Trip Reports - A Seattle/San Juan Islands (Orcas Island) Trip




Sweet Willie
Oct 24, 02, 6:41 am
Flew out of ORD for SEA first thing Saturday morning using coach award tickets on UA.

Drove to the hotel for our Seattle stay, the Hotel Vintage Park http://www.hotelvintagepark.com/ This hotel is well suited for oneophiles(sp?) as all the rooms are named after vineyards in the state of Washington. Check in was prompt, room was ready for us (at 11am), concierge was courteous and knowledgeable.

We always enjoy Seattle, the sun has shined for about 90% of the all time spent in Seattle, never had the problem with rain, but then again, the 10% it has rained is not a problem really.

For two days we did much in Seattle, some standouts were the Music Experience Project (EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT. Address: 325 5th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 (on the Seattle Center Campus) Phone: (206)367-5483.)
VERY EXCELLENT!!! Especially if you like Hendrix the way I do. Seattle Art Museum had a neat exhibit, and we caught a great play called “The Gravedigger’s Wife” as well as the typical stuff of the original Starbuck’s, Pike Place Market. One store we really like is called Milagros at Pike Place Market (1530 Post Alley) http://www.milagrosseattle.com This store has some very unique Mexican Folk art.

While there are many different ways to take a ferry to the San Juan Islands, we decided to use a seaplane Kenmore Air http://www.kenmoreair.com/ and flew out of the Lake Union Terminal to the Rosario Resort on Orcas Island.

Spent two days at the Rosario Resort http://rosario.rockresorts.com/ on Orcas Island. The restaurant was very good and the spa had two masseuses who gave two of the best massages that my wife and I have had. The Rosario also rents cars and you don’t have to be a guest there.

We then spent two days at the Spring Bay Inn http://www.springbayinn.com/Home.html . A very comfortable B&B on the SE side of Orcas Island. The breakfasts are great and the hosts will take you on a 2-3 hour morning kayak tour of the bays near the Inn, this was a highlight for us. I also like the hammocks that were about the property, especially at night when most were asleep; I just swayed back and forth listening to the sounds of the woods. The Spring Bank Inn also has a Jacuzzi which is a treat. The Inn makes it clear that it is only to be used during certain hours so you won’t have late night revelers spoiling the quiet of your stay.

Orcas Island seemed to be the “best” island for us; it varies greatly in terrain, is sparsely populated, easy to get to, and is extremely scenic. Diving in the Sound is supposed to be great, but it did not fit into our plans.

Our flight back to “civilization” left the pier at the Rosario Resort.

Arrived back into Lake Union, which is very neat to fly into with the Seattle skyline right there. Then drove to Mutual Fish to get our seafood to go, then onto SEA to leave back home for ORD.


[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 10-25-2002).]


Kurt
Oct 24, 02, 6:56 pm
Willie:

Nice report; appreciated the links. Question: can one see orcas going by from land at Orcas Island, or is a boat trip required. Is there an optimal time of year to see the killer whales?

Sweet Willie
Oct 24, 02, 7:59 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kurt:
Question: can one see orcas going by from land at Orcas Island, or is a boat trip required.</font>

yes at times one can see orcas from the island

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Is there an optimal time of year to see the killer whales?</font>

summer is not a good time to see orcas.


Bretteee
Oct 24, 02, 9:34 pm
[Always wanted to go to the San Juan islands. Which ressort is nicer? Rosario or the spring Inn?

jabez
Oct 25, 02, 8:18 am
Nice report,you've inspired me to post my report from a similar trip.We also.stayed at the Spring Bay.

Sweet Willie
Oct 25, 02, 9:54 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bretteee:
Which ressort is nicer? Rosario or the spring Inn?</font>

I'm not able to offer an answer directly (apples/oranges type thing.

Rosario is a resort, more luxurious, semi-formal dining area, spa.

Spring Bay is a B&B, off the beaten track, more homelike.

I really liked both, but if I HAD to choose, I'm going with Spring Bay with a visit to the Rosario Spa for a massage http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Bretteee
Oct 25, 02, 5:25 pm
Thanks. Is it easy/comfortable to be in a kayak? seems tiring if you do it too long?

Sweet Willie
Oct 28, 02, 6:23 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bretteee:
Thanks. Is it easy/comfortable to be in a kayak? seems tiring if you do it too long?</font>

EASY!!! My 68 year old mom carries her own kayak to the water and then paddles around for hours, no problem. The kayak has such a shallow draft and not much surface area (except you) to get caught by wind.

Abby
Oct 28, 02, 5:04 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
While there are many different ways to take a ferry to the San Juan Islands, we decided to use a seaplane Kenmore Air http://www.kenmoreair.com/ and flew out of the Lake Union Terminal to the Rosario Resort on Orcas Island.
</font>

I love Kenmore Air! I use them to fly Victoria - Seattle sometimes and love taking off and landing in Victoria's Inner Harbour and Lake Union in Seattle. I think seaplanes are one of the best flying experiences! I also like Harbour Air and West Coast Air between Vancouver and Victoria (harbour to harbour, downtown to downtown and definitely more convenient than the two International Airport locations for many things!)

I introduced a friend (K) to Kenmore Air last summer. She was a bit of a nervous flyer and had never been in a small floatplane. The weather was supposed to be sunny and clear but some rain and fog moved in very suddenly on the morning of our departure, and we ended up being delayed for several hours.

At one point, K says, "Well, when will we get out of here, our plane isn't even here yet!" I told her it was and pointed to the end of the dock. She looked at me aghast and said, "That's not a real plane, is it? It looks like a toy!" I assured her it was the real thing even if it did look small.

A short while later, a very, very young looking male came and addressed our little group with information on ceiling requirements and visibility, etc. An older woman in the group listened and then very politely asked who he was. "I'm your pilot," was the reply.

K looks at me and exclaims in a VERY loud voice, "You want me to get in THAT toy plane with Doogie Howser here flying??!!"

It was too funny, and everyone (including our pilot) burst out laughing.

By the way, he was a very experienced and competent pilot, just young looking...



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