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Old 08-18-2013, 04:59 PM
 
31 posts, read 72,344 times
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Hey all,

we are currently leaning towards a summer vacation home somewhere in washington... any of the islands are game.

I love the stats for orcas island... large peak for hiking/trail running/mtb... big enough that there should be some decent activities for the kids... ?? any other ideas?

kids are 4 and 6. thanks!
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Old 08-18-2013, 07:56 PM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,188 posts, read 107,790,902 times
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Agree on Orcas Island, if you can afford it. Moran State Park has a supervised swimming area, as well as hiking. Just allow lots of extra time for lining up at the ferry, and try to avoid ferry travel on weekends, when the big tourist crushes are.
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Old 08-18-2013, 09:43 PM
 
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Orcas is great. And pretty expensive. Whidbey is awfully nice too, especially around Langley and Coupeville.
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Old 08-19-2013, 06:33 PM
 
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thanks for the suggestions. I will look into them!
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Old 08-21-2013, 04:08 PM
 
Location: California
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While the San Juan's are great, I think having a summer home there would be very limiting over time, ESP as kids get older. You have to rely on the ferry for everything and it can get expensive. island living can get constraining, even for vacation if you will do it year after year.

I think Whidbey would be a better option and better positioned to get to a variety of locales such Olympic peninsula, Anacortes, and Seattle. There are lots of lovely little towns, great beaches, and it still has the laid back island life feel without the tiny island space.
I'm partial to Whidbey myself and would love to retire there some day....
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Old 08-21-2013, 11:34 PM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reader33 View Post
While the San Juan's are great, I think having a summer home there would be very limiting over time, ESP as kids get older. You have to rely on the ferry for everything and it can get expensive. island living can get constraining, even for vacation if you will do it year after year.

I think Whidbey would be a better option and better positioned to get to a variety of locales such Olympic peninsula, Anacortes, and Seattle. There are lots of lovely little towns, great beaches, and it still has the laid back island life feel without the tiny island space.
I'm partial to Whidbey myself and would love to retire there some day....
Not necessarily... The OP might have a Float Plane (very helpful as a previous Island dweller myself (BC 'Gulf Islands)).

There is something very special about Island life (our kids were 5 and 7 at the time, and had a tribe of 'buddies' on the Island the same age... or.... it would have been VERY boring / less adventerous).

Parents are REALLY spoilers for adventure... the 3 oldest got so they could all pull the starter rope on the old fashioned Boston Whaler, and off the tribe would go to a distant Island (7 boys ages 5-7) They had a BLAST. (Also had a 'hockey barn' with wood floor for Roller Blade ACTION during Stanley Cup). Each day they would bring home a bucket of Crab they caught off the docks, some we would toss back, and others we ate!. They got to watch the young eagles learn to fly, and then Lunch on the baby ducklings (went from 17 to 3 ducklings REAL fast). They were always off on some adventure, but again... they had 5 friends that were inseperable and parents that realized the value of 'exploring' including the RISK of water, cliffs, ferries, boats, wildlife (cougars)... we secretly left them on a small island and let the boat drift away, I stayed hidden on the island to see how they would react. Very interesting... No tears, only joy and scheming as they tried to capture a sea gull to eat, and set out to build a fire and shelter. They were very disappointed when the parents came back near dark to fetch them.

It was one of our many special times as a family that homeschooled, traveled, and lived many places VERY cheap ($300/ month on the island - off season sailing camp).

To BUY a family place and create a heritage... the islands would be fine if wealthy and with LOTS of time and commitment for the LENGTHY / EXPENSIVE trips to cabin (I would choose San Juan). There are MANY more affordable and equally fun options.

All based on freedom / FREE time / and money. Kids are only responsive to TIME and PLAY. Make it BEST for them, and their priorities (now and later). Sitting in Ferry line and HURRYING vacation, IS NOT on their most favorite thing to-do list.

Float Plane ? That can be really fun, especially if you have a Beaver! (or Otter). Spare no expense.
If you need a float plane... Keep $$ local (Sandpoint, ID) and buy a Quest Kodiak!
Quest Aircraft | Creators of the KODIAK

https://www.google.com/search?q=otte...OePs2wXv4oGAAg
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