Orcas Island in the News
Orcas Island and the San Juan Islands have received some great honors and media coverage through the years.
2022
- Kinfolk Travel: “Slower Ways to See the World“
2021
- The Travel: Planning the Perfect Vacation in the San Juan Islands
- Seattle P-I: Best Resorts in the San Juan Islands
2020
- Business Insider Australia: 19 Gorgeous Islands in the US that you can drive to
- Napa Valley register: Art and nature shine on the Washington coast
- Reader’s Digest: The Most Peaceful Places on Earth
2019
- Valisemag.com: Visit San Juan Islands
- Smithsonian Magazine: Seven of the Most Scenic Ferry Rides in the United States
- PNW Weddings: Orcas Island Enchants
- USA Today 10 Best: Why the Islands of the PNW are Fantastic in the Off-Season
- UltraRunning Magazine: Orcas Island 50k: A Whale of a Time, March
- Mentalfloss.com: The Best Bookstores in All 50 States
- Patch.com: 8 Washington Communities Among Country’s Healthiest March
- Travel blog featuring Orcas Island: The Evergreen State April
- Your Tango.com: “Voluntourism” in the San Juan Islands May
- A Perfect Getaway May
- Fortune.com: Orcas Island
2018
- Mens Journal: Best Beer Festivals
- Craftbeer.com: Escape to US Island Craft Breweries
- Beers at the Bottom: Hops on the Rock article
- Travel Channel.com: No-Passport-Required Destinations
- Portland Monthly: 10 Grand Lodges of the Pacific Northwest
- Harbors Holidays Island Style, November/December
- Northwest Military.com: Orcas Island Beckons: Quiet Season Means Fewer Crowds, November
- Viewfinder Travel Blog: Ten Honeymoon Destinations in the US, October 11
- CNN Travel: 12 Best Islands in America, August 28
- Wander in RAW: Orcas Island, WA, August 15
- Pure Wow.com: Vacation Farms to Rent, August 3
- Life-Uncorked.com: Orcas Island:A Place to Really Get Away, August
- Postcards to Seattle: How to Visit Orcas Island, July 18
- Small Town Washington; Taste Your Way Around Orcas Island With Salish Sea Tour Co, June 27
- Matador Network: Tropical Islands Suck. Go to These 7 Islands Instead, June 27
- Ciao Bambino: An Idyllic Summer Escape on Orcas Island, Washington, June 27
- msn.com: 15 Places You can Take an Island Vacation Without Leaving the U.S., June 26
- Realtor.com: Fountains of Youth: The 10 Places Where Americans Live the Longest, June 18
- Starkinsider.com: Best Tripping, Sipping and Savoring Around the San Juan Islands, June 14
- Seattle pi: Best Washington San Juan Islands Explore, June 13
- Coco.Kelley: Orcas Island Travel Guide Weekend Getaway, April 4
- Philadelphia Inquirer: In Washington’s San Juan Islands, an expedition cruise and wondrous hiking, March 23
- Red Tricycle: Totally Unique Campsites You Should Book Now, March 23
- Seattle Magazine: 3 Reasons to Check Out Orcas’ Burgeoning Wine Scene, March 21
- Deal Crunch: San Juan Islands: a Meeting and Retreat Destination where Nature Inspires Creative Renewal & Engagement, March 19
- Seattle Times: Take a Peaceful Step Back in Time on Orcas Island, March 1
- KUOW: What 100 miles of Misery Looks Like, February 21
- Seattlemet: Jay Blackinton Nominated for James Beard Award, February 19
- Heed the Hedonist: Wintertime is a Fine Time to Visit Orcas Island: Part 2 of 2. February 15
- Heed the Hedonist: Wintertime is a Fine Time to Visit Orcas Island: Part 1 of 2. February 1
- Big Blend Radio: Washington Nature Trip and Gardening for Wildlife February 1
- NationalParkTraveling: Orcas Island Washington-Embracing the Heritage
- Parks and Travel Planner: Orcas Island – Embracing the Heritage, January 27
- Ciao Bambino: Places to Take Kids in 2018 (see #49), January 25
- Sunset Magazine: Top 11 Modern Glampgrounds, January 23
- TravelQ: Road Trip to the Pacific Northwest, Part II: Washington, January
- The Culture Trip: Best Places to Go Camping in Washington State, January
2017
- DatingAdvice.com: Romantic Backdrops for Getaways and Weddings, December 28
- Meeting News: Meet on the Islands, December 19
- Food Wine Travel Magazine: A Romantic Weekend on Washington’s Orcas Island
- KING5: Girl Meets Dirt Does a Slow Jam in Washington’s San Juan Islands
- Parade: A European Style Vacation Without Leaving the Country
- Orbitz: Best Place to Get Engaged in Every State, December 15
- CNN: A Stunning Island Getaway, November 10
- Travel Channel: 22 Best U.S. Islands (#16), November
- Seattle Refined: 5 Short Flights that will Transport You Worlds Away, November 10
- 1889 Magazine: Washington Adventure: Orcas Island, October 20
- WhatsUp NW: Orcas Island Film Festival, October 20
- KING5: Girl Meets Dirt Got This Woman into a Jam and That’s a Good Thing, October 13
- KING5: Explore the ‘Gem’ of the San Juans, October 13
- RV Daily Report: Vintage Airstream That Sells Ice Cream, October
- Oyster: The Best Fall Weekend Getaways in the US, October 13
- Washington Beer Blog: Hops on the Rock, October 13
- PNW Tourist: Doe Bay Resort and Café, October 3
- The Sun Break: Orcas Island Film Festival Brings Cinematic Excellence to the San Juans
- Seattle Times: Orcas Island Film Festival: Small Fest, Big Movies, October 3
- Huffington Post: An Organic Oasis on Orcas Island, September 29
- Pit Stops for Kids: 5 Things to Do with Kids in Moran State Park, September 29
- KING5: 5 Funky Places to Stay in Washington, September 22
- KNKX: Orcas Island Film Festival, September 22
- Go Banking Rates: Magical Hotels and Airbnbs under $200 a night, September 22
- Coastal Living: The World’s Best Culinary Weekend: San Juan Islands, September 15
- Seattle Refined: 6 Reasons Why Fall is the Best Time to Savor the San Juans, September 15
- Coyote Peterson at Doe Bay, September 8
- USA Today: Glamping: 10 spots to camp luxuriously in the U.S. (Doe Bay), September 1
- Northwest Travel & Life: Seed-to-Table Dining at Doe Bay, September 1
- NW Yachting: Island Wheels, September 1
- Seattle Magazine: The San Juan Islands Have Become an Exploding Food Destination, August 23
- Ecophiles: Beach Escapes for a Sun-soaked Labor Day Weekend, August 23
- Departures: What’s New in the San Juan Islands, August 23
- Domestic Bliss: 9 Vacation-Worthy American Islands, August 23
- USA Today on Glamping: 10 Spots to Camp Luxuriously in the USA includes Doe Bay Resort, August, 2017
- Coastal Living Perfect Weekend in the San Juan Islands, Washington, August
- Departures, What’s New in the San Juan Islands, July 28
- Coastal Living: Best U.S. Islands to Visit this Summer, July 14
- Taste Made: Gather Here: Orcas Island, Washington, July 14
- Ville Magazine includes Orcas Island in their “Tastiest Trips in the Pacific Northwest” article. July, 201
- Sea, A Century Old and New Again, July 12
- Eater Seattle, For Restaurants in the San Juan Islands, a Beautiful Setting Brings Serious Challenges July 6
- Coastal Living, “Island Confidential: Orcas Island” July/August
- New York Times, Summer Vacation, Minus the Traffic: 5 Alternatives to Popular Trips, June 23
- National Geographic 100 Best Destinations: Around the World in Four Seasons, “Summer Family Fun”
- KNKX, How Sentinel Island in the San Juans Came to be Owned by a Newlywed Couple 100 Years Ago, June 17
- Food & Wine, Best New Chef Jay Blackinton’s Path from Veganism to Game Hunting, June 15
- Rodale’s Organic Life, 10 Amazing Organic Farms that Double as Family-Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, June 13
- The Seattle Times, Worth the Trip: Spy San Juan Whales and Sample What’s New, April 17
- Time, Why the West Coast is the Epicenter for Food in America, April 4
- Dallas Morning News, Get Back to Nature and Find Your Inner Artist on Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest, April 3
- Sunset, “Inside Seattle,” April
- Adventures NW, “Spring in the San Juans,” Spring
- Northwest Travel & Life, “Secret Getaways to Jumpstart Spring,” March/April
- Seattle Met, Nick Coffey will Open Ursa Minor on Lopez Island, February 16
- Portrait Magazine, San Juan Islands Escape, February 15
- Mapquest Travel: 6 U.S. Travel Destinations Inspired by Oscar Nominees, February 9
- TravelChannel.com, 5 Affordable Romantic Getaways
- The New York Times, Grass-fed Beef, Sold One Cow at a Time, January 17
- San Francisco Chronicle, Strolling through Obama’s National Monument Legacy, January 9
2016
- Bloomberg.com, The Five Places That Stole My Heart in 2016, December 30
- 2016 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards: #2 of World’s Friendliest Islands
- Lonely Planet, Welcome to the San Juan Islands, December
- Islands, 10 Amazing U.S. Islands Close to Home, November 15
- Good Housekeeping, A 91-year-old Woman Died After an Incredible Year-Long Road Trip Adventure, October 3
- SeattleRefined.com, Savor the San Juans: A Fall Feast for the Senses, September 23
- Wall Street Journal, Beach Getaways in the Fall – When the Crowds are Gone, September 15
- Departures, Destination on the Rise: San Juan Islands, Washington, September 15
- Seattle Weekly, Hogstone’s Wood Oven Chef Jay Blackinton Does Farm-to-Table Right, August 17
- Star Tribune, Camping in National Parks with a Touch of Luxe, August 12
- Sunset, “Departing Seattle,” September
- National Geographic, Woo-woo; Whale Magic?, August 31
- Idaho Statesman via New York Times, Four Ways to Camp with a Touch of Luxe in the National Parks, August 16
- The New York Post, The 15 Best Honeymoon Destinations in the U.S., August 16
- Conde Nast Traveler, America almost lost the San Juan Islands over a pig and some potatoes, August 8
- Conde Nast, Why Washington’s Orcas Island should be your next family getaway, August 2
- Ozy.com, The most isolated islands in America, August 5
- AFAR Magazine, “Why the San Juan Islands is one of the best summer getaways,” July 14
- Sip Northwest, Adventures Await in Washington’s Orcas and San Juan Islands, July
- PureWow.com, “The Best Vacation Spots in Every U.S. State”, June 16
- New York Times, “The Long and Shore of It: The Country’s Most Intruiguing Islands,”May 18
- Travel+Leisure, “Best Romantic Summer Getaways,” May
- 5Ways.com, “Slow-Rolling the San Juans,” May
- MatadorNetwork.com, “The 12 Best Places to Check out Wildlife without the Crowds,” April 28
- Thrillist.com, “Unsung U.S. Islands You Should Visit This Summer,” April
- Seattle Met, “5 Oysters You’ll Meet in Washington,” March
- Islands magazine, “National Parks by Season – 100th Anniversary,” February
- AllRecipes.com, “The Pig War Martini Comes with a History Lesson,” January 4
- FoxNews.com, “America’s best archipelagos,” January 18
- Where to Retire, “8 Tax-Friendly Towns,” January/February
2015
- 2015 Conde Nast Traveler, Best U.S. Islands for Family Vacations: Readers’ Choice Awards
- 2015 Travel + Leisure, Best Islands in the Continental U.S.
- 2015 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards: #9 of Ten Best Islands in the U.S.
- Lonely Planet: # 3 of Top 10 U.S. Destinations for 2013
- A newly-designated National Monument (1,000 acres)
- Seattle Times, “Another Mount Constitution? Islanders unite to preserve San Juan ridge for views, trails,” November 18
- LA Times, “Five great places to see killer whales in the wild,” November 11
- Martha Stewart Weddings, “7 Honeymoon-Worthy Islands That Don’t Require a Passport,” November
- Virgin-Atlantic.com, “Beyond Seattle: Autumn in the San Juan Islands,” October 19
- Travel 50 & Beyond, “Wine on the Water,” Fall
- Yahoo Travel, “Forget Camping, My Toddler Loves Glamping,” September 22
- Bloomberg Businessweek, “Seven Destinations for Early-Fall Vacations,” September 16
- A Luxury Travel Blog, “5 Things to do in Friday Harbor, WA,” September 11
- Edible Seattle, “Girl Meets Dirt,” September/OctoberEdible Seattle, “”It Takes an Island,” September/October
- Seattle Times, “Glampsite of the Week: Nesting in a tent on Lopez Island,” August 11
- Seattle, “11 Perfect Getaways Near Seattle,” August
- Huffington Post, “13 Stunning U.S. National Monuments You Didn’t Know you Needed to See,” July 27
- Expedia.com, “Summer in the San Juans,” July 23
- USAToday10Best.com, “10Best Island Escapes You Can Drive To,” June 26
- King5.com, “Orcas Island offers fine food, festivals and high-flying fun,” June 24
- National Geographic, “Lopez Island by Bike,” June 22
- Thrillist.com, “The 10 best bars & Restaurants in the San Juan Islands,” June 16
- OneGreenPlanet.com, “Never Leave Your Pets Behind Again! 6 Pet-Friendly Destinations for Animal Lovers,” May 18
- Yahoo! Travel, “The Ideal Island for Each Month of the Year,” May 4
- Examiner.com, “The pursuit of happiness on the San Juan Islands,” April 27
- Examiner.com, “The pursuit of happiness on the San Juan Islands” (slideshow), April 27
- Memphis Daily News, “Nature is on Stage in the San Juan Islands,” April 21
- Daily Telegraph, “Whale Watching at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island,” April 19
- Boston Globe, “Six wheels, three islands: A bike tour of the San Juans,” April 18
- MSN.com, “5 Essential All-American Vacations,” April 10
- Northwest Travel, “San Juan Islands Museum of Art,” April 2015
- Travel +Leisure, “Northwest Passage,” April 2015
- Travel 50 & Beyond, “8 Island Cruises for Nature Lovers,” Spring 2015
- Travel + Leisure, “Washington’s San Juan Islands: An Ideal Tour,” March 17
- Fodor’sTravel.com, “World’s Most Unique Dining Experiences,” March 2015
- Every Day with Rachel Ray, “Hit the Food Isles,” March 2015
- Sail, “5 Terrific Summer Charters,” March 2015
- The Seattle Times, “5 Favorite Hikes on San Juan Island,” March 2015
- The Wall Street Journal, “Top Spots for Luxury Getaway Homes,” March 2015
- Vancouver Sun, “San Juan Islands’ towns evoke a simpler time,” March 17
- FrontiersMedia.com, “8 Reasons Why You’ll Fall in Love in the San Juan Islands,”February 24
- Sip Northwest, “Savor the Local Liquid Arts of the San Juan Islands,” Winter
- Seattle Times, “One-month anniversary: Reservations are new on the San Juan ferry runs,” February 5
- 2015 Yahoo Travel, “The World’s 14 Most Beautiful Unspoiled Islands”
- 2015 Yahoo Travel, “10 Most Popular U.S. Islands for Summer Vacation”
2014
- USAToday.com Travel, “Bareboating 101: Set a course for sailing adventure,” December 19
- 10Best.com, “10 Best Scenic Flights in the United States,” December 4
- Business Insider, “50 Trips Everyone Should Take in the U.S.,” November 19
- The Oregonian: “San Juan Islands keep visitors enthralled with natural beauty, island lifestyle,” September 22
- Seattle Times: “5 autumn hikes in the San Juans and Gulf Islands,” October 1
- King5 Evening Magazine, Visiting the Scenic San Juans/Friday Harbor
- King5 Evening Magazine, Visiting San Juan Island
- King5 Evening Magazine, Visiting Orcas Island
- King5 Evening Magazine, Visiting Lopez Island
- Frugal Traveler, Seth Kugel: “In the Northwest, 3 Trips, Planned by Others,” September 26
- HuffingtonPost.com, “7 Small Islands That Should Be on Your Radar,” September 26
- OregonLive.com, “San Juans are the go-to island vacation for NW residents,”September 2
- USAToday.com, “Washington’s San Juan Islands,” August 21
- USAToday.com, “Secret seaside escapes for a final summer fling,” August 21
- WallStreetCheatSheet.com, “Forget the Passport: 7 Best U.S. Islands to Visit,” August 20
- Forbes Travel, “Four Unforgettable Epicurean Adventures To Try,” August 14
- Country Living, “All-American Islands,” August
- Departures, “The Wilds of Orcas,” July/Aug 2014
- The Seattle Times, “Farm-to-Table: Where to eat local on Orcas Island,” July 20
- MySanAntonio.com, “Islands of Orcas of Eagles,” June 27
- Puget Sound Business Journal, “San Juan Island rated tops in nation for Fourth of July celebrations,” June 26
- Luxury Travel, “5 Destinations Every American Should Visit,” June 20
- BusinessInsider.com, “10 Great Cities for Weekend Getaways,” June 20
- The Seattle Times, “Washington Weekends: Pig War and more on San Juan Island,”May 17
- Fodors.com, “America’s Top 10 State Parks,” April 22
- USAToday.com, “Sip by the sea at island wineries,” April 28
- Popular Photography, “Pacific Oasis: See the camera-ready San Juan Islands,” April
- Examiner.com, “Top 5 awe-inspiring wildlife species to see in Washington’s Salish Sea,”March 25
- The Chicago Tribune, “San Juan Islands offer peaceful beauty,” March 18
- Sunset, “Top 8 ferry trips: Anacortes to Shaw Island, WA,” March
- Sunset, “42 Perfect Summer Trips,” March
- NW Travel, “Family Time Travel: Exploring Historic Forts,” March/April
- AAA Highroads, “San Juan Island: A Beacon in the Pacific Northwest,” March/April
- Cruising World, “Convoy in the Pacific Northwest,” March
- InBusiness, “San Juan Islands: Where Life Moves a Little Slower,” March
- CBS News, “What are the best island getaways in the continental U.S.?,” March 3
- Coastal Living, “Whale Watching: The Guide,” March
- ABC News, “TripAdvisor’s 10 Best Islands in the U.S.,” February 19
- Redbook, “Best Travel Finds of 2014,” February
- Bon Appetit, “Oysterland: A Journey to the Heart of Bivalve Country,” February
- AAA Via, “Where the Whales Are,” January/February
- Coastal Living, “Best Coastal Bike Trails,” January
- Smithsonian, “The True Inner Beauty of Fishes,” January
- CNN.com, “50 states, 50 spots for 2014,” January 2
- Sunset, “Top 10 life-list adventures,” January
- Gayot.com, “Top 10 National Parks,” January
2013
- Sunset, “14 Natural Treasures in the West,” November
- CBC.com, “Curious humpback encounter dazzles whale watchers,” November 27
- Michelin Guide, Mustsees Pacific Northwest featuring National Parks, October 2013
- Sip Northwest, “Savor the San Juans,” October
- Seattle Times, “Chartering a boat in the San Juans is easier than you might think,”September 4
- The Seattle Times, “Moran State Park is an island treasure,” August 24
- Men’s Journal, “San Juan Island Hopping,” September
- BusinessInsider.com, “10 Great American Escapes for Labor Day Weekend,” August 28
- USA Today, “10 scenic boat trips that won’t sink your budget,” August 22
- HuffingtonPost.com, “Glamp Like a Champ: 5 Awesome Spots,” August
- Sunset, “Top 20 beach hotels,” August
- BootsnAll.com, “Tastiest Eco-Friendly Restaurants Around the World,” July 18
- Sunset, “Top 21 island escapes,” July 16
- Travel + Leisure, “America’s Best Little Beach Towns,” July
- New Day Northwest, KING5.com, “Escape to the San Juan Islands,” June 27
- Today Show, NBC, “5 Beautiful Places Every American Should Visit,” June 26
- The Seattle Times, “Making salt from the Salish Sea,” June 21
- Sunset, “42 Perfect Summer Trips,” June
- TravelNerd.com, “School’s Out!: Top Family-Friendly Beach Towns,” June 11
- Canadian Yachting, “Dockside in the San Juans,” June
- Alaska Airlines, “San Juan Islands Getaways,” June
- Seattle, “Best Camping Spots in Washington: Roughing It,” June
- Sunset,“Top 45 hikes in the West,” June
- Northwest Travel, “Shoreline Whale Watching,” June
- Edible Seattle, “Gas bladders and enlightenment – a weekend at seaweed camp,” May/June
- Travel+Leisure, “20 Easy Weekend Getaways,” May
- The Seattle Times blog, “May is a month of history events in the San Juans – with a new small cruise ship to take you there,” April 30
- Sunset, “The West’s Best Camping,” May
- Seattle Metropolitan, “Whale Watching in the San Juans,” May
- The Seattle Times, “Best places to visit and hike the new San Juans monument,” April 19
- Northwest Travel, “Orca Spotting in the Salish Sea,” April 17
- International Business Times, “10 vacation destinations that will be extra hot for summer 2013,” April 12
- FoxNews.com, “Top 8 affordable island getaways,” March 29
- National Geographic, “Obama Declares National Monuments to Preserve Pieces of U.S. Heritage,” March 26
- OffbeatTravel.com, “San Juan Island: Washington State’s island destination,” March 7
- Seattle Times, “Europe-bound outdoors writer recalls his Top 10 Northwest adventures,” March
- OutdoorsNW.com, “Best Northwest Getaways” February 26
- TravelChannel.com, “Top whale watching destinations” February 19
- The Seattle Times, “Have a whale of a Valentine’s Day at Friday Harbor Museum” February 12
- FoxNews.com, “The world’s top ten bike rides” February 12
- Sierra.com, “10 Places to Explore in 2013: Haro Strait—U.S./Canada Border”
- The Seattle Times, “Goodies for traveling and worth traveling to get,” January 15
- Spokesman Review, “Winter’s slow pace ideal for an escape to the San Juan Islands,”January 13
- Seattle Times, “Around the Northwest, great places to say “I do,”” January 6