(posted in Google as well)
We stayed at the Wharfside Bed and Breakfast aboard the Slow Season over Memorial Day weekend 2010 and loved EVERY minute of our stay! Ilsa and Helmuth were the most amazing hosts I (as a frequenter of fine B&B's) have ever encountered. My husband and I stayed in the aft cabin and were charmed by the decor, the most comfortable sheets in the world, and the subtle sounds of waking in a marina. It rained on us the entire weekend, but we were not deterred! Our hosts gave us lots of pointers of where to spend time on the island, including where to find the best fish and chips, and where to see wild foxes. The breakfasts each morning were unique and delicious, and our stay was truly excellent. This is the only place my husband and I will ever stay on the island from now on! Those who have never stayed aboard a boat (expecially a wooden sailboat) before, be forewarned: space is tight, the aft cabin is not kind to those who are tall, and the bathrooms are tricky for you landlubbers. If you show up with an adventurous spirit and like sailing, you'll LOVE this. If you require ample closet space and cathedral ceilings, you will have to adjust. Trust me, it's worth it!

If you're going to Friday Harbor, you have to stay with Isle and Helmuth on the Slow Season. They are without a doubt the nicest hosts on the water. we had a wonderful comfortable bed to sleep in, wonderful breakfasts made by Ilse herself with fresh fruit; I think she picked the blackberries herself too. She even introduced us to a local bakery that makes the best rye bread I have ever tasted; made special just for Ilse ...and us! and Helmuth sings! what more could you ask for? great food, great company and entertainment. Ilse and Helmuth are charming and gracious and so much fun and life on a wooden boat, even if its just for the weekend, is wonderful, relaxing and restful. imagine, coffee or tea on the deck, on the water, with the sea breezes and the sea life...what could be better!?

if you've never spent any time on a sail boat, you should definitely give this a try...we'll be back!

The Slowseason offers you the opportunity to live aboard an authentic wooden boat! It's the only B&B of its kind on San Juan Island. You may have to climb down into your room, and you may bump your head on the ceiling, but what do you expect - it's a boat! That's part of the fun, right? Having crewed on wooden boats before, we appreciate how luxurious it is to have a cabin all to oneself, and we thoroughly enjoyed our Aft Stateroom. There was even a TV with a VCR and DVD player, and a selection of movies for us to watch, if we weren't too tired after a day of galavanting around San Juan Island.

We so enjoyed hearing some of Ilse and Helmuth's life experiences and insider knowledge of Europe and European cuisine. Helmuth even pulled out a guitar and sang for us one evening! Ilse made phenomenal breakfasts for us every morning. Where else can you set your cup of coffee on the rail, sit back, relax, and wave at other boats coming and going in the harbor while you eat handmade crepes with strawberry jam?

An added bonus was the proximity to sea life. We got to observe a harbor seal eating small fish and hamming it up for the camera, jellyfish of all shapes and sizes, sea anemones, and shrimp.

The Slowseason is under constant improvement, as are all wooden boats. It was fun to see what projects Helmuth was working on this season, and hearing about their future plans for the boat. We look forward to returning next year and making this an annual tradition! Anytime we find ourselves in Friday Harbor, we will definitely pop in to say hi. We highly recommend the Slowseason for those who are looking for a unique and authentic experience with the friendliest hosts imaginable.

A unique and down-to-earth way to experience Friday Harbor. The ship was clean and full of character and authenticity. The rooms were comfortable, the bedding clean and the setting spectacular. The beauty of staying aboard this wooden ship B&B is really only rivalled by the exceptional quality of service of the Austrian hosts/owners, Ilsa and Helmuth. We were welcomed aboard and treated like old friends from the first moments of our arrival until we left to catch the ferry back to the mainland. We planned to stay only 1 night, but decided to stay 2 after realizing what a unique and wonderful experience it would be.

This type of accomodation may not be for everyone, as it is a boat. Restrooms are very small, but shouldn't be a problem unless you're exceptionally large or very overweight. This is not a "luxury hotel" and there is no hot tub or indoor exercise room. Duh - it's a wooden ship!

After staying at over a dozen accomodations in the San Juans in the past year, this is by far, our favorite. I'd recommend this B&B to anyone, with the exception of very young children, obese individuals or those with extreme physical mobility issues. It's perfect for couples, singles, backpackers and even small families (if both rooms were used).

For those seeking comfort, peacefulness, a bit of history and superb customer service aboard a wooden, floating vessel - this is it!

A final note - This B&B provides the best Wi-Fi connection I've ever had on the islands...