Peter And Evie - Travel blog: Sept 4 - San Juan Islands excursion, Washington

We got up early and arrived at the Ferry Terminal in Anacortes, Washington by 7:45 am. The Ferry took an hour and took us and our car on a very nice cruise over to Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island. This island has a self-guided tour on a Scenic Byway all the way around the island. These were the places we stopped at on San Juan Island:

American Camp -- in 1859, there was a disagreement as to who owned the San Juan Islands-the US or Canada. There was a Canadian-owned pig shot by an American, that almost started the Pig Wars. For the next 12 years, both the Americans and the Canadians set up camps on the island, while the issue was being debated. This was the American Camp. Not much is left, but the beautiful view. This camp is located on the south of the island. We hiked out to the overlook of the bay.
English Camp- --This camp is located on the north of the island. Both along the shore. However, interesting enough, in the 12 years that the Canadians occupied the camp, before it was determined that the US owned the islands, they had built up a very nice little town. It had a school, hospital, formal garden and vegetable gardens, barracks and private homes for the officers and their families. They had become friends and involved with the locals There are still a few of the buildings remaining, and the formal garden.
Travel around the island, on the coast and in the interior. We didn't have a lot of time before we needed to hop on the inter-island ferry over to Orcas Island.
Friday Harbor--the main town on the island. We stopped and got lunch before we boarded the ferry.

Orcas Island stops:

This island also had a self-guided scenic byway, along the coast. Our first stop was at Deer Harbor. Nice views.
Orcas Island Pottery -this shop was located down a long bumpy dirt road, through the forest. It shows the work of the major potters on Orcas Island. Impressive, but too expensive. They also had a treehouse, that reminded me of Tamara & Mike's.
Moran State Park --this was GREAT! First we hiked the trail to the Cascades Falls, through the big tree forest. Very nice mile hike. Then we drove to the top of Mt. Constitution. Lots of steep curves and switchbacks, to the top at about 2,400 ft. There is a observation tower at the top, and incredible views of all the islands, and the Puget Sound, looking down on the pine tree covered hills. Breathtaking turnouts on the way back down the mountain road too.
Eastsound Village --this is the major hub of the island. A bit touristy, and most of the shops were closed by the time we got there on a week night.

Went to the Orcas Island Ferry stop, but it is sort of in the middle of nowhere. We got there a little early, but had dinner at the only place in the area. A remodeled 1904 hotel, with a dining room and a great chef. Took the Ferry back to Anancortes.

Ferry to San Juan Island photo: