way back to Friday Harbor by pedal, enjoying the coastal views from the rolling hills. Along the way we'll stop off at a winery to taste award-winning estate-grown wines in the coolest-climate growing region of Washington State. We'll be back in time for you to explore the Friday Harbor shops if you wish. You're on your own for dinner tonight to enjoy one of the many local hotspots in Friday Harbor - ask your guides for their recommendations!

    Discovery Inn, San Juan Island (Breakfast, Lunch)

    Kayaking: 2 hours
    Biking: 10 miles (16 kilometers)

  • Day 3

    Hike & bike around San Juan Island

    #2047

    Today we'll head out to explore San Juan Island by bike and by foot, starting with a shuttle from Friday Harbor this morning. Make sure to pause and take in the expansive views as we make our way to the historic Lime Kiln State Park. Set on a rocky bluff at the west end of San Juan Island, it's considered to be one of the best whale-watching spots on earth. We’ll embark on a short hike loaded with picturesque views while watching for the 80+ Orca that call these shorelines home. The pods, which also include humpback and minke whales, pass through the area every May through September, with peak times depending on salmon runs. After lunch, we’ll hop on bikes to pedal over to Pelindaba Lavender Farm – an experience for all the senses! Here they cultivate all their lavender flowers in organically certified fields and extract the essential oils from these flowers in their own on-site distillery. We'll be able to explore the farm and purchase any products if you wish! The day’s adventure will end back at Friday Harbor once we arrive on our bikes and there will be time to freshen up before dinner tonight in Roche Harbor.

    Discovery Inn (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 1-2 miles (1.5-3 kilometers)
    Biking: 10 miles (16 kilometers)

  • Day 4

    Explore Orcas Island and Whale-watching!

    #2048

    This morning we'll depart San Juan Island after breakfast and take a short ferry over to Orcas Island. We'll take a lovely loop hike around Cascade Lake that offers intimate views of the lake and its pine-studded shores. Along the western banks, you'll have various viewpoints on the banks of the lake. You may also catch a glimpse of a deer or two on your venture. After completing the hike enjoying some lunch, we'll board a boat and get ready to go whale watching! This all-afternoon tour will take you to the best spots to look for all the different kinds of whales of this area and learn how they hunt, interact, and migrate. We'll then drive across to the Rosario Resort where you will stay for the last two nights of the trip. Rosario Resort & Spa was built over 100 years ago by a Seattle shipbuilder and it offers comfortable and relaxing guest accommodations with beautiful views of the Islands including the magnificent East Sound and Cascade Bay. We'll dine tonight at the resort's restaurant featuring fresh, locally sourced, and creative house-made seasonal cuisine.

    Rosario Resort & Spa, Orcas Island (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 2.7 miles (4.2 kilometers)
    Cruise: 3 hours

  • Day 5

    Hike Mount Constitution

    #2049

    Surrounded by small, scenic State Park-designated islands, Orcas Island is a playground for adventurers, so this morning we’ll explore one of the many trails of Moran State Park. Named after Robert Moran, the Seattle Mayor and ship builder who provided the land, the park is 5,424-acres and offers abundant camping, five freshwater lakes for swimming and more than 30 miles of hiking, bicycling, mountain biking and equestrian trails. If you’re feeling energetic, we'll take a hike up Mount Constitution to the highest point in the San Juan Islands (it’s worth the effort – the views are spectacular!). We'll head around the left side of Mountain Lake, and then continue on to Twin Lakes, before starting your jaunt to the top of Mt. Constitution. Sitting on the crest is a stone tower replica of Russian watchtowers constructed in the Caucasus during the 12th century. We'll enjoy lunch on the trail and head back down in time for freshening up before our last dinner. Tonight we'll wrap up our active day with a farewell dinner at The Mansion at Rosario and toast to a great trip exploring the San Juan Islands!

    Rosario Resort & Spa, Orcas Island (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 4 miles (6.4 kilometers)

  • Day 6

    Hike Cascade Falls, farewell!

    #2050

    This morning, find a refreshing, majestical waterfall as we hike a trail located near Eastsound, Washington with other falls scattered along the way. Enjoy watching the water rush down the rocks as you're enveloped in a lush forest. Watch for birds flitting through the trees! We'll then make our way to the Orcas Ferry Landing to catch our final ferry back to Anacortes, with a packed lunch provided for the journey. Once we've landed in port we'll have a drive before dropping you back to either the hotel or the airport. This is the end of your trip and we’ll leave you refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you’ll have had with us!

    No Accommodation (Breakfast, Lunch)

    Hiking: 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers)

San Juan Islands Family Vacation Departure Dates

  • Upcoming
  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 1 year

Discounted child prices are available for children 12-years-old and under.

USD $4499/per adult , USD $4099/per child

Child rates apply for children 12 years and under.

Not ready to book yet?

Get in touch with our specialized team to find out more and get personalized advice.

  • Speak with one of our specialists
  • Confirm trip details
  • Discuss your specific needs
7 Jul 2024
2024
7 Jul12 Jul
Departure Open Open
21 Jul 2024
2024
21 Jul26 Jul
Departure Open Open
28 Jul 2024
2024
28 Jul2 Aug
Departure Open Open
4 Aug 2024
2024
4 Aug9 Aug
Departure Open Open
11 Aug 2024
2024
11 Aug16 Aug
Departure Open Open

Reviews from our Guests

view all

San Juan Islands Family Vacation - June 2022

San Juan Islands Family Vacation

"Austin Adventures provided what we were hoping for on our trip. We were… read more

"Austin Adventures provided what we were hoping for on our trip. We were very pleased with this journey to the San Juan Islands as I had been there before and wanted to have my granddaughter experience this beautiful area as well. Very well done. read less

5 Stars (4 reviews)

Mary,

San Juan Islands Family Vacation - June 2021

San Juan Islands Family Vacation

"Another AA Trip of a 'life time'; and, our family especially enjoyed it since we… read more

"Another AA Trip of a 'life time'; and, our family especially enjoyed it since we were not able to travel during the 2020 virus time frame. Beautiful Pacific Northwest scenery and no rain during our visiting period. Great guides, activities, wildlife, food and accommodations. We found the bike rides to be considerably more difficult than a level 3 rating due to the rolling hills and narrow roads; but, we enjoyed them. In reality, we were limited to having easier bike rides for a warm-up exercise due the island terrain. Experienced a great group of compatible people (adults & teens) for this trip. read less

5 Stars (4 reviews)

Hugh,

San Juan Islands Family Vacation - June 2021

San Juan Islands Family Vacation

"It was a great trip. The guides were knowledgable, prepared, and professional. read more

"It was a great trip. The guides were knowledgable, prepared, and professional. read less

5 Stars (4 reviews)

Christopher,

Interactive Trip Map

Austin PIF 2

Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full.

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. 

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. Please note CFAR insurance can only be purchased within 14 days of booking. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T+Cs Apply.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Useful Info

Where does the trip start?

On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport at 5:45am or the Seattle Airport Marriott at 6am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at either of these hotels directly or any other hotel in Seattle, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Seattle Airport at 5pm in time for flights below or at an airport hotel of your choice in Seattle around 5:30pm

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Seattle at least the day before your trip starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.
Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Seattle after 7pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

What is not included?

Flights to and from trip start/end points
Pre/Post Accommodation
Optional extra activities
Travel insurance
Gratuities for your guides

What should I bring with me on the first day?

When you speak with your guides the night before your trip, they will give you a detailed description of what to bring with you on Day 1. Typically, this includes a day pack with your rain jacket, sunglasses, hat, camera, etc. Anything you want easy access to during the day should go in your day pack as the rest of your luggage will go in the locked cargo trailer pulled behind the van. Your guides will provide you with a water bottle on the first morning of your trip and will always have water available for refills. There will be snacks available at all times in the van. Your guides will also have bug spray and sunscreen accessible for you to use.

Will I have contact with my guides before the trip starts?

Your guides will call your cell phone the night before your trip begins to touch base on the first day’s plan. If they don’t get through to you, they will leave a voicemail on your cell phone with all the details you need to plan for your first morning.

What are your recommended guide gratuity guidelines?

You will have 2-3 guides on your Austin Adventure (depending on group size). We recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per guide. Typically, gratuities are offered by check or cash in local currency on the final morning of the trip and can either be given to each guide individually or to one guide to be equally distributed. Most of our guides these days also accept gratuities via Venmo (please note this app does not work in Canada). All dining, housekeeping and activity tips are included in your trip price.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 90 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement. 

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

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Your Expert Local Guides

Why travel with us

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Just-right group sizes allow you to get off the beaten path

With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you’ll enjoy a highly personalized experience.

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Award-winning guides lead the way

It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your adventure when you have fun, caring guides who know the land, sweat all the details and whip up incredible meals, too!

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You’ll never need to sweat the details

When we say all inclusive, we mean it! Meals and snacks, activities, lodging, transportation, guiding services and more. All you need to do is show up!

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Enjoy freedom to push your boundaries – safely

Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted partners and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides.

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Decades of expertise mean you’ll experience only the best

Family travel and North American National Parks are our specialty. We’ve perfected our itineraries for decades, ensuring you'll experience your destination to the fullest.

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"Wow Moments” take your trip from enjoyable to extraordinary

For us, the extra mile is never extra, it’s part of the way! Count on special touches throughout your trip that will amplify your experience.

Trip Inquiry

North America

San Juan Islands Family Vacation

USD $4499/per adult
USD $4099/per child
$500 USD deposit per person required to secure your place on the trip

What To Expect

  • Place your booking
  • Receive your confirmation email & details to set up your Travel Wallet
  • Our dedicated team will keep you up to date all the way to the departure date

Dates

2024

July 2024

Sunday 7 July 2024
To Friday 12 July 2024
Open
Sunday 21 July 2024
To Friday 26 July 2024
Open
Sunday 28 July 2024
To Friday 2 August 2024
Open

Sunday 4 August 2024
To Friday 9 August 2024
Open
Sunday 11 August 2024
To Friday 16 August 2024
Open