San Juan Islands & Seattle

Last weekend we went to the San Juan Islands. I've wanted to go ever since I was about 12, and Melanie and Melissa York, "the York twins", moved into our ward. They had just moved from San Juan Island. Then when we got here, my friend Rita was telling us about a great trip she took with her husband to the islands. So I did a little research, and Anacortes, the little town with the ferry stop, was only 5 hrs away, just north of Seattle. The area itself was just beautiful! Amazing sunsets, with densely forested islands everywhere. We found Friday Harbor, the main town on San Juan island, to be super touristy, over-priced, and frankly, a bit kitchy. But the ferry ride over was nice and relaxing, with beautiful scenery in every direction. We didn't have enough time (or $$, let's be honest) to go to the other islands like Orca, and do the recommended whale watching tours.
On the way back, we drove through Whidbey island, through Deception Pass, this super high road bridge that spans a break in the island, with a really great view, that you can't really appreciate because you're so nervous going over this super high, narrow bridge. The drive through the island took around an hour. At the other end, we caught another ferry to take us back to the mainland, where we drove to Seattle and spent the next night with my good friend Jen. She took us to Pike's Place the next day, to a street fair and the most AMAZING bakery I've ever been to, called Bakery Nouveau. Apparently the chef there is the only American to have ever won this national French baking competition in Paris. I spent WAY too much money there (and let's not even talk about calories, ok?) I had to sample a bit of everything, with that kind of reputation, especially since we don't live too close, and I'm not one to miss out on things of a culinary nature. And let me tell you: I was NOT disappointed!
It was wonderful to see Jen again. We are hoping to make 1 more trip out there before we back our bags to head "home" back to Utah.