"We road tripped from San Francisco, with plotted out stops in Portland and Seattle on the way. My mother-in-law lives on Orcas Island, so visiting has become an annual summer tradition for us. Being able to keep this summer ritual was a really welcome, normalizing moment. And, even on a holiday weekend when we aren't in the thick of a pandemic, Orcas is rarely that crowded. You can always find a place to be by yourself in nature—hiking or kayaking or swimming in one of the lakes. The Mountain Lake loop is a great hike, and you can go off a rope swing or swim out to a little island from there. Most of our favorite places to eat are also open in some form, including The Kitchen (healthy, super tasty Asian food), Hogstone's Wood Oven for pizza (currently offering pickup and delivery), and Buck Bay Shellfish Farm (open daily), where you can sit at outside tables and shuck oysters with a glass of wine. Lots of open space and a heavy dose of nature after months of sitting in our home made it the ideal spot for us."
Something you definitely want to experience. Book ferry tickets ahead of time, smooth process and spend the day on the island. Eastsound shops and cafes are great for tourist shopping, visit and kayak at Moran State park and make your way up to Mount Constitution for some of the best views of the region
Gustav R.
Google
Definitely make ferry reservations. The boat ride is half the fun! Go up Mt Constitution on a clear day with a picnic, see some old growth forest and breathe clean air.
Dave T.
Google
Absolutely amazing and quite breathtaking. We visited the farmers market for some great food and enjoyed walking through all the shops. There are lots of beautiful things to see, get ready to take lots of pictures. There is a church with a beautiful garden, I can remember the name of the church. You can see the garden from the road. Be sure to stop in for a visit.
S J C.
Google
Pretty seascapes but a triumph of privilege: it is white, old, a bit dull. We came mid September and everything is already closed for the season. We drove around to explore the island but everything seems to be on private land at the end of a private road.
Beth
Google
Absolutely beautiful Island picture perfect scenes all around the island. The water and spots are clear and blue and green colors of the water. Makes for an excellent relaxation spot. People on the island are very friendly
Ken H.
Google
Orcas Island is a wonderful place to visit. Gorgeous scenery, great places to stay, good food, amazing trails, and a nice laid-back feel. Besides all that, you get there by ferry.
Mary S.
Google
Loved our visit to Orcas Island. There is an abundance of outdoor activities available to access. We found a park that had a beautiful lake at which it was easy to launch kayaks. A lot of people bike and hike. The downtown offers a number of local stores. We particularly liked the bookstore that welcomed our dog. One of the clerks, maybe the owner, even gave her a homemade treat. It is truly a gorgeous place.
Albany G.
Google
Pretty nice hike, it was a little hard the beginning because is a bit inclined but it was a short hike to get the little summit view point.