My sweetheart and I recently treated ourselves to a “school is back in session and the holidays aren’t here yet” getaway to San Juan Island for just the two of us. To relax, see inspiring art and eat. Let’s be real--to eat a lot.

The best Summer Getaway is providing something fun to do for everybody in your family, with just the right mixture of outdoor adventure and relaxation, where you learn something new, get inspired and spend quality time together, making memories of a lifetime. The best Summer Getaway is not too far away and tons of fun to get to. The best Summer Getaway for the entire family is a trip to San Juan Island!  Here are 10 Family Fun things to do on the isle:

Winters on San Juan Island are invigorating, quiet, festive and just what the doctor ordered when holiday planning, cooking and shopping gets you down. Our brisk, sunny days – courtesy of the Olympic Rain Shadow

As soon as you step off the ferry in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island you are immersed in all things whales. Whale watch and research vessels are bobbing in the harbor. Kayak and whale watch tour offices line the streets together with cafes, restaurants and galleries.

May is History Month on San Juan Island and is celebrated with walking tours, history talks and great events at the many historic sites. And what a rich, juicy, phenomenal history the isle has from its Native heritage to its first European settlers and from being a smuggler’s and hoodlum’s paradise to the Pig War and finally becoming American territory. The best part: San Juan Island’s history is experienced on the prairie and beaches of our National Historical Parks and by eating, sleeping and shopping in historic buildings. Here are 10 spots with fascinating histories not to be missed on your next trip to San Juan Island:

The most fantastic and comprehensive way to experience San Juan Island  for the first (or fiftieth) time is driving or biking the Washington’s Scenic Byway route.  Explore breathtaking beaches, National Historical Parks, unique farms and world class art and find your favorite spot on our little slice of paradise.  Here’s a guided tour to keep you going for a full weekend.

San Juan Island and its quaint coastal town of Friday Harbor are especially charming in the Winter. When Seattleites are bundling up in rain gear and have said goodbye to the sun for months to come, the San Juan Islands, just 65 miles north, are enjoying many sunny, crystal clear days, courtesy of the Olympic Rain Shadow.

Fall is San Juan Island’s secret season.  It feels a lot like Summer, but with fewer people and more food. The island is graced with long, sunny days. Lodging and the ferries are less expensive, while none of the seasonal restaurants have packed up shop yet.