Washington's Lopez Island

*Getting There:* Lopez is the first stop from Anacortes on the Washington State Ferry, about 80 miles north of Seattle. With a sailing time of about 45 minutes, it is an enjoyable and scenic ride through Puget Sound. Daily air service is available from Seattle by Kenmore Air. About a 50 minute trip, the sea plane lands in Fisherman’s Bay near the village. An airporter shuttle to the Anacortes Ferry Landing is available from the Seattle-Tacoma airport. To arrange island transportation, call Angie’s Cab Courier & Rental Cars at 1/360/468-2227. Since the ferry can be crowded on weekends and holidays, allow plenty of travel time and avoid peak times like Friday afternoon. Information on access to airlines or car rentals in Seattle can be found via the Travel Info contacts.
	Maps coutesy of:	San Juan Island Visitor Information Service

Staying There: Lopez Farm Cottages offers year-round lodging in a tranquil environment. Four cottages are available at a rate of $125 per night, plus Washington State tax. Winter rates (November 1 - March 31) are $99 per night. Each cottage comfortably accommodates two adults. Pets and smoking are prohibited. A continental breakfast is delivered to your cottage each evening. Call 1/800/440-3556 or 1/360/468-3555 to make reservations. Other island lodgings can be found in the WWW links below.

Fast Facts: Aside from the steep hill that greets visitors at the ferry dock, Lopez Island is the flattest of the four San Juan Islands that are served by the Washington State Ferry. Named for the Spanish explorers that mapped this area of the new world, the San Juan Islands were formed by glaciers millions of years ago. There are over 170 islands that make up this archipelago in Puget Sound. If you wish to visit any of them besides Orcas, San Juan, Shaw, or Lopez, you’ll have to arrange private transportation. One of the best resources for maps and natural sites throughout the San Juan Islands is The San Juan Islands: Afoot and Afloat by Marge and Ted Mueller. A good selection of other travel books are availalble at the Travel Book Store.

Once a major agricultural supplier for western Washington, Lopez has retained its rural environment with rolling pastures and farm animals. Lopez Island is in the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains and receives only 22 inches of rain a year and has about 50 more sunny days than Seattle.

Lopez Village, about four miles from the ferry, has conveniences including art galleries, book store, bank, video store, hair salon, florist, community church, pharmacy, medical clinic, liquor store, gift shops, market and fine restaurants.

Lopez Island Vineyards, the San Juan’s only vineyard, is located on Fisherman Bay Road. Don’t miss their wine tasting Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m.-5 p.m.

A favorite for bikers, Lopez has miles of quiet country roads ready for exploring. You can rent a quality mountain bike at Lopez Bicycle Works (1/360/468-2847) on Fisherman’s Bay Road. Rates are approximately $5/hour. Kayaks are also available here and can be rented by the hour, 1/2 day, and day. For guided day trips and rentals, contact Lopez Kayaks at 1/260/468-2847.

Lopez Golf Club, a private club, is open to the public for modest green fees. Club and cart rentals are available. Call 1/360/2679 for more information.

Camping, swimming, beachcombing, clam digging, crabbing, shrimping, hiking, bird watching, and overnight moorage can be found at Spencer Spit State Park on the northeast side of Lopez. A sandspit enclosing a saltchuck lagoon, this park has 129 acres with 1-1/2 miles of shoreline on Lopez Sound.

Other major natural sites include: Odlin County Park at Upright Head, Mackaye Harbor (boat ramp), Agate Beach Picnic Area, Otis Perkins Park on Fisherman’s Bay, and Shark’s Reef Recreation Area.