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My Favorite Spots to Visit on San Juan Island in the Fall
Autumn is my favorite time of the year to visit San Juan Island. The long sunny days are made for endless walks on the beach and I absolutely love the color of the light. I dream about the fall harvests as I stroll through the Farmers Market with its colorful abundance. I feel grateful and calm. These are my favorite spots to visit in the fall. I’m certain you will fall in love with them as well.
- American Camp
It is the colors which keep me coming back to one of the two National Parks on the island. The sea.The different shades of blues of the pebbles. The Olympic Mountains and the sky, contrasted by the reds, whites and browns of the cliffs. The driftwood and the dried prairie grass, gently waving in the wind. And the silence broken only by the soothing sounds of the waves and birdcalls. American Camp is a truly magical place.
The Saturday San Juan Island Farmer’s Market is so much more than a place to get a few tomatoes, especially in the fall. There is live music, paella and pizza and more pastries than should be allowed. There are information booths about worthy local causes, handmade jewelry and soap stands, chair massages and the freshest produce, meats, cheeses and shellfish you can imagine. It makes me so happy to shop like this--to chat with the farmers, smell fresh cut flowers and have a yummy snack out in the sun.
- Mt Grant
Mt Grant, San Juan’s highest mountain, opened to the public in 2016. I immediately loved it. The short, steep hike offers peekaboo views of the fertile valleys of San Juan Island all the way to the top. I can’t wait to walk through the old growth forest when the leafs are changing colors and the only sound I can hear is a Bald Eagle riding the thermals. The 360-degree view from the top is breathtakingly beautiful. You’ll find me here daydreaming until the sun goes down.
- Harvest Festival
Every year, the San Juan Vineyard holds its annual harvest festival, where volunteers can help pick the grapes. If you like wine like I like wine, then you’ll find this a great way to get to know your favorite grape juice in a whole new way. It is so much fun to work side-by-side with friends and strangers. The vineyard is a beautiful spot to be--with its rolling fields, historic school house and tasting room. Ivonne and Chris put on a fabulous barbecue and wine tasting when work in the vineyard winds down.
The island’s 20-acre outdoor art garden on gorgeous Westcott Bay is an amazing place to visit. It’s not only a beautiful walk through forest and fields, by the sea and around a lake, it is inspiring, fun, and absolutely stunning. Well-known artists and unknowns alike are shown here. I like to bring a picnic, meander for hours and ponder what makes art art and why we humans need it.