best spot in Washington that I found in a whim for watching the sun set. easy to park here...just a…read morelot of roundabouts that you have to take if you decide to go here. and lots of sharp turns in the road as you progressively go downhill. be careful as you do so! I went here around winter time, so it was so cold that I did not want to get out of my car. the beach was...meh. gravel instead of sand. I really recommend that you just come here with your car so that you can sit in and admire from afar.

North Beach Outlook is an excellent opportunity to catch a glimpse at some of the most beautiful…read morecoastline on the island. These public coastal access points are one of my favorite amenities in the San Juan Islands. There is plenty of parking available, and the public beach access is about 100 feet wide. Visitors will find driftwood logs, and excellent views of the bay. The beach itself is comprised of large, round pebbles that make it difficult to walk without shoes. But there are many beautiful speckled stones, and twisted and whitewashed pieces of driftwood to look at. This beach is an excellent option for those wanting to steer clear of tourists and crowds.

An absolute favorite for good ole woods on the lake camping! Campgrounds have so much variety in…read moreshade, waterfront options, RV hookups, walk-in, and group sites. Their bathrooms and showers are well maintained, and the public use areas are always kept up as well. They staff a little snack shack where you can find limited swim gear and accessories, plus impressive snacks, coffee, ice cream, candy, etc. The lake is a non-motorized boat lake, but they rent out water toys or bring your own float islands and paddleboards. Mt. Constitution is also found within the park and is a must visit! Views into Canada and over the WA coast are to die for on a clear day. Whether you're visiting just for the day or longer, Moran State Park is an oasis worth experiencing!

This is probably the biggest highlight on Orcas Island if you're outdoorsy!…read more Lakes, scenic views, trails a plenty even leading to an ice cream finish, water activities, and on and on and on. I had only wished we had one more day. My group did the Cascade Lake Loop, Cascade Fall's, plus give or take hopping on to another trail to widen the "loop." Day passes are $10 bucks and go off an honor system with completing a short form with vehicle and govt issue ID details and dropping them into a collection box. Plenty of places to park near multiple different trail entrances. The trails are well maintained & the trees are massive. Sugar shack offered up some delicious ice cream during our widening of said loop. There were clean bathrooms and a large playground located near this pit stop. Plenty of entrances/parking to different trailheads can be found along the outskirts. Definitely recommend for anyone taking a vacation on Orcas Island. And as always practice leave no trace!

Did a whale watching trip with Gabe and Elliot and it was incredible! The boat is just the right…read moresize (wouldn't want to be in one of those tiny Zodiac boats or one of the giant boats with 50 other people!!) and both Gabe and Elliot were so knowledgeable about the whales and other sea life that we saw. I was very impressed and will definitely book again!

Took boat out of Lopez Islander. 10/10 experience. TK and Jake crewed. Loved the small sturdy boat…read moreand the great visibility. Only a dozen folks on board and you can see everything from your seat thru big open windows. We saw bald eagles, steller sea lions, orcas, a grey whale, a minke whale, harbor seals, and lots of seabirds. Good explanations. Loved every minute.

Plan ahead. Cash only. There is an ATM at KeyBank up the road. No bathroom nearby. This is a small…read morehike from town, so I would recommend driving. It was quick and easy for us to get out on the water. We had a good time.

My family and I have now enjoyed the folks at Crescent Beach for several years. We've gone in large…read moreand small groups from ages 10 to 68. A gorgeous place to paddle around and enjoy the waters of Eastsound. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for some time in nature. Both Dave and Joan are very knowledgeable and generous with their experience and local happenings such as whale sitings, wildlife spotting and latest goings on with the "locals". Can't wait to take the family back out.

YES. Go here any chance you get. AMAZING. We sailed here it there was a charter boat that…read morebrought people/campers up. It's worth the trek!!

The staff is super helpful with bookings! I highly recommend giving them a call with any questions.read more

Some friends were visiting from out of town and my wife thought of an evening kayaking tour with…read moreShearwater. Jeff took us, not the owner, Jeff Z, but a young man from Anacortes. He lead us on an astonishingly beautiful trip and took excellent care of us. Everyone loved it. We're all still up at 12:30 in the morning talking about how much we enjoyed it! Thanks to Jeff, our guide, and Jeff Z, for running a consistently fantastic tour company.

One of my favorite parks in the San Juans for hiking, kayaking and boating. Beautiful views all…read morearound, and the wildlife from eagles to seals to whales is awe-inspiring. If you have an opportunity to travel here, go for it!

If you have a boat (or, even better, a friend with a boat) and you live anywhere in the vicinity of…read morethe San Juan Islands then fill 'er up and head on over to Sucia Island State Park. I recently was invited out with some friends on their new boat (did I mention how lucky I feel sometimes?) and we had an AMAZING day tied up at the main dock, barbecuing fresh salmon, tossing back a few cold ones, playing some cards, and enjoying a nice relaxing Sunday on the island. There's a lot to love about Sucia. It's isolated (accessible only by boat), uncrowded (because, let's face it, not everybody has a boat), unscathed, and beautiful...yet still has a few "creature comforts" that we semi-outdoorsy types love (like pit toilets, picnic tables, and even cell phone service). If you don't have a boat you can catch one from Orcas or another nearby island - some will even haul your kayak over, too, so you can enjoy some quality time paddling around the island and its beautiful inlets and bays. There are also several lovely campsites right by the main boating dock - can't wait to get back here with my tent, my kayak, and a good book or two. Just remember, if you go on a weekend day get here early for the best spot at the dock!

This was the first experience that my wife and I have had whale watching. We decided to arrange a…read moretrip with Western Prince and stay on San Juan Island for a couple of nights in conjunction with it. Our guide was Allison on the boat piloted by Captain Ivan. They offered gear for the trip, including weather bibs, jacket, gloves and knitted caps, which were definitely needed for the trip. Allison provided excellent information on the wildlife in the area, of which we saw (and heard in many cases) sea lions, a sea otter, a blue heron, bald eagle, and of course, whales. Captain Ivan provided a great deal of information to our tour also, describing the interface with other tours in the area, such as how they communicate sightings and limiting time in the area in concern for the wildlife. Several aspects of the experience stood out to me: -Everyone was very welcoming, making sure everyone was prepared for the trip (gear, preparation for limited restroom access, safety, etc.) -The boat is an open design, with nearly 360-degree views, with the seating being bench style seats for very comfortable for the approximate 3-hour tour. Viewing other tour boats in the area, I was glad we chose Western Prince if only for the boat environment/atmosphere alone. -The size of the tour was approximately 20 people, which made the tour more personal. -Captain Ivan demonstrated his experience with tracking the behavior of the pod that had been sighted, with the final surfacing of the family (Orcas) approximately 75 feet from the bow on the port side of the boat, which he had only minutes prior had killed the engine expecting them to show, which they did. He didn't "chase" the whales and location, he just acted on his knowledge of their behavior to position the tour accordingly. Also, a lone sea otter had been spotted in the area recently, and as we headed back to port, he recognized him playing near a buoy, and we slowed down to watch him for a little bit. It was very impressive. -Allison demonstrated her knowledge and experience describing the behavior and environment of the wildlife. Her longevity with the company demonstrated her commitment to share and inform others of this amazing area of the world. I really can't say enough good things about the experience.

Katy (our naturalist) and Bethany (our captain) were both extremely knowledgeable and attentative,…read moretaking time to take care of other passengers who were feeling a little under the weather, pointing out each animal with contagious enthusiasm. Our daughter was made to feel both special and grown-up. We got to see a number of whales pretry close-up while Katy described in detail their behaviors, habits, etc. Absolutely would book again.