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How busy?

California
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34 posts
1 review
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How busy?
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Hello all. I'm looking at a visit in either August or September. August would be easier to get away from work. How busy is it in these 2 months? If August is really busy I don't want to go.

Port Angeles, WA
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for Olympic National Park
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22 reviews
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1. Re: How busy?
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August is the busiest month of the year in the Pacific Northwest. The population of the San Juan Islands soars. Everything will be more crowded, including the ferries, and everything will be more expensive.

California
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Thanks for the reply. That's what I figured. What about July? Or would September still be better? I'm in the early planning stages, but I'm hoping for a few days in Seattle, 5 in the San Juan Islands, and some time at Hoh Rain Forest.

Poulsbo, Washington
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13 reviews
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July is better than August. September after the holiday. Do not limit Olympic NP to only the Hoh. It is a huge Park. September is a great month, but the further unto the month you visit the chances of rain goes up a little. Especially at the Hoh. You will probably not notice it but the Hoh starts dying out the latter into Summer you get. Less waterfalls less dreams etc..

Port Angeles, WA
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for Olympic National Park
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18,302 posts
22 reviews
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My favorite month is October. In a good year, the first two weeks of October in ONP are spectacular. Hurricane Ridge is bathed in a clear golden light that occurs at no other time. The alpine heaths turn a rich maroon, and the little maples along the Hoh River flame out in a scarlet that contrasts beautifully with the milky blue of the river. The high country trails above Sol Duc Falls are astonishingly beautiful in the autumn. There are few visitors, and the game is much less skittish. But that's a good year. In a less good year, it starts to rain in mid to late September, and Obstruction Point road closes down due to snow. October is a transition month, and you just don't know what you are going to get.

If you come in mid-July to mid-September, you are all but certain to get sunny, dry weather, but you will also see many more visitors.

Seattle, Wa
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65 reviews
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Avoiding weekends helps a lot. I don't like crowds, but have no problem going to the San Juan Islands in September, especially on weekdays.

San Juan Island...
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September is considered a very good month to visit the San Juans and as an added attraction one usually gets a chance to see the seasonal oracs in our waters. We get lots of visitors in that month so things stay open and active well into early November actually.

If you like day hiking, kayaking and seeing beautiful ever-changing vistas you can certainly fill 4 or 5 days and more here in the San Juans. I would advise that you spend at least 2 or 3 nights in the San Juans with a few nights here on San Juan island first. There is more for people of all ages and abilities to do here on San Juan than on Orcas or Lopez islands although both of them have appeal and multiple parks to offer. Here on San Juan island is the largest town in the County, Friday Harbor (population 2,178) and the ferry docks right in town. You will find shops, restaurants etc in the town of FH which has many small attractive gift & boutique shops, a wide variety of restaurants, a movie theater, 3 museums, 3 book stores, art galleries, a bowling alley, and neither fast food chains nor traffic lights. There is a nice marina that you can walk through right in town which is busy in the summer and holds many large yachts and sailing boats, and some commercial fishing boats...it's really pleasant walking around there for those who enjoy looking at the boats (and you may well see a heron or two at night). Often you can see a seal hanging around the floating fresh fish market on the docks. The museum most tourists visit in town is The Whale Museum. Info on that is at http://www.whalemuseum.org/museum/details/gallery.html This is a nice little small town museum for learning about whales and orcas in particular. The museum has full-size skeletons of a whale and a variety of other exhibits and interactive displays. You can find more suggestions for things to do in town at: http://www.visitsanjuans.com/the-islands/friday-harbor There is much hiking here both in the best know spots like American and English camp (national parks) and Limekiln State Park and in numerous Land Bank properties and other public lands that don't get mentioned much online. If you want to save yourself a bit of money for the ferries (like $25) then you should go to Orcas island next and then Lopez island if you want as then you won't have to buy another ferry ticket as your still traveling in the same direction. Insofar as nature & outdoor activity there certainly is enough of both of those on San Juan island as well as on Orcas & Lopez island.

You can find out a lot about the islands including all there is to do here at the many parks at the San Juan Visitor Bureau web site: http://www.visitsanjuans.com/ and there you can check for lodging vacancies on the dates you need (see the form on the right of their main page). And here is a calendar of events for San Juan: http://www.sanjuancalendar.com/

California
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34 posts
1 review
3 helpful votes
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to need to do some thinking. During the summer months I can get 2 weeks off work, but during September I can only do 1. After that I can't get off until February.

There's so much to do in the area I'd rather do 2 weeks, so I probably will. Thanks for all the great info!

Hendersonville...
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83 posts
64 reviews
42 helpful votes
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if you buy a ferry ticket from Sidney to Anacortes and stop in Friday Harbor for 2 days, do you just pay for 1 ticket all the way through? Would you recommend 2 nights in FH, vs I there and 1 one in Anacortes?

Poulsbo, Washington
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12,174 posts
13 reviews
7 helpful votes
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Always start your own thread. If I remember right you are good to go all the way. My advise on where to stay depends on the rest of your schedule. If you are in no hurry to get to your next destination then by all means spend another night in Friday Harbor!

Edited: 8 years ago
10. Re: How busy?

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