11/09/2008: "SJC Top 10 Islands"

Condé Nast Traveler Magazine has announced its 2008 Best in the World rankings, placing the San Juan Islands of Washington State at #9 on its list of Top 10 Islands in North America.

The rankings (in order) are: Vancouver Island, Kiawah Island, Nantucket, the Gulf Islands, Prince Edward Island, Amelia Island, Hilton Head, Mount Desert Island, the San Juan Islands and a tie for Mackinac and Sanibel in tenth place.

Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands, put forth a strong presence on the short list of positions for the West Coast.

The rankings are the outcome of Condé Nast Traveler’s “Readers’ Choice Awards,” based upon their annual survey of readers’ favorite destinations around the world. These results are featured in the November issue of the magazine, available on newsstands this month. The magazine’s website also presents the annual survey online at www.cntraveler.com.

Criteria for judging islands included activities, lodging, restaurants, scenery, beaches and ambience. To see specifically what the San Juan Islands offer in these categories and to get helpful travel tips and good deals on lodging and activities from the San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau, go online at www.VisitSanJuans.com.

Other lists from the survey include cities, hotels, airlines and cruise lines. Condé Nast Traveler is one of the world’s leading travel magazines, written for the experienced and discerning traveler. It has a current monthly circulation of 800,000 with an average annual reader income of $92,264.

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 county parks, historical museums, community theaters, and local businesses.