The Garden House on Orcas

The Garden House is a lovely living space located above an artist studio on 6 waterfront acres. Light-filled, with cathedral ceilings and dormers, the Garden House has a combined kitchen and sitting room with hide-a-bed, a private bedroom, and a bathroom with shower. The Garden House is maintained with an intention to minimize toxicity in operations: it is kept dander free, laundry soaps are organic and odor-free, sheets are 100% cotton (mostly flannel). Seasonal flowers in the garden are available for guest-picked bouquets. The pottery studio is available for tours, conversation and hands-on clay exploration. There is an extensive and eclectic library. The intentional absence of a flat screen encourages guests to explore non-digital experiences. Please read the house manual and "the neighborhood" (see below) for helpful information. A short scenic stroll brings guests to a private secluded rocky beach. The Garden House is located near the Hot Ice Studio, which produces unique crystal glazed pottery (noise or interference won't be a problem, we promise!) We are a short walk from a little-used, yet very lovely, part of Moran State Park and its east Boundary Trail. The Garden House on Orcas has been operational since 1992; you can easily find more information online if you are curious. See photos for a small sample of guest comments. The Garden House has earned continuous super host status since it began working with airbnb in 2015. Guests are greeted upon arrival (whenever possible). I am always available to answer questions or make suggestions, yet my prime concern is for guest privacy. Doe Bay Resort is less than a minute's drive; they have an excellent cafe, a small store and serve as a launch area for Shearwater Kayak trips. The Catkin Cafe and Artworks are in Olga, about 5 minutes west from the Garden House. I recommend you download a comprehensive list of available restaurants so you can plan meals out (and make reservations), particularly during peak periods like summer and weekends. A one-page summary of all dining choices on the island is available in the Garden House, provided by the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce (go to the chamber's web site and look for the "Dining Guide" link. Email, text or call me if you wish a local's view on places to choose and places to avoid. You would most likely not be reading this if you did not intend to explore the beauty, tranquility, small scale and rural quality of the San Juan Island archipelago and perhaps Orcas Island in particular. Nothing stays constant: growth pressures are huge. I sincerely invite you to weigh in on preserving the islands from becoming what you don't want, as San Juan County is undertaking an update to its entire growth concept. This future roadmap is called a Comprehensive Plan and as I write it is being crafted. Visitor input to what you want to preserve and cherish will absolutely help shape this growth. Absent your input, read the lyrics to Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi. You can learn about the challenge at KeepSanJuansWild. I sincerely welcome and encourage your engagement in communicating your desire that what you have come, or will come, to experience will be preserved for future visitors and residents. An ounce of prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure. You'll be driving (right?) and to get here you'll need to take a Washington State Ferry (WSF) from Anacortes WA. There are 2 important details regarding your ferry travel. One: You really (really!) need to make a reservation, BOTH WAYS, from Anacortes to Orcas and in reverse from Orcas to Anacortes. You can do this at "takeaferry". FYI, here's the short scoop on ferry reservation bookings, straight from WSF: "On the Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes, reservation space is released according to the following schedule: 1st Tier - 30% of reservable space for standard vehicles for the entire season is released at 7:00 a.m.(PT), 2 months prior to the season start date. Note: Tall reservation space for large, non-standard vehicles is released all at once in the 1st Tier. Upcoming Seasons: Summer Fall Winter 2nd Tier - An additional 30% of vessel space is released at 7:00 a.m.(PT) 2 weeks before each specific sailing date. 3rd Tier - The final 30% of space is released at 7:00 a.m.(PT) 2 days before each specific sailing date. 10% of vessel space is always held open for emergency and stand-by vehicles. No reservation? Some standby space is always available on sailings when drivers don't use their reservations or travel at a different time. While you may not always get on the sailing of your choice, traveling standby is an option when you need to travel at the last minute or can't make a reservation." Unless you are a masochist, don't plan your precious time without a reservation. Going standby is for those truly desperate moments, and a trip to Orcas shouldn't be marred by desperation. Two: You really HAVE to get THROUGH the ferry toll booth 30 minutes before your scheduled reservation. WSF takes no prisoners on this rule. That means you should plan to get to the toll booth (Anacortes OR Orcas) at least 45 minutes and preferably an hour (if it is summer or a weekend any time of year) to be sure you cross the 30 minute otherwise-lose-your-reservation-and-go-to-standby deadline. WSF tells you this on their website in small (friendly) letters easy to miss. Once you get on the ferry heading to Orcas, you can unwind, let the fresh air decontaminate your body's tension from simply getting on the boat and kiss goodbye to as many cares as possible "back there", and, in reverse, once on the boat back to Anacortes, you can do yoga or walk the deck to prepare yourself for re-entry into "America." The Garden House has one private bedroom; for parties that need an additional sleeping space, there is a hide-a-bed in the combined kitchen/living room. A small futon is also available. If your party composition requires more than one bed, please ensure that the bedding options are acceptable for all your guests. Reservation requests that are received by text or email after 8pm Pacific Time will likely be responded the next day. Freshness and high quality are values honored at the Garden House. We encourage you to bring, along with your food, your favorite coffee, tea or other beverages in order to ensure that you savor your personally curated preferences. If you arrive without coffee or tea, and want/need these, please ask! A 220v EV charging station is located in the Garden House parking area. A converter to allow Tesla vehicle charging is available. Handmade crystal pottery is made on site; check HotIceOrcas for more info on the crystal pottery. Potholes in Paradise, a book about Orcas written by your host, is available in ebook/pdf form; a hard copy is available in the Garden House library for guest reading. Nightly rates are set according to season: winter, shoulder, and summer. Rates shown are for the current calendar year. Please contact me for rates for future years. Pets are welcome provided they meet the pet policy, the most significant element of which is that pets are not allowed in the guest space in order to keep it dander free for guests with dander sensitivity. Many guests with pets are comfortable with this option; this is a great spot for dogs (esp. larger ones). Please contact me for pet policy questions. There is a very friendly cat (Louis) on the property (who is also not allowed in the guest space). Legal info: San Juan County Transient Rental Permit OOPROV063 Septic System designed for 3 bedrooms