T
HE MORE THAN 170
ISLANDS and inlets
are sheltered from the
biggest ocean swells.
This is thanks to their
neighboring landmasses — the Olym-
pic Peninsula and Vancouver Island.
And though tucked in the wet Pacific
Northwest, this remote archipelago is
located at the center of the Olympic
Rain Shadow (aka the ‘Banana Belt’).
The unique sunshine blanket is creat-
ed by the Olympic Mountains which
condenses and squeezes most of the
air’s moisture from the sky before it
reaches the San Juans. The result is
an average of 270 days with sunshine
a year — making this arguably the
happiest place in Washington.
As with many remote destinations,
the San Juan Islands have attracted a
quirky culture of artists and artisans
who operate at a slower pace, who sa-
vor views a little longer, and who love
nature with an unending passion.
Why wouldn’t the island resi-
dents when they’re surrounded by
such beauty on a daily basis? Here,
second-growth firs tower along the
shores; bald eagles swoop overhead;
and endangered orcas cruise through
their waters.
The beauty in the San Juans is end-
less and always changing. The sunsets
are a riot of pristine color. The air is
heady with the crispy scent of salt.
There’s no better way to experience it
all than floating just inches from the
water’s surface.
Best Time to Visit: Summer
May through September is consid-
ered the ideal sea kayaking season
in the San Juan Islands because the
weather is more predictable and
the wildlife more plentiful during
the summer. That being said, wild-
flower enthusiasts will love that the
wind-swept prairies along the coast
are studded with blooms during the
spring.
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