Wesley,

I was glad to have stumbled on this website today, and wish I had found it sooner. It would have been helpful to have   looked here before my planning my time in  Friday Harbor as I found lots of other things to do reading this website after I returned home!

 I did  enjoy a lovely time with a bird's-eye view  by  chartering a plane from Westwind  Aviation for a combined scenic flight and an introductory flight.  Westwind offers local scenic flights for $189.00 per hour (January 2009). Their website at www.westwindav.com gives more complete information under "scenic" flights, as well as contact information: 360-378-6991 or email at westwind@rockisland.com.

Flying to Friday Harbor makes a faster trip than taking the ferry. It is  a twelve minute flight  from Anacortes to F.H, as compared to  1 1/2 - 2 hours on the ferry (not counting time waiting in the ferry line).

One could consider leaving their car in Anacortes and flying to F.H. (westbound), then walking on the ferry (no charge eastbound) for a unique trip combining the best of both means of transportation.

Westwind's team of professionally trained pilots made me feel real comfortable flying with one of them.  Owner Dan DeShon flew for American Airlines. It was easy to schedule a flight and is cheaper to schedule a  flight during regular business hours. It would make for a  fun, romantic  activity at sunset especially in summer months when the weather is so beautiful.  This time of year, business is slow  so planes and pilots are available, but the weather can be uncertain. There are more flyable days than not, so it worked out great for us.

I cannot recommend  highly enough a great experience seeing the San Juan Islands from the air.


Terry