Left: Ask Eddie Williams, owner of the Hot Shop, anything about hot sauces and eating the heat.
Right: Perusing the Serendipity Bookstore is a favorite.
gorgeous old church manse, just up from the ferry lanes, is crammed with popular used books. Friday Harbor has established
itself as a popular arts community and boasts several galleries and studios for art lovers. The Arctic Raven (130 First St) has an eclectic collection of contemporary northwest Native art including sculptures, carvings, paintings and ceramics. The San Juan Island Museum of Art (28 First St) is in the town’s oldest building dating from 1867, formerly an officer’s building relocated from the American Camp in the National Historical Park. Today it hosts several art shows each year, displaying the work of nationally acclaimed artists. San Juan Vineyards (Roche Harbor
Road) offers a tasting room and gift shop, and the Pelindaba Lavender farm store will show you the hundreds of ways that lavender can be used. Another kind of tasting that will give your taste buds a boost is trying the hot sauces at the Hot Shop Flavor Emporium (260 Spring Street). Ask hot sauce genius Eddie Williams anything about his hundreds of varieties of hot sauces from around the world and he’ll know the answer. Friday Harbor offers many
outdoor activities, ranging from kayak tours (Discover Sea Kayaks, Outdoor Odysseys), and whale watching (Western Prince, San Juan excursions). Exploring the rest of San Juan Island is a must, and it’s easy by renting a bicycle (San Juan Island Bicycle Rentals) or on a moped (Susie’s Mopeds). Further afield on the island are
some marvelous attractions that should not be missed. Visit Roche Harbor Resort and the historic Hotel de Haro
48° NORTH, AUGUST 2010 PAGE 50
Totem pole in waterfront park in Port of Friday Harbor.
at the northern tip of the Island, and the nearby outdoor Island Museum of Art Sculpture Park at Westcott Bay Reserve. Only a few miles away, is the National Historical Park where you can learn about the notorious 1859 “Pig War” between Great Britain and the United States. Also on the east side of the island, a short walk along the coastal trail to the Lime Kiln Lighthouse reveals some spectacular views, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see whales frolicking offshore. Friday Harbor has about 30
restaurants, none of which will disappoint. The three that we tried
offered delicious food, if at somewhat high-end prices, which we surmise is the cost of eating on an island. Try Coho Restaurant’s Roasted Alaskan Black Cod with soba Noodles, Alaskan Weathervane Scallops, and White Sesame encrusted Alaskan King Salmon with Mirin Ginger Sauce. Other popular restaurants with the sailing crowd are Downrigger’s, and the upscale Bluff restaurant. For good hearty breakfasts try Café Demeter and Rocky Bay Café. The major Friday Harbor events are
the Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks, and Splash of Color weekend in mid- July (a combined Lavender Festival and Summer Arts Fair), and Artstock (visual arts and music) in the first weekend of October. Friday Harbor is often avoided by the sailing crowds because of its mid-summer congestion. Yet they always find themselves lured back to this bustling town, with its antique, two and three story, pastel painted buildings rising up the hill from the waterfront.
48° N Roy Stevenson is a freelance travel
writer based in Seattle, Washington. He’s had over 400 articles published in 120 regional, national, and international magazines, newspapers, in-flights and e-zines in the U.S.A., Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. To view some of Roy Stevenson’s travel articles go to:
www.Roy-Stevenson.com
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