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Orcas Island
Orcas is the largest of the 172 islands in San Juan County with shimmering emerald hills embraced by 125 miles of rocky, tree-lined shoreline. Orcas is the diverse island. Its three long inlets thrust deep into the interior of the island, giving it more shoreline and protected waters than any of the neighboring islands.
Once home to countless generations of Native Americans prior to the arrival of its first white settlers in the late 1850’s, the new white settlers lived harmoniously with the Native Americans and many married native women and started families. Settlements grew slowly until improved steamship routes and increased commerce brought more tourists to the island.
The island’s business center is the village of Eastsound with all the amenities one would expect. Many of the hamlets at Orcas Landing, West Sound, Deer Harbor, and Olga have general stores, noteworthy shops and galleries, picture-perfect lodging, and restaurants. The east side of the island is dominated by woodsy Moran State Park with mountaintop vistas and miles of trails. Nearby is the quiet grandeur of historic Rosario Resort.
Orcas recently received a great deal of attention when Oprah Winfrey opted to purchase a home on the island, putting a spotlight on this jewel-like place. Food for thought…
Beyond the Border – Visit Sidney, B.C.
As you venture around the islands, you will often see Canada looming in the distance.
The end of March brings the return of the ferry from Friday Harbor to Sidney, British Columbia which can be interpreted to mean a great opportunity for a fun getaway!
Sidney is located on the shore of the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the Saanich Peninsula amidst the Gulf Islands with Mount Baker standing in the distance. Sidney is a fun place to visit with a high quality of life and a welcoming atmosphere.
The pedestrian-friendly downtown with enchanting street statues and murals offers a vibrant boutique shopping district, museums, galleries, and businesses providing unique products and personalized service. With an abundance of new and used bookstores, one can enjoy many hours of browsing. Additionally, there is a diverse assortment of fabulous restaurants offering excellent meals, catering to all tastes.
There is a great walkway that offers a flat, barrier-free surface to stroll along the waterfront with benches, picnic tables, gorgeous gardens, and mesmerizing views of Sidney Island, Mount Baker, and more. The walkway passes Port Sidney Marina, Beacon Park and Beacon Wharf at the end of Beacon Avenue. Continue past Diver’s Point, the Bevan Fishing Pier, and Eastview Park. If you are up for a longer walk, continue past the ferry terminal.
For those who opt to drive on the ferry rather than walk on, there are more options. Victoria is a mere twenty minute drive from Sidney. Go exploring! There are some pretty great things on the outskirts of Sidney proper. You might want to treat yourself to a meal at Deep Cove Chalet – you won’t regret it!
For those with private boats, you might consider venturing to Poet’s Cove on Pender Island. It is the quintessential retreat with moorage and access to restaurants and amenities. For a two night stay, moorage is complimentary.
A Place in the Islands
Sacred partnerships arrive in our lives in many forms; sometimes consisting of wood and stone, rather than flesh and bone. There is a deep peace and contentment to be found in the intimate connections with places as well as people.
Every relationship we have – with other people, with our work – reflects in some way our soul’s intimate union with ourselves. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the relationships we have with a home. We deserve to live in a home that welcomes, embraces, nurtures, delights, and inspires.
When we find ourselves there, we recognize it. It is a vision of something we have had in our mind and the discovery, quite often, has the characteristics of an epiphany. We have the feeling of coming home. It wraps itself around us.
The same is true of a getaway – a haven, a retreat, a refuge – a special place that offers a sense of sanctuary. Families, couples, and singles – regardless of gender – share an urge that borders on primal to have what can be called a getaway. Whenever we find this special place, we add a richness to our wondrous, but sometimes hectic, lives by following our vision to create a getaway of our very own.
To live on an island is to experience a life apart. The island home reflects the owner’s reason for escape. Island homeowners are individualistic, socially conscious, and creative with every home fulfilling its owner’s dream of privacy, harmony with the surroundings, and more importantly, providing a chance to take a closer look at the world.
Living at the water’s edge is an almost universal desire. It is different – where two worlds meet; a little piece of infinity. Magic!
