Orcas Island has beauty, a constant supply of fresh clean air and the fact that you have to take a one and a half hour boat ride to get here. It kinda keeps the world on the mainland at bay, I hope this untouched paradise stays that way, no cars when I drive to work, no mad rushes for, , ANYTHING.
Different from all the same face different place destinations that you will find else where in the world, just a hop from another country, culture, and scene.
Orcas Island offers a totally different pace of life; a pace that is slow like a deer walking across the road or seagulls spinning lazy circles in the sky as you walk down Obstruction Pass beach. A truly unique blend of people, rock and sea, hidden in the corner of Washington State.
Home to Moran State Park and Mt. Constitution, over 2000 feet high overlooking the other San Juan Islands. The Park offers over 30 miles of foot trails, fishing, biking, and camping.
If you ask folks how Orcas Island got its name you will get a varied response, depending on who you ask. Some will say it came from the Vicoroy of Mexico, Don Juan Vicente de Guemez, Pacheso de Padilla, Orcazitas y Aguayo, Conde de Revilla Gigedo. He claimed these islands for Spain in 1790. Other folks will say its name came from the Spanish word for toothed whale- "Orca". Still others will say it was named after the nickname of one of Lt. Eliza's 1791 survey ships, the "Boca de Orcasitas". There are even more stories people will tell you if you don't just walk away first, losing total interest. I just tend to accept its name and move on with my life.
THE FERRY
To visit our island, you take a Washington State Ferry from Anacortes. Of all the wonderful things that the government does for us, pre-planning is not one of them, so you will have to plan, plan for ferry line activities that will inevitably happen in a very big parking lot, with a lot of other cars and a lot of other lines.
I suggest a Frisbee because it does less damage to cars than say a football or baseball, believe me I speak from experience. A pack of cards can be helpful as well, however a clingy, drooling dog can hinder you card playing in an already over-packed car.
For ferry times I suggest you follow this handy happy ferry hyperlink. The ferry ride over here is a beautiful experience which makes up for any ferry wait, the food is decently greased and reasonably priced. For the price of the beautiful scenery on a big boat, it's a bargain, you can expect to pay around 30 bucks for a car and 2 people.
A really handy link to look up right before you leave for the Anacortes ferry is right HERE. It takes you to a Washington Stare Ferry page that includes updated ferry information about ferry lines. How updated? Well that is the $10,000 dollar question.
It kinda keeps the world on the mainland at bay, I hope this untouched paradise stays that way, no cars when I drive to work, no mad rushes for, , ANYTHING.
line activities that will inevitably happen in a very big parking lot, with a lot of other cars and a lot of other lines.