4 Best Hotels in The San Juan Islands, Washington

Thoughtful and friendly owners Anthony and Crystal Rovente operate this large Victorian-style farmhouse surrounded by gardens and framed by Fisherman Bay, where spacious rooms are each painted or papered in different pastel shades and furnished with simple antiques. Some have claw-foot tubs and brick fireplaces. In summer you can sip tea on the wraparound ground-floor veranda or relax with a book on the garden patio. The place looks as if it's at least a century old, but it actually dates from 1988. Bike rentals are available on-site and the owners can connect you to other island adventures too.

Set back from the road behind a large garden overlooked by a lovely covered porch, this B&B in a local landmark Craftsman features nicely appointed rooms with en suite bathrooms. It has an interesting history: it's named for a Depression-era resident kangaroo that provided entertainment for islanders (ask the friendly, knowledgeable hosts for the story), though these days the busy bird feeders and deer wandering through the brush are the main animal attractions.

Spacious units in this atmospheric 1902 house are equipped with a king or queen bed, private bath, and all the serenity a guest could ever want. Suites are equipped with coffee maker, microwave, and mini-fridge; one king suite also has a kitchenette. The inn's restaurant, which features small plates, burgers, and some locally-inspired entrees in an airy waterfront setting, is open for dinner seasonally, usually Wednesday through Saturday.

Rooms are all differently decorated in this 1907 Craftsman bungalow, the one-time summer home of steel magnate Peter Kirk: the Garden Room has a botanical motif, the sunny Trellis Room is done in soft shades of yellow and green, and the Arbor Room has French doors leading out to the garden. You may take breakfast in the parlor, outdoors in summer, or to-go if you're catching an early ferry. A separate cottage provides more privacy and space and is dog-friendly.