This is not a ferry, but it is a boat--so same category.

Last week, we mentioned some of the great places to visit and explore on Orcas Island with a convenient map to show you the way. But what if you’ve had your fill of Orcas Island’s eclectic locals and beautiful nature and you want to get a little crazy and explore some of the other San Juan Islands’ eclectic locals and beautiful nature? Have no fear, the Washington State’s Inter-island Ferry is here!

If we could choose only one form of transportation for the rest of our lives, it would be a ferry, hands-down. A pleasure cruise would perhaps be most people’s first choice, but no, the ferry still dominates. We stand by our inter-island ferries. You can relax with a good book, walk the decks and enjoy the view, or play card games with friends and family! You can drink some hot tea, look for some whales and even talk to some of those lovely eclectic locals about things like the weather or Orcas Island politics! The possibilities are limitless! Are we exaggerating? No way! Well, maybe, but no!

And now hopefully you’re think to yourself, What do I do when the ferry hits dry land? The San Juan Island Ferries aren’t magic, are they?

They are, but that’s another story for another time. For now, there are plenty of other options for navigating the fair shores of the San Juan and San Juanitas. You can rent a scooter. Take a taxi. Rent a bicycle. Stretch out those ol’ hammies and take ‘em for a spin. Whatever you do, we suggest you leave your car far behind and get ready for some inter-island exploring using Orcas Island as your hub and home base.

Celebrate good times, c’mon right? For more info on the various forms of transportation once on the islands, please consult the Washington State’s Inter-island Ferry site again and this time scroll down below to check out just a few of the more prominent services!

Enjoy your San Juan Inter-Island and Ferry-making Fun-venture!

Casual Riders

The options for casual riders are many. Riding a bike instead of taking a car or taxi is a great option for traveling from your Orcas Island vacation home to the Farmer’s Market and museum and other attractions in Eastsound. In addition, if your legs get tired before making it back to your vacation home, you can take a break at many of the amazing overlooks to Puget Sound.

There are both paved and off road routes available all over the Island. It’s important for casual riders to be aware that the Island is quite hilly, so be prepared. In addition, if you decide to ride the ferry and pedal into Eastsound, remember that Horseshoe Highway is the shortest and flattest road into town, but it is also the most congested with vehicle traffic. There are alternative though.

For a whole new vacation experience, it is possible to leave your vehicle at the ferry and rent a bike near the ferry landing on the Island for the duration of your stay. You can spend your vacation traveling at a slower speed which will allow you to take in more of the scenery.

Experienced Riders

For more experienced and expert riders, Orcas Island is an ideal place to challenge your riding skills. Orcas Island has some very good hills and for those mountain bikers who really want a challenge, Mount Constitution is 2,409 feet high and is located in Moran State Park. The ride up affords cyclists some beautiful vistas and you are guaranteed to be exhausted when you reach the top. You will be rewarded with amazing 360 degree views of the area between Vancouver Island and mainland Washington State including the waterways and islands which dot the area. You can easily combine a workout and sightseeing at the same time.

For a slower pace during your vacation, riding a bicycle for the entire trip or for parts of your trip can be really rewarding. There are routes available for both casual and experienced riders and the slower pace can allow you to enjoy the scenery of the Island and Puget Sound in a whole new way.

Taxi Service

There are auto rentals available, but why drive when you can take a taxi around the Island instead? A taxi service allows everyone in your party to enjoy the beautiful scenery on Orcas Island. Taxi service is available 24 hours a day on the Island and some taxis will even pick up your bike if you’ve ridden too far afield and need a lift back to your vacation home. However, during the busy summer vacation months, be sure to reserve your taxi ahead of time if possible to ensure quick and efficient service.

Rent a Moped or Bicycle

One of the best options during the summer for transportation around Orcas Island is renting a moped or bicycle. For a family vacation, riding bikes around the Island is an economical and fun way to see the Island at a leisurely pace and also get some exercise at the same time. And, if someone gets too tired to make the ride back, there is always the taxi service available. The best part of the bike rental service is that there is a rental location near the ferry landing so families can leave their car on the mainland and save the cost of paying to ferry it to the Island.

Rent a Car or Van

For those who really need a car or a van for transportation around the Island, there are rental services on the Island as well. Visitors can rent a car or van near the airport or at the ferry landing. One unique feature of a rental car or van is a self-guided audio driving tour of the Island available on MP3 or CD so that visitors can take a tour of the Island at their own pace.

Visitors to Orcas Island don’t have to bring their own transportation because there are so many options available on the Island. Take a nice ride on a bike or a moped and discover the Island at your own pace, or rent a taxi, car, or van to get you where you need to go. Whatever you decide, transportation is not a problem during your Orcas Island vacation.

Here is a sample FAQ from their website: OrcasMopeds.com

San Juan Island Ferry

The Ferry Line
posted 03/23/2010
M.E. Rollins

Waiting in the ferry line in Anacortes, I’m sitting propped up on pillows and blankets in the back seat of my car, knitting. It’s a beautiful Spring day. I’m happy to say I don’t have cancer or anything like that, but I did get some news from my doctor I did not like, ironically having to do with my hearing. I hate poetic justice when I deserve it. I knew I should have thought of something other than good hearing to use when writing about good signs in a prospective mate.

A carload of teenage girls are laughing, yelling, generally carrying on at maximum volume one car back in line. Fortunately, I can’t hear them quite as well as I thought I could. Getting annoyed, but with the sun turning the car into an oven, I roll the windows down a little to get some fresh air, trying my best not to be in a bad mood. What would Byron Katie say about how I’m thinking about my life right at this moment? Then, suddenly, I simultaneously hear and feel SPLAT!

My window is down no more than two inches, I swear. And yet, somehow, a bird has managed to take direct aim right through the open window, hitting the blankets, the sleeve of my favorite shirt, and the inside of the car door. My reaction is instantaneous. An expletive erupts and shoots out the windows before I even notice who might be within earshot.

Continuing to swear to myself, I strip, right there in the ferry line, desperate to get out of my shirt. I am not laughing, this is not funny. I pull my jacket around me, only half attempting to cover up while carefully removing my arms from my sleeves, trying not to make matters worse. But I can’t help wondering, was it a seagull or a crow, and isn’t bird poop white?

After exiting my shirt, I don the jacket. I round up two unused paper napkins and do my best to clean up. A little gets on my hand which I carefully remove with the corner of a napkin. I’m squeamish about this kind of stuff anyway, but this is beyond gross. I make a pile of the soiled blankets and my shirt after using the sleeve to wipe up what I couldn’t get with the napkins. My mood is the color of bird poop.

At this point, realizing the bird might still be in the vicinity, I roll up the windows. I get out of the car, locking it, and make my way to the restroom to wash my hands and arms. The OCD part of me is sure a little of the mess has soaked through to my skin. Once inside, I take off my jacket, apologizing to the woman next to me who’s washing her hands. I blurt out to her what just happened, half laughing at the absurdity of it all. She laughs, and then in spite of myself, I laugh too as I continue exclaiming how disgusting it is. The nice young woman is saying “Eeuuww!” right along with me. As we talk and laugh, my feeling of exasperation begins to dissolve. And suddenly, with one last belly laugh, it’s gone.

Chuckling and feeling much better, I go back to the car, relieved to see there’s nothing to clean off the outside of it. That bird had good aim. Two lanes over, there’s an elderly man who seems to have lost his way. Just as I move toward him, the woman who was sitting in the car next to mine gets out of hers, and she’s already approaching him. She’s touching his arm now, they exchange words, then she heads back, assured he can find his way.

I pause a moment, watching the scene. Then, suddenly, the ferry line is moving. Racing around the car, I jump into the driver’s seat. There’s barely enough time to turn the key, put the car in drive, release the brake, and drive just fast enough to catch up. Inching onto the ferry, I follow directions, stop and set the brake. Upstairs the ferry is full but there’s an empty seat near the teenage girls. They’re having fun and I don’t mind. I pull out my knitting and sit back for the ride, smiling, ready to go home.

(source: http://www.sanjuanislander.com/columns/merollins/main.shtml)