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San Juan Island Kayaking Blog

San Juan Island Kayaking

REI Adventures and Outdoor Odysseys

January 31, 2025

San Juan Island Kayaking

REI Adventures and Outdoor Odysseys

In the early 90s, during the infancy of their Adventures program, REI reached out to Clark Casebolt, who had recently founded Outdoor Odysseys Sea Kayaking. Clark proudly partnered with REI Adventures for nearly 20 years, bringing paddlers face-to-face with the breathtaking beauty of the San Juan Islands. Together, Outdoor Odysseys and REI Adventurers embarked on thrilling paddling adventures through pristine waters, rugged shorelines, and under the starlit sky, sharing unforgettable meals that became a hallmark of Outdoor Odysseys. Although our formal collaboration ended in 2011, the impact of those years remains deeply cherished in our story. Partnering with REI allowed…

Summer Whales and Wildlife in the San Juan Islands

June 19, 2018

San Juan Island Kayaking

Summer Whales and Wildlife in the San Juan Islands

Our Unique Island Home The paddling, hiking, local food and quite town are all a draw for people visiting Friday Harbor and San Juan Island, but the true gem of this outdoor oasis is the wildlife in and around the islands. Whether you’re watching a bald eagle scoop a fish out of the water, getting splashed by Popeye the seal in the harbor, or delighting at the breaching of a young whale, the wildlife of the San Juan Islands never disappoint. Ever Changing Wildlife The wildlife here in the Salish Sea sure love to keep us on our toes. For…

Kayaking the San Juan Islands in Spring

April 27, 2018

San Juan Island Kayaking

Kayaking the San Juan Islands in Spring

Plan Now to Get The Best Dates & Best Deals at One of Western Washington’s Top Destinations! As the secret gets outs, we’re seeing a growing numbers of visitors to our idyllic little island every year, especially in the summer months. This makes spring the perfect time to plan your trip to Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands! Book now to get the room with a view, the reservation at the private table tucked away in the corner, or a coveted spot on our wine maker’s kayak tour before it’s too late. If you’re headed to the San Juan…

Visiting Friday Harbor

July 7, 2017

San Juan Island Kayaking

Visiting Friday Harbor

Visiting Friday Harbor After your San Juan Island kayak tour, but before you head home, take time to visit beautiful Friday Harbor. Whether you have a few moments while waiting for your ferry, or a few days to spend here, Friday Harbor has a variety of activities to enjoy. Book a whale watching trip, grab an ice cream cone, or wander down to the docks to say hi to Popeye the resident harbor seal. Historic Friday Harbor Nestled in the rain shadow of Washington State’s Olympic Mountains, Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands get almost half as much rain per…

How to Plan your Day Trip to the San Juan Islands this Summer: A First Time Visitor’s Guide

May 31, 2017

San Juan Island Kayaking

How to Plan your Day Trip to the San Juan Islands this Summer: A First Time Visitor’s Guide

The most beautiful islands in Western Washington! The San Juan Islands are gorgeous in so many different ways. From the cool quiet days of winter to the bustling hot summer days, Friday Harbor makes for a great escape. While the main draw to the island is kayaking with orcas, on any given visit you can expect to see a variety of wildlife. The orcas, though more prevalent in June, July and August pass through here every month of the year. Low tide walks unveil sea stars, anemones and crabs, with views of seals and sea lions playing in the water…

San Juan Island Sea Kayaking Trips with Outdoor Odysseys

December 14, 2011

San Juan Island Kayaking

San Juan Island Sea Kayaking Trips with Outdoor Odysseys

Experience one to four day San Juan Island kayaking tours that incorporate whale watching, camping, hiking and “the best” in outdoor cuisine as we celebrate our 28th year! Outdoor Odysseys Sea Kayak Tours has operated one of a kind sea kayaking trips from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, (north of Seattle), Washington since 1987. The owner, Tom Murphy, continues to keep the company relatively small. “Our priority is on exceptional customer service. We also offer the widest variety of  sea kayak tours in the San Juan Islands.” Check out our new  2 Day Whale Adventure and our NW Winemakers 3-Day.…

Video: Kayak the San Juans

June 11, 2012

San Juan Island Kayaking

Video: Kayak the San Juans

Birthday Fun!

September 8, 2011

San Juan Island Kayaking

Birthday Fun!

The folks on this week’s four-day sea kayak tour were in for a treat last night when a band of Outdoor Odysseys guides along with owner and founder Clark Casebolt showed up at their campsite on Jones Island to surprise the tour leader and birthday girl, Sarah Young. The group left San Juan Island in the afternoon and paddled out to Jones, armed with pizza, ice cream, cake, balloons, and a whole host of other goodies. They spent the night on Jones Island along with Sarah and her guests and returned to San Juan Island this morning, in time to…

Friday Harbor Art Market

August 30, 2011

San Juan Island Kayaking

Friday Harbor Art Market

As the first of September approaches, so does your last chance to check out the weekly Friday Harbor Art Market! As of this summer, the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild has begun hosting a weekly art market on Thursdays from 5 to 8 PM in downtown Friday Harbor, at Brickworks at 150 Nichols Street. Every week, local artists and musicians gather at Brickworks, an outdoor plaza located just blocks from the ferry landing, for an evening of music, art, and community. Situated amidst all of the shops and restaurants of Friday Harbor, the Art Market is a perfect place to…

End of August

August 20, 2011

San Juan Island Kayaking

End of August

It’s been a nearly perfect week here on San Juan Island, both off the water and on. The annual San Juan County Fair began on Wednesday, and Friday Harbor has been packed with visitors. The weather, which has been less than ideal for much of the summer, has finally turned nice. The whales have been out in full force on the west side of San Juan Island—yesterday’s sea kayak tour saw a pod of nearly thirty whales around Lime Kiln State Park, and just this morning we got word that there was a pod of around sixty Orcas traveling north…

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  • REI Adventures and Outdoor Odysseys
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