San Juan Islands Family Multisport Tour
- Explore San Juan, Orcas and Lopez Islands by foot, bike and kayak
- Paddle peaceful inlets above vast kelp beds, spotting harbor seals, otters and bald eagles
- Kids look for tiny sea creatures in the tide pools of False Bay
- A wildlife-watching cruise and the chance to see orcas
- Mount Constitution, with 360-degree mountain and island views
Orcas, Eagles, Ferries & Fun in Washington's Tranquil Emerald Islands
We've found our rhythm. As we bike, our pedal strokes are in sync (well, mostly). So are our faces, full of big smiles. And our state of being, totally relaxed and content. Then we take to the water in our kayaks. The sun is shining. The water sparkling. Below us are thriving kelp beds and vibrant marine life. Ahead of us is a hike to the peak of a pine-laden isle inhabited by bald eagles. All around is the invigorating smell of adventure and we drink it in with every breath. Ahh. It's good to be here. Together. In sync. In a perfect natural playground. In the San Juans.
Itinerary
Days
1-2 Kids search for creatures in the tide pools of False Bay on San Juan Island and learn about Roche Harbor on a scavenger hunt 
The quaint streets of Friday Harbor, lined with shops and galleries, invite a stroll Walk to the summit of Young Hill for a sweeping view of the San Juan Islands Bike along the isle's stunning west side to a bluff with vistas of Haro Strait and enjoy a thrilling descent to Cattle Point Lighthouse.
Day
3 A sea-kayaking excursion through peaceful inlets and vast kelp beds Adults pedal along rolling hills through bucolic farmland to Friday Harbor while kids enjoy an afternoon of tie-dyeing and games 
In town, visit the Whale Museum and learn about marine mammals, with a special focus on the orcas that frequent the waters off the San Juan Islands.
Day
4 Look for minke whales and majestic orcas during our wildlife-watching cruise with a local naturalist On Orcas Island, hike along the cedar-lined shores of Cascade Lake Explore Moran State Park, a nature lover’s paradise of 5,000 wooded acres, 30 miles of trails, 5 freshwater lakes and 4 waterfalls The younger set whoops it up during a night at the Fun House, an interactive center designed especially for kids.
Days
5-6 Waterfront lodging and fresh Northwest cuisine
Ferry to Lopez Island and enjoy its gentler terrain and beautiful rural scenery Junior biologists are sure to get a kick out of exploring the nooks and crannies of the intertidal zone at Shark Reef Back on Orcas, ascend Mount Constitution for 360-degree views of the islands, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker and the Olympic Range.
Premiere Inns
Roche Harbor Resort
San Juan Island (3 nights) Located in the charming waterfront hamlet of Roche Harbor, this popular island destination has hosted guests since 1886, when it was part of a lime works and company town. (pool, tennis)
Outlook Inn
Orcas Island (2 nights) It's a short walk to the private beach and the shops and galleries of downtown from this retreat at the water's edge.
Guest Reviews About This Trip
Again, the trip met and surpassed our expectations. Backroads and the leaders always make it difficult to return to our regular lives. This is our third trip and we've selected next year's trip. Thank you and your staff. The experience of the Backroads trips that we have taken and that we plan to take adds so much to our lives. The planning, thoughtfulness and kindness of the staff always make our trips times to anticipate and relish. Thank you for providing an experience of enjoyment, challenge and peacefulness.- White Bear Lake, MN
This was our best family vacation! Our leaders were just wonderful - helpful, friendly and working constantly to make a perfect trip for us. The kids adored them. We are already thinking of where we should go next year with Backroads. Thank you!- San Francisco, CA
The overall trip exceeded my highest expectations. The activities were well planned for all levels. The leaders were enthusiastic, encouraging when needed and a lot of fun.- Chestnut Hill, MA
Trip Dates & Prices
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
2015 FAMILY DATES
June 2015
- 6/28 - 7/3 ( $3098 per person, double occ., +$1180 for single occ.
July 2015
- 7/12 - 7/17 ( $3198 per person, double occ., +$1180 for single occ.
- 7/19 - 7/24 ( $2898 per person, double occ., +$1180 for single occ.
August 2015
- 8/2 - 8/7 ( $2898 per person, double occ., +$1180 for single occ.
- 8/9 - 8/14 ( $2898 per person, double occ., +$1180 for single occ.
- 8/16 - 8/21 ( $3198 per person, double occ., +$1180 for single occ.
Don't see your ideal travel date? Call us at 800-462-2848 for Private Trip date availability.
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Walking/Hiking | 3 | 600 | ||||||||
| 2 | Biking | 7* | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||||||
| Biking | 13* | 0 | |||||||||
| 3 | Biking | 6* | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||||||
| Biking | 11 | 0 | |||||||||
| Kayaking | In Roche Harbor (3 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Walking/Hiking | 3 | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Orcas Island Wildlife-Watching Cruise (3 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 12* | 300 | 24* | 1100 | ||||||
| Biking | 19* | 400 | 30 | 1500 | |||||||
| 6 | Walking/Hiking | 2* | 300 | 5 | 2100 | ||||||
On this Family Trip, our routes follow rolling terrain. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own. The level of difficulty assigned to each day's routes takes into account the elevation gain and road surface. (Roads in the San Juans tend to be gravel-sealed, creating more rolling resistance.)
* Includes a shuttle
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.
If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
2015
| 2 - 3 guests from $4,998 pp dbl. occ. | 8 - 9 guests from $3,598 pp dbl. occ. |
| 4 - 5 guests from $4,198 pp dbl. occ. | 10 - 11 guests from $3,198 pp dbl. occ. |
| 6 - 7 guests from $3,798 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests from $2,898 pp dbl. occ. |
Please note: Youth savings do not apply to Private Trips.
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For 35 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Washington tour experts. See our award-winning USA multisport tours, USA biking tours and USA walking and hiking tours.
