January on San Juan Island

January on San Juan Island is quiet and lovely and perfect for a romantic Winter trip, self-care, taking a fun class or a friends getaway after the holidays. Here are our favorite things to do in January, besides lounging in our heated, indoor pool, sauna and hot tub after a long day exploring the beaches and lighthouses.

Polar Bear Plunge

Ring in the New Year with a plunge into the Salish Sea with likeminded, brave souls at cute Jackson Beach, just a mile from our Friday Harbor hotel. Get your endorphins going, strengthen your immune system and set your tone for 2025. Every day is a new beginning.

Spa Day

Treat yourself to a relaxing massage and rejuvenating facial at our cozy Spa at Earthbox. Body work is so good for your well-being, especially in the darker months when we usually move less. Find 10 Surprising Health Benefits of a Full Body Massage here.

Figure Drawing in the Geodesic Dome

The playful Alchemy Art Center in the woods offers figure drawing on the first & third Thursdays of the month. Bring your own beverage, paper, drawing tools and join figure drawing night in their cool dome! A live nude model will be posing for this class. Pre-registration required.

Day at the Museums

There are three fabulous museums within blocks from the Earthbox Inn & Spa, all open year-round. Visit the one-of-its-kind Friday Harbor Whale Museum and gift shop to learn and support the endangered Orca whales who call the San Juan Islands their home. Explore the Islands Museum of Art and its thought-provoking, regional exhibits. Don’t miss the open-air Historical Museum displaying, among other cool artifacts, the isle’s first jail and milkhouse.

Cooking (and Eating) Class

Indulge in a weekend of excellent, local, seasonal food and take a cooking class (4 ppl minimum) at the acclaimed COHO restaurant in Friday Harbor. Learn from the best chefs on the isle and feast on your concoctions. Prerequisite: Appreciation and love of good food and company. No cooking experience necessary.

Winter Wildlife Walk

Explore the vast prairie and endless driftwood beaches of American Camp National Historical Park on the south end of San Juan Island. Observe seabirds and raptors, otters and foxes, orcas and sea lions from a safe distance and watch the Winter sun set over the snow covered Olympic Mountains.

Explore the Literary Arts

Tiny Friday Harbor is blessed with two fantastic bookstores. Serendipity offers a comprehensive selection of used books in the cutest Victorian house perched above the ferry lanes. Griffin Bay Bookstore has not only the latest and the tried and true, but also a sizable selection of island authors, as well as a comfy coffee shop and monthly author talks.

Gallery & Wine Bar Hopping

We islanders love our talented artists and locally made wine. Explore the nine galleries and five wine bars in walking distance to our hotel in Friday Harbor. Remember, buying local is casting a vote for the world you want.