The Best Kept Secret on Orcas Island (San Juan Islands, WA)

The quiet, remote, revitalizing peace of Orcas Island in the springtime may just be one of the island's best kept secrets. (My guess is that there are plenty of uber-mysterious, Goonie-esque, islander-only secrets too, but let's just save that for the novel, shall we?)

Valley view across Orcas Island from Ship Peak on Turtle Mountain. Green fields, evergreen trees, Puget Sound in distance. White, puffy clouds overhead.

It was the middle of the summer the previous time we visited the San Juan islands, and as you might expect, every business was bustling, the farmer’s markets were in full swing, and tourists were everywhere.

While we enjoyed our summer stay on the island enough to want to return, it was our visit this spring that made us want to stay forever (maybe, someday).

Early spring is an extension of the winter slow season on Orcas ("the Rock" in local lingo), and so much of the time, we felt as though we had the whole island to ourselves.

Exterior central area for guests; two red double adirondak chairs sitting on a green lawn, surrounded by large trees.

During our time on Orcas Island, we stayed at the Deer Harbor Inn. Once we had settled into our room in the lodge, we set out to explore.

A Short Trip Around Orcas Island

Even in the off-season, there are so many things to see and do on the island that we had no trouble filling our days. We were excited to return to some of our favorite spots from our previous visit to Orcas, and the first stop on our itinerary was Orcas Island Pottery.

Collage: Clay half-pots with angled bottoms, mounted on exterior wooden wall; clay berry bowls displayed on wodden table, clay ladybug plant picks in green garden.

Following our stop at Orcas Island Pottery, we continued on to Eastsound, the largest of the four hamlets on the Orcas Island.

Shopping & Tourist Stops

Eastsound is home to a wide variety of charming shops, specialty boutiques, and restaurants. It is also where you can find such things as a bank, pharmacy, grocery stores and public library.

I especially enjoyed our visit to Jillery, a favorite shop for locals and visitors alike. Jillery offers an eclectic mix of artisan-made jewelry, art, and personal, home, and garden accessories.

Collage of Jillery, Eastsound: Hand-carved table utensils; silk scarves on wooden rack with tags;

Everyone who knows me knows I have a weakness for long, beautiful earrings (plus I have a thing for mermaids) so it’s no surprise that I fell in love with this mermaid earring holder!

Brass mermaid lounging with her head in her hands, tail raised. Tail has many holes in which a variety of dangling fused glass earrings are hanging.

Orcas Island Sweets & Treats

No visit to Eastsound is complete without a stop at Katherine Taylor Chocolates. There you will find island-made artisan chocolates, drinking chocolate, Stumptown Espesso, ice cream, and even a soda fountain!

Chocolates in display case at Katherine Taylor Chocolates, Orcas Island

There are so many beautiful sights to see on Orcas Island that you really do need to take an old-fashioned drive in the country. You never know who you might run into!

Two jersey cows looking out through pasture fencing.

We met these beautiful ladies in while driving in the countryside, and stopped to chat for a few minutes. They're pretty great listeners.

Traveling to the east side of the island, you will find the picturesque hamlet of Olga, and the Orcas Island Artworks, a cooperative gallery.

Orcas Island Artworks Gallery Co-op

Artworks, which shares space with the Catkin Café (with its all-scratch kitchen!), and the James Hardman Gallery, is housed in a strawberry barreling plant that dates back to 1938.

Wooden sign in front of Orcas Island Artworks & Catkin Cafe with cafe in the background.

The lovingly restored landmark now showcases an extensive collection of work by Orcas Island artists and craftspeople, the Artworks Gallery offers paintings, prints, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, glass, wood, fiber and wearable arts, as well as other locally made items and gifts.

Wide interior of Orcas Island Artworks, with a large variety of pottery, fabric arts, and paintings displayed.

Artworks is owned and operated by the artists themselves, which gives visitors the unique opportunity to meet one or more of them on any given day. The day we visited, we were fortunate to meet raku artist and potter Osa Caudill.

A variety of raku pottery by Osa Caudill at the Orcas Island Artworks.

The Moran Mansion Museum

One final stop that we must share: The beautiful Moran Mansion Museum, located on the second floor of the Rosario Resort & Spa. Open daily and free of charge for public viewing, a visit to the Moran Mansion at Rosario is stepping back in time.

Collage: Front exterior Moran Mansion Museum at Rosario; three-story white, vaguely military-meets mission style building.

This beautiful tribute to the Arts & Crafts movement of the early 20th century was built Seattle Shipbuilder and Mayor Robert Moran.

The mansion features original photographs from the late 1800's and early 1900's, original furnishings and fixtures, and an extensive display of the ships built by the Moran Brothers Company in Seattle.

Music room with grand piano on display in Moran Mansion Museum Music Room.

The centerpiece of the Moran mansion is the Music Room, which features a two-story 1913 Aeolian pipe organ, a 1900 Steinway grand piano, a Belgian stain-glass window picturing the harbor at Antwerp, and two mezzanine libraries overlooking a Tiffany chandelier.

By the way, if you are lucky enough to be there at 4pm on Saturday afternoon, you will be treated to both music and historical narrative in the Music Room.

Stained glass octagonal sky light in Moran Mansion Museum Music Room.

More Orcas Island Travel

PLEASE NOTE: This post was originally written Spring 2016. Some of the businesses mentioned here may be temporarily or permanently closed due to the COVID pandemic, so be sure to call ahead first!

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