How to Spend your Time in San Juan Island

An archipelago in between Vancouver Island in Canada and Washington in the US, San Juan Island sits in the northwest corner of the US. It has four islands which are all accessible by a ferry operated by the Washington State Ferries system. Located about 60 miles north of Seattle, ‘The City that never sleeps’, and just a few minutes away from Anacortes WA, San Juan Island is a perfect vacation getaway to relax and see all of the Pacific Northwest. 

Most people who visit the island came to enjoy peace and quiet. Tourists love how they can enjoy the island’s natural beauty without crowds. Because despite its proximity to larger cities, San Juan had maintained its serenity and country charm. Aside from its natural beauty, the island’s temperament weather is what keeps tourists coming back for more. San Juan’s temperature rarely goes beyond the 70s or below the 40s all year round, and it doesn’t rain much. So when you are visiting the island expect it to be full of sunshine and almost perfect weather. With that in mind, you can have all the fun and enjoy outdoor activities without worrying too much about the weather, as every day is the perfect day to go out and have fun under the sun in San Juan. 

San Juan is home to the Southern Resident Killer Whales or commonly known as Orca pod, and is also considered as one of the main events of any tour in the island. At least 80 whales in this pod swim the waters of San Juan. To help you list down the things that you can do on the island, here’s a teaser about some of the best things and places to do in San Juan. 

Tour Friday Harbor 

Most tourists catch a passenger ferry from Anacortes that stopped directly into Friday Harbor. This is the perfect time to tour the island on your first day. As the only incorporated town in San Juan, Friday Harbor boasts of many great cafes and restaurants. You can even rent bicycles to explore the entire island to see many scenic wineries, beautiful parks, an alpaca farm, and lots of countryside farms. Be lost in many of its farmer's markets, bookstores, and art galleries. You can even kayak on its sandy beach and whale watch, there tours available in the city that goes out of Friday Harbor on regular basis. 

Have an unforgettable experience in Pelindaba Lavender Farm 

Visiting lavender farms is one of the many great experiences you can have; just taking a sniff of lavender farms can take you to paradise. Kids would love to smell and run in the fields plus you can have an amazing photo op. Explore the fields and buy your heart’s desire at their excellent gift shop full of assortments of lavender products either for personal care or culinary use. 

Don’t miss to whale watch from Lime Kiln Point 

After soaking under the sun, smelled the nicest flowers in the island, its time to treat your eyes with some people considered as the greatest show on earth: whale watching. Aside from seeing them up close on a boat, whale watching from Lime Kiln Point is downright magical. You got to see how an enormous pod of orcas can be. Even without any whale in sight, you can still have a breathtaking view of the island. And visiting Lime Kiln Point would be the perfect place to cap off your journey in San Juan Island. 

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Some Ways to Enjoy San Francisco Bay

Dominated by other larger cities like San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, San Francisco Bay is a shallow estuary in the state of California. Formerly names as Yerba which was derived in the Spanish word meaning “Good herb”, San Francisco Bay was a small city founded in 1776. It was later renamed in 1846 with its public square located in Portsmouth Square in Chinatown. What most people don’t realize is that San Francisco Bay has one of the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, with a total population of 100,000 people lives in Chinatown, ranking in number two spot. The Chinatown in SF is also considered as the oldest in North America. 

Built on more than 50 hills including some of the famous hills like the Nob Hill, Telegraph Hill, Twin Peaks, and the Russian Hill, the city is known to offer many tourists spots with a variety of features in each of them. However, San Francisco Bay is famous to host the largest competition of American wines in the world. This anticipated event called the Chronicle Wine Competition is held every February where tourists and wine enthusiasts cross continents just to visit San Francisco Bay. Here are some the best places to visit in San Francisco Bay. 

Visit the Golden Gate Bridge 

But San Francisco Bay goes more than that, the city and Marin County is the world famous Golden Gate Bridge. One of the most photographs landmarks in the world, which has been listed down as one of the modern wonders of the world. First opened in 1937, spectators marvel how the bridge can lift up tons of weight from the hundreds of vehicles crossing it each day. Now, it holds the record as the longest suspension bridge ever created of mankind. It’s a quite sight to see, as the steel with a total length of 1.7 miles with six lanes of traffic and carrying millions of passengers each year. 

Marvel how Alcatraz Island is known to be inescapable 

Alcatraz was made famous by the movie entitled Escape from Alcatraz. Since then, its popularity even rose as it was considered as inescapable. Built about 1.5 miles off the shore of San Francisco Bay, this small island was primarily built as a federal prison and military fortification. It was used as a federal prison for the “worst inmate” in the country, many infamous prisoners had stayed in the island including Robert Franklin Stroud and Al Capone. Today, only tourists can come and go in Alcatraz to experience the depth of the prison grounds. 

Ride the world-renown San Francisco Cable Car System 

You have never been in San Francisco Bay if you haven’t been on their cable car system. Locals are very proud of this last manually operated cable car system in the world. During its fully operational time, there were 23 cable car lines pumping the city. But now you can choose from any of the 3 remaining cable car lines in the city where it can take you in different towns. It’s a great way to explore the city while riding in a piece of very important transportation in the history of automobiles. 

Take a full 360 view of San Francisco Bay in Twin Peaks 

To end your adventure; take a full 360 view of San Francisco Bay in Twin Peaks. It’s a mandatory thing to do whenever you come down in the city for the first time. With a reputation of having a spectacular full view of the Bay Area. The Twin Peaks got its name from what locals used to call it as the “Los Pechos de la Choca” which literally means “Breasts of the Maiden”, because of its shape and size. Standing at about 922 feet high, you can have fun spotting some creatures and other plant life as you hike through the top. 

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The Best Things to Do in Oregon Coast

Oregon Coast runs from north to south, making the western border of the US state of Oregon. Sitting along the Pacific Ocean, Oregon Coast stretches about 362 miles from the Columbia River in its northern part to the California state border in the south. One of the most diverse regions in the US, Oregon Coast has three sub-districts with its own rich history and culture. Even without any legal boundaries, locals consider their region to have North Coast, Central Coast, and South Coast. 

The most amazing thing Oregon can share with the world was the Oregon Beach Bill of 1967, which allows free beach access to everyone. This allows private beach landowners to keep their beach but removes their tax obligations. In exchange, the beach landowners will allow pedestrians to have easy access to the beach. Preventing beach landowners from building on the beach is one of the greatest highlights in this bill. And the results of their dedication to having a pristine coastline are clearly evident today. 

Oregon coastlines remain free and public, without any hassles from commercial buildings and other establishments in the beach. Which only means one thing; people can really enjoy their time in the sand and comb the beach for agates or glass floats. If you really want to be with the beach and waves, Oregon Coast is a perfect rejuvenating destination. 

There are a lot of things to do while visiting Oregon Coast and aside from its sandy beaches, the region is also known for its rugged cliffs, amazing marine life, historic lighthouses, charming seaside towns and a lot of scenic state parks. 

Cannon Beach 

You can start your vacation in the most photographs landmark in Oregon Coast – Cannon Beach. It’s one of the top must-sees in Oregon Coast. Behold its beautiful scenery and majestic view where the waves and mountains meet along the shorelines of Oregon. If Mother Nature permits it, you may find Haystack Rock more stunning, protruding about 235 feet out of the Pacific, it’s quite a view even in pouring rain. 

Take a quick tour at Oregon’ largest city – Portland 

As the largest city in Oregon, Portland is known for its cool vibe. Today, Oregon has a thriving craft beer scene, where you can find great microbreweries as well as coffeehouses. Don’t worry about where and what you can eat in Oregon, there is a lot of great grub in the region which is famous for their fresh seafood. Make sure to stop by in the famous Washington Park for a leisure walk in its historic grounds. 

Visit the historic town of Astoria 

Located at the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria serves as the home to some of the famous restaurants and luxury hotel in Oregon. When you visit the place, make sure to check the Astoria Riverfront Trolleys and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. But to get a full majestic city view, climb atop of Astoria Column. Marvel how architecture and art can really get well, stop by the Astoria-Megler Bridge to know more about steel frame architecture. For some retreat and physical activity, you can go hiking, biking, camping, and swimming at the Peter Iredale 1096 shipwreck. 

Ride the train at Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach 

If you have smaller children in tow, you might want to take them on a slow tour aboard the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. This relaxing 1925 train ride has plenty of stops that starts from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach, famous for its picturesque beach. People line up to get treats and other assortments of pastries at the Beach Bakeshop and make sure to bring their delicacies home with you. 

See the Heceta Head Lighthouse 

To cap off your journey, visit the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Built in the 1890s which still runs today, you can get to witness how the lighthouse keeper keeps this centennial lighthouse working. 

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San Diego: Activities You Should Never Miss

A city in the US state of California, San Diego City sits on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and about 120 miles south of Los Angeles. Considered as the “birthplace of California”, it served as home to the Kumeyaay people. When Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo landed in US soil in 1542, he claimed San Diego Bay for the King of Spain. 200 years later the Alta California first settled in the area and in 1769, the Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá formed the first European settlement which later becomes California. 

The city’s main economic industry includes tourism, international trade, manufacturing, military, and defense-related activities. With the foundation of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and affiliated UCSD Medical Center, San Diego became as the biotechnological center in the state. 

If you are thinking of going in a quick getaway but on a tight budget, you might want to drive in San Diego as the city offers a lot of free things to do for families. Here are some of the best free things you can do: 

Enjoy the Beach 

As with another west coast, you can enjoy the beach whenever you go. But San Diego has all-day free access to the beach which is one of the best beaches in the country. You can swim, surf, and hang around to get the perfect tan. Kids will love building sandcastles, run around the beach, and comb for hidden treasure in the sand. 

For a more memorable family bonding moment, fly a kite in the Tecolote Shores of Mission Bay Park. Feel the soft grassy field on this 4,600-acre aquatic park. There are no trees or overhead wires, just the sky and ample supply of relaxing breeze blowing all day long. Just bring along your picnic basket and get ready to have the best family day ever: no gadgets, no emails, and no pesky phone calls, just pure family fun. 

Teach your kids how to Bird Watch 

Kids love the outdoors – before cell phones, game consoles, and gadgets were invented. Teach them again how fun it is to be with nature. The city is known to have a year-round bird migration in the country, go bird watching in some of San Diego's natural wetland reserves like Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Famosa Slough in Point Loma, or in Tijuana Estuary. With over 500 species of birds along the migratory path, kids will love how birds of different species share common things in life. 

Visit museums 

San Diego has several museums that offer free days like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego which opens for free during the third Thursday of each month. Or visit Flying Leatherneck Aviation during Tuesdays to Sundays and marvel at the 31 historical and famous aircraft. They even offer free of charge programs like Open Cockpit Days and Pilot Talks. 

To end your amazing vacation, get the full view of the city and drive to the very top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla. It offers a great 360-degree view of San Diego and snapped that perfect family picture.

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Want To Learn To Surf? Check out these Huntington Beach Instructors

There are endless ways to enjoy the great outdoors, and we should enjoy it more every single day. It’s time to leave our comfort zone and get active to reap the physical benefits of being with Mother Nature. If you want to break free and leave the solitude confinement of your home, the beach is one of the great places to start being active. The beach offers a wide variety of activities from basking under the sun getting a perfect tan, taking a deep in its waters, or just having a great time in many water activities along the shores. But when it comes to beaches and waves, one thing will come in your mind – surfing. 

Surfing has been the fascination of many beachgoers from time immemorial, its cool, fun, and above all, it feeds your adrenaline rush. What may seem ‘just riding the tide’; surfing is a very demanding sport that will build your level of physical fitness at every stage of the learning process. It’s a perfect epitome of enjoying the great outdoors while working out. Surfing will definitely give you a full-body work out every time you hit the waters. This fun water activity can boost your confidence, tone your body, all in the midst of learning more about nature and the environment. It may also take you to different places chasing the perfect waves and the most challenging tides of all time. 

Interested but don’t exactly know where to start? Check out these Huntington beach Instructors 

Learn to Surf HB 

If you are afraid to hit the waters, there are a lot of surfing school along Huntington Beach to start with. One of the best schools is Learn to Surf HB, where they can teach you the basics of surfing without putting too much pressure on you. They have very friendly instructors that will patiently wait for your progress and you’ll feel their excitement once you make that first ride. They have many professional surf instructors that can give you hints and advice on how to stay up above waters. With types of equipment in pristine condition, they are indeed one of the best surfing schools in the area. 

Zack's HB 

There are a lot of things to do on the beach and not just to surf. If you are looking more than learning how to ride the perfect tides, then Zack's HB is the perfect place to go to. They have a variety of beach activities including biking and swimming. As they are known to have family-friendly activities, they are absolutely amazing with young families. Locals consider Zack’s place as a landmark in Huntington Beach with great food paired with fun water activities. 

Surfriders Academy surf school 

Then there’s Surfriders Academy surf school if your kids want to learn surfing at an early age. Their highly trained surf instructors are patient, knowledgeable, and very encouraging with your kids will surely love. Cheaper than most of the surfing school along the beach, many would come here because of the great service they offer. With excellent reviews, the place will never disappoint you and will be riding the waves in no time. 

Corky Carroll's Surf School & Beach Adventures 

Last but surely not the least is Corky Carroll's Surf School & Beach Adventures. They know really well how and what to teach people who want to surf but doesn’t have any slight idea how to. Offering private lessons, you can expect nothing but the best from them. All of their surfing instructors are patient, enthusiastic, and highly professional. 

These schools are just a few of the many along Huntington Beach. If you want to learn how to surf, these places are highly recommended but it should stop you from exploring other places. Be sure to check the Huntington Beach map.

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Best Restaurants in Huntington Beach

What makes Huntington Beach special is having a really diverse food scene ranging from local run burger joints to world-famous California cuisine. They even offer vegan ramen restaurants and heavenly guarded family recipe delicacies. You can even have a Mexican dinner paired with a beautiful view of the ocean. But most people enjoy having their drip coffee overlooking surfers making their perfect rides in the waves. There are tons to do and to go in Huntington but it's really best to let your tummy decide where your feet wonders. Here are some of the most amazing restaurants you’ll find in Huntington Beach.

The Black Trumpet Bistro Tapas & Wine Bar 

With a new spacious outdoor patio dining area, people really can’t get enough of The Black Trumpet Bistro Tapas & Wine Bar. Hailed as one of the most friendly and efficient services, The Black Trumpet serves great tapas, salads, and desserts that are all too good for sharing. With a bit of Mediterranean twist, this resto also serves great steak and a wide selection of wines. But don’t let that stop you from ordering other food on their menu, as they have a lot. Because of the popularity contributed by their good food, you may want to avoid dinners and weekends as they can get really packed easily. 

Bluegold 

People can’t get enough of Bluegold because of their excellent service and good food; the two main ingredients of creating a really nice dining experience. They serve best tasting American comfort food with a great scenic view from the beach. Most locals would choose Bluegold to celebrate special family occasions, as any food they order will come out fresh from the kitchen which tastes like heaven. 

Duke's Huntington Beach 

If you want a little more than just dining experience, then Duke's Huntington Beach can feed your cravings to a satisfaction. This place offers live music located just right of the beach walk. Expect service to be beyond average as they have a friendly staff that can accommodate almost everything. Their seafood dishes are a must try and cooked to perfection. As they are really close to the sea, their window seating is the best place to sit and eat dinner with your loved ones. What can get better than that; it’s a complete package – the music, the view, and the food. 

Sandy's 

After long hours out in the sea, most of your energy depleted by surfing the whole day, you probably can’t wait to sink your teeth into some food. If you want a quick bite then Sandy’s has the best tasting sandwich by the sea. It’s a good place to sit and relax while looking at the most beautiful sunset in Orange County. Give your body a total rest it needed for the day and indulge your tummy to some food, as Sandy’s has great serving portions to feed you well. 

Pacific Hideaway 

Considered as one of the treasured restaurants in Huntington Beach, Pacific Hideaway has great ambiance and even greater service. They live up to their name as they offer wonderful service even if they are fully packed. Servers are super attentive and their foods are so post-worthy. Most people come here to taste their bestselling seafood dishes but they also make great tasting steaks. Pacific Hideaway is a great place to end your surfing adventure, and to fully experience Huntington Beach at its grandest. 

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Top Surfing Spots in Huntington Beach

Many considered Huntington Beach as the “Surf Haven”; lined with amazing restaurants, adorned with palm trees, sandy beaches, topping it off with the famous surfing Walk of Fame. Through the years, the beach has undergone a number of renovations and is evident with how tourists flock the area. With the newly renovated pier, great restaurants and movie theaters are now starting to flourish in Huntington Beach. Despite all it has been through, the waves remain unchanged, in which people especially surf fanatics keep coming back for more. What makes Huntington Beach really special is how the wind meets the sea, making that perfect surfer’s wave every single time.

One doesn’t just come to Huntington to ride the waves, as great as it is; there are certain places where you can catch a perfect ride without putting too much effort. Be sure to check out the custom maps of Huntington Beach.

Huntington State Beach 

When people ask where to catch a perfect wave, locals usually starts at Huntington State Beach. It’s a place where a family can really have a nice beach day. Aside from its sandy beach, this state beach has lots of grass to play on and well-constructed playground for your little ones. There are plenty of spacious picnic gazebos and grill areas. They even have a bike path and some restos alongside the beach if you want to grab a quick snack or just to get coffee. You’ll never run out of activities in Huntington State Beach, so it’s perfect if you want more than just to surf. 

Bolsa Chica State Beach 

Not too far from Huntington Beach is Bolsa Chica State Beach. It’s considered as a hidden gem if you want to surf and surf fishing. This 3-mile beach is guarded with year-round lifeguards so it’s safe even for smaller children. It’s a great place to spend the whole day with your family, you’ll be even surprised to find the water a little bit warmer. They even have several restrooms with showers to rinse off the sand. With a continuous cleanup effort near the beach, it's fast becoming popular again even for locals. Wait for the sun to set to get a glimpse of a perfect sunset in California.

Lower Trestles 

If you want to steer of the crowd, then Lower Trestles is a place to go. Located just right off San Clemente, it’s a classic surfing spot and the best in the Orange County. The strong yet gentle winds create endless surf breaks that are perfect for surfing even for longboards. The place has a very relaxing vibe with beautiful scenery and one that should try at least once in their surfing career. 

Venice Beach 

Because of many surfing destinations around Huntington Beach, there are folks who are just too confused to decide where. If you are one of them, then you might want to try Venice Beach. It's just in the middle of Los Angeles from Huntington Beach surf. Hailed as one of the best spots to surf, Venice Beach is sheltered to the north by a man-made barrier. Because the waves at this beach are fast, constant yet short, beginners may have trouble riding it. But it does offer a great place to practice and to hone your surfing skills. 

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