Kenmore Air
Kenmore Air Blog

Slow-paced island life, farm-to-table cuisine, and intimate accommodations make for the perfect winter escape.

What makes a wetland biologist trade water and grass for butter and flour? For Stephanie Smith it was the desire to be more creative and find a career she could do anywhere in the world.

Walking into Studio 45 Glass on Lopez Island is like falling down the rabbit hole with Alice. It’s a world of color, where possibilities are only the beginning and art feels like it is created from thin air.

Pacific Northwest locals are very nonchalant when discussing Dungeness crab. Dungies (as locals call them) are arguably the best crab on the planet. We crabbers are somewhat protective of our favorite spots and our most reliable bait. Most of us have pulled fresh crab from the Puget Sound and Salish Sea. And with some experience tucked under our belt, we tend to think we know what we’re doing. But most of the time we just get lucky and land a few keepers. However, that’s not the case for Corey Joyce. Filling the pot is his daily hustle.

There is something so invigorating about visiting the San Juan Islands. I cannot think of anything quite like the thrill of salt air rushing through your hair or seeing all manner of watercraft cruise by to make you enthusiastic about where you are fortunate enough to call home. And if you are insanely lucky you might even spot an orca, seal, sea lion or bald eagle on your journey. After a short, forty-minute flight, you might as well be a world away.

Near the center of San Juan Island, in an area known to some as ‘Hippy Heights,’ Dave Ber hand-crafts knives in his 200-square-foot shop.

Tucked in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at the watery edge of the US and Canadian border, the San Juan Islands are a kayaker’s paradise. The more than 170 islands and inlets are sheltered from the biggest ocean swells. This is thanks to their neighboring landmasses — the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. And though tucked in the wet Pacific Northwest, this remote archipelago is located at the center of the Olympic Rain Shadow (aka the ‘Banana Belt’). The unique sunshine blanket is created by the Olympic Mountains which condenses and squeezes most of the air’s moisture from the sky before it reaches the San Juans. The result is an average of 270 days with sunshine a year — making this arguably the happiest place in Washington.

The Pacific Northwest is known for its fresh seafood and lush mountainscapes. But speckled throughout its cities and destinations, you’ll also find baked delectables that’ll make you want to ooh and aah.

There’s something special about getting beyond the hustle and bustle of everyday life with a romantic San Juan Island getaway!

While you may have visited Victoria, the San Juan Islands, Vancouver, and Seattle — have you actually seen and done everything? Chances are, there are quite a few unique Pacific Northwest travel ideas that you haven’t yet explored.

The lush forests and fertile farmland are proof that they San Juans get their fair share of drizzle — especially during the cooler months. Luckily, there are a plethora of things to do in the San Juan Islands when it rains.

Escape the hustle and bustle with a relaxing getaway and discover that there are a plethora of fun things to do this winter in the San Juan Islands.

San Juan Island’s rich with great scenery, both ashore and at sea. And with its temperate climate, it's the perfect place to hike year-round.

Stunning views and fewer crowds make Turtleback Mountain a fabulous alternative to the sometimes-crowded hikes at Orcas Island’s Moran State Park.

From wine pairings and festivals to lodging specials and incredible fall colors, there's a lot of reasons to love Savor the San Juans.

The exciting seventh annual Friday Harbor Film Festival, to be held Oct. 25-27, 2019 on San Juan Island, will screen 31 new documentary films, 23 short films, and a selection of films produced by student filmmakers.

While dinner out and a dozen roses are nice, a quiet getaway is the ultimate in perfection. And, there's no better place to cuddle up with your someone special than in the San Juans!

Jessie Morrow's quaint Orcas Island jewelry shop, Material Wit, is the real-life embodiment of her commitment to beauty, quality, and sustainability. In addition to the shop’s showroom that features her pieces, Jessie carries a carefully curated collection of art and homewares that share her same values.

At the heart of Friday Harbor—the largest town in the San Juan Islands—you’ll find the region’s oldest operating Farmers Market.

So close to the border, it’s practically in Canada, the quaint town of Friday Harbor has yet to be overrun by strip malls and golden arches. But, it does have a fast food option!

Love solving puzzles and riddles? Test your wits at Elusion — Orcas Island's escape room, where you'll have to solve your way to freedom.

Windswept grasslands and breathtaking views make the southernmost tip of San Juan Island the perfect location for a day hike.

Tucked among the United States’ northwest archipelago, Lopez Island spans just 30-square-miles. Though far from completely flat, the relatively gentle topography makes for an enjoyable day in the saddle.

Low-key adventures loaded with scenic views and an internationally acclaimed food and wine scene, make Orcas Island the ideal testosterone-free, comfy jean destination.

Along the western side of San Juan Island, rests the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. Built in 1919, this historic landmark is renowned as one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world.