Most of the time people think the vacation fun doesn’t start until you arrive at your destination, but with Orcas Island that’s just not the case. Orcas Island is located in Puget Sound, Washington and visitors to the island have to travel by air or water to get here. Traveling to the Island can be an adventure all in itself.

 

Travel by Ferry

Your Orcas Island adventure can begin on the ferry ride to the island. Ferries are available every day of the week, including weekends, and there are up to three ferries running at any one time. The ferry service recommends that passengers arrive at least 10 minutes early and vehicle traffic arrive at least 60 minutes early. In addition, vehicles are subject to security screenings, so be prepared. It’s important to be ticketed well in advance of embarking and be ready to load. Children younger than 5 years old travel for free and there are discounted rates for children 6 to 18 years of age. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those with Medicare cards travel at half the regular price.

Of course, the best part of arriving by ferry is getting a chance to observe the beautiful scenery of Puget Sound and Orcas Island. The ferry gives passengers a chance to experience the Sound in a unique way that can’t be experienced from land. There are a wide variety of ocean animals such as whales and dolphins that might be around as well as birds of all kinds that inhabit the region. For many people, the experience of riding a ferry is a new adventure as well.

 

Fly to Orcas Island

If you’re considering flying to Orcas Island, then you could be in for a treat: a one hour adventure from Seattle Lake Union airport to Orcas Island on a seaplane. While there is regular plane service to Eastsound and other Island locations, why not arrive in a seaplane? The seaplane departs from Lake Union and arrives at several different locations around Orcas Island, so planning ahead is crucial. The seaplane makes stops in Deer Harbor, Rosario, and West Sound, so the scheduled arrival and departure times can vary up to 15 minutes at any of the locations on Orcas Island. In addition, there is shuttle service from Lake Union to Sea-Tac Airport.

 

Why not start your vacation on Orcas Island with an adventure? A ferry or seaplane ride to the Island can be an amazing new experience for the entire family.