Friday Harbor fun...

One of the things I love about living in the Northwest is the scenic beauty that is just outside your door...or just a short drive away. In what seems like no time at all, you can be on a ferry boat heading out in the San Juan Islands, enjoying the view with friends.

Last Saturday, a few of us set out to celebrate the birthday of Mari Lee, one of our dear friends. Though there was a chance of rain predicted, we took a chance and drove up to Anacortes to walk on the ferry, headed for Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. The weather is often better in the San Juans than at home in Lake Stevens...so true for this day!

Gracia, Rhonda, Claire, MariLee, and Heidi

I hadn't been to Friday Harbor for several years, so I was excited to return. During the years our sons were growing up, we spent a lot of time there, boating with friends. The boys loved to spend hours catching shrimp off the docks! We even celebrated the 4th of July there several years.  All of my previous visits had been in the summer, so I was curious to see the town in the spring.

ARRIVING IN fRIDAY hARBOR...

First things first...we stopped for coffee at a local coffee shop, the Bean Cafe. 

With a warm, friendly vibe, we enjoyed our delicious coffee beverages and split a couple of cookies, after reading this little sign!

Friday Harbor is a quaint, little seaside town, with little shops, restaurants and cafes, and even a movie theatre! In the summer, the town is hopping with people coming in on ferries or boats, but it was pretty quiet this spring day in March. I love browsing in small, one of a kind stores like these...such fun to window shop! 

Loved the entrance to this shop, Robin's Nest...

A touch of Spring...

All white flowers are so pretty...

How cute is this little driftwood house...

a funky garden shop...

We decided we wanted to eat lunch at a place with a view of the water. After checking out a couple of restaurants that had too long a wait time, we found one and settled in, only to discover we needed to run and catch the ferry back...or wait for 3 more hours! Since it was a little too cool to sit out at the docks or a beach for the rest of the afternoon, we caught the ferry back to Anacortes. Sitting in the front, though a little cool, gave us a wonderful view as we sailed along.  There's just something about being around the water that nourishes my soul.

our ferry, the Chelan, pulling into port...

When we got there, we drove down to Anthony's Restaurant overlooking the boats in the Cap Sante marina and enjoyed delicious clam chowder, calamari, and seafood dip...plus sharing a birthday treat of molten chocolate cake with raspberry laced ice cream! The perfect end (or so we thought) to our day. Check in later this week for part two of our adventure!