Made it to Orcas Island in the San Juans

The other day my sister and I boarded a ferry from Friday Harbor and took the scenic ride to Orcas Island. Our home base has been the Lodge on Orcas Island, which is centrally located for all of our road trip excursions.

San Juan Island from ferry by MikesRoadtrip.com

Our first evening on the island we went to Rosario Mansion Restaurant for dinner, which was simply spectacular. The food and the views were second to none. After dinner we raced to the top of Mount Constitution (a soaring 2400′ peak) to see the sunset, but unfortunately we just missed it. The drive up to the top however provided some amazing scenery along the way.

Rosario Mansion on Orcas Island by MikesRoadTrip.com

The next morning we went to Eastsound (one of the larger villages on the island) for breakfast. It was such a beautiful morning and we saw this very inviting patio at the Outlook Inn so we stop there for breakfast and was glad we did as it was just what we needed to get us going for a day of exploring.

Outlook Inn by MikesRoadTrip.com

The rest of the day was pretty leisurely, just driving around the island taking in the sights.

Orcas Island with tide out by MikesRoadTrip.com

That evening we meet up with Kruger Escapes, a sailboat tour company for a sunset cruise. There are two boats in the fleet and we went out on a 50′ racing boat, unfortunately the wind was not in our favor to set any speed records, but it was a sensational evening nonetheless. Mother Nature put on a display that was simply stunning. When we left Deer Harbor there was hardly a cloud in the sky and the temperature was quite lovely. By the middle of the cruise storm clouds developed and the skies were quite dark. A rainbow appeared in one direction, lighting in another and a spectacular sunset in another.

Orcas Island Sailbot cruise with Kruger Escapes by MikesRoadTrip.com

Our cruise around Orcas and the surrounding islands capped a perfect end to our trip to the San Juan Islands. Tomorrow we’ll head to the ferry terminal and sail back to Anacortes where I will board a plane back to the hellish summer heat of Phoenix. I will certainly miss the fantastic weather of the Pacific Northwest, but fortunately I’m only in Phoenix for a week before heading out on my next road trip to Utah.

Orcas Island sunset cruise by MikesRoadTrip.com

Both Susanne and I had a fantastic time road tripping around the San Juan Islands and sure hope to return again one day soon. Please stay tuned for my upcoming article on this trip.

Mike Shubic

Mike Shubic is a seasoned road trip travel video blogger, traversing the byways of the world looking for those hidden gems of the road. From unique destinations, unexpected discoveries, creative cuisine, intriguing inns to exciting attractions…the road is his page. The experiences are his ink. And every 300 miles, a new chapter begins. Whether you live vicariously or by example, Mike will do the exploring so you can have an adventure.
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