Exploring the San Juan Islands-On a Shoestring!

Washington's stunning San Juan Islands aren't only for well-to-do vacationers and summer-home people. You can discover the islands on any budget if you're willing to trade in hotels for campsites-or pay for your stay with a few hours of volunteer work. Easily accessible by ferry from Anacortes, WA (an hour and a half north of Seattle and south of Vancouver, BC), the San Juans offer fun, adventure, and endless natural beauty. Whether your budget is $50 or $500, you can have an unforgettable experience.

Getting to and between the San Juans

There is year-round ferry service between Anacortes and the islands. Walk-on fare in the busy summer season is $13.15 for adults; the bicycle surcharge is $4. However, there is no charge for inter-island travel, and the fare you pay in Anacortes covers a round trip. Pick up a ferry schedule at the terminal. Once you're in the San Juans, you can ride the ferry for free to your heart's content.

Shaw Island

Shaw Island is the smallest of the San Juan Islands that is served by the ferry, and arguably the most friendly. Home to a year-round population of only 235 people, it boasts a one-room schoolhouse, a tiny community library, and acres of protected forestland. You can camp on beautiful South Beach in the Shaw County Park for $6 a night, a spot popular with kayakers and local families alike. The county park is a short walk from the ferry terminal, making it perfect for people traveling on bicycles or by foot. The ferry terminal is also home of the Shaw General Store, where you can go for a scoop of locally-made ice cream and a jar of honey made and bottled by the Benedictine nuns who have a convent on the island. The store is open six days a week, and closed on Sundays.

Orcas Island

If you'd like to incorporate some volunteering into your vacation, Doe Bay Resort on Orcas Island is the place to go. Volunteers can stay at the resort for free for one to seven days in exchange for 4-6 hours of work each day. Volunteers work in the organic garden or maintaining the trails around the resort. For more information, visit their website at www.doebay.com. Orcas Island is also a fabulous place for cyclists, with quiet roads and many scenic coastal vistas. There is a small commercial area near the ferry terminal with a handful of restaurants, a gift store, and a reasonably-priced grocery store.

San Juan Island

San Juan Island is the most populated of the San Juans, and home to the town of Friday Harbor. Here you will find amenities such as a grocery store, book store, library and restaurants. It's also a hiker's paradise, with trails winding through forests or climbing to mountain peaks. If you go, be sure to visit the Pelindaba Lavender Farm, where you can wander through lavender fields and sniff hand-made perfumes and candles in the store. You can camp for $5 a night at the walk-in or bike-in campsites in the San Juan County Park, catch a spectacular sunset in the evening and wake up with a morning dip in the Pacific Ocean.