The savviest of travelers have a simple strategy for making the most of their precious vacation time:
Use the shoulder season.
They know that the best holidays are found in the magical time when crowds are thin, prices are lower and temperatures are less than sweltering.
In the Pacific Northwest, the spring shoulder season occurs during May and June, after winter has receded and before the schools release their wandering herds.
Note: Gray whales migrate through the area during spring months. Your chances of spotting one can increase!
Imagine the spring breeze in your face as you sail among the hundreds of islands in the San Juan Islands, lush vegetation everywhere. The spring flowers are in full bloom, and the world is positively bursting with life.
Now imagine doing it for hundreds less than you’d pay for an all-inclusive sailboat charter during the summer high season. Sounds great, right?
We’ve been sailing Diminuendo through the San Juan Islands for long enough to know that the best time to visit, truly, is in the spring. Here are just a few reasons why:
There are fewer people around. In the San Juan Islands, you’ll never see the hordes you’d expect at Disneyland, no matter what time of year. But in the spring, the crowds are even fewer than normal, and you can truly enjoy the famous relaxed pace of island life.
The beachcombing is better. Late winter and early spring storms churn up the beaches and reveal treasures that otherwise might be hidden. Shoulder season adventures are especially good for agate hunting ― and since other beachcombers are few, there’s less competition for the best finds.
The weather is better for sailing. The changing of the seasons is always an interesting time for wind watchers. Fluctuations in temperature and pressure bring with them increases in wind, which, of course, is perfect for a chartered sailboat vacation! Mother Nature is the third member of our crew, and she’s always a reliable worker this time of year. Plus, the temperatures during spring can be more comfortable than in summer.
Verdant, lush scenery abounds. Spring in the Pacific Northwest is incredible. And on the Salish Sea, among the many islands ― some say say it’s the most beautiful place on earth. From the comfort of our chartered sailboat, you see the bright greens of plant life basking in newly discovered sunlight. And the wildflowers, in every color and shape imaginable … they’re simply incredible!
Prices are lower. If you book a multi-day all-inclusive sailing adventure this spring, you can save $400 to $1,500 off our regular prices. Hard to beat that, right?
To ask about available dates or to book your San Juan sailing adventure, feel free to call, text or email us. We can’t wait to get out on the water for the spring shoulder season! We hope you can join us.
wonderful guests that made our second season as NW Sailing Adventures a smashing success.
teak forests. The settee and dinette cushions in the saloon are currently being reupholstered. We added memory foam mattress toppers in the guest cabins, giving your bunks a homelike bed feel. And our guests really enjoyed exploring the coves and islands courtesy of our two new kayaks! On a less glamorous note, Ron replaced the Marine Sanitation Device (toilet) in the guest head (bathroom) with a state of the art fresh water electric flush unit. No more confusing lessons on how to flush! While he was at it, he installed a new holding (sewage) tank, doubling the capacity. As soon as the weather warms up enough, We’ll have her hauled out for semi annual maintenance that cannot be done while she’s in the water.
great reviews to Yelp, Google and Trip Advisor. Please check them out—and add to them if you wish! Like us on Facebook and keep up with our latest news and sailing adventures! And check out our updated web site (nwsailing.com) that now includes some of the many great photos we’ve taken as well as some of those our chartered sailing adventure guests have graciously offered to share. We have also been working on a new corporate logo that we hope captures the essence of cruising with NW Sailing.
season we got to see many scenic and beautiful sights — San Juan Island wildlife never ceases to amaze — and boy, did we get to see a lot of wildlife around the San Juan Islands! Humpback and Minke whales, river otter, porpoise and dolphin, and did I mention Orca whales up close and personal? Throughout the season, we were able to treat our guests to a viewing of a large group of Stellar sea lions and harbor seals on the reef off of Ewing Cove just east of Sucia Island.
The Orcas did not disappoint either this season. We saw several whales north of Patos Island, as well as in Haro Strait and from the lookout at Turnpoint on Stewart Island. Also in Haro Strait, we spotted a Minke whale AND got to experience the exhilaration of having a pod of Dahls porpoise ride our bow wave!
of the Cone Islands.
The endeavor failed, but exotic animals still inhabit the island, including fallow and Sitka deer and Mouflon sheep. On our way to Friday Harbor with some early bird guests, we saw literally hundreds of these animals grazing on the savanna-like slopes of Spieden Island’s south shore. And finally while exploring by land, we came across a red fox on the roadside near American Camp just hanging out and enjoying the sunny weather!
resident pods most actively gather in the San Juan’s to feed. In the winter months, they may follow the salmon far out to sea.
Because of the popularity of whale watching as a tourist attraction, several companies offer fast-moving boats out of the San Juan Islands and Canada. As a result, conservationists have campaigned for the enactment of laws in regards to viewing them, including staying 200 yards or more from the whales, avoiding crossing the whales’ path and reduced speeds. “Be Whale Wise” the slogan says.
