It's been a couple of years since we stayed there, but the Tower House stands out in our memory. It's rare that one of our regrets after a vacation is that we didn't spend more time holed up in our hotel room, but my husband and I both look forward to the day we can reserve the beautiful tower room for a couple of weeks and return with a several foot high stack of books that we've always wanted to read. (The tower room is a beautiful suite with an octagonal sitting area surrounded by windows)

This is not to say that the surrounding area is boring. Friday Harbor is a beautiful place to visit. Outdoorsy types will enjoy kayaking and bicycling around the island, and the less athletically inclined can take boat tours to see the whales, eagles, seals, and other wildlife. The town is nice and walkable, with an interesting shopping district and restaurants. One of the best things about staying at the Tower House is that the owners are immensely helpful. They will tell you anything you want to know about the island and are full of suggestions for fun ways to spend your trip there.

Breakfast was delicious. Freshly baked scones and filled vegan crepes awaited us in the morning. The owners are very accommodating to special diets (when we left they were expecting a gluten-intolerant vegan the next day, and didn't seem at all daunted by this), and yet the food is delicious and decadent.