Favorite Things to Do on Orcas
If you are new to Orcas or haven't been here for a while, here are some of my favorite things to do on Orcas.
At The Homestead: Take a 15 minute paddle from our dock over to Skull Island State Park. Cycle the roads in either direction out our driveway for miles of coastal, farms and small town scenery.
Walks
- Turtleback Mountain, an excellent place to hike, the trailhead is only 10 minutes from The Homestead
- Crescent Beach near Eastsound.
- Deer Harbor is two miles from the Homestead.
- Mountain Lake at Moran State Park 3 + miles of trails for all ages around a gorgeous emerald green lake.
- Cascade Falls in Moran State Park
- There are many other public lands throughout the San Juan Islands
Places to eat
- Westsound Cafe - great diner style breakfasts, lunch and when open in the evening dinner. Don't miss their deck on a sunny afternoon overlooking Westsound.
- Restaurant at Deer Harbor Inn - We recommend eating there in the summer when you can sit on the deck overlooking Deer Harbor.
- Olga Cafˇ - if you go for a walk at Mountain Lake keep going on to Olga. They have wonderful desserts especially the Blackberry pie and delicious lunches. The Artworks is in the same building.
- Chimayo - tex/mex style lunches and dinners.
- Ship Bay Oyster House - the best seafood around.
- Roses Bakery - if you like authentic French bread, good cheese and wine this place is for you. There is a indoor and outdoor cafe serving handmade pizzas, locally grown salads and other wonderful things.
- Bilbo's - a good place for Mexican style dinners.
- Teezers - a great coffee and cookie stop.
- Portofino Pizzeria - excellent pizza with an awesome view overlooking Eastsound.
Places to shop
- Crow Valley Pottery has a nice selection of quality handmade objects. A great place to shop for locally made things.
- Olga Artworks-crafts made on Orcas. Make this part of a trip to Moran State park.
- Darvill's Bookstore-a great small bookshop with a wonderful selection of books, gifts and cards.
- The Homegrown Market-excellent fresh fish and seafood. When in season (early June), this is the place to get Copper River Salmon.
Hanging out at Seaside
The most awesome view is from Mount Constitution. Don’t miss it on a clear day especially in the afternoon. It's also a good place to learn about some history of the island.
There is a large play toy at Buck Park (near the tennis courts off Mt. Baker Road) and at Cascade Lake in Moran State Park.
Guided kayak tours are available through Shearwater Kayaks in Deer Harbor. See them at the Deer Harbor Marina in the teal colored houseboat. Deer Harbor Charters (whale watching) is next door.This could be the most memorable thing you do while vacationing in the islands.
Take a tour of the islands on Magic Air, a vintage biplane.
Biking around the Westsound-Deer Harbor area
More information about the islands can be found on the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce and San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau sites. If you decide to go to Friday Harbor by walking on the ferry,don't miss the Whale Museum especially if you have children with you. If you want to know what's happening on Orcas click here to see a community calendar.
Personal Pampering
Available in the quiet season are midweek packages featuring massage in the privacy and comfort of your space. Give us a call to set this up while you're here!
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