CD
Girl s ’ Getaway
Why
Orcas Island Should Be Your Next
Low-key adventures loaded with
scenic views and an internationally
acclaimed food and wine scene, make
Orcas Island the ideal testosterone-free,
comfy jean destination.
E
By MIKAELA JUDD
VEN THOSE BORN AND RAISED in the
Pacific Northwest may not have heard
of the San Juan Islands. I hadn’t until my
mid-20s when I took my first seaplane ride.
The remote archipelago sits as close to Canada as
it does to the lower 48. Like a marooned captain’s daydream,
the roughly 175 forest-covered rocky inlets feature lush
farmland, freshwater lakes, and protected coves.
The pristine beaches and 247-days with sunshine make this the
ideal vacation for families and couples. But, the San Juans are
also the perfect place to relax, unwind, and catch up with your
best girlfriends — especially Orcas Island.
In fact, the Emerald Isle (as it’s fondly nick-
named), was recommended by The New York
Times as one of the top 52 Places to Go in
2019 for its “impressive tide-to-table culinary
scene and experimental wines.”
Shaped like a horseshoe, Orcas is the
largest of the San Juans. The topography is
as varied as the culinary selection, ranging
from windswept meadows and rocky beach-
es to a small mountain summit and lush rain
forest. Here crops thrive, artists abound, and
rental cars are left unlocked with the key inside
waiting for the next fare.
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explore: NW | The Official Magazine for kenmore air | Spring 2019