Beneath the picturesque view from the Water Edge Suites at Outlook Inn is a beach that feels almost private .
There ’ s nothing quite as freeing as running through the water at low tide , looking for the perfect starfish to photograph . Below , the outdoor tables at Buck Bay Shellfish offer the perfect setting for enjoying freshly harvested oysters , clams and more ! Bottom , the best way to introduce your kids to new things , like shellfish , is to get them as involved and close to the process as possible . lisette wolter-mckinley photo when your child is born and when they turn eighteen . After reading that article I made a conscious decision that once I had children , I would never let a weekend go by without unstructured exploring , adventure , and family time . Every parent desires to instill certain values into their children and for me , a top priority is a love of nature .
Living in the Pacific Northwest , we are fortunate to be surrounded by forests , oceans , beaches , mountains , and everything in between . As a parent , I want to take full advantage of my surroundings . So rather than spoil my children with trips to Disneyland and plastic toys they will easily lose interest in , I have spoiled them with ferry rides , whale watching trips , kayaking adventures , and hours upon hours of beach time .
On this trip we visited both Orcas and San Juan Island . Orcas is great for small-town vibes and offers many diverse places to hike , shop , camp , and beach comb . When I think of Orcas Island , I picture the white picket fences of Eastsound , moss-laden Moran State Park , and acres upon acres of farmland .
San Juan Island is a great hub for adventuring and experiencing the beauty of the San Juans while still enjoying all the modern conveniences right at your fingertips . With the San Juans , picking a favorite island is difficult , so you really have to experience them all for yourself and see what fits your personality best .
Start on Orcas Island
Wake up to the sound of waves in your
perfectly appointed Water ’ s Edge suite at Outlook Inn . Make the short jaunt across the street to New Leaf Cafe for a hearty breakfast of waffles , biscuits and gravy , or eggs benedict to fuel your day . Next , load up the car and head out to Moran State Park to be amongst the trees and hike Cascade Loop Lake or Mountain Lake Loop . If you find yourself without littles ones , make a full day of it and hike up Mount Constitution .
If hiking is not your idea of time well spent , then take the easy route and drive your car up to the top of the mountain instead . Mount Constitution is the highest point in the San Juan lisette wolter-mckinley photo lisette wolter-mckinley photo
Islands , rising nearly half a mile above Orcas Island , and offers breathtaking scenery . At the top , make a game of it and see who can spot Canada first or who is able to name the islands in the distance .
One of my favorite parts of traveling with children is how they encourage you to constantly learn . Children think of their parents as endless sources of knowledge . So do your due diligence and learn about the places you visit ahead of time .
When I visit a place , I want to see
42 explore : NW | The Official Magazine for kenmore air