Orcas, Washington
The Quinn Cottage
An Orcas Island Waterfront Retreat
San Juan County Permit #2004PROV006
The Quinn Cottage is a lovely waterfront home nestled on a sunny, wooded acre of land looking across Harney Channel to Shaw Island. The famous San Juan Island ferries and a continual romantic parade of pleasure boats sail by the cottage’s view throughout the day. The south-facing exposure catches the sunrise and sunset as well as all the sunlight and warmth possible through the seasons. It is a perfect location.
The cottage is just two miles from the Orcas Island ferry landing and public dock and the quaint Orcas Village with a well-stocked country market, shops and eateries, the Victorian era Orcas Hotel and Restaurant, movie rentals, whale watching excursion boats, and kayak rentals. Also two miles from the cottage is Bayhead Marina with boat slips and an easy boat and kayak launch ramp. Lake Killebrew, a small public lake only one mile away, is fun for fishing, hiking, and exploration.
An abundance of wildlife can be enjoyed from this pretty seaside retreat: deer, rabbits, raccoons, otters, mink, seals, bald eagles, heron, and an endless variety of other sea, shore, and land birds. At low tide the rocks at the water’s edge offer hours of exploration for oysters, starfish, crab, small fish, octopus, jelly fish, and other sea creatures.
Kayaking from this side of the island is fabulous. Other islands, coves, beaches, and villages are all within easy paddle distances. Rental guests are given information and advice so they can create their exciting kayaking adventures.
At night the sound of water lapping against the rocks and beach lulls visitors to sleep.
This light, airy, recently remodeled home has an open living room, dining room, and kitchen with vaulted ceilings, skylights, and floor to ceiling windows opening onto a large wrap-around main deck. The panoramic view from this 'great room' is stunning. It is also completely furnished with all the details of a cozy family cottage.
The home's sleeping areas include a private King bedroom, a private Queen bedroom, and a private office with a Queen bed, as well as two colorful bathrooms with showers.
The bedrooms have lovely pillows and spreads, cozy comforters, and high quality bedding and linens. The entire home has many European Bed and Breakfast touches and amenities.
Wood is supplied for the charming wood-burning stove in the living room. In addition every room in the home has its own baseboard heater and separate thermostat for year-round comfort.
The open, sunny kitchen is fully equipped for cooking, dining, and entertaining with lovely dishes, table ware, and linens. Even the gourmet cook will find the necessary appliances, cookware, bake ware, and utensils for any special recipe.
The pantry/laundry room has a washer and dryer, cleaning and laundry supplies, picnic ware, beach towels, and ample storage space. Many cooking essentials are available for use by the rental guest, including spices, herbs, coffee, tea, sugar and oils, and much more.
The large glassed-in upper deck and the water's edge lower deck have Adirondack chairs, dining tables, a gas barbeque, a gas fire pit for 'camp fires,' and a hammock. Both upper and lower decks are lovely spots for reading, relaxing, dining, and the constant viewing of water and wildlife.
The landscaped areas around the house have whimsical pieces of “exterior art” and other treasures. The acre of land beyond the house is covered with mossy knolls and sunny fields, creating a cushion of peace for the cottage. No road noise can be heard from this serene spot.
Other amenities of this inviting home include Fiber Optic Wifi, Dish Network television, puzzles and games, a large library of adult and children’s movies, and a DVD player.
Orcas Island itself offers many adventures, including hiking, sea kayaking, lake and ocean fishing, boating, whale watching, canoeing, shopping, beach combing, and biking, as well as day trips by ferry to other islands and Victoria, British Columbia.
The island has many local fairs and celebrations, open-air music concerts, quality live theatre, flea markets, garage sales, and farmers’ markets.
Eastsound, the main village on the island, and a 15 to 20-minute drive from the Quinn Cottage through pastoral farmlands and beautiful mountain vistas, is a charming town with many restaurants, specialty shops, and a major super market.
A stay at the Quinn Cottage leaves all visitors with lasting memories of adventure, escape, and rejuvenation. One of the Quinn Cottage vacationers said it this way: “As I sat on the cottage deck on the last day of our week’s stay, watching the sun slowly set over the shimmering water in front of me, I got a lump in my throat knowing that I had to leave this amazing place. I could see why the Quinn's have been coming here for more than thirty years and still can’t wait to return. I knew that I would return as well.”
We invite you to visit this special island and stay in our own magic spot, the Quinn Cottage. Please check our website calendar for available dates. We look forward to getting your request by email. Please also feel free to request by email additional photos, Google Map location, as well as more excerpts from the Quinn Cottage guest book.
No Smoking, No Pets, Consult with owners about children under 5.
Also see our #335603 Quinn Cottage San Diego.
Keywords: home, waterfront, view, wildlife, privacy, quiet
We spent a week at the delightful Quinn Cottage, just the two of us, and it was everything we hoped it would be! When we arrived, we were stunned by the exquisite setting. The cottage is nestled so naturally into its waterfront location, offering both incredible views and a sense of coziness all at the same time. The myriad of artistic touches, the numerous inviting nooks and crannies both inside and outside, and the endless opportunities for observing and enjoying the natural world made this property a real treat for all the senses. It is a quiet retreat, where watching the shore birds, anticipating the passing of the ferries, listening to the lapping of the waves, being awed by the sunrise and sunset from the various decks, and gazing at the setting moon and brilliant stars were all the entertainment we needed. The kitchen is well-stocked for serious cooking, all the better for staying put in the evenings to enjoy these incredible surroundings. The bed was super comfy, with a million dollar view right out the bedroom doors. The entire house was spotless, and filled with so many artful and homey touches, including cozy blankets, beautiful table settings, a great selection of books, and a welcome bottle of red wine. We loved the location, a quick drive to the local grocery, and lovely walks right from the door. Our hosts were responsive and helpful. It was a perfect stay in a very special home! Thanks Quinn’s for sharing your little slice of paradise with us! We will be back!
We really enjoyed our time at Quinn Cottage. Just my wife and I, looking to escape the heat of South Texas. Beautiful weather, a beautiful view from the back decks. The ferries go by in the water behind the cottage; they are a good distance away so they are not annoying, in fact, it is kind of mesmerizing watching them glide across the water. Its a bit of a drive to get over to the restaurants (which are mostly in Eastsound), but we liked the relative isolation of the cottage. We needed fast internet to conduct medical school interviews one day, and with both of us streaming (my wife inside, me on the deck) we were fine. It was just the spot for us; we highly recommend it :)
This is a beautiful house in an amazing setting on Orcas Island. The views of the water from this secluded property and house are spectacular. Similar to other reviews, we experienced so much wildlife right from the spacious living areas both inside and outside, including bald eagles, otters, seals, kingfishers, herons, lots of song birds and yes, even an Orca whale passing by one morning! A shared memory our family will never forget! Mary and Jeffrey are gracious and responsive hosts, and have a wealth of knowledge about Orcas and the other San Juan Islands. The house is well appointed with all manner of cooking appliances, an outdoor grill, and lots of amenities for preparing meals and having an enjoyable time at the house. We travelled with our two children and really enjoyed the quiet and solitude that this location offers, while also exploring the area and the island. An amazing getaway!
My wife and I rented this lovely waterfront cottage for a week in May. On our second morning we were having breakfast, looking out the window and drinking in the luscious view, when I noticed a large black fin rise up out of the water. A big orca glided by, perhaps 100 yards from our window, in no particular hurry. During our stay, we also saw bald eagles, otters, deer, wild turkeys, harbor seals, king fishers, blue herons, hummingbirds, and other wildlife, all from the property. Wow. This is a rare and special place.
Incredible views. Cottage very quaint and comfortable. Owner was amazing in providing detailed instructions about shopping prior to arrival, ferry reservations and activities to do once you arrived on Orcas Very comfortable accommodations
Charming and peaceful. Comfortable and thoughtful.
There are no words to describe this property. By far the best rental I’ve ever had. We spent a lot of time at the property because the views were simply incredible. Waking up to the sound of the waves crashing from the ferries running was absolute heaven. The kitchen was by far the best stocked I have used in a rental making it easy and convenient to cook meals. I only wish it would have been chilly enough to use the wood burning stove in the living room, but the weather was beyond amazing our whole visit. I’m hoping to come back and stay at Mary’s again soon. We’ve been gone almost a week now, and I still can’t stop thinking about it!
We are so sad to leave the Quinn Cottage today. We stayed four nights and this is our second visit. We spent as much time as we could sitting on the large deck watching the ferries. There are also large wrap around windows framing the dining - living area and facing the water. We spent time in Eastsound and also went hiking twice. Beds are comfortable. There is a full kitchen. We had everything we needed. Mary and Jeff are very responsive. Whimsical art pieces everywhere! Very fun.
Quinn Cottage a slice of island heaven. The waterside location is peaceful, with beauty everywhere. The cottage is very well equipped including lovely welcome gifts when we arrived. Also the provided information prior to arrival made ferry travel and trip preparation so easy. These are super hosts, kind, and so helpful. Truly a magical place.
Mary was so great and communicative. The house is very comfortable and cozy. View is incredible, outdoor area is fantastic! Will book again and refer for sure!
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Includes taxes and fees