A VISIT TO BEAUTIFUL ORCAS ISLAND PART 2

Hello there! In my last travel post I shared with you our weekend on Orcas Island. But, there was just so much beauty, things to do & see, and places to eat that I just have to share more. So today I bring you, A Visit to Beautiful Orcas Island Part 2.

Our first morning on Orcas Island we decided to spend the day exploring the island. Starting from our rented cottage near Deer Harbor we headed in the direction of West Beach where we would make our way to Orcas Island Pottery.

The road to Orcas Island Pottery is almost as fun as visiting there, as it’s a beautiful drive through an enchanting forest of old growth cedar and Douglas fir trees.

When you finally arrive at the oldest pottery establishment in the Pacific Northwest you feel like you’re entering a very special place.

Owned by a family of potters for four generations, much of the pottery sold here today is thrown by the Syd Exton, Granddaughter of the founder of the company, and her son who is carrying on the family legacy 4 generations later. There are also studio and guest potters who sell their wares here as well, each with their own distinct styles.

Located on a 100 foot high bluff overlooking President’s Channel, Orcas Island Pottery is housed in a network of several buildings and a charming garden filled with lovely pottery everywhere you look.

Pottery is found in every building, on every surface, and even embedded in the pathways as you stroll the grounds.

Naturally I didn’t feel I could leave without bringing home a piece of what seemed to be very well priced pottery. I admired this Sake Set…

but ended up purchasing this pretty handled bowl. They shipped it home for me and it arrived beautifully packaged and in one piece within a day or two of my return home. It now graces the coffee table in my Family Room.

Continuing our exploration of Orcas Island, we next headed to Moran State Park.

It’s a 5,252-acre park with five freshwater lakes and over 30 miles of hiking trails and camping spots.

Here you will also find Mt. Constitution, the highest point on the San Juan Islands at 2,409 feet. On a clear day one can enjoy views of the surrounding islands, the Cascade Mountains, and even some Canadian and American cities. For the best panoramic views one can climb the stone observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. However, as you can see in the photo below, it was not entirely clear the day of our visit but the view was still quite impressive.

Next on our driving tour of Orcas Island, we headed to the historic Rosario Resort and Spa.

Completed in 1909, Robert Moran, a ship builder and former mayor of Seattle built this popular resort and marina, which is now recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

It still retains its turn-of -the-century-esque decor which features Tiffany chandeliers and a Steinway Piano. The popular Mansion Restaurant serves Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, and I hear reservations are a must during the busy summer months.

Rosario Resort overlooks Cascade Bay, and this pretty, flower-lined walkway was a delight to stroll along and take in the beautiful view . You don’t have to stay in a room at the resort to take advantage of its amenities. This past summer our friends moored their yacht in Cascade Bay for a weekend and enjoyed Rosario’s restaurant, pool and beach area, and had treatments in the spa, all of which they enjoyed and recommended. But we were just there to take a look on our tour of Orcas Island.

By this time the day was growing long and hunger was setting in so we headed back to the town of Eastsound for dinner at the acclaimed Hogstone’s Wood Oven Restaurant. The chef/owner, Jay Blackinton, was recognized in both 2015 & 2016 as a James Beard Foundation “Rising Star Chef” Semi-Finalist. So, please stay tuned and in my next post I’ll take you dining at this popular restaurant.

So there you have it: A VISIT TO BEAUTIFUL ORCAS ISLAND PART 2

Thanks so much for dropping in! 

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All opinions expressed in this post are my own. All photos unless otherwise creditied are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission.