Roche Harbor has long been a favorite destination for boaters in the San Juan Islands. Most of us have our favorite sights and often look forward to our trip each year. This year Roche Harbor has some new attractions so step out and find several new reasons to keep returning. The next time you visit plan to spend at least 2 nights so you can take advantage of the new adventures.
Start your morning with freshly baked donuts at the Lime Kiln Café. Grab several with your morning caffeine since you will easily burn off the calories today. If you want some crab for dinner be sure to set out your pot before heading out after checking the local crabbing regulations.
After breakfast put on your hiking boots and grab your canteen to check out the new trails. The San Juan Trails Committee in cooperation with Roche Harbor have cut or improved about 8 miles of new trails over the winter and spring months. At Roche the maps show several different trail options. It would take almost a full day to explore all of them.
The trails start by the airport runway and then split off in several directions. They have small bridges and wooden raised walkways for the months when it is wet and soggy to help keep hikers dry. Signs and maps are visible at multiple locations to keep everyone headed in the right direction. A variety of beautiful scenery including wetlands is visible from the trails.
After spending the morning hiking grab some lunch and get ready for a new kind of golf. About ¾ mile from Roche Harbor Resort is an 18 hole disc golf course on their property. Disc golf is played with Frisbees or flying discs. Much like golf the objective is to take the least number of throws to land in an elevated metal basket. The course was set up in spring of this year and already it is very popular.
Best of all no tee time is required and it is free. Right now the best way to get your discs is at your local sporting goods store where a starter set can be purchased for around $20. It is a game which can be enjoyed by kids from 2 to 90. Even better these sets take up much less room on a boat than golf clubs.
After all the day’s exercise and excitement a dinner of freshly caught crab will hit the spot or if your pot is empty head up to the Madrona Grill for dinner. Through August, Islands Stage Left is putting on a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest in the field above the hotel at 8 p.m. Bring a blanket and enjoy front side seats on the grass. The colors ceremony at sunset is another option to finish up your day.
Tomorrow head off again for a new destination or take the morning to visit the Afterglow Spa. You will have earned some rest and relaxation and sitting on your boat or getting a massage will be a welcome respite.
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