7 Best Hotels in San Juan Island, The San Juan Islands

At this bluff-top getaway, floor-to-ceiling windows, sleek, modern wood furnishings, and fabrics in serene hues fill the rooms—all of which have gas fireplaces, deep jetted tubs, Chemex pour-over coffee carafes, electric tea kettles, mini-refrigerators, and at least partial views of the marina, ferry landing, and San Juan Channel below. The ferries are especially enjoyable to watch dock after dark, when they're all lit up.

There's a pretty striking contrast of accommodation styles at this cosmopolitan complex that tumbles down a hillside overlooking Friday Harbor, from intimate Euro-style rooms that lack exterior windows to expansive suites with water views to ginormous bi-level penthouses with two bedrooms, private decks, gorgeous full kitchens, and astounding views. Amenities include Blu-ray players, posh Malin + Goetz bath products, and satellite TV.

This 82-acre property may not have invented glamping, but it was one of the first to nail the travel trend, and the resort's hip 450-square-foot yurts—which share a private lakefront beach and firepit—are as luxurious as they come, with fireplaces, kitchenettes, spacious bathrooms, and private decks with hot tubs. Other options include real log cabins, a lake house, and the handsome lodge, which sits on a scenic lake frequented by swans and geese. There's also a campground for tent and RV camping and some canvas tents for a rustic stay.

This sprawling resort, with several types of accommodations ranging from historic hotel rooms to luxurious contemporary waterfront suites, occupies the site of the lime works that made John S. McMillin his fortune in the late 19th century. Rooms in historic Hotel de Haro are filled with notable antiques, like the claw-foot tub where actor John Wayne used to soak. Posh suites in the McMillin House and Quarryman Hall have fireplaces, heated bathroom floors, and panoramic water views from a private veranda. The beachside Company Town Cottages, once the homes of lime-company employees, have rustic exteriors but modern interiors. Elsewhere are contemporary condos with fireplaces; some have lofts and water views. Walking trails thread through the resplendent gardens and the old lime quarries, an elegant spa offers a full slate of treatments, and several atmospheric restaurants serve food at a range of price points.

The charming lodging options here range from affordable, compact rooms with private baths down the hall, to downright cushy two-bedroom suites with gas fireplaces, spacious sitting rooms, pitched ceilings, and terrific harbor views. Whatever room you choose, you're treated to great service, beds with fine linens, free use of bicycles, and in-room coffee makers. The hotel's sister property, the Earthbox Inn & Spa, is also downtown and well recommended.

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.

At this popular cottage resort and marina on the northwest side of the island, all of the units feature tall windows overlooking the water, high ceilings, well-equipped kitchens, knotty-pine wood paneling, gas fireplaces, and private decks. Each cottage sleeps up to four (even the one bedrooms have additional hideaway beds). You can book a kayak or whale-watching tour, leaving daily from the marina, and there's a small camp store and coffeehouse on-site.