Exchange with this member
Cottage on beautiful Orcas Island, USA
If you are intrigued by the broader ecosystem of British Columbia, Canada, the novels of Snow Falling on Cedars and Sea of Tranquility, and the wonders of sitting cliffside to bodies of water (the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea) that are home to Orca whales, then Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest will enchant and captivate you.
Orcas Island is one of the four major islands that make up the chain of the San Juan Islands, located about 120 kilometers north of Seattle, Washington. Identified by the New York Times, major travel magazines like Lonely Planet and numerous media outlets as among the most scenic places to visit in the U.S., Orcas Island offers an unparalleled Northwest experience (see www.orcasislandchamber.com/orcas-island-in-the-news for countless articles and awards about this cherished place). In addition to its scenic wonders, Orcas Island is enjoying increasing attention for its food and artistic offerings. Hiking, kayaking, whale and wildlife watching are just a few outdoor opportunities that time on Orcas offers to nature enthusiasts.
Our Orcas cottage has been in our family for decades, with more recent renovations and updates (e.g., new interior, new furnishings, paint, and bedding). The cottage is located on the waterfront, facing due west toward Jones Island, so we are treated nightly to some of the most beautiful sunsets imaginable. Because of its proximity to the water, we also regularly hear the sounds of sea life--otters, eagles, salmon and occasionally Orca whales--as they emanate up from the Sound.
The cottage is divided into an upstairs, with kitchen, bedroom (with queen-size bed), bathroom (with soaking tub), living room, small dining area, wood stove and a large picture window with water view. Linked by a shared hallway, the downstairs is designed as an open studio apartment, complete with sleeping area (with a king-size bed), living and dining area, kitchen and bathroom (shower only). The upstairs also has a pull-out queen sofa as well.
Because our Orcas cottage is not our primary home, we are open to non-simultaneous house exchanges that best fit our respective travel schedules.
Listing Overview
Property
- Bedrooms 2
- Sleeping Capacity 4
- Bathrooms 2
- Living Area m2
- Total Area m2
House rules
- Small children are welcome Yes
- Pets are welcome No
- Non-smoking house Yes
- Pet care wanted No
- Car necessary Yes
Exchange dates
The member has not specified any exchange dates
Exchange periods
The member has not specified any exchange dates
Neighborhood
About the neighborhood
Our island cabin is located several miles outside of Deer Harbor, a beautiful spot with a marina, a resort, and a post office. Twenty minutes drive away is the island's major hub of commerce, the town of Eastsound, with plenty of upscale restaurants, shops, lodging, grocery stores, movie theater, and other major services (including a new public library). Aside from experiencing the physical beauty of the island (itself astounding), there are numerous recreational attractions--a lake for swimming, hiking at Mount Constitution, whale-watching boat excursions, sea kayaking, biking, sailing, picnicking, and browsing through shops that feature local products. There are also numerous family-owned (largely organic) farms dotted across the island that have regular visiting hours and tours for families. Orcas Island is considered by many to be the most picturesque of the San Juan Islands, and it is now home to many artists who sought out its rare beauty.
Orcas is one of the four major islands that make up the chain of the San Juan Islands, located about 120 kilometers north of Seattle, Washington. The Washington State Ferry Service (considered the most beautiful public transportation system in the U.S) serves Orcas Island. Travelers typically arrive at SeaTac International Airport and travel northwest on Interstate 5 to Anacortes, where they take one of about 10 scheduled ferry trips running throughout the day to Orcas. The ferries also make trips to all of the other major San Juan Islands (Lopez, Shaw, San Juan), in addition to several that go to Victoria in British Columbia, a nearby Canadian province. Visitors to Orcas Island often first stop in Seattle for a few days to enjoy this wonderful Northwest city, then travel north to the San Juan Islands via plane or ferry. Travelers also can visit Victoria, B.C. via ferry, or Vancouver, B.C. by car (about three hours by car from Anacortes).
For more information about Orcas Island, see www.orcasislandchamber.com.
For a current ferry schedule, see www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
Nearest Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International (Sea Tac)
House amenities
Vehicles included in exchange
- Use/Exchange of car 1
- Number of bicycles 0
- Number of children's bicycles 0
- Number of electrical bicycles 0
- Use of boat 0
House essentials
House features
Instruments
Accessibility
References
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Member since
2005
- 9 Exchanges made
We are a family of three (two adults and one young adult) who have traveled a great deal, including 9 house exchanges (both within the U.S. and internationally). Shelley is a professor of sociology and Jackson is an author and educator. Our son is at university and may occasionally (though not consistently) accompany us.
We joined Intervac in 2005 and over 15 years completed house exchanges with families in Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the U.S. We have not participated in house exchange for the past six years and are eager to resume our travels. As experienced Intervac travelers, we will care for your home as we would our own.
Destination Wishlist
- Open to any destination
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- France
- Spain
- Bruges, Belgium
- England, UK
- London, UK
- Berlin, Germany
- Paris, France
