Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tours
(
&
800/376-1929
or 360/376-2733; www.magicair.com) cost $200 for
two people ($175 for one person).
BOAT TOURS, RENTALS & CHARTERS
Want to explore some of the
outer islands or try a bit of mountain biking on a seldom visited island? Con-
tact
North Shore Charters
(
&
360/376-4855;
www.sanjuancruises.net), which
offers a shuttle service ($55-$75 per person for two people) to some of the
smaller islands. This company does a mountain-biking tour to Sucia Island ($95
per person for two people).
Big Wave Sea Adventures Company
(
&
800/732-4095
or 360/376-7078;
www.bigwaveonline.com) operates exciting high-speed boat rides all the way
around Orcas Island and out to some of the state marine park islands north of
Orcas. Along the route, you'll likely see harbor seals, porpoises, bald eagles, and
other wildlife (though usually not whales). Trips stop on Patos Island where you
can hike the island trails. The basic 3-hour tour costs $100 per person.
If you're interested in heading out on the water aboard a 1940s sloop, contact
Captain Ward Fay at
Classic Day Sails
(
&
360/376-5581;
www.classicdaysails.
com). Captain Fay charges $50 per person for a 3-hour cruise (with a two-per-
son minimum and a maximum of six). At the
Rosario Resort Activities Cen-
ter
(
&
360/376-2222
), you can arrange a 3-hour sail ($65 per person) aboard
the
Morning Star,
a 56-foot, two-masted sailboat.
At Rosario you can also rent a bareboat or skippered sailboat from
Orcas Sail-
ing
(
&
360/376-2113;
www.orcassailing.com), which charges $120 to $145
for a half-day bareboat rental and $220 to $260 for a 4-hour skippered charter.
You can also rent small sailboats and powerboats at
Orcas Boat Rentals,
Deer
Harbor Marina, Deer Harbor Road (
&
360/376-7616;
www.orcasboats.com),
which charges between $175 and $225 for an 8-hour rental.
GOLF
Golfers can head to the nine-hole
Orcas Island Country Golf Club,
2171 Orcas Rd. (
&
360/376-4400
) near Eastsound. Nine holes cost $22 and
18 holes cost $30. Golf carts are an additional $15 to $20.
HIKING
With 33 miles of hiking trails, Moran State Park offers hikes rang-
ing from short, easy strolls alongside lakes, to strenuous, all-day hikes. South of
the community of Olga, on the east arm of the island, you'll also find a half-mile
trail through
Obstruction Pass Park
. This trail leads to a quiet little cove
that has a few walk-in/paddle-in campsites. The park is at the end of Obstruc-
tion Pass Road. You can learn all about the natural history and plant life of the
islands on guided hikes offered by
Gnats Nature Hikes
(
&
360/376-6629;
www.orcasislandhikes.com). Half-day hikes ($30) head out on the trails of
Moran State Park, or take you by boat to another island to do your hiking ($65).
SCUBA DIVING
Sure the waters are cold, but they're usually quite clear and
there's lots to see. If you're interested in diving the waters off Orcas Island, make
arrangements through
Island Dive & Water Sports
(
&
800/303-8386
or 360/
378-2772; www.divesanjuan.com), which operates out of Rosario Resort. A
two-tank boat dive is $75.
SEA KAYAKING
The best way to see the Orcas Island coast is by sea
kayak. Located at the Orcas Island ferry landing,
Orcas Outdoors
(
&
360/376-
4611;
www.orcasoutdoors.com) offers guided sea-kayak tours lasting from 1
hour ($25) to overnight ($220). Three-hour guided tours ($49) are offered by
Shearwater Adventures
(
&
360/376-4699;
www.shearwaterkayaks.com).
Two-hour paddles ($25) are offered by
Spring Bay Inn
(
&
360/376-5531;
