OMG this place is out of my expectation! There are cats and deer and sheep!…read more We booked this campsite on the same day we arrived on Lopez island, kind of hectic but everything worked out well. It's only a 5 minute drive from the ferry, very convenient and easy to access. Even though our campsite 11 was the one closest to the road, but after dark it wasn't noisy at all, until half past six in the morning when visitors are coming from the ferry again. I slept well here. The ground was dry and clean, there weren't slugs sprawled on the tarp like butter spread on bread the next morning. The picnic table and two Adirondack chairs were in good condition, so we didn't use our camping chairs at all. There were several clean bathrooms with hot water and hair dryers in the campground, this is really a bonus for me when it comes to summer camping. I spent some time playing with the two lovely farm cats, Nori (the short tail) and Kombu (the long tail). Both of them are kind of aloof, not the most affectionate ones, but you know, they are cats and that' why we love them. I'd say the price for tent camping was slightly higher than Odlin Park's, but based on my experience and the campsite quality, I think it was totally worth it.

A splendid getaway location with ample space and accommodations. A basket of goodies is provided…read moreevery day (which includes fresh grounded coffee!). The cottages are Scandinavian in style and thus very simple and clean and elegant. Very quaint. A perfect, quiet place to get away or even work remotely. Definitely a place I'd come back to any day of the year.

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!

First off, the location's wrong. This place is located right next to Obstruction Pass State Park…read more Use the directions on their website to guide you. Second, we didn't stay at the Inn, but boy do I wish I could afford it! The place is gorgeous! 57 acres of forest, a few trails including one up to a nice sunset bluff, and right on the beach (but an enviro-friendly 200 feet back, and nice preservation of the trees). This review is for the kayaking experience. We took a Saturday 9am paddle with Sandy (one-half of the owners). It was marvelous. They have the best-priced guided kayak tour on the island, and an excellent location to depart from. Sandy and Carl (her husband, the other owner), were friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. They answered all kinds of questions about Island life, environmental policy, wildlife, kayaking, etc. The gear was in great shape and they even had long boats (for the 2 tall men in the group) and gloves and boots for all. 8 of us went out in 4 boats and Sandy expertly assessed the group's interests and skills and kept us all herded and engaged. We saw bald eagles, seals, and plenty of intertidal stuff. After hearing that none of us had pressing engagements, Sandy stayed out with us an extra half hour, at least (hard to tell time on the water). Overall, a fabulous experience. Well worth the money (oh, and they take credit cards).

People have long watched the sunset from North Beach. They have started calling the cops on anyone…read morewatching the sunset. Are not good neighbors.

The location is the prime reason I would come back to Smugglers Villa. You just can't beat the…read moreview of the sunset from the back decks, big firepit right on the beach, and pool/hot tub with a stunning ocean view. We didn't even leave the resort in the evenings, just relaxed and enjoyed the amazing scenery and relaxation. The only downside to the location is the fact that it is right across from an airstrip- so you get to see a lot of little planes landing and taking off while you are sitting on that back deck. Well, it wasn't really a downside for us since the friends we were with know a ton about small planes so we enjoyed the coming and going. And, you couldn't hear the noise from inside the condo. The condo itself was nice, adequate, nothing fancy. It was clean and comfortable and the kitchen was reasonably well-stocked with dishes and cooking utensils. Mike at the front desk and Bo from the adventure outfitters were helpful and ready to make sure we had a great time. Great for families!

On Guemes Island in the Pacific Northwest just a few short nautical miles from Canada's coast lies…read morethe "Indian Village". A blast from the past type of place! Where time stands still because of it's remoteness! This is a small community of beach homes and cabins right on Puget Sound located on the West side of this beautiful little island. It's positioned looking at Cypress Island and ready to entertain you with really beautiful sunsets. This cool little isle lies in midst of the San Juan Islands where you'll see Bald Eagles, deer, coyote, seals, porpoises, orcas, salmon and when clear, the bluest skies anywhere! Like fishing? This place will put a smile on your face and some awesome fare on your table! Bird watcher? Bring your camera and binoculars all sorts of fowl coolness here! Long walks along the Sound in the fresh cool air here are exhilarating!!! Star gazer? Milky Way is not just a candy bar, it's visible! Want smore fun! Nothing like beach bonfires shooting stars, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers! A show and dessert! Nice! Residents and visitors here also love collecting these rocks called agates! What are they? They're semi-precious gem stones that come in all shapes, sizes, colors, clarity, and brightness! Google image them, cool stuff! Logistics- The only way on and off Guemes Island is a small ferry that carries about 20 cars. This island is about 70 miles Northwest of Seattle. The weather from May through October is optimum! Really late sunsets May-July. A great place to unplug and weeelax!!! As locations go, I have a few destinations that I call happy places and this is certainly near the top of my list!!! I could go on and on.... :-)))

My 8 year old son and I had a great experience here. We booked a one-hour horseback ride, but we…read moreended up getting an hour and half because they told us there was a group of wedding guests (this place does weddings) that had taken over the intended route with a post-wedding picnic, and they wanted us to have a more secluded experience. They gave us two wranglers for just the two of us, and both were knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. It's worth noting that the prices here are better than the other horseback riding outfit I'm aware of on the island that runs rides in Moran State Park. They don't actually seem to get a lot of business, even on mid-summer weekends -- which means that if you go with them you may well get a private tour like we did (hope they stay in business though!).

We went for a 2 hour ride yesterday and the experience was so positive I'm compelled to post here…read more I highly recommend these folks. Most importantly the care and consideration for the animals is obvious - from the kind of shoes they wear to how they introduce you to the animal. The grounds were impeccabley kept and a sprawling private experience. And the guide was born on the islands with a wonderful local perspective. I'm confident you'll feel good about going riding here. They were a little more money but well worth it.

There are really no words to describe how amazing it is to live a mere half-hour boat ride from…read morethis tiny little island state park where you can drop an anchor in its secluded harbor, find a waterfront campsite, and spend the weekend patting yourself on the back for how damn lucky you are to live here. Patos is one of the smaller of the public islands in the San Juans, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in stunning sunsets and beautiful, easy-to-access beaches full of driftwood and tide pools. The level path around the island can be easily walked in well under an hour, and there's a quaint, historic lighthouse you can tour when it's open on weekends. There are even pit toilets in a couple of spots around the island, and each campsite features a picnic table and fire ring for the low-low price of $12/night. What the island doesn't have is running water of any kind, so be sure to come prepared.

One of my favorite camping islands in the San Juans…read more The main camping area is located at the west end of the island near the cove between Patos island and Little Patos island. At the east end of the island there are a couple of small coves that you can anchor in, but there are no campsites on the east end of the island. I have been coming to Patos Island for over 20 years, and it has changed very little in that time. Sure they have installed new vault toilets that are much nicer than the old ones, and the old dock that was quite unstable has been torn down. The old military barracks that were out by the lighthouse have been removed, and the lighthouse has been opened up for tours now. Besides that the camp sites and general feel of the island is the same. The only way to get to this island is by boat, there are no houses (besides the lighthouse) on the island, no roads, no cars, and no running water. This island has quite a history, much of that is covered in a book called The Light On The Island which is an great read if you are visiting the island. The book was written in the 1950's by the daughter of the lighthouse keeper who lived there from 1905 to 1930. The harbor between Patos island and Little Patos can be a challenge to anchor in (I haven't had a problem but I have seen others have trouble). There are 2 buoys that you can pay a fee to tie up to, or you can drop your own anchor. As the tide comes and goes, the current can get quite strong closer to beach area by the campsites. On more than one occasion I have seen someone anchor close to the beach with a rope running to shore tied to a tree or log. Not such a good idea because people who do that usually end up with their boat on the beach when the tide goes out. The harbor is very shallow at low tide, 4 to 5 feet deep in many areas, but as you get out towards the anchoring buoys it gets deeper. From the campground you can see a variety of wildlife, some amazing eagles, or annoying wasps and yellow jackets. One night while camping we awoke to Orcas splashing in the water right next to the campsite. You may occasionally spot a river otter in the bay, or porpoise off shore. Be sure to take the short walk to the lighthouse, it can be amazing at sunset. As you approach the lighthouse in the large grassy field, you may notice some cement footings from old buildings, the ones right near the cement Patos Island sign are the footings from the original lighthouse keepers house which burnt down years ago. Any cement footings at the edge of the grassy field by the trees are of the old military barracks that where on the island. Scuba diving is amazing along the south side of the island, with amazing sea life to be seen. Beware of the currents, it can get a bit strong, but if you are up for a drift dive with a live boat, it can be an amazing ride. Keep in mind that there is no running water on the island so you need to bring fresh water with you. The closest place to refill if you need more water is on Sucia island.

It's a ferry terminal right on the water. With a large grassy area with picnic tables. You can even…read morewalk down to the waterfront and soak in the beautiful view before heading out. Any interaction I've had with any ferry workers has been nothing but outstanding. Thank WA for having such an amazing ferry service so everyone can enjoy the islands. Be kind and be safe. SYOY!

Make sure to book both ways for your trip. The wait on Orcas to get back is ridiculous. The u…read morereliable ferry is always full and has a schedule that doesn't work, with long gaps and only 15 car spaces for people who don't book ahead.