Get Ferried Away to Orcas Island, Washington

Looking for that million-miles-away-from-it-all feeling that only comes from escaping to an island? Usually that means jetting off on an expensive trip to a remote location. Not so when visiting Orcas Island off the mainland of Washington state-no passport required! Although the breezes here tend to be more brisk than balmy and there's not a palm tree in sight (the peeling, red bark of the madrona tree is more common), quaint Orcas Island is ideal for really getting away from it all. You can fly there via seaplane, but most visitors prefer to travel aboard a Washington State ferry with their car, RV, or bicycle. Over 700 rural islands make up the San Juan Archipelago, but only four are served by the ferry system, and Orcas is the largest of those four.

Explore the Hamlets
Covering over 36,000 acres, Orcas Island is dotted with charming hamlets. The names of these tiny towns are as charming as the actually places- Deer Harbor, Crow Valley, Olga, and Doe Bay, to name a few. Driving or bicycling the island is the best way to explore. Take your time and stop often. Many artists and artisans make their home on Orcas Island, so it's easy to find art galleries with one-of-a-kind pottery, paintings, metal sculptures, and more. Eastsound is the biggest small town on the island and offers everything you'd expect to find in a city, but on a much smaller scale-unique boutiques, accommodations, restaurants, a church, grocery store, museum, and even a small movie theater.

Moran State Park
Even if you aren't camping during your visit to Orcas Island, spend some time exploring Moran State Park's 5,252-acre wilderness that includes five freshwater lakes and miles of hiking trails. The highest point in the San Juan Island Archipelago is here-2,409-foot Mt. Constitution. Drive to within 100 steps of the top and then walk up to a stone observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. At the top, you're treated to incredible views of neighboring islands.

Rosario Resort and Spa
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Rosario Resort and Spa is a delightful place to stay, or just stop in and poke around in the island's history. If your visit coincides with mealtime, dining outdoors with a pristine view of Cascade Bay makes the menu here even more delectable.

Originally built as a dream house in 1906 by shipping magnate Robert Moran (the same man who donated the land that became Moran State Park), the mansion is filled with antiques such as a working 1,972-pipe Aeolian organ and a Tiffany chandelier. Even the 6,000 square feet of teak parquet flooring is a work of art! Although the novel bowling alley in the basement is now gone, the 13x40-foot indoor pool is original. Mr. Moran surrounded himself with such luxuries after being told he had just another year to live. Interestingly, Mr. Moran outlived his doctor's prognosis by 40 years and enjoyed a long, happy life on beautiful Orcas Island. Many of his personal photographs and original furnishings are displayed in the informal, free museum on the resort's third floor.

Whale Watching
Although Orcas Island is named for a Spanish viceroy and not for the resident orca whales as you might expect, the island's main wildlife attraction is definitely killer whales! From May through September, about 80 orcas, known locally as the J, K and L pods, live in the waters around the San Juan Islands. Each orca has a name and can be identified by the size and shape of its dorsal fin and its unique black and white saddle patches.

A number of whale watching excursions are available, and since most of these companies are members of the same whale sighting network that provides up to the minute reports on the whales' location and direction of travel, all companies have about the same sighting success rate. Choose a captain who is a naturalist or has one on board, and you'll not only get an education about whales, but also learn about harbor seals, eagles, otters, sea lions and the entire marine ecosystem. Watching orcas-one of the most intelligent animals on the planet-is an exciting experience and sure to make lasting memories. Bon voyage!

The accuracy of this article is ensured by multiple visits made by the writer and information posted at www.orcasisle.com and www.rosarioresort.com, as well as other websites about Orcas Island.