When on island time I love to seek out a high viewpoint. Our hike on Turtleback Mountain had some…read moreof the most breathtaking views we had. There are two parking lots, one at the South trailhead and the other at the North. We took the South Trail to the West Overlook to the Ridge trail and stayed on it to the Ravens Ridge trail and the outside of Center Loop trail to return. The South Trail starts in the woods as it goes up and up to the ridge and mountaintop. The first mile and the early part of the hike were tough, it felt like walking on my elliptical with the ramp all the way up. You'll be quickly rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding islands. Did you pack a lunch or a beer? This was a perfect break spot. Carry on through the woods, fields and cliffs and complete your loop. Wildflowers were blooming anywhere the sunlight found it's way through the canopy. Simply stunning. Take a photo of the map at the trailhead Pack a lunch and beer You're going through the woods and exposed at the top, you need bug spray and sunblock Pack it in, pack it

Second Stop: "A Perfect Day on Orcas island" Collection…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/collection/Bgd9G40BjYMmHuJoM5MpHw Well this is an awesome hiking trail system with spectacular views. We did the short 1.5 mile to Ship Peak. 931" straight up and 931' straight down. That ham and egg omelet was sitting pretty heavy on the way up. LOL We have done other trails and they are all awesome. Check it out.

Super cool! Writing this as a manual wheelchair user who can limp a few steps with assistance. The…read moremain plaza is incredibly well-maintained and paved. The bathroom was accessible and clean. From there, the trail itself is mostly gravel with some uphill portions. Getting up to the main set of buildings was a workout for me, propelling, and another person pushing me. There are two paths, one gravel and the other semi-paved with concrete ridges. I would not recommend getting up there without help in a wheelchair, but it was certainly possible, and worth it in my opinion. The buildings are super cool. The area is surrounded by nature and mountains. We turned back after getting tired, but will absolutely come back better prepared to see some more stuff.

I went here with a group of people from a social group I am in and really enjoyed it a lot! It's…read morethe grounds where the defunct Nortgern State Hospital was. We went by soke run down buildings, one that was more of a food preparation area and they once grew fruit trees there for the facility. The fruit trees can still be seen and at the time we were here were bearing fruit! We also went to some old barns where livestock was once kept for the hospital. Those buildings were very impressive and a bit creepy. To add to that someone in our group went over some of the experiments that went on here as well as possible mishaps that they pulled up online. That definitely added to the creepy vibe. But still it was a very pleasant stroll as we also was in a nice field and encountered a babbling brook. It was a great outing with great company! I'd love to explore the grounds even more as I have a feeling some of the buildings I didn't get to see.

Small park on the water. Has great views. The awesome concrete flintstones car is really cool to…read moresee. Nice place to just sit and watch the water. Has a nice path that walks long the waters edge. Nice peaceful area to relax.

Okay so there is literally only one Flintstone car here and nothing else to make it worthy of…read morebeing. Allen Flintstone park :) BUT....it is on the waterfront and the historic waterfront area. So you can go down, eat, look at the view and take a picture in the car. Photo op :)

My sister and I went to Lutherwood summer camps in the 70s, her kids went there in the 90s and our…read moredaughter has gone the last couple of years. It was always a lot of fun. The counselors have always been young adults, trying to do their best. Canoeing, hiking, swimming, capture the flag were always fun. I hope the horrific time outlined in detail by Kelly C. isn't representative of the experiences others have outside of summer camps. Our church has done a couple of weekend retreats in March and they've been fun. I don't know anyone who has rented a cabin for a family retreat.

Lots of fun on the High Ropes course! Challenging, interesting and adventurous! Very cheap and…read moretotally worth the long drive.

When I'm in the mood for some gorgeous views over Anacortes, Cap Sante Park is one of my go-to…read morespots. Perched high on a point across the harbor from downtown, it's the perfect spot to take it all in. And with its northerly views, you can not only watch the boats arrive at the marina far below, but peer across the mountains for breathtaking sunny day views of Mount Baker, too. It also has a "lover's lane" vibe, so I'll give it an extra star for romance potential. There are a view benches, as well as rocky outperches, to sit and ponder all the beauty. Fall potential is high, so I wouldn't let little ones wander around on their own here. Parking can be a hassle on sunny days.

Went during a sunset and it was spectacular. Even saw a rainbow. There were parking spots when we…read moregot there though it was also a lot of people concerning it was already past 9PM. Wonderful views of the marina and the islands! And beautiful Mountain views.

Being a few weeks removed from my day here helps me appreciate this lil' park for what it is. You…read moresee, I did not have the most five-star experience here, but that's unique to my visit. I'll spare the details as they're not relevant to the park, but it involved my very active dog and a very expensive camera lens. So what can I say about Obstruction Pass that is relevant? Well, it's a tiny little park. But almost everyone I spoke to about my time on Orcas said they actually like it more than its big neighbor Moran, to the north. Situated on the southern tip of the eastern point of Orcas Island, it only occupies 80 acres. But among that 80 acres is a bit of precious beachfront; some of the only public beach space on the island of private developments and no trespassing signs. These are San Juan island beaches, so you'll find millions of rounded pebbles, not sand, lest you imagine frolicking barefoot down the beach. To reach the beach, you have to hike. There's a shorter trail than sort of hugs the seashore, and a longer one that goes over land and abuts private property. I took the wooded longer one to the north on the way in, then the beach-hugger on the way out. It's a short hike, not too strenuous, but it's certainly not ADA approved and it will take you a little time to reach the waters. The park features the trail, beach, a small campground, and restrooms. You access the beach down a couple of staircases, and the thick woods above provide lots of shade. I was here in the dead of winter, but even then I shared the beach with a very loud family, and a couple of other parties. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Be careful on those rocks. If you're, say, carrying a full camera and tripod rig and slip, you'll bounce all the way down the rocks into the water. Probably. And then, after your dog damaged your lens before, and you ended up falling into the water, you'll just pack up and get back to your car and call it a day.

Situated at one tip of Orcas Island, Obstruction Pass State Park is home to campers and…read moreshort-duration hikers. This is a great (less than) a mile hike to the beach and back with a pretty PNW view. Its not as big and majestic as Moren State Park, but its a great feeler for Orcas Island, and because of the size, you will notice more people around, when there are people around. We did this as a group of 6, quick in and out on our first day here. We saw a boat parked out on the water and a little house situated by the water. We didn't see many hikers here when we went on a late Saturday afternoon, but we saw a number of campers. *Porta potty's were available

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!

It's a hike that you must do in the Bellingham area, hell, in the state. It's one of those gems…read morethat everyone talks about - and I know in Washington, everyone talks about hiking trails, but this is one of those that you have to do...if you like hiking and are in the area. We spent a weekend in Bellingham and not gonna lie, Oyster Dome was one of the primary reasons for spending time up north. Located along the Chuckanut Drive on Blanchard Mountain, it's a hike with a rewarding view at the end. So yes, it's worth it. This hike is about a five-mile, round-trip trail with an elevation gain of just over 1000. It's a good climb, but not difficult or challenging. The parking area can get filled up quickly, and you'll likely see many people along the trail and definitely up at summit. It's dog-friendly; we saw a lot of dogs on the trail and brought our little hiker, too. You'll need a Discover Pass to park here and in the lot is where there are restrooms. The hike goes through a forested area, providing tree canopy and cooler temperatures. But some parts can be rocky, especially towards the summit. Descending was worse as it can be sore on your knees, so it felt longer going down than up in my opinion. The views are incredible. You can see the mountains, the valley and even Canada. Pretty amazing.

Yet another great hiking trail we softly explored, to help our toddlers calm down before we headed…read moreback home. Oyster Dome Trail has multiple markers for guidance throughout it. Now that we've all thawed out from the winter, exploring WAs beautiful trails, parks, and landmarks come naturally; investing in a Discovery pass could be helpful. We will definitely return, and recommend!