As most know, the San Juan Islands weren't always considered part of the United States of America.  "The Pig War," which in 1859 led to a 12-year joint British/U.S. occupation of the island while the two nations argued over who owned the San Juans. The Royal Marines lived at English Camp, at the north end of the island, and a few buildings, a formal garden, and a cemetery remain from their time here.

Today, this beautiful day-use park on the shores of Garrison Bay includes a small, seasonal visitors’ center and trails that range from a fairly strenuous hike up Young Hill to the cemetery and beyond to an easy 45-minute loop through woodland and along the bay. On Saturdays from June through August, park rangers and volunteers recreate some of the skills of military and civilian life during the island’s early pioneer period; for an entire weekend in July, the park hosts a reenactment of life in the mid-19th-century camp. The park is located about 9 miles from Friday Harbor, 5 miles from Roche Harbor; served by San Juan Transit shuttles late May through early October but the park remains open to visitors year round. 

The park is a very short drive or easy walk from the property.  Click HERE to learn more about English Camp National Historical Park.

Located on San Juan Island's west side, on peaceful Mitchell Bay, Snug Harbor Resort offers year-round waterfront accommodations.Snug Harbor has been a hidden gem in Mitchell Bay on San Juan Island since the early 60's. The resort has been a preferred location of outdoor enthusiast for decades. Fishing and crabbing in the immediate area has always been fantastic, easily reached from the protected harbor of Mitchell Bay.

Going back much further than the 60's, Mitchell Bay was a prime location for the Native American Indians indigenous to the area. The protected bay and proximity to areas offering easy harvesting of salmon, crab, clams, oysters, and seaweed made the location a natural gathering place. With the advent of whale research and eco-tourism Snug Harbor again became the preferred launching point for these endeavors. Snug currently hosts three whale research boats, two whale watching operations and a kayak touring company from their marina.

Click HERE to learn more about this amazing resort. 

Roche Harbor is a world all its own.  Whether you stay at the historic hotel and cottages, visit from your boat in one of the marina’s 377 slips, or spend an afternoon exploring the tiny village, restaurants, boutiques and its environs, Roche Harbor will certainly delight.

The historic Hotel de Haro, named for Spanish explorer Gonzalo López de Haro was perhaps the first European to discover the San Juan Islands. The hotel dates back to 1886 when the village served as a company town for John McMillin’s lime works (remnants of the lime kilns are still visible, along with the now-scenic quarries). Past the tiny 1892 Our Lady of Good Voyage chapel, the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park, and the pioneer cemetery, you can hike up to the imposing Romanesque McMillin family mausoleum.

Visitors can also explore some of the hiking trails around the Roche Harbor quarries and through the forestland around the resort. Or enjoy a swim in the only heated outdoor pool on the island. Additionally, kayak and whale-watching tours leave from the marina multiple times a day.

Click HERE to learn more about Roche Harbor.