The San Juan Islands are made up of many islands of which 172 have names. There are 17 state parks within the islands. All of the islands are within two to three hours of cruising. The four main islands are Orcas, San Juan, Lopez and Shaw. It is a day's cruise from the Seattle area to the San Juans. From Bellingham it is two to three hours. There are so many bays, harbors and anchorages that you could spend several summers cruising the entire area.

Day 1 - Leave Bellingham Harbor and cruise to Sucia Islands. Drop anchor in Echo Bay. Sucia Islands are a cluster of 11 islands and inlets. Fossils can be found in one of the bays as well as oysters, clams & crabs. Hiking trails are abundant throughout the Islands. Sucia was known in the early days as the base for smuggling and rum running.

Day 2 - Cruise to Stuart Island. There are two main anchorages on this island: Reid and Prevost Harbors. Anchor in one of these areas to explore the island on one of the hiking trails. There are picnic sites, docks and floats. A typical hike would be to Turn Point lighthouse, which has a sweeping view of the Canadian Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. Both harbors are good places to practice your kayaking.

Day 3 - Cruise to San Juan Island and Roche Harbor Resort, which is the famous home of the Roche Harbor Lime & Cement Company. This historical island provides many fun and interesting places to explore. The formal garden in front of the Hotel de Haro is quite beautiful. Besides a restaurant, bar, and shops, there is also an Olympic size swimming pool and tennis courts. The hike to the mausoleum is not to be missed. At sunset each night, we enjoy the traditional flag ceremony.

Day 4 - Cruise to Westcott and Garrison Bays. Here we will crab, tour an oyster farm and visit the British Camp, which was established in the 1860s and remained active until 1872 after the Pig War. The blockhouse, commissary and barracks are still standing.

Day 5 - Cruise to the town of Friday Harbor, the largest in the islands, which also serves as the county seat. There are all types of shopping available only a short walk from where the boat is anchored. Visit the Whale Museum or the University of Washington Marine Laboratories, located right in the harbor.

Day 6 - Cruise to Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island. This beautiful sandy finger of land is perfect for picnics and hiking. Also, it is a great place to catch crab.

Day 7 - Cruise the islands, looking for pods of Orca Whales (also known as killer whales) and do some exciting whale watching. Spend the evening in one of the dozens of lovely bays. Day 7 is not shown on the map because its location can vary.

Day 8 - Cruise to the beautiful and charming city of Victoria, British Columbia. Clear customs, sightsee, shop, enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel and visit the Maritime Museum. Victoria is not to be missed.

Day 9 - Cruise to Sidney Harbor and visit the famed and internationally known Butchart Gardens. Cruise to Sidney Spit Marine Park and enjoy a barbeque picnic on the beach. Hike around the island and see wild sheep, deer, pheasants and peacocks.

Days 10 & 11 - Cruise through the Canadian Gulf Islands. You could easily spend another week exploring these islands also know as the Canadian San Juans. Visit Bedwell Harbor, Montague Harbor, Clam Bay and Silva Bay. We can ski, fish, kayak, hike, beach comb, and sightsee at any or all of these islands.

Day 12 - Cruise to Vancouver, British Columbia and moor at beautiful Stanley Park. Jog, walk, or bicycle around the perimeter of the park. There is both great shopping and sightseeing in this lovely and sophisticated city.

Day 13 - Continue north up the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia and stay in Pender Harbor. This popular salmon fishing base is a small town with several marinas and stores, along with a restaurant and pub.

Days 14 & 15 - It is approximately a six-hour cruise from Pender Harbor to Princess Louisa Inlet, known to many as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The inlet has been likened to the fjords of Norway with mountains towering from 5,000 to 8,000 feet high. The inlet is beautiful with several cascading waterfalls throughout. We will anchor near the largest (Chatterbox Falls) at the head of the Inlet. The salt-water temperature ranges between 72-74 degrees in the summer. Wildlife is abundant.

Day 16 - Leave Princess Louisa and navigate through Malibu Rapids and head toward Desolation Sound. Anchor for the evening in one of the breathtaking bays in this area.

Days 17 through 21 - Arrive in Desolation Sound. This destination point has lush scenery and warm bays for swimming. Clams, oysters and mussels are abundant, as well as shrimp and salmon. The mountains surround the area. We will hike to fresh-water lakes, swim, shuck oysters on the beach, dig for clams and drop the crab and shrimp pots. This is a beautiful place to fish, swim, kayak and sightsee.

Day 22 - From Desolation Sound, guests could disembark at the city of Campbell River, which has an international airport, or cruise to Vancouver, Bellingham or Seattle. Of course, we could continue beyond Desolation Sound, which is even more remote than Desolation Sound. Here we would visit such anchorages as Blackfish Sound, Kingcome Inlet, and Minstrel Island. We could remain in the Queen Charlotte Strait area and visit the many private, quiet bays and harbors, or continue north through the Inside Passage to Southeast Alaska.