Very exciting - you're headed "Up North" in your own boat... OK.. first step.. plan your departure according to the tide... The trick is to start at high tide so you ride the ebb north out of Puget Sound, catch low water around Point Wilson, Mile 42, and then the flooding tide carries your north into the San Juan Islands. Of course, you have to watch the weather crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca, as especially when those afternoon westerlies boom in from the ocean, it can get nasty..
Finally.. whew... you get across and go though Cattle Pass into the sheltered waters beyond and dig out the rum to celebrate your safe crossing. Now you have a big selection of sleepy places to anchor or even go ashore and get a bite to eat. Enjoy it now as another hundred and thirty miles or so and you'll pretty much be in the wilderness.
The San Juans, with thee large islands served by ferry from Anacortes on the mainland and many smaller islands, are a vacationer's delight. There is also is a really fine network of Washington State marine parks.
The dream of many Northwest families was to have a summer house in the San Juans. Years ago these were modest cabins on the water that middle class working families could afford. Those days are long gone; if you can find a nice waterfront home today for less than close to a million bucks, you better jump on it!
Fortunately there are many children’s summer camps scattered among these islands and generations of Northwest children have spent their best summers here.
Earth Bermed House, Stuart Island
The islands are extremely popular with boaters. The calm waters, many natural harbors, and many different islands have created a boaters paradise. In addition, Washington State has many marine parks among the islands, allowing access just for boaters. Some of the parks with beaches for kayaks to pull up on with adjacent campsites are specifically for very small craft.
Reid Harbor State Park, Stuart Island
Orca Pod below Turn Point Lighthouse, Stuart Island
Orcas, also called killer whales, are frequently seen among these islands. The handsome creatures - you can recognize them by their tall - sometimes 6’ high - dorsal fins - travel in family groups called pods. Their favorite and usually abundant food is migrating salmon. But they are just as likely to have a harbor seal for lunch as a king salmon. On rare occasions the more aggressive members of a pod will get together and attack a small or injured humpback whale.
Once I was traveling on one of the Washington State ferries when we passed two orcas that were apparently tossing the carcass of a harbor seal back and forth as they traded taking bites.
Whale watching both for orcas and for humpbacks is a regular activity among these islands, and excursions are available in Friday Harbor.