Getting from Orcas Island to Victoria
 

We're flying ito Seattle ( arriving at 2:30 pm on Friday, July 25th) to attend a wedding on Orcas Island on Saturday late afternoon . We are planning to rent a car in Seattle and drive to Anacortes, spend the night there, and catch the ferry to Orcas Island the next morning. After the wedding we'd like to go to Victoria. Can you get there from Orcas Island by ferry (with our car) without going back to Anacores ? Any suggestions would be helpful!!

Um. July 25 is a Sunday. Do you mean Friday, June 25?

Regardless, the summer ferry timetable (after June 19) hasn't yet been published, but assuming you're traveling on Sunday (?) the current schedule (which could change) has a boat going from Orcas to Friday Harbor at 7:30 AM, arriving at 8:15, then connecting to Sidney BC (for Victoria) at 9:50 AM, arriving at 11:05. So no overdoing it at the reception. ;)

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

Thanks for reading between the lines....it is June and we will be traveling to Victoria on Sunday!! How would you price it? Being from Texas, this is all new. Now, how to get back to Seattle? Port Angeles or Anacortes? Thanks again.

We've been at a place on San Juan Island the last three summers where we could watch the ferry pass by on its way to and from Anacortes and Sidney. I assume there'll be a similar schedule this summer, so you can probably get back the same way you go. There's also a ferry between Victoria and Port Angeles, which would be another option. But, no car ferries between Victoria and Seattle.

When you buy the ticket to Orcas at Anacortes, I think the cost will include the return trip. We added on the segments from Friday Harbor to and from Sidney a couple summers ago, but I can't remember what/how we were charged for that.

Oh, and consider spending that Friday night in La Conner rather than Anacortes. Cute little town, with several nice dining and lodging options.

Unless the summer schedule changes drastically this year (which it generally doesn't from year to year), the ferry from Orcas to Sidney will be in the mid-afternoon.

unless you are driving around a lot on the island, consider leaving a car behind. You can take a bus to Butchart gardens from downtown, and you do not need a car for Victoria, itself. That way you can ferry back directly to Seattle or simply be a foot passenger round trip the Anacortes route.

You may find this interesting .

http://www.clippervacations.com/?npoCode=114904

oops! sorry.. misread your post.. was thinking mostly about Anacortes.. not Orcas Island!

We loved the San Juans. They are spectacular. Enjoy your trip and ignore my suggestion!

Thanks to everyone for your help. Can't wait until June 25th!! I'm going to look at La Conner as an alternate to Anacortes. Any suggestions on lodging or restaurants there? Thanks

We've stayed at a couple places in La Conner, but our favorite is the Channel Lodge: http://www.laconnerlodging.com/lacon...nnel-lodge.php. Fave restaurant is Kerstin's, but Nell Thorn is pretty good too.

Figure about a half hour from La Conner to the ferry dock, and speaking from personal experience - /:) - be sure to stay close to the speed limit once you get to Anacortes.

The Calico Cupboard In La Conner is a nice restaurant.

Thanks passerbye for your help for both food and lodging. I really appreciate your taking the time to respond. Yippee, June is just arounf the corner.

This is a trip I would not want to make in the height of tourist season. Ferries often fill up leaving many motorists on shore cooling their heals waiting for the next ferry to lumber in. If you can make reservations for spaces on the ferries, do.

HTTY

thanks, I will make reservations for the ferries..how far in advance?

You can't make reservations for the ferries except the portion that's international, from the San Juans to Victoria (Sidney). Just plan on getting to the ferry terminal about 90 minutes to 2 hours in advance of the ferry you want to Orcas and you should be fine. If you do arrive at least 2 hours in advance, you can spend your waiting time hiking in Washington Park, a short walk further west from the ferry terminal. There's a nice loop trail there. Just plan to be back at your car a good 1/2 hour ahead of the sailing time.