
The Bird Rock Blog
Thoughtful travel guides, seasonal stories, and island life—one month at a time.
Updated monthly, our blog offers insider tips, curated experiences, and local stories to help you make the most of your time on San Juan Island. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape, dreaming of next season, or just want a deeper sense of what island life feels like, you’ll find it here.
Explore our most recent posts below—each written with care, curiosity, and a local’s eye.

Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary – Spring on San Juan Island - Guest Blog by Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Lisette and her adorable family (soon to be plus one) visit San Juan Island every year. They created this lovely tradition for their cute son...

Why to Always Book Direct when Making a Hotel Reservation
Remember when you used to look for a hotel on the internet and the search result was just that hotel, not some third-party booking agency...

Wellness Weekend San Juan Island
The slower pace and peace of Winter on San Juan Island lend itself perfectly to an island getaway with a focus on rejuvenating your body...

5 Easy Steps to Eloping on San Juan Island
Eloping used to strictly mean running away to get married in secret, especially without parental consent, evoking images of fair maidens being swept onto galloping...

8 New Year’s Goals from San Juan Island that May Change Your Life
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. We’ve all heard the statistics. Not the ones about elephant consumption, but the ones...

Your Guide to Island-made Holiday Shopping in Friday Harbor
Nothing is easier and more fun than stress-free Holiday shopping in a small coastal town on a relaxing island weekend getaway. Our Bird Rock Hotel...
Thankful on San Juan Island
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...

The Ghosts of Friday Harbor
It’s that time of the year, when the veil between the living and the spirits is said to be the thinnest, when we light fires...
