WALKS IN THE WOODS, PADDLING OUT, AND MAGICAL SUNSETS
Hand-in-hand, gazing out at a sunset painting layers of islands emerging from the Salish Sea in hues of rose and gold. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of pine and salt. Incredible as it may sound, this isn’t a dream; it’s a just another evening on Orcas Island, a haven for romance tucked away in Washington’s scenic San Juan archipelago.
If you’re seeking a getaway that transcends the ordinary, a place where connection deepens amidst breathtaking natural beauty, Orcas Island is calling. Here’s your guide to crafting a truly unforgettable romantic escape.
Setting the Scene
Your choices for romantic accommodation on the island are almost endless. Looking for a quaint cottage on the water? Prefer boutique amenities with a water view in the village? Care to be surrounded by the hush of the forest? You’ll find every option to make your special getaway memorable.
The Village Inn at Eastsound is the newest hotel on the island and features well-appointed boutique rooms with purposeful attention to sustainable, environmentally conscious construction. From carpets made using recycled water bottles, to hardwoods sourced from fair-trade suppliers who employ sustainable growing practices, to metal doors and jams fabricated from recycled metal from salvaged automobiles, to outdoor lighting that is specially designed to protect wildlife and bird migration patterns, the entire property reflects a commitment to the stewardship of our beautiful island home without sacrificing the comforts and luxuries you require for your weekend away.
If you’re looking for something peaceful, surrounded by nature, Otter’s Pond Bed and Breakfast is an adults-only retreat featuring five luxury suites, each with private bath and unique view of Otters Pond or garden. Available to book year round, the property is lush with greenery, appointed by pathways and seating areas. You can lounge on the decks for fantastic views of birds and other wildlife that visit the property and soak in the hot tub overlooking the pond to relax.
Prefer a waterfront property with a private beach and organic “you-pick” garden? Pebble Cove Farm and Animal Sanctuary is a perfect spot for you. Each of the four-acre farm’s accommodations features a 180° water views and come equipped with kitchenettes and essentials for simple meals and the farm provides homemade muesli, organic coffee, and vegan snacks. But, of course, you’re staying at Pebble Cove for the serenity, comfort, and ethos. And since Pebble Cove is also available for wedding ceremonies and vow renewals, you can go ahead and plan your return in celebration of the love you found during your visit.
Speaking of your visit . . .
DAY 1
Wherever you start your day, time together is on the agenda and what better way to spend it than by exploring the Salish Sea from a kayak with the one you love? Shearwater Adventures has been in operation on Orcas Island for over 40 years and was the first outfitter to base operations on the island. Owners Jeff Zbronik and Corey Homewood emphasize safety on the water and respect for wildlife and the environment, while using the best kayaks and equipment available with tours led by a dedicated staff of qualified guides. Headquartered in the heart of Eastsound, you’ll find a fully kitted retail shop with paddling gear, souvenirs, and much more.
If getting a feel for your surroundings from above is more your flavor, consider a tour of the islands in a beautifully restored 1927 TravelAir Biplane with Cap’n Mac’s Magic Air Biplane Rides! The plane carries two passengers side-by-side in an open front cockpit, offering incredible views. Flights last 35-40 minutes and touch on five of the San Juan Islands, culminating with a climb to 3000 feet over the top of Orcas Island’s Mt. Constitution for an awesome 360-degree panorama of the whole archipelago. We provide leather helmets and goggles and a warm jacket that is also a flotation device.
Incredible views from terra firma sound better? If you’re not afraid of big work for big rewards, a quiet hike through the forest to expansive views of the San Juan Islands can be found at the Turtleback Mountain Preserve. From the North Trail off Crow Valley Road, you’ll find multiple lookouts to the north, taking in views of the Canadian Cascades, Waldron Island, and, if you continue to the end of the Turtlehead Trail, the Olympic Mountains, much of the San Juan Archipelago, Vancouver Island, and the Canadian Gulf Islands will lay before your astonished gaze. Just as beautiful are the views from the South Trail off Deer Harbor Road. From this side of the preserve, there are multiple routes, whether you choose to ascend through beautiful forests to tucked away lookouts via the Lost Oak Trail or you pick the Morning Ridge Trail for a quicker payoff, these challenging hikes offer unparalleled vistas you and your special someone won’t soon forget.
After such an adventure-filled day, maybe you’d like to be pampered a bit? Nothing says romance quite like a once in a lifetime dining experience and here again Orcas has you covered. Farm-to-table isn’t a recent trend on Orcas, it’s a long-established way of living, and island restaurants pride themselves in finding inspiration and sourcing ingredients from island farms and food growers, as well as from right out of the surrounding waters.
The island boasts two James Beard recognized restaurants and chefs for that special date night. At Matia Kitchen and Lounge, you’ll find a commitment to the highest quality food and service and to a sustainable and regenerative approach to staff, food systems, and community. James Beard nominee Chef Avery Adams has created a a 10-course tasting menu that serves as a love letter to the farms and fisheries of the San Juan Islands, with inventive flavors and inspired combinations. For an ala carte menu, or a pre-dinner cocktail, step into the lounge where you could easily mistake your surroundings for a bar in NYC, Paris, or London judging by the décor, but the cozy vibes are decidedly PNW. Whereas wine is the order of the day for the tasting menu, the lounge features a cocktail program of the highest order. Don’t drink? You’re in luck. The Matia Lounge has enticing and inventive NA cocktail options as well.
Houlme chef Jay Blackinton has been recognized seven times by the James Beard Foundation and the restaurant formerly known as Hogstone is a canvas for his culinary wizardry. You’ll find creative small plates evoking only the finest dining experiences, alongside wood-fired pizza and a very deep wine cellar in a minimalist. modern space. Decidedly of the islands and understated, you won’t soon forget it.
DAY 2
Your second day of romance on Orcas could have a decidedly “Live Like a Local” vibe. Begin with the gentle hum of Eastsound waking up. At Dragonfly Coffee House, one of the newest additions to the village which has quickly become a gathering place, you’ll find experienced baristas making only the best espresso drinks and offering simple baked goods to start your day. If grain bowls and smoothies are how you like to fuel up, Karma Kafe a short walk away has that and much more on offer. Looking for something more filling? Olga Rising has a complete coffee menu and some of the best breakfast sandwiches you’ll find anywhere. And as filling as they are (did someone say homemade biscuits?) you’ll find it hard to leave without one of their amazing artisanal pastries. Maybe save it for later.
Orcas is known as a haven for artists, and today’s agenda is to explore as much as possible. The vibrant art scene is on proud display in Eastsound, making it easy to get a feel for the island’s creative soul while you stroll through its quaint streets. With galleries and showrooms amid the wonderful local shops, the art will spark conversation and ignite your imagination. You’ll see work from a renowned painter and master craftsman at Peter Möhlman Fine Arts, mind-blowing handmade porcelain tableware at Forest Ceramic Co., and everything from pottery and paintings to sculpture and jewelry by celebrated local artists at Crow Valley Gallery. Interested in something more eclectic, visit Felt + Ceramics Studio Shop for incredible works of ceramics, assemblage and photography. Let the charm of Eastsound guide you in discovering hidden gems and hand-crafted pieces.
If you get lulled into island time and find yourself ready for lunch before venturing further afield, options abound. Whether you crave the warm Asian-fusion flavors found at The West Side Kitchen or seasonal comfort cooking with a modern sensibility from Lone Pine Larder you’re sure to find something tasty.
Of course, the Orcas art scene extends well beyond the galleries of Eastsound and there are plenty of lunch options to explore as you visit the island’s back roads.
A drive to Olga is like a scenic poem, with the winding road revealing breathtaking vistas of the island’s natural beauty. You’ll stop at Orcas Island Artworks, the building itself a masterpiece, housing a collective of local artists where it’s easy to lose track of time, captivated by the diverse creations and the stories they tell. And if you’re now ready for lunch, Lascaux Café shares the same space and offers an abbreviated, but flavorful menu of egg dishes, soups and salads, sandwiches such as a Crab Po-Boy, and thin crust pizzas. And look, you’re on vacation. Treat yourself to a mimosa or glass of wine! Or maybe visit the historic Olga Store and Co-op for some soft serve before walking down the dock to take in the water views.
Your next stop is Orcas Island Pottery the oldest studio pottery in the Pacific Northwest, located on West Beach in an area of old growth cedars and Douglas fir, on a 100 foot high bluff overlooking President’s Channel. There you’ll admire the artistry of functional ceramics and dream about seeing the beautiful pieces on display back home. Maybe you have plans to surprise your love by preparing a romantic dinner. Why not combine your art tour with a culinary journey? Right next door you’ll find West Beach Farm, where the farmstand is stocked with fresh, seasonal produce, the colors as vibrant as the surrounding landscape. Local art and more provisions for dinner, including meat and cheese, can also be found at the in beautiful Crow Valley.
With provisions in hand and a head full of inspiration from your day, set off back to Eastsound Square and Doe Bay Wine Company, where you’ll find a carefully curated selection of wine, sure to complement dinner. A final stop at Orcas Bakery for a loaf of warm, crusty bread will complete your island feast. And don’t forget the candles! Make a quick stop at Material Wit which features monthly artist exhibits for that final bit of inspiration.
Don’t have accommodations with a kitchen? No problem! With all the options for a romantic night out, you might leave the island thinking we specialize in intimate dinners. The Inn at Ship Bay has been an island fixture for decades, centered around the 1869 Adam’s farmhouse in the center of heirloom plum, pear and apple orchards. The historic farmhouse is now the main dining room for the restaurant which showcases fresh, local, and organic ingredients from the garden on site.
Of course, waterfront dining is a feature of the island, and it’s hard to beat the views from the Kingfish Inn in West Sound. The historic inn and restaurant overlook West Sound marina and the public dock with southern exposure to beautiful calm waters and the Olympic mountain range peaking above the clouds on a clear day. The scenery is wonderful, but it’s the amazing food that will make you swoon. Dishes featuring locally sourced ingredients and PNW-inspired flavors with a unique twist are exceptional and the wonderful desserts by the hand of their pastry chef will turn your experience up to 11.
Lucky for you, the days are long in spring and summer, so you still have time to catch the sunset. But as darkness envelopes the island, be sure to venture outside, and take in the celestial display above. The night sky, a canvas of countless stars, is always a fitting end to a day filled with art, delicious food, and the quiet magic of Orcas Island.
DAY 3
Hard to believe it, but for a small, secluded island you could stay for days and days on Orcas and not run out of discoveries. But today is your last day and a perfect opportunity to soak in the island and live like a local.
Grab a delicious breakfast from Brown Bear Baking, an island institution that anchors Eastsound village. Coffee, flaky French pastry, and a bustling, friendly atmosphere, you can’t go wrong. Or maybe you want a sit-down affair at New Leaf Café where you can indulge in a delicious breakfast or brunch while staring out over Fishing Bay one last time.
Next on your agenda is Darvill’s Bookstore, another island institution that began as a rare print shop moved to the island in 1942 and now as one of the very best independent bookstores in the country for nearly 50 years. Find the perfect read for your ferry ride, a gift or two, and grab a card for later – shhhhhh, it’s a secret! And now you’re ready for a morning walk along Crescent Beach.
A short drive from the middle of town, Crescent Beach is surprisingly one of the few, large public beaches on the island. Every morning and afternoon you’ll see islanders walking their dogs, building structures from the driftwood, gazing out at the view across Ship Bay and down the sound. Not long ago, this was the only place on the island with reliable cell phone service and perhaps out of habit locals will still find themselves at the beach for that important call. Talk about an office with a view!
Having eased into the day, you’re going to keep the relaxing vibes going and take one last drive down Olga Road to Moran State Park. Your destination is the top of Mt. Constitution, the tallest point in the San Juan Islands and the second highest mountain on an ocean island in the lower 48 states by a mere 29 feet. From the summit on a clear day you’ll see Mt. Baker and the North Cascades, Boundary Bay, and even “The Mountain,” Mt. Rainier. But clear or not, the drive is well worth it. Waterfalls, dense thickets of Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, and Sitka Spruce, plus moss-covered hillside and boulders – this is quintessential Orcas. On your way down, stop for a quiet walk around Mountain Lake through the old growth forest. As you sit on the stone wall overlooking the serene lake, take time to reflect on your trip. Remember that card? Maybe in the stillness of the moment you can sneak some time to express your love to share on the boat ride home!
As the afternoon unfolds, what better way to settle into the rhythm of life on the island than with a visit to Island Hoppin’ Brewery. Tucked away in something of a warehouse district, the brewery is a true meeting place for locals, especially after work. Depending on the day of your visit, you may stumble upon a food truck pop-up, trivia night, or a local band playing, but you’ll always find good beer, great snacks, and smiles.
And now it’s time for your last night on Orcas. Since living like a local has been our theme, you may want to follow the crowd from Island Hoppin’ to the Lower Tavern. The unofficial “city hall” of Orcas, you’ll be greeted with burgers and more (including more good beer) and a window into island life such as Caravaggio might have been inspired to capture. Looking for one last dinner with a water view? The Madrona Bar & Grill offers sweeping views of Fishing Bay from nearly every table in a cozy, rustic environment with a full bar and Pacific Northwest-inspired menu featuring fresh produce, fresh seafood, gourmet sandwiches, Angus burgers & steaks, and pasta dishes.
Orcas Island possesses a unique magic, a sense of tranquility and connection that makes it the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. It’s a place where time slows down, allowing you to truly appreciate each other and the beauty that surrounds you.
And y had high hopes for your time on Orcas. Knowing it would be a trip to treasure, a reminder that romance is found in the simple moments, the shared experiences, and the beauty of a place that truly captures the heart. Well done!
Tips for Planning Your Romantic Escape:
- Book accommodations and activities in advance, especially during peak season.
- Pack layers of clothing, as the weather can change quickly.
- Embrace the island’s relaxed pace and allow yourselves to disconnect from the outside world.
- Most importantly, take the time to enjoy each other’s company.
