Friday Harbor is a beautiful town in San Juan County, in the state of Washington, United States. Friday Harbor is regarded as the Gateway to San Juan Island, exposing people to fun water activities.
Friday Harbor was said to have a population of 2,747 as of the 2021 census. This historic seaport has relatively evolved commercially due to its remoteness, offering a unique and relaxed old-fashioned vibe.
Friday Harbor is home to several outstanding and growing businesses, including gift stores, restaurants, theaters, parks, historic sites, and more.
Are you planning to explore Friday Harbor? Check out the best and fun things to do in Friday Harbor, WA.
Things to Do in Friday Harbor, WA
1. Lime Kiln Point State Park
Lime Kiln Point State Park
Lime Kiln Point State Park sits on a rocky bluff at the western edge of San Juan Island in the state of Washington, in San Juan Archipelago.
This small park is known as one of the best places to visit in Friday Harbor, WA, and one of the finest places in the country to watch orcas, humpbacks, and minke whales.
Through this region, several large pods travel between May and September while visitors get to watch whales from the historic lighthouse, which dates back to 1919, or a sea cliff.
Lime Kiln Point State Park’s Lime Klin interpretive center showcases exhibits relating to the inhabitant and migrating whale pods, including the Lime Klin industry that formerly occupied the area.
This place has several hiking trails along the rugged coast and numerous birds roaming the area, making it a favorite place for bird watching with other opportunities for kayaking and diving.
Address: 1567 West Side Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
2. Cattle Point Lighthouse
Cattle Point Lighthouse
Cattle Point Lighthouse overlooks Juan de Fuca’s Strait, where Haro Straits connects to the San Juan Channel.
You will find it on the southeast end of San Juan Island, while the Natural Resources Conservation Area of Cattle Point is located next to the Lighthouse.
The Lighthouse is a component of the San Juan Islands National Monument. The first light was constructed with a lens lantern in 1888.
The light was later replaced by a radio compass station in 1921, while the concrete tower of 34 feet on Cattle point was erected in 1935.
The Cattle Point Lighthouse’s lantern was wiped out in the 1950s, and it was replaced by a 250-mm drum lens which is visible on the tip of the tower. The Lighthouse was used in 1984 as a background for Exxon television commercials.
Address: Cattle Point Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA
3. American Camp
American Camp
American Camp was formerly located on the southern edge of San Juan Island during the twelve years of friendly point British/US occupation, which began from July 1859 to November 1874.
American Camp features a visitor center that houses a collection of books relating to the wildlife and history of the Island.
History and nature walks are available by the rangers from June to August on Weekends. You get to view the only remnants of the previous camp featuring a small museum, laundress quarters, the parade ground, and two office quarters.
Numerous trails go through prairies combined with rocky outcrops leading to South Beach, the Island’s longest public beach.
Address: 4668 Cattle Point Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
4. English Camp
English Camp
Friday Harbor is a city with lots of historic sites promoting the history of the land. If you want more insight into the region’s history, visit English Camp.
English Camp is located on San Juan Island. It was the dwelling place of the British Royal Marines during The Pig War resulting in a joint US/British occupation for twelve years.
British Camp was seated at the Northern end of the Island, right on Garrison Bay’s shores, where visitors can observe a formal garden, a cemetery, and some buildings.
Today, the Camp has become a beautiful park featuring a visitors’ center with a chain of trails traveling Young Hill ending at the cemetery.
The park volunteers and rangers duplicate civilian and military life during the era of the early pioneers on the island.
Address: Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
5. San Juan Museum Historical Society and Museum
San Juan Museum Historical Society and Museum
The San Juan Museum Historical Society and Museum is located on what was formerly the farm of James King, dating back to the 1800s.
San Juan Museum Historical Society and Museum feature a carriage house, original farmhouse, milk house, root cellar, a barn, resource center, and an ancient log cabin.
The Museum is operated by the San Juan historical society, which also manages an extensive collection of historic photographs, artifacts, and documents focusing on San Juan Island’s history.
San Juan Historical Society hosts the Pig War Picnic held annually on the 4th of July, the Old-fashioned Christmas celebration, and the Summer Concert Series.
Address: 405 Price St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
6. Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm and Country Store
An eighty acres farm, Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm and Country Store is owned and operated by Kris and Juan Island.
The owners continuously cultivate a herd of close to fifty alpacas living on the sunny pastures’ calm slopes iced by huge oaks of hundred years old.
It is the biggest alpacas herder on San Juan Island and is open to the public, as they are encouraged to come in and take a walk around.
Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm and Country Store allows visitors to see the animals and visit their Country store as they browse through an extensive collection of cuddly toys, coats, and wool sweaters made from alpaca.
The farms offer an abundance of accessories, including socks, hats, slippers, scarves, and alpaca yarns.
Address: 3501 West Valley Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
7. Arctic Raven Gallery
Arctic Raven Gallery
A fantastic art gallery in Friday Harbor, Arctic Raven Gallery is located in Puget Sound on San Juan Island.
Arctic Raven Gallery features Arctic and American Northwest Coast’s native art with an extensive collection of Indian masks of the Northwest with wood carvings and prints representing local people.
This collection represents the people of Makah, Coast Salish, and Kwaguilth nations, including Tsimshian, Tlingit, and Haida.
The Gallery takes pride in showcasing some of the most distinguished names, including the Hunt Robert Davidson and Susan Point families.
Arctic Raven Gallery showcases ivory, bone, and stone sculptures. Visitors get a closer glance at the lifestyle of those who adjusted to the tough northern environment.
Address: 130 First St S, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
8. Yo Friday Harbor Flowers & Sweets
A family-owned and operated restaurant, Yo Friday Harbor Flowers & Sweets is located in Friday Harbor.
This energetic and ever-busy treat store attends to every treat craving, offering various options.
Yo Friday Harbor Flowers & Sweets offers freshly made natural ice cream invented by Local Lopez Island Creamery.
You can also try out the flavorful fudge prepared by the popular fudge ladies who are from the fudge factory, offering a wide variety of flavors for their frozen yogurt.
The shop offers comfortable tables and seats on which you can enjoy some delicious treats.
Address: 160 1st St S, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
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9. Westcott Bay Shellfish Co.
Found on Westcott Bay right above the tidelands, Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. offers visitors an amazing experience in Friday Harbor.
Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. offers visitors a chance to take part in picking freshly cultivated shellfish right from the farm tanks.
What is more amazing is viewing the aquaculture farming found on their beaches while they get to watch local eagles, seals, and herons roaming the water.
They offer visitors everything they need to have a unique picnic during summer, which includes cheeses, salads, and charcuterie with anything else that goes with hand-cut oysters.
Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. offers a wide variety of sodas, beer, water, and wine with picnic tables where you can enjoy these meals.
Address: 904 Westcott Dr, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
10. China Pearl Restaurant
One of the places to enjoy a delicious meal in Friday Harbor is China Pearl Restaurant and Lounge, the only Chinese restaurant in the town.
China Pearl Restaurant and Lounge provides an ample dining space where family and friends can enjoy the large cozy family tables with a combination of colorful blue boots.
The restaurant ensures that every meal is made using the finest local ingredients following the original traditional methods.
China Pearl Restaurant and Lounge feature a full-time bar offering beers and wines, while the lounge consists of games and a ping pong table.
Address: 51 Spring St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
11. Whale Museum
Whale Museum
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of whales, visiting Whale Museum is among the top things to do in Friday Harbor, WA.
The Whale Museum was established in 1979 as a natural history museum with a mission to clarify whales extensively.
The Musem’s major main is to protect wild whales found in the Salish Sea ecosystem through research and education programs.
The Museum showcases a vast collection of exhibits, including life-sized whale representations, details on the pods, complete skeletons, and recent scientific research concerning native whale species.
The Whale Museum houses exhibit on pinnipeds, porpoises, and other forms of marine mammals dwelling in the Salish Sea. You will find wildlife exhibits and videos focusing on the Native American culture of Northwestern.
Address: 62 First St N, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
12. Schooners North
If you’re in Friday Harbor, your vacation wouldn’t be complete without exploring the waters in the region using Schooners North, so add it to your list of fun things to do in Friday Harbor, WA.
Schooners North, a timeless wooden vessel, is huge, stunning, and worthy of being explored, guaranteeing an amazing voyage experience.
Schooners North departs from the Friday Harbor. These waters are filled with numerous wildlife, such as dolphins, humpback and orcas, whales, otters, and several bird species, such as bald eagles.
The covered calm waters found in between the Islands proclaim it as one of the most interesting and peaceful sailings.
Schooners North offers a unique view of the gorgeous Salish Sea as you sail through its waters from a deck.
You might come across seals, whales, sea lions, porpoises, and otters. The tour guides will tell you all you need to know about the dangers they encounter and how they survive.
Address: 8058, 1 Front St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
13. Island Stage Left
A premier theatre in Friday Harbor, Island Stage Left offers the public an exceptional experience for no fee at all.
Island Stage Left is a popular choice for island and Islanders visitors irrespective of their social status or financial capacity.
The theater has been in existence for about twenty years. It is owned by Daniel Mayes and Helen Machin-Smith, who are long-time professionals in the theater business.
They relocated to San Juan Island to carry the performing arts to the community’s people since it was founded.
Island Stage Left has produced several Shakespeare and other works, including James Goldman’s The Lion.
The theater took numerous productions to other islands in San Juan, the archipelago, shaw, Lopez, Waldron, and orcas.
Address: 1062 Wold Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
14. Friday’s Crabhouse
Friday’s Crabhouse
Enjoy some delicious cuisines at Friday’s Crabhouse, an outdoor seafood grill and bar in Friday Harbor.
Friday’s Crabhouse has become a popular seaside eatery in the community offering beautiful views of the harbor.
The restaurant features 4-level decks, which provide every visitor a view from the front seat with the inside and outside areas that can accommodate one hundred and eighty people.
They offer an extensive menu focusing on fresh clams, oysters, mussels, clams, fried seafood, and many more.
Friday’s Crabhouse also offers seafood tacos and hamburgers with a wide selection of side dishes, while the full bar features both lock beers and wines.
Address: 65 Front St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
15. Harbor Song Art Gallery
A heaven for art lovers, Harbor Song Art Gallery, is a must-visit for all visitors and locals in Friday Harbor, Washington.
Harbor Song Art Gallery was founded specifically to promote the artworks of Tom and Mary Garrels, the local artists who established the gallery.
The Gallery showcases their works, including customized and unique picture frames and decor pieces for offices or homes.
Aside from their gallery, you will find their artwork in various private and public collections all over the globe. The owners are dedicated to showcasing their work in the gallery and are open for group or individual commission.
Harbor Song Art Gallery is still located in the Pacific Northwest, relying on the beauty and glamour of the San Juan Islands for art inspiration.
Address: 180 1st St S, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
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16. Posey Island State Park
Posey Island State Park
If you’re looking for what to do in Friday Harbor, WA, with your entire family, check out Posey Island State Park.
Posey Island State Park is a public recreational destination of one acre in San Juan County on Posey Island.
The island is found between Pearl Island and Roche Harbor as a component of the Cascadia Marine Trail.
It has a shoreline of around 1,000 feet, with campsites for guests visiting the Park in paddling boats.
Posey Island State Park is a favorite for porpoises and kayak crews; there is a high possibility that this place would offer you some solitude.
Posey Island State Park is not as barren as it looks, as it is covered by historic Yew trees, colorful orange lichen, meadow grasses, and blooming wildflowers.
As you explore Posey Island State Park, you can stop by the Spieden Island nearby using a kayak, where you can find sheep, antelopes, and harbor seals.
Address: Pearl Island, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
17. IMA – San Juan Islands Museum of Art
IMA – San Juan Islands Museum of Art
IMA- San Juan Islands Museum of Art is one of the best places to visit in Friday Harbor, WA, especially if you’re an art lover.
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art is committed to showcasing Southwest British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest’s visual arts.
The Museum consists of three galleries featuring about eight to ten temporary exhibitions annually, including lectures known as “Art as a Voice.”
The exhibits consist of fine visual art, photography, sculpture, paintings, drawings, and so on from different parts of the world, mainly Salish Sea’s artists.
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art partners with the School District of San Juan Island, providing steady financial assistance for art education. It is said that without the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, there would have been no art program on the island in the elementary schools.
Address: 540 Spring St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
18. Stuart Island Marine State Park
Stuart Island Marine State Park
Stuart Island Marine State Park is a marine camping park in San Juan County as a component of the Washington State Park System.
Stuart Island Marine State Park spreads to four hundred and thirty-three acres of water and land around Stuart Island with beautiful isolated craggy coves and blue inlets.
The Park is characterized by a shoreline of 33,030 feet, including moorage at Reid and Prevost Harbors.
You can explore hiking trails of 3.5 miles and engage in order activities like crabbing, fishing, boating, and scuba diving.
Stuart Island Marine State Park features eighteen campsites excellent for canoeing and kayaking, with a trail that goes up the Turn Point Light Station. The Park is popular for its dramatic sunsets and wonderful boating setting.
Address: Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
19. Pelindaba Lavender Farm
Pelindaba Lavender Farm
If you have been looking for a place that brings you closer to nature, add a visit to Pelindaba Lavender Farm to your list of best things to do in Friday Harbor, WA.
Pelindaba Lavender Farm is a gorgeous attraction on San Juan Island, which overlooks a stunning lake and Olympic Mountains.
Visitors can take a walk through twenty-five acres of gorgeous fields that cultivate authentic organic lavender plants.
The Farm features a significant oil distillery with exhibits about the function of lavender and its items, plus a Gatehouse Farm Store offering more than two hundred products based on lavender for different purposes such as household, botanical, personal, culinary, pet, and therapeutic use.
Pelindaba Lavender Farm is open for picnics on the fields and lawns during summer, while the Annual San Juan Island Lavender Festival is held on the third weekend of July.
Address: 45 Hawthorne Ln, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
20. Serendipity Books
If you’re someone who is fascinated by books, Serendipity Books is a must-add to your itinerary of what to do in Friday Harbor, WA.
Serendipity Books has been in existence for more than twenty years in a stunning historic home dating back to 1892.
The building was formerly a Presbyterian Manse. It still carries its unique beauty, featuring authentic molding, trim, and stained glass windows.
This structure was an antique shop from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was later a bed and breakfast inn until the middle of the 1990s, when it was converted into a clothing store.
It was further occupied by a photography gallery, nature which was based on nature in 1995 until the bookstore was founded in March 1997 by Carol and Dilys.
Serendipity Books is filled with books from the ceiling to the floor, including paper and hardcover books in all genres and subjects with exemption to computer technology.
The bookstore is open throughout the year daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, offering you all the academic support you need.
Address: 223 A St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
21. John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum
John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum
For a more unique experience, visit John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum.
John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum is found just a short distance away from Tucker House Inn on San Juan Island in Roche Harvor’s historic village.
It is an elegant family crypt in rotunda style; John S. McMillin was the architect of Roche Harbor Town and the proprietor of the Roche Harbor Lime Company.
He supported the rebuilding of San Francisco after it experienced an earthquake by offering the required lime for restoration.
John made the decision to construct a monument to commemorate his accomplishments, and he referred to the family mausoleum as the Afterglow Vista.
John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum sits in the middle of a 10-acre forest beside Roche Harbor Resort.
Address: 664 Afterglow Dr, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
22. Turn Island State Park
A 34-acre island, Turn Island State Park, is located in the San Juan Channel off the east coast of San Juan Island with 900 feet in Washington.
The Turn Island State Park is a component of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Turn Island Marine State Park.
It is a loved location for numerous kayakers who are fascinated by pebble beaches and gorgeous who reside in campsites.
The island features a trail running around the perimeter of the Island, beginning in a forest filled with madrone trees right above a little rocky beach, a part featuring raccoons and blue herons.
The trail, which goes high and low, offers gorgeous views of the sea at all corners. The Island is easily accessible by boat only from San Juan Island through Jackson Beach. Exploring this Park is one of the fun things to do in Friday Harbor, WA.
Address: 20 Cormorant Ln, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
23. Friday Harbor Film Festival
If you’re also interested in cultures, films, and the environment, attend the Friday Harbor Film Festival.
Friday Harbor Film Festival offers famous documentary films connecting people to unique cultures, the pacific environment, and even beyond.
The Festival features exciting activities, including events and screenings in Friday Harbor, inviting committed filmmakers to promote their documentary films.
Members of the public are enlightened through essential information, motivating celebration of the diverse cultures and planet and creating more awareness.
Friday Harbor Film Festival encourages kids to learn the skill of telling stories through films by basically taking part in the Young Filmmakers projects.
Address: Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
24. San Juan Island Farmers Market
For an excellent list of the best things to do in Friday Harbor, WA, include a stop at San Juan Island Farmers Market.
San Juan Island Farmers Market is a seasonal market that is open on Saturday mornings from April to October.
The Market is housed in the ancient Brickworks Community Center, where residents and tourists go to purchase fresh farm produce.
You can purchase food items such as eggs, berries, fresh seafood, dairy, shellfish, meats, flowers, cheeses, and so on.
San Juan Island Farmers Market also features vendors offering freshly prepared dishes made with local ingredients, including bread, paella, pizza, falafels, pastries, dumplings, bread, crafts, and more.
Address: Brickworks Building, 150 Nichols Street, Friday Harbor, WA, United States
25. St. Francis Catholic Church
St. Francis Catholic Church
St. Francis Catholic Church, constructed in 1875, can be found roughly three miles away from Friday Harbor in San Juan Valley.
St. Francis Catholic Church replaced the previous log cabin church, which was originally erected in 1860 before it was eradicated in 1874 by fire.
The Church purchased another five acres of land in 1958 in Friday Harbor before it was moved from the ancient cemetery home to its current location.
In 1968, St. Francis Catholic became a parish of its own and consistently grew from just nine local families in 1884 to a diverse population of nearly three hundred families.
Address: 369 Price St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
26. Cynthia’s Bistro
Cynthia’s Bistro
Cynthia’s Bistro provides a cozy and warm atmosphere with authentic paintings on its walls, giving the place so much color.
This restaurant is renowned in the region for its sumptuous breakfast and lunch meals offering a wide variety of dinner and brunch meals.
Comfortably, the restaurant can contain thirty people with extra outdoor seating during summer.
Cynthia’s Bistro also offers tofu scramble, Swedish pancakes, cinnamon custard French toast, paninis, Dutch babies, homemade soup, and more.
The restaurant serves delicious juices, smoothies, and more at their espresso bar with an impressive menu of flavorful treats.
Address: 65 Nichols St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
27. San Juan Island Distillery
San Juan Island Distillery is owned by three business partners, Suzy, Rich Anderson, and Hawk Pingree.
These partners work together to ensure they produce a delicious batch of spirits and ciders on San Juan Island.
The Distillery offers about fourteen varieties of gin, numerous flavored branches, and liqueurs, including their most popular apple brandy.
The Apple brandy earned an award from American Craft Spirit Association as the best in class and 2014 by the American Distilling Company.
San Juan Island Distillery offers an exciting and educational experience through its tasting sessions and cider works.
The Distillery features an elegant tasting room with a unique climate offering picturesque views and delicious spirits.
Address: 12 Anderson Ln, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States
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Plan Your Trip to Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor is an amazing town that attracts visitors from different parts of the world to the state of Washington.
The town offers countless opportunities, and there is no limit to how much you can explore with your loved ones. Fun awaits you in this beautiful seaport town.