Friday Harbor is the hub for exploring San Juan Island and the surrounding archipelago. The Whale Museum in town is a serious natural history institution focused on the orca populations that use these waters, and whale-watching tours from the harbour are among the most reliable in the Pacific Northwest. Kayaking the coves and channels around the island gives a different sense of the landscape. The Pig War historical sites at American Camp and English Camp mark one of history's more absurd international standoffs, and the island's lavender farms and sculpture parks fill the gaps between bigger activities.