San Juan Island's agricultural history is still visible in its landscape, dotted with weather-worn barns and farmhouses, fields of hay, cattle, horses and market gardens. This self-guided tour takes you to a variety of the island's farms, tasting rooms and restaurants.
Start by filling your picnic basket with a visit to The Market Chef for some Northwest artisan cheese, and head out Roche Harbor Road towards San Juan Vineyards. All round the island, you'll come across farms and farm stands where you can browse for produce, meat, wool, yarn and other farm products. Stop at the winery and distillery to taste wine, cider and spirits, all flavored with island-grown fruits, flowers and herbs. Saturdays from April through October (and twice a month in November and December), shop the San Juan Island Farmers’ Market at the historic Brickworks in Friday Harbor, or spend a summer morning strolling through fields of lavender and visiting an alpaca farm. Enjoy a meal of local lamb, halibut or spot prawns in season, and fresh, organic vegetables at one of the islands restaurants, such as Friday Harbor House, Coho, or Duck Soup Inn.
SAN JUAN ISLAND FARMERS MARKET
The San Juan Island Farmers' Market is your source for beautiful and bountiful island produce, fine crafts, and delicious prepared foods. You can find the market at the historic Brickworks building, just two blocks from the ferry landing.
At San Juan Vineyard's beautiful 30-acre vineyard, winery, and historic tasting room, you can sip from a line-up of award-winning wines including estate-grown Siegerrebe and Madeleine Angevine. Enjoy the ambiance of the grounds at a barrel tasting or harvest festival.
This historic sea farm is located in the renowned waters of Westcott Bay near Roche Harbor, and grows Pacific oysters utilizing a rack-and-bag system, Manila clams in netted clam beds, and Mediterranean mussels in lantern nets suspended off the extensive dock and floats. You can buy, shuck and enjoy shellfish onsite, although there is no public clam-digging or oyster picking.
San Juan Island Distillery is a small artisan distillery producing award-winning ciders and spirits from local ingredients in a beautiful Adrian copper still from Germany. Westcott Bay Cider, an established and prize-winning cider works, is also housed in the distillery, and the cider is used to make gins and apple brandy.
See the largest herd of alpacas in the San Juans on this 70-acre working farm. Alpacas grow one of the world's softest, most luxurious fibers, and are irresistibly cute. Enjoy a self-guided stroll around the grounds or shop the Country Store for fine alpaca clothing and gifts. Call ahead for guided tours.
