San Juans #2 in Travel and Leisure’s Top Islands

— from Barbara Marrett, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau —

Photo courtesy of visitsanjuans.com

Travel and Leisure magazine has announced its 2014 World’s Best Awards, ranking the San Juan Islands #2 on its list of Top Islands Continental U.S. and Canada. The Islands also received the distinction – for the first time – of being chosen as one of Travel and Leisure’s Top 10 Overall Islands, alongside the world’s best loved islands.

The rankings for Top Islands Continental and Canada (in order) are: Vancouver Island, British Columbia; San Juan Islands, Washington State; Prince Edward Island, Canada; Mackinac Island, Michigan and Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The San Juan Islands’ 2014 ranking as #2 out of five is the highest achieved so far; the magazine’s readers ranked the Islands #3 in 2012 and #4 in 2011 and 2010.

The rankings for Top Overall Islands (in order) are: Santorini, Greece; Maui, Hawaii; Kauai, Hawaii; Hawaii, the Big Island; Bali, Indonesia; Oahu, Hawaii; Galapagos, Ecuador; Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands; Vancouver Island, Canada and San Juan Islands, Washington State.

World’s Best rankings are the outcome of Travel + Leisure’s 19th annual survey of readers’ favorites and described as “an essential index of the places you want to go.” The magazine’s website presents the methodology for the annual survey online at: [link removed by Orcas Issues as possibly corrupt].The World’s Best Awards list is also the cover story of the magazine’s August issue, available on newsstands later this month.

Criteria for judging islands included natural attractions, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people, and value. To see what the San Juan Islands offer in these categories and to get helpful travel tips and find out about specials on lodging and activities go to the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau: www.VisitSanJuans.com. Proclaimed by President Obama in 2013, the San Juan Islands National Monument is one of the nation’s newest monuments and surrounding waterways comprise Washington’s newest Scenic Byway, a byway which traces Native canoe routes now cruised by Washington State ferries. The byway also includes rural roads on Orcas Island and San Juan Island.

Travel + Leisure has the world’s largest audience of any travel magazine. Its annual survey is a chance to see what resonates with readers as authentic, quality, long-lasting experiences. Many of this year’s choices reflect readers’ desire for adventure and the outdoors. The survey tracks the places, ideas, and trends of interest to the discerning traveler.

The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau is a non-profit, economic development agency contracted for responsible tourism management and competitive marketing of the San Juan Islands as a year-round travel destination. Visitor spending directly benefits businesses and residents on Lopez, Orcas, Shaw and San Juan Islands.