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:

Hiking in our incredibly gorgeous State of Washington is its own reward. Every cell in your body gets energized, your heart is pumping and after an especially steep stretch, your body is flooded with endorphins, making you feel happy and giddy to be alive. Then there is hiking on San Juan Island with its clean, salty air, tons of wildlife and beautiful surroundings. Just when you think, it can’t get any better than this with the eagles, the foxes and the wildflowers, you come around a corner with such a spectacular view, it might just take your breath away.

Most people visit San Juan Island to see Orca whales in the wild, watch rare birds and other wildlife, eat in fancy restaurants and have dessert, take a guided kayak tour, do wine and distillery tastings – the things you do on vacation. Have you ever wondered what the folks who live here do for fun? Check out our insider tips to experience San Juan Island like a local.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner gratitude is on our minds. Research has shown, that simply thinking about gratitude reduces stress levels and depression and releases the “feel good” hormone DHEA. In addition, practicing positive thinking and gratefulness trains your brain’s neurological pathways to think happy by default as opposed to ruminating on the things which didn’t go your way or are out of your control.

Summer is almost over! Did you make yours count? There is something special about visiting San Juan Island in late Summer, going on the last whale watch tour of the season, shucking your own oysters on the beach before the Seafood Farm closes for the Winter, experiencing the abundance of late Summer at the Farmer’s Market and going for that once a year swim in the mighty Pacific Ocean.

All of us here at the Bird Rock Hotel wish you a very happy and healthy New Year!   Another year, another holiday season and we are all still here and ready to start the new year off right with these tips on how to relax and de-stress after the holidays:

Late fall and winter are marvelous times to visit San Juan Island. The Olympic Rain Shadow graces the island with crystal clear, sunny days while other Washingtonians are donning fleece and rain gear. The peak season is over, the beaches and trails are empty, some restaurants and adventure providers close, but with a little insider knowledge and planning, you can treat yourself to an unforgettable island holiday for half the price of a summer vacation.

My Dad was born in Seattle. He grew up here and enthusiastically does all the outdoorsy things you are supposed to do as a Washingtonian, hiking, skiing, camping, fishing. He wears shorts in January and doesn’t own an umbrella. He loves the ocean and us three kids and, until very recently, he had never seen an Orca whale from up close.

It had been a harrowing week and it was only Monday. I know, right? We have teenagers. Enough said. After both boys announced sleepover plans for the weekend, my wife talked me into going to San Juan Island for a getaway. We spent our honeymoon there...