Three Winter Family Fun Activities in the San Juan Islands

lighthouse on top of a grassy hill with a path along the shoreline

The Tucker House Inn & Harrison House Suites offers kid-friendly accommodations that will help your family create lasting memories during an island getaway. The inn sits right next to Sunken Park, which can entertain children of all ages with its basketball court, big lawn to run around on, and playground with slides and swings. The inn is also an easy stroll to Spring Street and the historic downtown of Friday Harbor. Unpack your bags and explore all the eateries and shops that dot our quaint town streets.

Ready for more exploring? We have gathered three fun-filled activities that everyone in your family is sure to enjoy while on San Juan Island!

Take a walk around the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve in Roche Harbor

Sculpture Park Totem

Head out towards Roche Harbor Resort and get ready to experience the art and history of the Pacific Northwest. The San Juan Islands Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve is a 19-acre property with more than 120 sculptures. The park showcases interactive sculptures and a particular favorite among the kids is engraving their names on the totem pole in the middle of the park. If you have younger children, there is a sandbox with buried treasures to uncover. After the sculpture park, head up the road to Lime Kiln Café located in the center of Roche Harbor Resort for a few homemade donuts or wander through the Roche Harbor shops.

sculpture park montage

A Lighthouse Adventure

Lime Kiln Lighthouse

There are two lighthouses on San Juan Island. Start on the south end of the island at Cattle Point Lighthouse. The Cattle Point Lighthouse was built in 1935 to upgrade an 1888 navigational lantern. To visit the lighthouse, park your car in the lot just around the bend in the road (Discover Pass required). This parking area also provides access to a beach down a set of concrete stairs where you can explore before heading over to the lighthouse. On your walk across the grassy fields out to the lighthouse, keep an eye out for the resident bald eagles that fly and nest around this part of the island.

Your second lighthouse stop is the Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of the island. The Lime Kiln Lighthouse sits in Lime Kiln Point State Park, one of the most scenic spots on the island. Throughout the year you will find people picnicking and whale watching by the lighthouse, as our resident whale pods frequently swim by. The Lime Kiln Lighthouse was built in 1919 and is still a functioning lighthouse for ships navigating the Haro Strait. Take a leisurely walk on the path that starts at the lighthouse and explore the history of the island’s lime kilns.

Beachcombing at South Beach

south beach overview

A favorite pastime of islanders is walking along South Beach to look for sea glass. This area is known to have agates and colorful sea glass all along its rocky beach. Maybe even make a game out of it and see who can find more green glass pieces or blue glass pieces. Take time as a family to admire the colorful treasures, listen to the waves crash, and enjoy a picnic or a fire in one of the provided fire pits. This is also a wonderful place to take a family photo to capture your San Juan Island getaway

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Stay at the Tucker House Inn & Harrison House Suites to be centrally located to all of the activities on San Juan Island. All of our suites and cottages are family and pet friendly, so bring the whole crew along! Our family is your family, and we can’t wait to meet you all.

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Unwind at our Friday Harbor Bed and Breakfast after seeing Orcas in San Juan Islands

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