Orcas Island or suggestions
Jun 20th, 2012, 07:01 PM
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Orcas Island or suggestions
We are a couple in our 60's and want to take our daughter, her husband and their 2 kids (ages 3, & 7) to Orcas Island or something similar for a week's vacation this August.
Any personal recommedations? It doesn't have to be Orcas Island but somewhere near there. We'd like a condo with at least 3 bedrooms/2 baths, something not terribly expensive, and someplace were there would be things to do like a nearby tourist type farming operation, a nearby lake for activities, horses, some place where kids can run around like a country settting.
Any personal recommedations? It doesn't have to be Orcas Island but somewhere near there. We'd like a condo with at least 3 bedrooms/2 baths, something not terribly expensive, and someplace were there would be things to do like a nearby tourist type farming operation, a nearby lake for activities, horses, some place where kids can run around like a country settting.
Jun 21st, 2012, 11:40 AM
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Also consider getting over to Vancouver Island. We loved the ferry ride back to Seattle - from Sydney - (we had gone over from Pt. Allen - to Victoria) - which went through the Orcas - and we saw a pod of Killer Whales - which stayed alongside the big car ferry for about 20 minutes.
We stayed about halfway between Victoria and Sydney - by Elk/Beaver lake - at a B & B which had been a rest stop between the two in the old days of stagecoach. This blog is entitled: Great place to take the kids: http://tinyurl.com/7puuavp
We rode bicycles all around the country roads and a bonus was they had a tri-athalon - starting at the lake on the Sat morning we were there.
We also rode by a cricket match in Victoria - and they were white uniforms - head to toe.
You can also easily get from there to incredibly beautiful Beauchart Gardens, http://www.butchartgardens.com/index...tpage&Itemid=1 and if you are there in the summer for the fireworks display - it is unlike any other I/we have seen.
We stayed about halfway between Victoria and Sydney - by Elk/Beaver lake - at a B & B which had been a rest stop between the two in the old days of stagecoach. This blog is entitled: Great place to take the kids: http://tinyurl.com/7puuavp
We rode bicycles all around the country roads and a bonus was they had a tri-athalon - starting at the lake on the Sat morning we were there.
We also rode by a cricket match in Victoria - and they were white uniforms - head to toe.You can also easily get from there to incredibly beautiful Beauchart Gardens, http://www.butchartgardens.com/index...tpage&Itemid=1 and if you are there in the summer for the fireworks display - it is unlike any other I/we have seen.
Jun 21st, 2012, 12:42 PM
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I've driven by a bunch of times, but never stayed here: http://www.lakedale.com/. Same for this place, except that I've seen it from a boat or kayak instead of a car: http://www.lonesomecove.com/.
Jun 21st, 2012, 01:01 PM
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We camped at Lakedale once...never again! My skin still crawls just thinking about it.
British Camp and American Camp were great places to visit though. Our kids and dog had a great time.
Nanabee--I am not sure the San Juans have what you are looking for in terms of lodging. Condo's are what is stumping me for the SJI's as well as other nearby islands. Change that requirement, and maybe head to Whidbey.
British Camp and American Camp were great places to visit though. Our kids and dog had a great time.
Nanabee--I am not sure the San Juans have what you are looking for in terms of lodging. Condo's are what is stumping me for the SJI's as well as other nearby islands. Change that requirement, and maybe head to Whidbey.
Jun 21st, 2012, 02:44 PM
#9
Just as a reality check, but have you gone shopping for accommodations online? The San Juans are very popular, and August is the peak of peaks.
I'm personally not much of an Orcas fan, but I know there are others who love the island. Of the San Juans I'd say that San Juan Island has the most going for it in terms of things to see and do (Roche Harbor, whale watching, kayaking, etc.) but is the most developed; Orcas is very rural; Lopez laid back and a favorite of cyclists...
In my view none of them are paradises with kids, but maybe 3 and 7 is young enough that it won't matter. The San Juans are very beautiful, but there are other areas in the region that might offer comparable experiences but at a lower cost. I'd expand the search to include Whidbey Island, the Olympic Peninsula, the area around Bellingham and Blaine/Birch Bay, and, assuming everyone is able to travel to Canada (passports etc.) then I'd throw in Vancouver Island, Whistler, and the Gulf Islands (sometimes called the "Canadian San Juans" - ouch.) All of those areas will offer excellent vacation resources.
I'm personally not much of an Orcas fan, but I know there are others who love the island. Of the San Juans I'd say that San Juan Island has the most going for it in terms of things to see and do (Roche Harbor, whale watching, kayaking, etc.) but is the most developed; Orcas is very rural; Lopez laid back and a favorite of cyclists...
In my view none of them are paradises with kids, but maybe 3 and 7 is young enough that it won't matter. The San Juans are very beautiful, but there are other areas in the region that might offer comparable experiences but at a lower cost. I'd expand the search to include Whidbey Island, the Olympic Peninsula, the area around Bellingham and Blaine/Birch Bay, and, assuming everyone is able to travel to Canada (passports etc.) then I'd throw in Vancouver Island, Whistler, and the Gulf Islands (sometimes called the "Canadian San Juans" - ouch.) All of those areas will offer excellent vacation resources.
Jun 21st, 2012, 03:01 PM
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Wow, thank you everyone for the suggestions.
My DD (who lives in Portland) and DH (we are here in San Diego) have spent many nights speaking together on-line & over the phone going over Trip Advisor and searching places (I should not have used the term condos - they are more like cabins and such).
A lot of the places on Orcas Island are very expensive so that is why I wanted to check with the real travel pros here on Fodors
I am emailing this to my daughter and will have Hubby look over the information as well.
A million thanks.
My DD (who lives in Portland) and DH (we are here in San Diego) have spent many nights speaking together on-line & over the phone going over Trip Advisor and searching places (I should not have used the term condos - they are more like cabins and such).
A lot of the places on Orcas Island are very expensive so that is why I wanted to check with the real travel pros here on Fodors
I am emailing this to my daughter and will have Hubby look over the information as well.
A million thanks.
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