Did you catch last week’s Orcas Island Lodging Battle? It was a close fight to the very end, but you, the lodger and guest, still came out as the winner! Congrats! You’re undefeated!

Yet perhaps you are unsatisfied with just 1 victory notch on your belt? Are you still looking to earn some more Orcas Island Lodging glory? Well, you’re in luck, because here comes Battle #2 and it’s a good one!

Again, we hope you keep in mind that we are partial judges in this fight, but that the points tallied are given in a most objective fashion–or objectionable fashion. Words are hard sometimes.

And so without further ado, let the battle begin!

Round 1: Location, Location, Location…..Fight!

You may need to toggle the zoom buttons for clear view of both locations.

View Orcas Ohana vs Outlook Inn Map in a larger map

This matchup is by far the most difficult location battle we’ll ever encounter at Orcas Ohana. Outlook Inn is located in Eastsound itself and thus takes away one of Orcas Ohana’s best locational feature. HOWEVER, being placed within the town is sometimes not as a great as being placed right outside the town if the guest prefers a little more privacy and nature surrounding their accommodations. At Orcas Ohana, you can step out on the back deck and enjoy the elevated view of the bay with just your awesome traveling companions at your side–while at Outlook Inn you would have to step across the busy main street to get a ground level view of the bay with your awesome traveling companions and random strangers at your side. So, yeah, that’s gotta be some points for Orcas Ohana, right?

To sum it up: Outlook Inn = Convenient Location VS Orcas Ohana = Convenient Location PLUS Privacy.

Thus, our Round 1 Winner: Orcas Ohana! Woo hoo!

Round 2: Pricing….Oh, my poor, poor pockets?

Here are some examples of pricing for the Outlook Inn.

And here are some examples of pricing for Orcas Ohana.

So here, just like the Doe Bay Resort vs Orcas Ohana, the pricing comes down to “How big is your party?” For 1 or 2 people, the Outlook Inn has the cheaper accommodations (and they have some beautiful rooms). For 3 or more people, the Orcas Ohana has more availability and cheaper accomodations (we have some beautiful rooms as well!).

It all comes down to your preference on this one and we hope that this information will lead you to make the responsible choice (invite more friends and make your Orcas Ohana stay more budget-friendly!

Our Round 2 Winner: The Free spirit of Choice! Yay?

Final Round: General Awesomeness

The Outlook is cozy, convenient and luxurious.

Orcas Ohana is regal, more convenient and elegant.

Outlook Inn has many accommodation options to tailor to your specific desires.

Orcas Ohana invites social traveling with family and/or friends + dogs.

The Outlook has great owners with a great story.

Orcas Ohana has the same, but we know it better (so to us it’s an even greater story).

The Outlook is a great place plan your wedding.

Orcas Ohana is a great place for guests to stay right next to your wedding.

And the Winner is…..

It’s You Again! Double-Yaaaay! The Outlook is great and so is Orcas Ohana. The winning thing is that you get to decide between two great things. And of course we hope that Orcas Ohana is the right choice for you!

Here’s our home page if you’re looking for more reasons to stay with us .

Also, if you haven’t heard about our Photo Scavenger Hunt yet, here are the details!

So you’re ramping up for a vacation on Orcas Island and looking for the place that’s best suited to what you need and desire during your stay. Today we come to you with an obvious bias–we’re pretty big fans of our Orcas Ohana lodging! –but regardless, we still hope to give you some fairly objective reasons why you should stay with us this year.

And so without further ado, let the comparisons begin!

Round 1: Location, Location, Location…..Fight!

You may need to toggle the zoom buttons for clear view of both locations.

View Orcas Ohana vs Doe Bay Resort Location in a larger map

As the map shows, Orcas Ohana is the clear winner here if you’re looking for centrally-located convenience. The Doe Bay Resort has a beautiful coastline location, of that there can be no argument, but Orcas Ohana also has the Fishing Bay laid out before it and is right in the middle of the island, giving you convenient access to anywhere you would ever want to go. During your visit you’ll definitely want to stop in at the town of Eastsound and with Orcas Ohana, that’s just a hop and step away (while with Doe Bay Resort, it’s like a hop, skip, jump, drive, park and step away).

Round 1 Winner: Orcas Ohana! Yay!

Round 2: Pricing….How deep must we dig?

This category isn’t great for comparisons as The Doe Bay Resort has dozens of different style houses for dozens of different occasions. You can go from a $45 campsite to a $600 retreat house. Each home or shelter has different variations of amenities as well, which is factored heavily into the price.

Orcas Ohana keeps things a bit simpler, but that’s because we can afford to do so with just one building . Low season w/o pets is about $280 a night and with pets about $310. As with any vacation rental, prices vary by the season (winter is the cheapest and summer the most expensive).

Due to differences in lodging and guest preferences (the Doe Bay is perhaps cheaper but without the quality and Orcas Ohana a little spendier but with better digs), we have decided to call this round….a draw! Yay, how exciting for everyone!

Final Round: General Awesomeness

Doe Bay has got a great retreat and resort feel where vacationers can mix it up with other vacationers.

Orcas Ohana provides a more independent, private touch where guests will find it easier to meld in with the local populace.

Doe Bay is surrounded by some beautiful nature (forest and beach).

Orcas Ohana has an awesome overlooking view of the bay right from the master bedroom.

Doe Bay has spas and A LOT of yoga.

Orcas Ohana has a gigantic jacuzzi tub.

And the winner of the final round is…..You! Yaaaay! These are both awesome, magical places to stay. The winning thing is that you get to decide between two great things. And of course we hope that Orcas Ohana is the right choice for you!

Here’s our home page if you’re looking for more reasons to stay with us .

Also, if you haven’t heard about our Photo Scavenger Hunt yet, here are the details!

These are the new updated digs downstairs at Orcas Ohana

These are my footprints....

Last week, we introduced our Photo Scavenger Hunt which offers our guests the chance to save some money while supplementing their relaxing stay with a new brand of intrigue and fun. On the Orcas Ohana Photo Scavenger Hunt List, there are a few that beg a bit more explanation. Today, we start with Sasquatching: the ancient art of good-natured, self-exploratory wilderness rambling.

There are two variations of Sasquatching–Nimble and Blind–both of which are equally-fun and equally-worthy of the great spirit of Orcas Island.

Nimble Sasquatching

First off, you must find a quiet yet expansive plot of wooded nature without signs of human development or trails. There are many to choose from throughout Orcas Island, but our recommendation would be to look in the area of Camp Orkila or Moran State Park. Secondly, once you’ve found the general area in which you wish to tramp-tromp about, you must take off your shoes (in this case it helps to have a bag handy or to finish Sasquatching wherever you leave your shoes). Thirdly, you must, barefoot, step off of whatever beaten path you have started from and navigate/explore the wild woodlands slowly and silently (whispering is allowed). Moving your arms about like a lumbering Sasquatch in this stage is recommended (for getting a good feel to it all), but not mandatory. Spend as much time as you like exploring the wilderness in relative silence and then return to the world beyond.

Blind Sasquatching

While Nimble Sasquatching, in our opinion, is best done alone to appreciate the silent wildness of the activity, Blind Sasquatching must be done with a partner. This activity is half-trust exercise and half-get wildling. One person removes their shoes and a blindfold is placed over their eyes (or they may close them without the blind fold, it just depends on the discipline level of the sasquatcher in question). A starting location and end point are chosen beforehand, and it is now up to the guide to direct the blind sasquatch from start to end without touching. The level of difficulty depends on the terrain and length of the journey, and we would recommend for the first-timers out there that they start with a somewhat clear, straight path. Naturally, it is hoped that the guide will not direct the sasquatcher into any trees, ravines, drop-offs or snake pits (that would be betraying the all-important trust essential to the sasquatching system).

Create Your Own Form Of Sasquatching

Orcas Island possesses the very spirit of creative action and we would be remiss if we disallowed others to channel that spirit to suit their own tastes. That being said, please feel free to make your own version of Sasquatching and share it with us when you’re done so that we can add it to our growing list of nature-full activities! The Great Orcas Spirit Salutes You!

Interested in finding out more about our lovely Orcas Island vacation rental? Check out our home page here or our rates and reservations page here.

And PS, even if you aren’t interested in the prize offered by our Photo Scavenger Hunt, we strongly recommend you try it anyways! It really does add a new layer of fun-flavor to any vacation.

Earn 5 or 10% OFF your 2nd stay (and have a great time doing it!)

As mentioned in a previous entry, we have put together a special photo scavenger hunt for any and all of our awesome Orcas Island guests! The game is simple and easy-to-do, but as we can attest from our scavenger hunt weekend, it’s loads of fun. Casually looking and finding objects and places of interest, talking to the locals and exploring new areas truly added another layer of excitement to the vacation. We weren’t just enjoying the moment of being there and doing particular activities; we were elevating our senses to a whole new level: our eyes peeled for any target, whether vulture or butterfly, our noses whiffing for any scent, whether breakfast burrito or rose petal and our hands groping for any safe bit of nature, whether while sasquatching or nightcrowing.

Official Contest Rules

50+ points = 5% off your next booking; 100+ points = 10%; the 2nd stay must be booked within a year of receipt; non-redeemable, no cash value.

With every photo we ask that you or one of your party be present somewhere in the picture excluding the Critters and Creatures Category. Capturing a photo of the Creatures is hard enough without a person trying to stand and pose with them .

So without further ado, we present to you….

The Orcas Ohana Scavenger Hunt List:

The more difficult it is to find/do/see/photograph, the more points you can earn! And we strongly suggest printing off this list to carry with you as you vacation around the island. It can guide you to many wondrous adventures!

Critters and Creatures Category: [General Difficulty Level: 5 of 5]

• A Bald Eagle (10 pts)
• Any Kind of Whale except Orcas Whale (10 pts)
• Orcas Whale (15 pts)
• Any Kind of Seal (5 pts)
• Any Bearded Local (2 pts per local)
• A Red Fox (10 pts)
• Horse (5pts)
• Goat (3pts)
• Blacktail deer (10 pts)–these are everywhere! Be careful when driving
• Any Bird on this List (excluding the aforementioned Bald Eagle) (1 pt)
• Island Marble Butterfly (extremely rare apparently) 10 pts
• Pacific Chorus Frog (5 pts)
• Townsends Vole (10 pts)
• North American River Otter (15 pts)
• Rabbit (8 pts)
• These purple starfish (7 pts)
• Garter Snake (3 pts) (liability disclaimer: ensure it’s a garter snake before approaching)
• Northern Alligator Lizard (15 pts) (they are sneaky and they bite!)

Pretty Plant Category: [General difficulty level: 3 of 5]

• Wildflowers (3 pts per flower type): Take this guide with you to capture them all for a Bonus 10 pts!
• Big Leaf Maple (2 pts)
• Pacific Madrone (3 pts)
• Red Alder (tree) (2 pts)
• Garry Oak (tree) (2 pts)
• Stinging Nettle (3 pts)
• Orange Honeysuckle (3 pts)
• Nootka Rose (3 pts)
• Oregon Grape (Tall/Low) (3 pts)
• White Moss Bed (5 pts)
• Skunk Weed (2 pts)

Poignant Places Category: [General Difficulty Level: 2 of 5]

3 Points except when marked otherwise

• Saturday Farmers Market
• Outlook Inn
• Cascade Falls
• Mt Constitution’s Lookout Tower
• Turtleback Mountain
• Turtleback Farm Inn
• Buck Bay Shellfish Farm
• Doe Bay Resort General Store
• Inn at Ship Bay
• Any Surrounding Island of Orcas (Matia, Turn, Sucia, etc) (7 pts each)
• Obstruction Pass State Park
• Orcas Island Vineyards
• Sea View Theater
• Any Orcas Island Church (2 pts each)
• Orcas Center
• Orcas Island Historical Museum
• Orkila Garden
• Camp Orkila
• Island Hoppin’ Brewery
• The Eastsound Labyrinth
• Any Organic Farm
• Eastsound Outdoor Ampitheatre (2 pts if empty, 5 pts if someone is dancing on stage–either you or a performer)
• Deer Harbor Park
• Eastsound Waterfront Park
• Westsound
• Beach Crescent
• Buckhorn
• Cormorant Bay
• North Beach
• The Secret Garden
• Agave Tequila Bar
• Secret Peace Grotto next to Ohana
• Warren Miller Skate Park
• Odd Fellows Hall
• The Moss Bed Secret Grotto
• The Mysterious, Abandoned Well

Active Activities Category: [General Difficulty Level: 4 of 5]

All the following activities are 5 points!

• Riding Mopeds
• Whale Watching Tours
• Kayaking
• Standup Paddling
• Music Festivals
• The Ferry Ride
• Massage + Spa Relaxing
• Boating
• Scuba Diving
• Cycling
• Geocaching
• Yoga Class
• Dancing in the Forest or the Ohana Back Deck
• Sasquatching (perhaps this activity needs further explanation)
• Nightcrowing (this one also)
• Ziplining
• Gaga Ball
• Playing H-O-R-S-E

the Orcas Island Artifacts category: [general difficulty level: 4 of 5]

• Sacajawea (3 pts)
• Song of Separation (2 pts)
• Dali Lama (5 pts)
• Secret Magic Glass (10 pts)
• Orca Whale Carving (2 pts)
• Any Orcas Island Sign (2 pts)
• Any Different Orcas Island Speed Sign (1 pt each)
• Any Totem Pole Carving (2 pts)
• The Lounging Lizard (5 pts)
• The Old Stove (3 pts)
• The Parsley in the Tree (3 pts)
• Any Red Hydrant (1 pt each)
• Big Peace Sign (3 pts)

Here is a handy PDF of the Scavenger List for your printing-out pleasure: Orcas Ohana Photo Scavenger Hunt List

If you find anything else during your hunt that you think you should be added to any of these categories, let us know and we’ll be sure to include it with the possibility of giving you bonus discovery points! If you have any questions about this contest, its rules or reasons, feel free to contact us for more details.

Looking to stay at our awesome vacation rental this year? Check out our rates and reservations page here or browse the home page herefor more reasons on why Orcas Ohana is your play to stay for that San Juan Islands trip!

Orcas Island has some speed sticklers all about--be sure to take note of these!

There are many public hoops scattered about Orcas--we found this one nearby!

Sample platters and peanuts! Num num numb....my face is numb.

And finally it has come: our very own local brewery! And it’s got that comfy, natural Orcas Island feel!

We were 3 thirsty men when we arrived, our dogs (feet) and dog (Jazzy) all tired out from a day of tramping through the woods of nearby Camp Orkila. But we left as 3 spirited souls, ramped up for more adventure and ready to hit the town of Eastsound. One might even say that we got all hopped up on beer at this place…no doubt about it (lol? Do you like alcohol-related puns?).

Anyhoo, after ordering a couple trays of samplers, our official recommendations are the Old Madrona or the White Cap brews. Something you may want to try yourself though, if you’re not a complete beer purist that is, would be mixing beers to find your own particular taste. By Tray 2, Jason (our fearless Orcas Ohana owner) was a bona fide expert at this mixological system and he still stands behind his crafty ways even today. In the end, however, you may just want to ask the friendly, helpful staff about what brew is best for your tastes.

Let’s see…anything else about the Island Hoppin’ brewery that has slipped my mind? Ah yes!

They give guided tours of the brewery (although we didn’t take one because there are windows that let you see the inner workings from the comfort of your own beer bar) and there are bottomless peanuts (although by the end of 6 beer trays worth of side-nibbling we had found the bottom). Also, there is a neat little outdoor patio area for your outdoor drinking needs and  plenty of books on beer lying around for those of you looking for some home-brewing tips to take with you (the knowledge, not the books themselves of course).

For more information on this awesome addition to Orcas Island and Eastsound, please check out the Island Hoppin’ Brewery website here!

They've found their next thingy!

So this weekend we’ll be taking our annual manager’s jaunt to the Orcas Ohana Vacation Rental in preparation for the busy summer stay season. And this year we’ve decided to put together a special bargain/challenge for all of our temporary tenants: a Photo Scavenger Hunt!

As you may know, Orcas island and the surrounding areas provide a lot of unique places, plants and creatures, and so the challenge will be to capture yourself enjoying these local goodies. We haven’t decided on what is a reasonable amount of photo-treasures just yet,, but that’s why this weekend we’re going to get out and enjoy ourselves to the max (!) and see what we can find.

*Disclaimer: Official Contest Rules have not yet been decided, but we are thinking that 100 Points will be the ultimate goal for a rebate on your Orcas Ohana stay. Rebate to be decided.

A List of our Potential Treasure Challenges

We’ll start with the most obvious choices in the Critters Category:

• A Bald Eagle (10 pts)
• Any Kind of Whale (10 pts + 2x for Orcas Whale)
• Any Kind of Seal (5 pts)
• Any Bearded Local (2 pts per local)
• A Red Fox (10 pts)
• Blacktail deer (10 pts)
• Any Bird on this List (excluding the aforementioned Bald Eagle) (1 pt)
• Island Marble Butterfly (extremely rare apparently) 10 pts
• Pacific Chorus Frog (5 pts)
• Townsends Vole (10 pts)
• North American River Otter (15 pts)
• Rabbit (8 pts)
• These purple starfish (7 pts)
• Garter Snake (3 pts) (disclaimer: make sure you know it’s a garter snake before approaching)
• Northern Alligator Lizard (15 pts) (they are sneaky and they bite!)

And now the Plant Category:

• Wildflowers (3 pts per flower type): Take this guide with you to capture them all for a Bonus 10 pts!
• Big Leaf Maple (tree) 2 pts
• Pacific Madrone (tree) 3 pts
• Red Alder (tree) 2 pts
• Garry Oak (tree) 2 pts
• Stinging Nettle 3 pts
• Orange Honeysuckle 3pts
• Nootka Rose 3 pts
• Oregon Grape (Tall/Low) 3pts

And finally the Place Category (4 pts each):

• Saturday Farmers Market
• Outlook Inn
• Cascade Falls
• Mt Constitution’s Lookout Tower
• Turtleback Mountain
• Turtleback Farm Inn
• Buck Bay Shellfish Farm
• Doe Bay Resort General Store
• Inn at Ship Bay
• Any Surrounding Island of Orcas (Matia, Turn, Sucia, etc)
• Obstruction Pass State Park
• Orcas Island Vineyards
• Sea View Theater
• Any Orcas Island Church
• Orcas Center
• Orcas Island Historical Museum
• More Places to Come…..

But wait! We forgot the all-important: ACTIVITIES CATEGORY (all 5 pts)!

• Riding Mopeds
• Whale Watching Tours
• Kayaking
• Standup Paddling
• Music Festivals
• The Ferry Ride
• Massage + Spa Relaxing
• Boating
• Scuba Diving
• Cycling
• Geocaching
• Yoga Class
• Dancing in the Forest
• More to come….

So this is our temporary list–this weekend we’ll be adding/subtracting what we can. Most of the wildlife and plants come from a San Juan Islands source and are perhaps limited only to the mainland. But we’ll see, won’t we! Happy Preliminary Hunting to us!

Even the view is fido-friendly!

Whilst googling about the grand ol’ internet, we here at Orcas Ohana Vacation Rental came across this well-written, well-photographed little article from Huffington Post’s Monica Bennett.  In this article she goes over some of the well-known marvels of Orcas Island that we’re sure will confirm your growing suspicions: Orcas Island is your vacation destination this year.

Here’s the gist of her article in list form: ferry, camping, farmer’s market, boutique shopping, foodie reveling, Outlook Inn, hiking in Moran State Park (“the Rock” and Cascade Falls), Turtleback Mountain, sightseeing at the Turtleback Farm Inn, Buck Bay Shellfish Farm (Olga), The Doe Bay Resort (general store), a kayak tour from Deer Harbor Marina, and finally, dinner at the famous Inn at Ship Bay.

I must say, that’s quite the day of Orcas Island adventuring! Again, you can check out her full article by clicking on the link here–it has lots of great pictures and links detailing her activities. Surely no more convincing is necessary for you to decide that Orcas Island is the place to stay this Spring and/or Summer !

For more details on our beautiful vacation rental (easy access to Eastsound and overlooking Fishing Bay), check out our home page here or look to our rates and reservations page here. We hope you have a glorious vacation wherever you go!

For anyone out there tired of having to leave their beloved poochies behind when vacation comes calling, we’ve put together this little cornucopia of Fido Friendly Reviews for our safe haven: the Orcas Ohana Vacation Rental of Destiny!

Cuddling up with Jazzy!

Sunset.com’s Dog-Friendly Top 10 List

5. Orcas Island, WA

After hiking Turtleback Mountain Preserve, swimming the cool waters of North Beach (end of North Beach Rd.), and romping in Eastsound’s off-leash dog park (Mt. Baker Rd. at North Beach Rd.; orcasdogpark.org), your pup will hope every car ride leads to the island ferry (from $39; dogs ride free; wsdot.wa.gov). West Beach Resort (from $99, plus $18 per night pet fee; 877/937-8224) offers cabins on a ½-mile dog- and family-friendly beach. –B.F.

(Source: http://www.sunset.com/travel/outdoor-adventure/dog-friendly-vacations-00400000050311)

FIDO Friendly Magazine Editor, Nicholas Sveslosky, visited us at The Orcas Ohana last fall and he’s got a lot to say about just how relaxing and “fido friendly” The Ohana is! Thank you, Susan and Nicholas for your support.

Dog-Friendly Tranquility Awaits

This Orcas Island vacation home will take your breath away.

By Nicholas Sveslosky, Editor
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
(Continued from Mar/Apr 2010 Issue of FIDO Friendly)

A late night, one-hour ferry ride from Anacortes, WA, to Orcas Island sets the mood

for a romantic getaway.…

The Orcas Ohana welcomes human and canine guests with a peaceful and restful ambiance surpassed only by the quiet and beautiful views. Built in 2007, the craftsman-style home features three bedrooms, two baths and is both family and Fido-friendly. The Orcas Ohana sleeps up to eight people with the master bedroom overlooking the water; granite and marble countertops, cherry hardwood floors and heated travertine floors are in each bathroom.

A huge balcony is stretched above the peaceful bay, and guests can fire up the barbie or simply relax and watch the deer go by. The backyard fire-pit offers the perfect setting for campfire stories and late night s’mores. Located on a hill above Eastsound and the bay, Orcas Ohana is just a three-minute walk to the ocean and a five-minute walk to the town of Eastsound, home to art galleries, shops, restaurants and a Farmers’ market. Comfortable, cozy and serene are just a few of the words to describe this beautiful island Getaway.

Owner Jason Miller along with his two Labs, Jazzy and Daisy, have thought of everything. Take a leisurely walk through the forest to the beach or pull up a bench next to a tree and breathe in the fresh air. Morning coffee goes better al fresco with your pooch by your side, and for the more industrious, there are mountain bike trails just waiting for an approach.

Whatever you have in mind during your vacation to Orcas Island, The Orcas Ohana will be your home-away-from-home for the duration of your stay. Ohana means “family” in Hawaiian, and we all know that pets are part of the family. So go stay and play at the beautiful Orcas Ohana and bring Fido; your trip would just not be the same without him.

Orcas Ohana: Fido Nirvana

Budget friendly. Family friendly. Fido friendly.

We’ve uncovered “don’t worry, be happy” at its finest. With first hand (er, paw) experience as visitors to this vacation home getaway, the Orcas Ohana is a must-see, must-do for the couples, canines, and coastal enthusiasts.

Centrally located in the heart of Orcas Island, the Orcas Ohana (Hawaiian for “family”), offers an easy charm, ocean view, luxury meshed with contemporary, and access to a host of activities for the two-legged and four-legged variety.

Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Written by: Carol Bryant of Fido Friendly Blog

ORCAS ISLAND DOG PARK

The island’s fenced-in dog park is well-stocked with water, chuck-its, toys and poop shovels; www.orcasdogpark.org.

OUR ORCAS OHANA PET POLICY

The Orcas Ohana understands your pet is a part of your family and for that reason we welcome well-behaved dogs on property. All dogs must be ok’d by the property owner, Jason Miller, prior to your stay. Failure to provide this information prior to your stay will void your tenancy and security deposit. The Orcas Ohana provides a large pet crate, leash, yard tie-outs, dog brush, dog bed, and food/water bowls for your comfort. All other pet essentials are to be provided by the guest. Pets staying at The Orcas Ohana must not be left unattended or off-leash while on property. Barking and otherwise disruptive behavior is not acceptable. Guests are solely responsible for any injuries or disagreements due to pet behavior during your stay. Guests are responsible for all damages created as a result of your stay and will be deducted from your security deposit.

Orcas Island is called Orcas Island for a particular reason–one that at times escapes my memory, but just now I happen to remember it: there are actual Orcas swimming nearby!

They are frolicking! What great big fishy-mammals they are!

In past blog entries here we have highlighted some of the excellent opportunities to watch some whales here amongst the San Juan Islands. Spring is a great season for getting out on a big boat and getting splashed by some giant fishy-mammals (disclaimer: We know they’re not fishies, but like to call them fishy-mammals for some silly fun–honestly the personal enjoyment gained by such incorrect naming is immeasurable!).

Anyhow, if you’re interested in learning more about the local orca whale population from one of the island experts, check out this blog from the Island Sounder. The best thing you can do though, that is, if you’re a true fan of whales and fishy-mammals, is to come and stay at our lovely Orcas Island Rental and get out to see the whales live. Tours are about 3-4 hours long and they feature many other of the local fauna and wildlife (harbor seals and bald eagles!) if the whales are being particularly shy during your voyage.

For more information on our rates and reservation schedule, please go to this page here! Spring and Summer are our busiest seasons so the earlier you set up your unforgettable Pacific Northwest Adventure the better!

We found this little bit of article on Sunset Magazine talking briefly about Orcas Island as a “Gourmet Getaway”. Check it out:

Local legend Emily Reid and her roadside stand. Photo courtesy of Thomas J. Story

Rent your own little cabin by the water and savor the farm-fresh bounty with home-cooked meals ― recipes included. As foodie tourism goes, Orcas, the jewel of Washington’s San Juan islands, is one of the West’s most enchanting options. Settlers have farmed the island since the 1870s, but only recently have they begun to organize themselves for visitors ― setting up on-site produce stands, perma-culture classes, even an informal petting zoo.

Irene Edwards, Sunset Magazine Travel

If this prominent piece of promotion doesn’t sell the idea of fine eating on Orcas Island, then perhaps a few of our previous blog entries are in order! Check this one out about all the great gourmeting you could be doing around Orcas Island and this one about the freshness of the Farmer’s Market.

And for a more comprehensive look at all your Orcas Island dining options, please refer to the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce’s official register on this site here.

Also, if you don’t like eating out, but you like staying in beautiful, comfortable vacation homes with breathably-open kitchen spaces then check out our Orcas Ohana Vacation Rental page to start planning your Pacific Northwest vacation today!