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San Juan Island
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Itinerary
Day 1 Bellingham to Sucia
Day 2 Sucia to Stuart
Day 3 Stuart to Roche Harbor
Day 4 Roche Harbor to Aleck Bay
Day 5 Aleck Bay to Rosario
Day 6 Rosario to Bellingham
Refer to our Rates Page for Details
Day 1 Bellingham to Sucia
Day 2 Sucia to Stuart
Day 3 Stuart to Roche Harbor
Day 4 Roche Harbor to Aleck Bay
Day 5 Aleck Bay to Rosario
Day 6 Rosario to Bellingham
Refer to our Rates Page for Details
DAY 1 - Bellingham to Sucia
Our San Juan Island Big Adventure cruise is, as its name states, a big adventure cruise circumnavigating the San Juan archipelago, truly connecting you to the natural beauty of the Salish Sea and providing you an intimate and authentic experience with memories that last a lifetime.
Boarding starts at 10 AM and we’ll be heading out to Sucia around 11 AM after a quick safety meeting and review of the boat systems so that you can be comfortable while underway. Lunch will be served around Noon.
Pending weather and tide, we will either head South West across Bellingham Bay, skirt Eliza Rock and then head West to round the South end of Lummi Island or we will head up Hales Passage on a North Westerly course. Either way, it will be a scenic ride along Lummi Island and we’ll arrive in Echo Bay on Sucia around 2 pm.
Once anchored you can simply relax and enjoy the view from the bridge deck or go ashore for a leisurely stroll, explore tide pools and the fossil lined beach or take a hike around the island to bluffs overlooking the water and hidden coves. You can also take a kayak or standup paddleboard for a spin, lounge on our floating dock or explore the shorelines with the yacht’s small motorized dingy. At some point, it will be time for dinner and the sharing of stories about the days' adventures.
DAY 2 - Sucia to Stuart
After breakfast, you’ll have all morning to continue lounging around, go ashore for a beach stroll or hike, kayak along the shorelines or take the paddleboard for another spin. Around 11 AM we will pull anchor and head to our next destination, Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island, which is the furthest West you can go without crossing the international border into Canada. If the weather and currents allow we can head towards Boundary Pass and round the North side of Waldron Island. Doing this gives us an opportunity to check out the birdlife on Bare and Skipjack island. Another option is to round the south side of Waldron Island and stop by Cowlitz Bay for a stroll on its mile long white sand beach.
At Stuart, we will be anchoring at the sheltered Prevost Harbor. You may want to explore the shorelines and many coves by kayak, paddleboard or dingy, or if you feel up to it, take one of the most amazing hikes in the San Juans, which is the Turn Point Lighthouse trail. With the long daylight hours we can have a late dinner if that fits everyone's schedule. After dinner the rest of the night is yours to enjoy as you like.
DAY 3 - Stuart to Roche Harbor
The morning is open for more exploring or relaxing both before and after breakfast. A sunrise paddle with a hot cup of coffee is an option for the early risers. If the tide is right and the weather cooperates a mother ship flotilla around turn point is an exhilarating event that can be part of our journey to the historic Roche Harbor, which is our next destination.
Roche Harbor has lots of sights and so many activities, including shopping, there is something for eveyone. The ride from Stuart Island to Roche Harbor is one that takes us through the furthest North West waters in the Salish Sea. We can cruise around Turn Point or go through the narrow Johns pass, navigate past Gull Reef and Spieden Island.
At Roche, we will tie to the dock, but anchoring is also an option. Now you’ll get to decide whether you would like to stroll through the formal gardens of the Hotel de Haro, or the Westcott Bay Sculpture Park a short walk over the hill. Maybe you'd like to go shopping or we can take a boat ride to Garrison Bay to tour English Camp followed by a stop at the Westcott Bay Oyster farm. After that, we can cut across Mosquito Pass for a walk through the Henry Island Wildlife Preserve. People watching is also quite enticing at Roche as this is where the megayacht fleet ties up when visiting the San Juans. Your day will fly by and before you know it you will be sitting down for another wonderful dinner cooked by Kerstin.
DAY 4 - Roche Harbor to Aleck Bay
After Breakfast and some more exploring, we will be heading to Aleck Bay on the South end of Lopez Island, which is a beautiful ride along the West coast of San Juan Island with its terrain changing from sheer cliffs to rolling hillsides as we proceed southward towards Cattle Pass. We will pass Lime Kiln Point, which is famous for whale watching. Throughout the summer there will be killer whales, gray, finback and even minke whales along with porpoises and pinnipeds that you will have an opportunity to see.
During Spring and Fall, when the weather can be unstable, we might take the Eastern route around San Juan Island. We can duck into Friday Harbor for a quick tour and some ice cream depending on your desires. As we continue to the South end of Lopez Island, which is more like Alaska than any other area in the San Juans, you’ll find the rugged coastline enchanting and possibly a bit intimidating. The sea life is so verdant that some underwater spots have been closed to sport fishing for biological study and preservation. The views will continue to amaze you as we round Swirl Island and head into Aleck Bay.
Sheltered Aleck Bay at the South End of Lopez Island offer great views out to the Puget Sound and mainland. Aleck Rocks, a wildlife refuge surrounded by shoals and kelp, is the perfect staging point for exploring wildlife by dingy, kayak or paddle board. Neighboring Hughes and McArdle Bay have beaches that beg to be explored as well. After dinner, you may find yourself on the bridge deck for some stargazing or in the salon to enjoy the company of your fellow cruisers.
DAY 5 - Aleck Bay to Rosario
Waking up while anchored in Aleck Bay is something that you will remember as a special moment. After breakfast and some more exploring, we will be heading to Rosario, which is home to the Moran Mansion and marina. We are quite certain that Rosario will become one of your favorite places after our visit.
Pulling out of Aleck Bay we will be cruising through some of the most rugged scenery of the trip. If the tide is right and you’ve got the energy, a paddle from Castle Island around Point Colville and Watmough Head and into the lee of Boulder island to be picked up is quite a memorable experience. Moving along there are several passes that we can negotiate on our way North to Rosario.
At Rosario, we will be pulling into our spot at the dock, which allows you the freedom to wander without needing a dinghy ride to the beach. There is great paddling as well as hiking, a lake to take a plunge, or you may opt to explore the historical Moran Estate. As part of the cruise, you will have a spa pass that grants you entry to the indoor pool, sauna, hot tub and everyone’s favorite, the outdoor pool that hangs on the cliff overlooking East Sound. This is truly a treat you don’t want to miss.
In the evening you can dine at the Mansion if you like but you will be missing a great meal prepared by our Chef de Cuisine Kerstin aboard the Lady of the Sea. After dinner, you may wish to stroll around the grounds or enjoy a moonlit walk to the pea gravel beach that runs across the head of the bay.
DAY 6 - Rosario to Bellingham
The morning is casual with beverages ready for you at your leisure along with something fresh out of the oven and a hearty breakfast. There will be a couple hours left for a sauna or dip in the pool or perhaps you’ll like to tackle the standup paddleboard one last time.
At Noon we will be slipping the lines and heading South out of East Sound for a scenic lunch cruise back to Bellingham. It’s our goal to have you to the dock by 3 PM but weather and tides can delay us up to an hour making our arrival closer to 4 PM. Please let us know if you need to get back by 3 PM to catch a flight as we can head out a bit earlier if necessary or maybe you would prefer to catch a float plane out of Rosario, which would take you right into Seattle - a fun way to end this exciting trip.
Our San Juan Island Big Adventure cruise is, as its name states, a big adventure cruise circumnavigating the San Juan archipelago, truly connecting you to the natural beauty of the Salish Sea and providing you an intimate and authentic experience with memories that last a lifetime.
Boarding starts at 10 AM and we’ll be heading out to Sucia around 11 AM after a quick safety meeting and review of the boat systems so that you can be comfortable while underway. Lunch will be served around Noon.
Pending weather and tide, we will either head South West across Bellingham Bay, skirt Eliza Rock and then head West to round the South end of Lummi Island or we will head up Hales Passage on a North Westerly course. Either way, it will be a scenic ride along Lummi Island and we’ll arrive in Echo Bay on Sucia around 2 pm.
Once anchored you can simply relax and enjoy the view from the bridge deck or go ashore for a leisurely stroll, explore tide pools and the fossil lined beach or take a hike around the island to bluffs overlooking the water and hidden coves. You can also take a kayak or standup paddleboard for a spin, lounge on our floating dock or explore the shorelines with the yacht’s small motorized dingy. At some point, it will be time for dinner and the sharing of stories about the days' adventures.
DAY 2 - Sucia to Stuart
After breakfast, you’ll have all morning to continue lounging around, go ashore for a beach stroll or hike, kayak along the shorelines or take the paddleboard for another spin. Around 11 AM we will pull anchor and head to our next destination, Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island, which is the furthest West you can go without crossing the international border into Canada. If the weather and currents allow we can head towards Boundary Pass and round the North side of Waldron Island. Doing this gives us an opportunity to check out the birdlife on Bare and Skipjack island. Another option is to round the south side of Waldron Island and stop by Cowlitz Bay for a stroll on its mile long white sand beach.
At Stuart, we will be anchoring at the sheltered Prevost Harbor. You may want to explore the shorelines and many coves by kayak, paddleboard or dingy, or if you feel up to it, take one of the most amazing hikes in the San Juans, which is the Turn Point Lighthouse trail. With the long daylight hours we can have a late dinner if that fits everyone's schedule. After dinner the rest of the night is yours to enjoy as you like.
DAY 3 - Stuart to Roche Harbor
The morning is open for more exploring or relaxing both before and after breakfast. A sunrise paddle with a hot cup of coffee is an option for the early risers. If the tide is right and the weather cooperates a mother ship flotilla around turn point is an exhilarating event that can be part of our journey to the historic Roche Harbor, which is our next destination.
Roche Harbor has lots of sights and so many activities, including shopping, there is something for eveyone. The ride from Stuart Island to Roche Harbor is one that takes us through the furthest North West waters in the Salish Sea. We can cruise around Turn Point or go through the narrow Johns pass, navigate past Gull Reef and Spieden Island.
At Roche, we will tie to the dock, but anchoring is also an option. Now you’ll get to decide whether you would like to stroll through the formal gardens of the Hotel de Haro, or the Westcott Bay Sculpture Park a short walk over the hill. Maybe you'd like to go shopping or we can take a boat ride to Garrison Bay to tour English Camp followed by a stop at the Westcott Bay Oyster farm. After that, we can cut across Mosquito Pass for a walk through the Henry Island Wildlife Preserve. People watching is also quite enticing at Roche as this is where the megayacht fleet ties up when visiting the San Juans. Your day will fly by and before you know it you will be sitting down for another wonderful dinner cooked by Kerstin.
DAY 4 - Roche Harbor to Aleck Bay
After Breakfast and some more exploring, we will be heading to Aleck Bay on the South end of Lopez Island, which is a beautiful ride along the West coast of San Juan Island with its terrain changing from sheer cliffs to rolling hillsides as we proceed southward towards Cattle Pass. We will pass Lime Kiln Point, which is famous for whale watching. Throughout the summer there will be killer whales, gray, finback and even minke whales along with porpoises and pinnipeds that you will have an opportunity to see.
During Spring and Fall, when the weather can be unstable, we might take the Eastern route around San Juan Island. We can duck into Friday Harbor for a quick tour and some ice cream depending on your desires. As we continue to the South end of Lopez Island, which is more like Alaska than any other area in the San Juans, you’ll find the rugged coastline enchanting and possibly a bit intimidating. The sea life is so verdant that some underwater spots have been closed to sport fishing for biological study and preservation. The views will continue to amaze you as we round Swirl Island and head into Aleck Bay.
Sheltered Aleck Bay at the South End of Lopez Island offer great views out to the Puget Sound and mainland. Aleck Rocks, a wildlife refuge surrounded by shoals and kelp, is the perfect staging point for exploring wildlife by dingy, kayak or paddle board. Neighboring Hughes and McArdle Bay have beaches that beg to be explored as well. After dinner, you may find yourself on the bridge deck for some stargazing or in the salon to enjoy the company of your fellow cruisers.
DAY 5 - Aleck Bay to Rosario
Waking up while anchored in Aleck Bay is something that you will remember as a special moment. After breakfast and some more exploring, we will be heading to Rosario, which is home to the Moran Mansion and marina. We are quite certain that Rosario will become one of your favorite places after our visit.
Pulling out of Aleck Bay we will be cruising through some of the most rugged scenery of the trip. If the tide is right and you’ve got the energy, a paddle from Castle Island around Point Colville and Watmough Head and into the lee of Boulder island to be picked up is quite a memorable experience. Moving along there are several passes that we can negotiate on our way North to Rosario.
At Rosario, we will be pulling into our spot at the dock, which allows you the freedom to wander without needing a dinghy ride to the beach. There is great paddling as well as hiking, a lake to take a plunge, or you may opt to explore the historical Moran Estate. As part of the cruise, you will have a spa pass that grants you entry to the indoor pool, sauna, hot tub and everyone’s favorite, the outdoor pool that hangs on the cliff overlooking East Sound. This is truly a treat you don’t want to miss.
In the evening you can dine at the Mansion if you like but you will be missing a great meal prepared by our Chef de Cuisine Kerstin aboard the Lady of the Sea. After dinner, you may wish to stroll around the grounds or enjoy a moonlit walk to the pea gravel beach that runs across the head of the bay.
DAY 6 - Rosario to Bellingham
The morning is casual with beverages ready for you at your leisure along with something fresh out of the oven and a hearty breakfast. There will be a couple hours left for a sauna or dip in the pool or perhaps you’ll like to tackle the standup paddleboard one last time.
At Noon we will be slipping the lines and heading South out of East Sound for a scenic lunch cruise back to Bellingham. It’s our goal to have you to the dock by 3 PM but weather and tides can delay us up to an hour making our arrival closer to 4 PM. Please let us know if you need to get back by 3 PM to catch a flight as we can head out a bit earlier if necessary or maybe you would prefer to catch a float plane out of Rosario, which would take you right into Seattle - a fun way to end this exciting trip.