Friday Harbor Marina Map

  Where is a Friday Harbor Marina map?      

   A  Friday Harbor Marina map is right here.  For first-timers to the  Marina, it is really handy to know where your assigned slip is in a maze of fairways and other boaters.

        Even regular visitors can forget where G-dock is or which side are the odd-numbered slips!
Does anyone see the dinghy dock?  (It's at the end of A-dock)

Tip #1  Ask for a slip close to land, that quarter-mile walk gets old real fast!

Tip #2  If your visit includes loading and unloading passengers and gear,  save yourself a long walk and use the loading dock below the marina office. (just motor past the fuel pier) The side-facing land is for public use. The other side is for VIP's

Tip #3 Call the "Friday Harbor Master" for slip assignment, call on channel 66 or use your cell phone.  Or simply tie up to breakwater "A" when you arrive.

Click on the image for a bigger view.

Roche Harbor Marina map >> Marina map of Roche Harbor

Squalicum Harbor Marina Map >> Marina Map of Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, WA

Click below for Satellite view of Friday Harbor

Ten Best Parks of the San Juan Islands

  What and where are the San Juan Islands' ten best parks?  

   Let's start by listing my choices in order of best first, first because they have overnight docks,  followed by some pros and cons, and a few real-world comments.  (Hopefully, I haven't omitted your favorite)  Keep in mind, we go to all the parks and don't dislike any but there is no doubt some parks are five-star and some are not, depending on what we are doing or the weather during that particular cruise.

     For a more detailed review of the San Juan area marine parks, including maps try this post.  marine parks

parks with docks

• Jones Island   

• Matia

• Sucia - Fossil Bay

• James Island

• Stuart Island  (Prevost & Reid Harbor)

• Sharpe Cove and Cornet Bay at Deception Pass

parks without docks

• Saddlebag Island

• Pelican Beach

• Turn Island

• Eagle Harbor

• Cypress Head

• Patos

• Sucia   (Echo and Shallow bays)

• Spencer Spit

• Odlin County Park  (has 2 hr dock)

• Clark Island

• Doe Island

• Obstruction Pass

• Sidney Spit Marine Park (Canada) (has overnight dock)

• Washington Park  (launching ramp only dock)

• San Juan County Park

• Shaw Island Park

1 - Jones Island is my number one choice and here's why

       Pros:

• bigger but not the biggest dock

• protected bay 

• great dinghy beach with a couple of tidepools

• anchor buoys and lots of room to anchor

• running water and four nice nearby composters

• Hiking the many loop trails at Jones never gets boring

• tiny deer, many tame, are unique to Jones

• dock is very close to camp sites for evening fires

• close to Deer Harbor for supplies

        Cons:

• crowds sometimes

• long way back to the mainland

• open to the north wind

• no bicycle trails

  2 - Matia Island never disappoints us.

        Pros:

• very small intimate dock for four boats

• usually room when we arrive

• small protected bay holds about four more boats

• great gravel beach

• multiple coves for beachcombing

• puffins, seals and eagles and great sunsets

• unique rain forest one mile or less loop trail

• somewhat close to Squalicum Harbor (2-3 hours)

• restroom at top of gangplank

• Matia is a peaceful quiet special place

click here for the rest

Fox of the San Juans

Are there friendly foxes on San Juan Island?  

 Look who we met on the edge of the road while biking from our slip in Friday Harbor to Cattle Point.  

This is the sort of chance encounter that makes my day.  I don't remember much about that outing but I sure remember how friendly this guy was.

     We are on the high bluff overlooking Cattle Point and the Strait of Juan De Fuca with nothing but grassy fields in all directions.  This healthy looking guy appeared to be looking for handouts.

I have never seen a fox that hasn't seen me first and wasn't running for the hills.

Another good reason for getting off the boat.

click below for satellite view of Cattle Point

How to Bicycle Between San Juan Island, Lopez Island, Shaw and Orcas Island Without a Car

       

  For most people, bicycling the San Juan's means arriving with your bike and gear in a car on a Ferry.

  But it doesn't have to be this way. Savvy cyclists leave their cars in Anacortes and ride the ferry to the San Juan Islands.  Once in the islands, bicycle travel and free ferry rides is the way to go.

First let's explore a likely scenario for those without a boat. Bear with me, this will get a little wordy:

      You drive to Anacortes and find a place to park for free for a week, maybe more. Or park at the ferry terminal long-term parking lot for about $40 per week. Next, jump on the ferry paying a small nominal fee for one passenger and a bicycle for a lift to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, or Orcas, or Lopez, or Shaw.  FYI: foot passengers and bicyclists never need reservations or need to wait in line like car travelers.

So far, so good!

     The day is still early, start touring (ride your bike). At the end of the day you will end up in a motel, B&B, campground, or any number of resorts.  You probably will be well advised to have some reservations lined up in advance. Oh, and bring a pocket full of cash because restaurants and beds aren't free. The next day tour around some more then jump on the free for foot and bicycle passengers Ferry to other Islands and repeat. Eventually, you will end up back in Anacortes where your car is waiting for the drive home.

      This is a great plan if you are into minimalist and don't have a boat, but there are a few weaknesses; number one, where is all my extra gear that I take when I travel, oh yeah its back in the car parked in Anacortes while I'm gallivanting around on an island with nothing but my pocket full of cash and what fits in my bike bags. (not good for some of us) Excellent plan if you're a hardcore bicyclist. Number two doesn't matter, I'm still back on number one.

Okay, here's the boating/bicycling scenario: