Orcas, Washington
This cabin is located on a ferry-served island in the Salish Sea between the mainland of Washington state and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is approximately five miles east of the Orcas Village and is truly off the beaten path. As you leave the Village, the road meanders through pastoral views giving way to an old-growth forest of Douglas fir and cedar and finally to Lake Killebrew. You are venturing far from the crowds and stress of everyday life. Our cabin is situated at the end of a winding country road on the edge of a south-facing, mossy knoll with great filtered sun all day. A mix of Shore pine, Douglas fir and Madrona surround and shelter the cabin. The reflection of the afternoon sun through these trees dances across the water providing a truly magical sight.
This unique retreat provides ultimate privacy and also takes you back to an era of simpler times. An antique wood-fired cook stove, cedar log walls, fir and pine floors, hand-peeled railings, and braided area floor rugs exemplify the décor. The main level has one bedroom, one bathroom, a great room, dining room and kitchen. The master bedroom is located on the upper level. Additionally, there is a sleeping loft and a sitting area on the second floor. A unique log stairway provides access to the lower level for storage and laundry.
Common activities on Orcas Island include relaxing, wildlife viewing, hiking, boating, beach-combing, biking, and kayaking.
The seclusion promoted and anticipated for the property was spoiled with the unexpected and frequent noise (not the hosts' fault ) from low flying float planes, small commercial planes, helicopters, recreational flights, passing watercraft, ferry horns and neighborhood construction. The noise did cease at night and the ambiance was truly stress free and wonderful. The cabin description was fairly accurate but lacked some important details for any of us with a few years under our belt: The stairs to the upper loft bedroom had very narrow stair treads making navigation difficult. The laundry room was inconvenient due to the narrow spiral stairs without handrails leading to the basement that had a few scary, wobbly treads and also required passage through two sticky doors. We were shocked when the host added additional charges for pest control services because he blamed us for allowing mice into the home during our 30 day stay. How can guests be responsible for mice infestation? He had left instructions for window operations which we followed to the letter. This unsupported accusation combined with the extra added fees left us with very bad feelings for the stay. We will not be making a return visit.
If you want quiet and peace - this is your place! It is so hard to find true stillness nowadays, but this cabin in the woods has it! It is surrounded by a peaceful forest, with glimpses of the water on three sides. The neighbors are there, but you rarely see or hear them. I agree with the other reviewers that the pictures do not do the place justice. The exterior is humble, but the interior is spacious with high ceilings and lots of windows. The upstairs bedroom is a large loft space great for getting really good sleep. Todd was respectful and quick to respond to queries.
I really enjoyed my stay at the cabin, its a lovely home and location. Todd was great to work with, thoughtful and prompt.
We really enjoyed our stay at the cabin. Cozy and private, the cabin is nestled into the side of a hill and surrounded by trees. We loved Guthrie Cove and visited every day to watch the otters and eagles:)
We found the cabin most cozy and comfortable, a home away from home. Our purpose was to experience the winter climate in the San Juan Islands, and explore the off season there. I enjoyed the wood burning kitchen stove for additional warmth and winter ambience. Homemade baked goods and coffee on the sunny morning deck off the kitchen was a highlight! This area of the island offers a remote privacy and especially beautiful hikes along the forested shoreline. Shared our time there with sightings of deer, turkeys, ravens, cormorants, herons, mink, ducks, swans and eagles. And, so enjoyed the ferry system for our inter island explorations!
I spent six wonderful months here - April through September. It's situated up on a rise, and natural daylight floods the cabin all day long. The deck, which wraps almost all the way around, is a great place to relax and read. The cabin is very cozy and comfortable - I could have stayed here forever! Orcas Island is a delightfully unique place, as is the cabin. I fell in love with both!
We so enjoyed our stay at the cabin. The one month period was just enough time to explore the island. Lots to do and see!! Never in my life have I slept as well as I did. The quiet is overwhelming. The cabin was well-supplied and cozy. Without the aggravation of TV and internet, we listened to the radio and read while sitting on the veranda. The beach cove around the corner is a fun walk, and depending on the tide--always a treasure hunt. We hope to be repeat visitors.
We have stayed here on a number of occasions and always leave knowing we will be back. The cabin itself is beautiful (much more so than the pictures show). The beds are comfortable, the kitchen is fully equipped and the wrap around porch, with Adirondack chairs, is perfect for drinking coffee in the morning or having a glass of wine at night. There's a small secluded beach with tide pools within walking distance and a grassy knoll complete with a driftwood bench just next to the cabin where you can sit and feel like you are the only person in the world. It's so secluded and quiet you would never know that you are just a short drive to the ferry terminal and just a little farther down is the downtown area of Orcas Island. It's such a perfect place to relax and unwind in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, whether it be for a weekend or a month long stay. We can't wait to go back.
The cabin is beautiful and perfectly equipped...everything you need is there. The wrap around deck is fabulous and offered terrific views and wonderful ocean sounds. The listing pictures and property description are right on and all the amenities you need are provided. The cabin was very warm and comfortable....I would recommend this property and hope to return soon.
We were looking for a place to unplug for a few weeks. This cabin on Orcas Island was absolutely perfect! Orcas is an hour ferry ride from the mainland. We hiked Moran State Park and Turtleback Preserve. Groceries were available in a village at the ferry landing at a gourmet market. The cabin was clean and comfortable. Actually the photos did not do the property justice. We spent considerable time at the beach which was a short walk from the cabin. The setting could not be more peaceful. We would definitely recommend this property to a friend and we hope to be back ourselves.