| Orcas Island |
Articles about Orcas Island |
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Information AboutOrcas Island |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ORCAS ISLAND | |
| san juan islands | |
| san juan county, washington | |
| unincorporated communities in washington | |
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The island has several towns, none very large. Orcas is known as attracting the richest of the San Juan Islands residents, which has increased real estate prices and made it hard for the traditional residents of the island to continue living there. Orcas is slightly larger but less populous than San Juan Island . Shaped like a pair of saddlebags, it is almost bisected by fjord-like East Sound, at the northern end of which is located the village of Eastsound, the second largest town in the county. Eastsound has a number of stores, inns, and restaurants in addition to gift and souvenir shops, gas stations and other businesses. There are sacred Native American burials throughout the town as well as Madrona Point Park, which has been reclaimed by the Lummi Native Tribe, and has a few miles of hiking trails and hundreds of twisting madrona trees sprouting from the rocky shoreline. There are other, smaller settlements at Orcas (where the ferry lands), West Sound, Deer Harbor, Olga and Doe Bay, each different and worth a leisurely sightsee. At Olga there is an attractive and popular cafe and art gallery (the rustic building is a former strawberry barreling plant) where local artists hang out and sell their work. A small general store and gift shop that has opened and closed over the years sits at the end of the road in Olga. As of summer 2005, it had once again closed. with Mount Baker visible]] Half mile (800 m) high Mount Constitution is a prime attraction. The easy drive to the top (except in the worst winter weather when park rangers close the road) provides a spectacular 360-degree marine view said to be one of the finest anywhere in the world. The mountain is part of Moran State Park , which also offers camping, swimming, fishing and hiking in its nearly 5,000 acres (20 km²) of woodland. Orcas Island is also home to Four Winds Westward Ho , a non-profit summer camp founded in 1927. Activities include sailing, canoeing, horseback riding, arts and crafts and landsports, and caters to 7-18 year olds. It is situated in the south-west corner of Orcas Island in Four Winds Bay. A long-time institution on Orcas Island's northwest shoulder is Camp Orkila , which has been in operation since 1906. It is operated by the Greater Seattle Area's YMCA . It caters to families, schools, and other organizations during the school year. During the summer it operates an overnight camp for boys and girls entering grades 3-12. EXTERNAL LINKS
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