One of the advantages of getting married in the San Juan Islands is that you’re already in a fantastic honeymoon destination! San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands each have beautiful inns, hotels and B&Bs that offer a wide range of romantic settings and styles. 

You can choose from quaint Victorian guest houses to luxury private suites with spa services, or rent an entire house and spend the whole summer with us. You’ll never run out of things to do, especially if you’re a nature lover or outdoor enthusiast and plan to take advantage of our hiking trails, whale watching excursions, bicycle tours and spectacular scenery.

If you enjoy traveling off the beaten path, you’ll find endless opportunities for sightseeing and recreation in and around our beautiful islands. Getting around is easy. You can travel between islands on the Washington State ferries, and they can also take you into British Columbia, Canada, where you can tour the city of Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the jewel of the island, Victoria (you will need a passport). The state of Washington is also a great starting point for other exciting excursions throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Many Alaskan cruises leave from Seattle, but if you’d rather stay closer to home, there’s no end to what our area has to offer in terms of adventure, culture, romance and entertainment.

Whatever you’re planning for a honeymoon, whether it’s a peaceful retreat in the San Juan Islands, a historical tour of Europe or a trip down the Amazon, be sure to book everything at least six months in advance. And then brush up on whatever skills you’ll need for your trip, whether it’s a foreign language or the physical endurance to hike up steep hills.

Here’s a final piece of advice about planning a honeymoon (or any vacation). Fill your itinerary with as many activities as you like... and then cut it down by about 40%. You’ll find that you will quickly tire of running around from place to place and being on a tight schedule. Leave yourself plenty of time to do nothing at all. Even if the two of you’ve lived and traveled together for years, this is the first time you’ll be traveling as a married couple, and you’ll want to savor that feeling. © 2010 Terri Daniel

Honeymoon Accommodations in the San Juan Islands