San Juans Island vs Orcas
 

Hi

My husband and I are thinking about vacationing in mid September. What are the differences between the two islands? Can you recommend lodging on each island? Is it better to stay on one and visit the other? If so, which one should you stay at and which one should you visit?

Thanks

My personal preference is for Orcas--it's quieter and I really like to hike in Moran State Park. But San Juan is great too. I would stay on Orcas and visit San Juan but you could easily do it the other way around.

What's your budget for lodging and what are your preferences as far as the type of place--eg, do you like B&Bs?

I've only stayed in a friends cabin on San Juan, and never overnighted on Orcas, but my sense is that there is more to do and see on San Juan Island. Plus, Friday Harbor is the biggest town on the islands, so you'd have access to more restaurants and shopping if those are of interest.

But both islands are beautiful; your choice should depend on the level of activity you're looking for. Or, maybe you get the best of both with a place like this: http://www.lonesomecove.com/.

Hello DBW --

I haven't been to San Juan Island, but can certainly speak highly for Orcas. We went last July and just loved it. There was a good amount of things to do, it was laid back and relaxing, and our B&B was incredible. Here's a link should you want to look into it: http://www.kingfishinn.com/.

As far as activities, we took a nice boat trip to see the orcas, and went to the top of Mt. Constitution for views that rivaled Capri in Italy!

Good luck!

Hi,

Thanks for all the suggestions. If we stay on Orcas Island, would we need to rent a car as opposed to San Juan Island? How long is the ferry ride from Seattle?

We like hiking, horseback riding, and farmer's markets. Are there good restaurants on either island? We would prefer a B&B or inn. If we did stay on Orcas, would it be better to stay on the East Sound or the West Sound?

We appreciate all your help

The ferry runs to the islands from Anacortes, not Seattle.

It's really best to have a car on either island so you can get out to the places outside the towns (the best parts IMO).

So long as you avoid going to the islands on a Friday or coming back on a Sunday, the waits to take your car on the ferry shouldn't be too bad (60-90 minutes).

As noted, the ferry goes from Anacortes, which is 2 hours north of Seattle. The length of the ferry ride varies depending on which island you're going to and how many stops en route, but it's about an hour, generally.

Both islands have very good restaurants and as previously noted, I prefer the hiking on Orcas. I'm not sure if there's horseback riding available on either island these days (I don't think so but if there is, it's more likely to be on Orcas).

You didn't say what your budget is, but if you can spend in the mid-200s per night, my favorite place to stay on Orcas is Spring Bay Inn, which does a morning sea kayaking tour for guests each day (included in the rate as is breakfast). It's about as "northwest" an experience as you can get.

I believe the only ferry service from Seattle to the San Juans is on the Victoria Clipper: http://www.clippervacations.com/ferry/ferryschedule. But they don't take cars, and I'd bet you'd want one regardless of which island you choose. So, unless you rent one in Friday Harbor (are they available there?), you're only choice will be the Washington State Ferries leaving from Anacortes: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/pdf/2008Spring.pdf.

Roche Harbor has a decent restaurant. Friday Harbor has a couple, too. But my fave on San Juan Island is the Duck Soup Inn.

I believe the only ferry service from Seattle to the San Juans is on the Victoria Clipper: http://www.clippervacations.com/ferry/ferryschedule. But they don't take cars, and I'd bet you'd want one regardless of which island you choose. So, unless you rent one in Friday Harbor (are they available there?), your only choice will be the Washington State Ferries leaving from Anacortes: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/pdf/2008Spring.pdf.

Roche Harbor has a decent restaurant. Friday Harbor has a couple, too. But my fave on San Juan Island is the Duck Soup Inn.

Hi,

We are trying to stay under 200 dollars a night. Does anyone have any feedback on the Kangaroo Inn? Is it a good location?

Is there any unique shopping on the San Juans in general? Is the San Juan winery worth the trip?

I'm not familiar with the Kangaroo, although I know where it is. I would prefer to be more outside of town, but if you'd rather be close to Eastsound, it's a good location. A couple places I like that I'm pretty sure have at least some rooms under $200 are the Anchorage Inn, Turtleback Farm Inn, Otter's Pond B&B and the Inn at Ship Bay on Orcas. On SJI, try the Trumpeter Inn or Olympic Lights B&B.

Yes, there's some unique shopping particularly for arts and crafts. I've picked up some nice pottery on Orcas over the years. I'm not familiar with the winery though--perhaps someone else can comment.

I stopped at the winery last summer. I wouldn't go out of my way, but if you're touring the island, it's a pleasant stop, right on the main road.

For unique shopping on San Juan Island, I'd suggest the lavender farm. Besides the soaps, etc.... lavender ice cream? Yum? And not far from there is an alpaca farm with a nice shop selling goods made from the wool. Beautiful, but you might need to raise the limit on your credit card. ;-)

Hi again, DBW --

To answer your questions about Orcas, yes... I think you would need a car. I imagine it would be the same situation on either island. You'd probably have to get one on the mainland and take it over with you, but I'm not 100% about that.

Also, the B&B I mentioned previously that we stayed at had AMAZING food. The breakfast each morning was to die for as well. They also had a nice bottle of port in the hall that we had free access to in the evenings. Otherwise, there were a lot of good restaurant options in town as well.

Good luck!

Right, beachbum. I was assuming that they would have a car. We stayed at Rosario Resort on Orcas without a car and felt quite restricted in our activities.

I agree with the previous comments. We have stayed on both, and both are beautiful, but you would probably be better off with a car on either. Orcas is a bit greener and feels less developed, San Juan Island is more developed, but is still very beautiful.

Am as true a 'regular visitor' as one could be for a non-NW resident! ;-)

If we could go several times a year, we would, but alas are left to usually just once a year. Not enough for us...who have come to adore this area.
(really we love the whole NW) :-)

Will be heading to these sweet islands again this Spring, for probably our 11-12th time now! (in just 15 yrs of marriage thus far) :-)

Any further questions, feel free to post here or I can supply you my email if you'd prefer.

After so many yrs of going, we've come to love both equally for varying reasons. Well, Orcas still has a slight nudge (was our first island visited, too) for its beautiful scenery and hills, but San Juan has a lot of fun parks, too...(well, a 'lot' for any area this size) ;-) and its
assortment of activities.

And it's not without hills, but definitely has less, and smaller ones. Nevertheless, it has its own charms, too.

We personally (if one has time) prefer to overnight (several nights) on *each* island now, each year.

The main prob w/daytrips is the ferry service isn't all that often...45 min or so each way between islands, too. So, we simply find it easier to just switch lodging & explore w/a bit more time, *each* one. (vs. a hurried day trip)

But some people really hate checking in & out of places, and might find it
preferable to stay on one...
to 'commit' to one, and then only get a taste of the other. I could see doing this for a first time trip, to see if you even like the other one...but again, we'd feel just way too rushed, ourselves, doing this, at this point in time.

Both are fairly large...and definitely offer more than one day's worth of 'outings'.

Won't post more now, as you may not even be checking this thread anymore.

Lastly, depending on where you choose to stay on each island too, might dictate a day trip vs. not. (some lodgings are pretty darn far from the ferry....nice for 'getting away from it all' but not the best if trying to do a quick daytrip, I think.)

Feel free to contact me directly, if anyone would like further feedback on this delightful corner of the world. :-) [email protected]

Wow, what a coincidence, a friend and I are having just the same questions. Am I crazy, or did I hear that you pay for ferries going West and not East? One direction or the other between Anacortes and Orcas, we'll get off the ferry for a few hours on San Juan.

Yes, that's correct, you pay when you're heading westbound but not eastbound. The one exception would be from Sidney BC eastbound to any of the islands or Anacortes.