The Perfect Picnic Spots on San Juan Island

There is nothing like a picnic on the beach overlooking the Salish Sea with only Orca whales and Bald Eagles watching. San Juan Island’s astonishing beauty offers breathtaking places to stop and have a snack. Let us share our favorite picnic spots with you, along with some tips on what to bring and where to get it.

Provisions

Friday Harbor’s Saturday Farmer's Market is a haven for putting a picnic together. Choose from freshly baked breads and (savory and sweet) pastries, pizza, raw oysters, smoked salmon, cheeses and fruits. Or head to the Food Coop for healthy, island-made goods. Make sure you have the tools you need - bottle opener, knife, cups - and the smears you crave - mustard, Tabasco, fresh lemon, bring a blanket and off you go!

Close to home – Jackson’s Beach

Jackson’s Beach, a calm driftwood beach with picnic benches and barbecues, is exactly one mile from the Bird Rock Hotel. There is a volleyball court and an old salmon cannery on a spit. This is the perfect outing for you and our complimentary beach cruiser bikes.

Breathtaking views - Lime Kiln State Park

Lime Kiln State Park is considered one of the best places to watch Orca wales from land anywhere in the world! The gorgeous park features a lighthouse, a look out platform, extensive hiking trails and picnic benches throughout. There is a restored limekiln you can climb down to. Even on the busiest summer days you’ll find privacy and calm here.

Climbing high – Mt .Young

Located in English Camp, the top of Mt. Young lends amazing views of all the other islands. The steep three-mile round trip hike rewards you with views of Bald Eagles nesting in wolf trees, so close, you can look them in the eye. People propose up here. And you will see why. There are no benches, just soft moss and wildflowers covering rugged granite cliffs.

Good smelling – The Pelindaba Lavender Farm

The lavender farm is a beautiful place to visit anytime of the year, but especially between May and October, with the “peak of purpleness” being in July and August. Rolling fields of lavender with the snow-topped Olympic Mountains as the backdrop, gorgeous art work, a farm store with over 200 products to discover, workshops, a demonstration garden and the cutting fields make this a splendid place to spend your day. Have lavender lemonade and lavender ice cream with your picnic.

We at the Bird Rock Hotel obtain all our body care products for our guest rooms from the farm. Your shampoo will have travelled less than you!

South Beach

San Juan Island's longest and wildest beach offers picnic tables, fire rings and thousands of comfy drift wood logs to dine on. Watch whales, sea lions and otters from shore. Play in the tide pools or fly a kite.