My favorite memories of Deer Harbor on beautiful Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands are early on, back in the early seventies, when my grandmother lived at Spring Point, and was postmistress of the Deer Harbor Post Office (still located just above the Deer Harbor Marina on Orcas Island)!
While it is true that many changes have taken place since I visited Orcas Island as a child, the Washington state ferry boats sailing to the San Juan Islands still look the same and I swear, Deer Harbor grows more beautiful with age.
A unique place in time and space where water meets land, birds hang out and boats rock in time to the tides, Deer Harbor has much to offer the casual visitor and it could be the perfect place to repair or retire to at the end of a long day, week or life. I’m told the temperature in Deer Harbor averages 10 degrees higher than other parts of Orcas Island, and it seems fair to say that Deer Harbor delivers on the sunshine and temperature–when it is hot, it’s hot!
San Juan Islands boaters find safe haven in Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, and neighboring West S0und has a public dock and private marina as well. Seaplane flights from Seattle, Washington fly into both West Sound and Deer Harbor by arrangement. Washington State Ferries sail daily from Anacortes, Washington to the Washington State Ferry Terminal at Orcas Landing, a short drive away.
You can open water kayak from the Deer Harbor Marina, or set sail on a whale watch adventure among the San Juan Islands. Camp 4 Winds, an Orcas Island youth summer camp, is just around the corner from Deer Harbor Marina, and there are a number of fine Bed and Breakfast Lodging Accommodations on and overlooking the water. All in all, Deer Harbor is an excellent destination in the San Juan Islands for any occasion, including weddings, family reunions and honeymoon style retreats! Whale watch here!
