Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Get Away From It All At A Friday Harbor Bed And Breakfast

By Essie Osborn


Think about combining small town peace and quiet with unspoiled views of water, sky, mountains, and wildlife. If you want to get away from it all but still enjoy all the creature comforts a vacation should afford, it might be time to consider a stay at a Friday Harbor Bed and Breakfast. You'll find a whole list of places to stay in the resort town that's also the San Juan Island county seat.

The island of San Juan was once owned by the Hudson Bay Company, which made its name in the fur trade but which ran a salmon cannery here. The town got its name from a man who came to work in the cannery but who stayed to settle. Once a major fruit and vegetable source for the mainland, the town (the county seat) depends on tourism now. Fortunately, it is such a scenic spot that visitors flock to it, especially in the summer.

The population of between two and three thousand permanent residents shows that this really is a small town. It's surrounded by mountains and water; the views are breathtaking. Everything else is sky, beaches, boats, and charming homes and businesses. Visitors are encouraged to get on 'island time', which is slow and sweet.

Visitors can take a ferry to the island, fly into the busy airport, hop on a seaplane, or come by private boat. For getting around town, there are taxis for those who didn't bring their automobiles over by ferry. There are bicycles and mopeds for rent, and most things are accessible to pedestrians. The whole town is about two miles square. B&Bs are among the most popular accommodations; reservations are pretty much required, especially for the summertime.

There are quite a few B&Bs in town. One establishment offers one fabulous suite to provide the height of privacy and individual attention. Others have up to seven. Several appear to actually be hotels, but they promise an authentic B&B experience, with comfort, privacy, and gourmet breakfast food.

It's actually a lot of fun to search the B&Bs in Friday Harbor. There's a great interactive site that rates the different establishments, posts photo galleries of each so you can see for yourself, and includes customer reviews. You'll find Victorian mansions and accommodations that are very contemporary. You may opt for a private suite with its own balcony overlooking the water or the garden, or you may prefer to enter into a home and share the common areas with your hosts.

One couple provides surprisingly spacious rooms on their boat. This is fun to see, even if you're not planning a trip to this island resort in the immediate future. The cabins are inviting, and the upper deck looks perfect for relaxing and watching boats come and go in the marina.

This vacation destination is great for doing as little or as much as you like. You can just sit back and absorb the peace and quiet or get out to see the sights. These include two species of whale, which you might spot from one of the beach or from a boat during a wildlife tour. There's hiking, kayaking, bird watching, and more in the national parks, and shopping, museums, galleries, entertainment, and dining in town.




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