Hey all, going to Orcas Island for a birthday trip November 15th to 18th, just me and my small dog. My “weekend” is Tuesday/Wednesday so that’s why I’m doing a Sunday to Wednesday trip.

This is more of a spontaneous trip since I had some credits to book accommodations that I needed to use. Did a little more research later on about expectations for the off-season. Realistically how many restaurants and shops will be open during this time, especially during the weekdays?

I’ll mainly be doing some hiking and enjoying the scenery with my dog, but I always like to make time to explore local shops and restaurants too. Will most restaurants still be open? I don’t really want to cook. I’m fine with takeout but it’d be a bonus if there’s a restaurant or two I can dine in with my dog, and shops we can visit one afternoon. Staying about 5 minutes from Main St. Eastsound.

Hi, this may be the wrong spot but my teenager stumbled upon vintage postcards. She just thought they were pretty. We were reading the back of them and I saw the postmark was from 1908. We started googling the names and it’s all Capt. Andrew Newhalls family. We are not from the area and I’m not sure if these hold historical value? Would anyone care (ie historical society)? Thank you!

My family is traveling up to Orcas Island and my dad wants to explore and try to do some crab snare fishing (Dungeness) from shore (not bringing a boat). Are there any good spots to do this on the island? He's a fairly experienced fisherman just has not been to Orcas before.

True friendliness involves making a stranger feel included or comfortable.

i’m unable to make it but already have a reservatjon

Some people work really long days. Some people are very tired. Not everyone wants to hear your screaming, screeching, babbling child who you can’t keep in one area. Teach your kids boundaries and that other people exist. Not every single public place is their playground.

My fiance and I are getting married tomorrow on Friday harbor but we have no place to get dressed. She doesn't want to do the whole drive/ ferry ride in her dress. There is just 5 of us. Me, her, our moms and my best friend.

Right now her plan is to show up to the location and get dressed in a mini standing tent.

If you are interested in hosting some fun spur of the moment people let me know! (We would only need an hour or so)

Open Source Live cams from around Friday Harbor including the ferry line

My husband and I are planning an anniversary trip in a couple of weeks. We have our ferry times scheduled for arrival/departure but haven't scheduled the trips to Orcas and Lopez. Yesterday I had the option to schedule them but today I'm not able to - it tells me times but no longer has the names of the ferries to choose from. Google says you can't schedule interisland ferry travel and everything is first-come first-served, but I know yesterday I had the option to schedule it. I guess I'm confused how it works, any advice is really appreciated! If it is first-come first-served, how early do we need to be back at the ferry to be able to get on and back to FH? We are hoping to visit Orcas on a Saturday and Lopez the next day, Sunday.

While I'm here -

We'll be there during the Friday Harbor film festival and my husband is a filmmaker so we hope to attend. Is any one day better than the others to attend?

Any recommendations on dress/footwear is appreciated. Where we live we rarely get rain and the projected temps (H50's/L40's) is how cold it gets in the dead of winter for us. It's still in the 90's here! If I get cold easily, should I prepare to bundle up? (Is it silly to think skirts/dresses with layers will be warm enough?)

Thanks so much for your help.

We're flying into Seattle in a couple of weeks, and we had thought about going up and spending a few days in the San Juan Islands. We're looking at different places on San Juan Island to stay. We'd love to do a whale watching tour. We're renting a minivan out of Seattle (we'll have our four kids with us). What are some things that we could do in the San Juan Islands over the course of 2 to 3 days with four kids? Do we bring the van on a ferry over to Orcas Island for a day? Really interested to see the area, but honestly have no idea what to expect.

That’s the word on the street, heard at the orcas landing. Good luck if you’re trying to get off the islands

Me and a couple friends want to go to the San Juan Islands. Our plan is to leave the car at Anacortes and take bikes onto the islands and go island hopping for 2 nights. The problem is: we don't know what to do on those islands as teenagers that want some fun. Can anyone give some ideas?

I am staying on Orcas island for the week. We were here last year at the same time and I got this apple from the Co-op called a Red Love. They told me they were grown here on Orcas and it was the first place in the United States that had them. I came back this year and asked about them and they didn't know what I was talking about! Does anyone know where to point me to find these apples? Maybe even the farm that grows them? I was hoping to buy quite a few to take home with me.

😠

We are looking for someone who would want to share or privately lease a small cabin cruiser type boat for San Juan (or Gulf Islands) exploration next year and/or the year after. Looking for someone trying to offload part of their boat-owner expenses or perhaps looking to rent out a boat if they're going to be gone for the season or part of it. We don't have a truck, so it would probably have to be a boat in a slip (preferably in Anacortes or Blaine). If you might be interested or have some suggestions, please direct message me. (I'm not interested in paying the labor costs, profit margin, etc. of for-profit "clubs.") Thanks!

Always love visiting. Shot with canon r6 mii + rf 200-800mm.

1: Ruby crowned kinglet

2: Northern house wren

3: Red tailed hawk

4: Black tailed deer

5: North american river otters

6: Pelagic cormorant

7: Coopers hawk

8: Double crested cormorant

9: Belted kingfisher

10: Bald eagle

11: Black tailed deer

12: White crowned sparrow

13: North american river otter

14: Merlin

15: Short billed gull

16: Short billed gull

17: Common loon

18: Common loon

19: Harbor seal

20: Dragon fly sp.

Hi, planning a stay in Anacortes and want to travel to Friday harbor and orcas island. I saw that for the summer it was recommended to book ferry rez. Is that super necessary for an early October weekend trip? Will it still be hard to get on the ferry with a car or is it ok to wing it?

My wife and I are spending a few days in the islands late October-early November. We enjoy things like park, wildlife, quiet walks, sitting looking at scenery and any seasonal events that may be happening. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Help expand access to community farming in the San Juans.

Puget Sound Urban Farming Survey

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