THE OUTBACK Waterfront Home on Mitchell Bay San Juan Island

The house is one of the best we have ever rented. The location, the design, the kitchen was so set up with so many extras you don’t typically get - from spices to every kind of glass for any kind of drink, every kind of cookware, large set of dishes and utensils, anything to really cook and clean up with ease. Two fireplaces one with real wood and a log lighter for ease, the other gas. Everything we wanted to spend time with family - open layout to cook, converse, eat, watch tv all in one space. Beautiful area to walk, close to town. Just can’t say enough how comfortable and easy of a stay it was. Truly gave us the downtime we were all looking for. We went during winter and look forward to a summer stay and utilizing the kayaks and walks on the beach!

Amazingly well appointed House would recommend anybody stayed there multiple times. Always a treat.

The location and cleanliness of the property were great and the kayaks were a huge bonus! We also enjoyed the fireplace as the days were turning cooler! The kitchen was well stocked.

Would suggest that the owners clear some of the foliage to improve the water view from the deck. It wasn't clear that the 2nd full bathroom was up the driveway and in a detached garage, full of cars and stuff (also smelled like gasoline). Consequently, all six of us used the one inside bathroom with shower. Overall, the house is beautiful and in a good location.

The Outback is an outstanding property which met the needs of the 5 of us (all seniors). We enjoyed the deck with beautiful views of the bay and took advantage of the fire pit and bbq every night of our stay. The kitchen was well equipped and we appreciated the laundry facilities. The living space was comfortable and loved the windows overlooking the deck and water beyond. The game room and kayaks are a bonus although we didn’t utilize the ping pong table or get out on the water this trip. If there was anything a bit funky, it is the location of the 2nd full bathroom. It’s actually outside the main house in the garage a few steps up and across a gravel path. You enter the owner’s garage where two cars and typical garage stuff is stored. Not a great situation if the facilities are needed at night. Overall, there is so much to see and do on San Juan Island and the Outback provides a fantastic base from which to venture out whether it be to Roche Harbor, Friday Harbor, Lime Kiln Lighthouse or to one or more of the neighboring islands. (We took a day trip to Orcas)

Incredible location and beautifully maintained. We loved this house and will return!

We had a fantastic stay here! The house was great for three adults and two kids, with plenty of space, a well-stocked kitchen, and lots to do. Karen is a wonderful host who answered all our questions and even reunited us with a very important lost stuffed animal.

Wonderful location, quiet and relaxing. Would love to come back again.

My family and I didn’t want to leave. The property was

Our family had a peaceful stay at your beautiful home. We all enjoyed boating & Kayaking Mitchell Bay but the favorite was the ping pong table!

Great stay at Karen’s home. Very well kept and clean. Loved the water access and kayaks. Would definitely stay again.

Absolutely beautiful property. We enjoyed sitting on the back deck and looking at the water. The kids enjoyed going down to the boat deck and watch the crabs in the water and the boats go in and out of the harbor. The inside of the house is beautiful as well and we liked having the game room for the kids to play table tennis and watch TV during down time. The house is about a 15-20 minute drive from Friday Harbor, which we didn't mind the drive through the beautiful rolling hills. You are right next to Snug Harbor Resort, but it's a small quiet resort and it has coffee! We would highly recommend this house to anyone staying on San Juan Island.

Gorgeous house with a spectacular view near Snugg Harbor. The house was well-stocked and had all the amenities. Plenty of room for 4 adults. Easy access to all island sites. Very peaceful and quiet place to relax and spend time with family and friends.

We had an awesome time at Karen's home and it could not have been more perfect for our 4th of July getaway. Very clean home with a great kitchen (everything you need to cook/host), TV, Kayaks, beautiful view, and very dog friendly. Thank you for sharing your home!

We had an amazing week staying at The Outback! Karen's home and property are beautiful, comfortable and perfectly located. The rental process was seamless from payment, to check in & check out. When we arrived we grilled up dinner and hung out on the deck, got cozy by the fire roasting marshmallows and as the sunset, watched the sky turned into the perfect blue backdrop. During the week, early morning coffee walks & kayaking with the local harbor seals, became our most enjoyed routine and we closed out each night with wine & puzzling! The deck with patio furniture, grill & gas fire pit was an amazing place to read, chat and nature watch. We saw bald eagles and owls fly right overhead. The kitchen is fully equipped for cooking and baking. The extra shower in the garage apartment came in handy with 6 people getting ready each day. This trip was such a magical experience and we were so lucky to stay in such a peaceful and connected place.

The house is spacious, clean and well appointed. The yard and landscaping are lovely. The view of the bay is great. The only negative is that it is adjacent to Snug Harbor Resort and there was a lot of noise from the parking lot in the evening.

Great house, perfect location

Wonderful stay, super large yard and waterfront

We had a lovely time kayaking and exploring the island. The house was comfortable and had what we needed. The kitchen is fabulous. Sad not to have the deck fireplace, but otherwise everything was great.

Great household amenities, nice to have use of the kayaks as well.

Very quiet and relaxing. Well furnished kitchen. Comfortable furnishings. The second full bath is in a garage structure separate from the house. We did not use it and I don’t see most people wanting to use it unless you have a big group.

Great location, very quiet and relaxing. Home was very clean and well appointed. The back deck and yard were great for hanging out. We would definitely rent this property again!

Overall, we had a great time at this Vrbo. However, there are a few things to note that weren't clear to us until after we booked: 1) The property manager requests direct payment (instead of payment through Vrbo). I hadn't encountered this on Vrbo before, so at first I thought it was a scam. It caused a bit of a headache because I had to first contact Vrbo to verify. 2) The property does have 2.5 baths, but one of them is in the garage that is not connected to the main house. We didn't realize until we arrived that you have to go outside to access it. It was a bit inconvenient to use and smells like gasoline. 3) There are 3 beds, but one of them is not located in a proper bedroom. In the description it does say it is a Murphy bed in the game room, but it wasn't clear that the room has large windows that do not have blinds, so it gets quite bright in the morning. We had an issue with unwashed/dirty bedding in the primary bedroom but the property manager was quick to respond and provided satisfactory service recovery. Things we loved about the property: - Kitchen is well stocked with dishware, cookware, and spices; there's even a blender and food processor - The 3 kayaks (2 singles, 1 tandem) made it easy to get out on the water and enjoy the area - Spacious dining/living room area for the group to hang out in - Property manager was quick to respond when we had questions

Wonderful visit. Great property and great accommodations. Would love to come back!

A beautiful home!! Karen was very helpful and patient with me.

Access to the water was easy. Kayak’s were great fun to use. Brought our own life jackets, but some were in the shed. Well stocked house. Was a little concerned as the house was right next door to Snug Harbor resort but it was not a problem at all. Area very quiet

The house was good for all our family needs. Good location on the island. Kayaks were nice. Just like previous reviews the 2nd full bathroom is in the garage that is not attached, and yes an eye mask to keep the light out of your eyes for whoever is in the Murphy bed.

This property makes our stay in San Juan so relaxing and enjoyable. The location to the marina is an easy walk. Karen communicates very well and is always easy to contact. The house has everything you need for a week stay.