I T I N E R A R Y | S H O R T H O P S
Watch An Epic Sunset daiga ellaby photo
OLD CROP . NEW LIFE . “ The finest eating strawberry in America ,” is making a comeback .
After being nearly decimated by disease in the 1940s , the prized Marshall strawberry has been carefully recultivated by the Olga Strawberry Council . The jewel-like fruit has been praised by James Beard as , “ exceedingly handsome , splendidly flavored , pleasantly sprightly , aromatic and juicy .”
Though discovered in Massachusetts by F . Ewell Marshall in 1880 , the Marshall strawberry thrives in the Pacific Northwest . On Orcas Island , it became the bedrock of the island ’ s agricultural industry in the 1930s . At its height , the island ’ s strawberry fields spanned 450-acres and produced thousands of barrels of strawberries that were shipped all over the country .
Remnants of the strawberry industry can be found at the historic Olga Strawberry Barreling Plant ( now commonly known as the Artwork Building ). Constructed in 1938 , the building has been preserved by the Olga Strawberry Council and today houses a collection of art by local artists . But more exciting than the building are the beautiful fruit the council has helped recultivate throughout the island . In the spring of 2017 , a concerted effort to bring the Marshall strawberry back to Orcas was begun . Today , the succulent fruit can be found on the sunny fields at Sunny Slope Farm in Olga , the Inn at Ship Bay , Doe Bay Garden , Warm Valley Farm , Tap Root Farm , and Girl Meets Dirt ’ s garden .
WHILE BREATHTAKING SUNSETS CAN
BE found on any of the destinations throughout this archipelago , San Juan Island is home to the most public beach access – making it arguably the best place to watch the sunset .
And it ’ s hard to go wrong with any of these epic waterfront view spots . The most popular is Lime Kiln State Park , where whale watching enthusiasts can often be found looking for resident and transient pods at all hours .
However , the shorelines near Cattle
Point Lighthouse are equally as stunning and offer even more extensive trails . On the southern side of the island , South Beach offers the opportunity to make a small bonfire and stay cozy making S ’ mores . And running along the western edge is the Westside Preserve , located just south of the Lime Kiln State Park . This unique public trail has just a few parking pullouts , meaning visitors are treated to a relatively crowd-free experience . meybruck photo kenmoreair . com
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