We rented a house on Vashon Island last summer for a week in late August. It wasn't crowded there at all. It is a wonderful island. I found the house we rented on VRBO. Have you ever used them ? I find it is a great way to have a vacation.

We have stayed also on Orcas Is. I have no experience with the other islands. I was not particularly fond of Orcas and that is why we chose Vashon. Ican't say enough wonderful things about the island. Huge variety in terrain and climate even though it is only 13 miles long. Gorgeous countryside...lavender fields...marvelous farmer's market each week. Great restaurants...beaches that are fantastic...a lighthouse....close to Seattle...great grocery store...hmm... oh great biciycle shop for renting bikes...and a wonderful forest for hiking and biking...kayak rentals too...guess that is enough. If you want more info the web site for the island has it. Good Luck. c

Hi C

Thanks for reminding me of VRBO. I was having a difficult time finding the right lodging and this gives me another option. I checked it out last night and the very first place I looked offered the use of their bikes & kayaks!

I had to Google Vashon. I was looking much further north but this sounds like a nice little island that's also close to Seattle. We like to stay a couple of days in one place then move on to the next. This sounds like a nice stop before heading up to Friday Harbor & Victoria.

I guess we'll be ferrying our rental car around? Something else I need to research. I don't mind scooters & bikes but DH won't go for it.

I'm so glad to hear it wasn't crowded.

Jennifer

I just realized you were looking further up north. sorry...but as I said the Vashon Is area is really wonderful. You won't believe how much there is to do on a place that is only 13 mi long...seems way way bigger than that. Yes you can take your car to the island. Not a problem. We didn't . We caught the bus...it waits at the ferry and it drops you anywhere you want...not just at the regulated stops...nice :) We had bicycle rentals for the whole week...he charged us $50 for the WHOLE week !!

Everyone is just really down home there. We felt like we lived there after the first day...even the grocery store folks remembered us ! OK I am waxing poetic here but believe me you will be very glad you stopped in to Vashon. c

We've been out there twice in the summer and it's not been crowded. The first time we were there we were doing a trip along the coast eventually leading to a wedding in the wine country outside San Francisco. We flew into Seattle and stayed at the Inn at the Market which is a really nice boutique hotel up the street from Pike Place Market. They have a rooftop deck where you can bring your drinks and watch the ferries come in and out. I highly recommend that hotel. It's within walking distance to restaurants too.

We only did an overnight at Friday Harbor and stayed in a Bed and Breakfast which I didn't care for because it was in a private home and the owners were on hand. We went on a whale watch and saw orcas which was fun. I love the ferry system in Washington and we were able to take our rental car everywhere. I think on that trip we just went to Friday Harbor before turning around and going back along the coast to CA.

A couple of years ago we were out there again for a wedding near Bellingham, WA. This time we flew into Seattle again and since we arrived late and were skipping Seattle this time, we stayed at a hotel across from the airport. The hotel had a van that picked us up at the airport and the next morning took us to the rental car place down the road. It's cheaper if you pick up your car outside the airport so we did that this time. I think from there we went to Port Townsend so my husband could see the Wooden Boat School. We stayed in a cottage belonging to a B&B and that was nice and private. I remember spending a couple of days hopping on ferries and I think they're was another town we stayed in overnight to catch a ferry the next morning. I forget the name of it though. We had reservations for the ferries because we wanted to be sure there was room for our car. We also went to Victoria and stayed in a beautiful Inn ( Prior House Inn )outside of town. We stayed in the room with the king bed in the Hobbit Garden Studios with our own entrance which was really nice. Their garden was absolutely beautiful. The breakfasts were nice and we really loved staying there. From there we went to Vancouver and stayed downtown at the Wedgewood Hotel. The hotel and the restaurant attached were very nice, but I've learned since that the beautiful part of Vancouver with spectacular scenery is at the northern end. Next time. We did have a long wait getting through the checkpoint back into the states from there.

We have stayed a week in Vancouver also...and indeed the North end is wonderful. We used the ferry to get back and forth in town. We rode bikes and hiked in their wonderful park. Love love Vancouver.

My SIL/BIL live in Bellingham and we will be out there again this summer to see them. They have a place on Lake Whatcomb . Very nice area also and lots of hiking there too.

Have a wonderful trip. c

I am so sorry for those of you suffering in the heat around the country -I live in WA and have my whole life but this year we have had 87 hours of summer..literally, that's been the only amount of time it's been over 80. We are going crazy from the rain and cold - but I wouldn't trade you, I have to say....spent lots of time in the san juans and gulf islands on our sailboat, plus in different cabins on the islands. My favorite is San Juan, but many prefer Orcas; it kind of depends on what you are looking for. It's all beautiful, that's for sure.

Summer weekends can get cuckoo in Friday Harbor - I'd never, ever stay in town, it's just too touristy, but there are some great shops (lots of artists and artisans live on the islands) and a wonderful upscale grocery with everything you could want. So I'd want a car to get to someplace to stay outside of town. I personally would make sure wherever you are that you are on the water...all the areas of the islands are beautiful, but what's the point in being inland on an island? Lopez is known for their bike touring but accommodations are sparse unless you rent a private house - and there are some fabulous homes to rent right on the water.

The ferry from Anacortes is unbelievably busy during the summer (especially weekends) and with the state budget woes it's possible the ferry service will be even more crowded if they cut schedules. I used to get a motel room in Anacortes the night before, just to be able to get to the ferry early, but sometimes you can't find a motel room within 30 miles in the summer. They don't take reservations for that ferry route. Crazy!

Hope you have a great time. It's likely to be warmer here next summer, but there is always a breeze there and it's cooler in the islands (at least along the beaches - inland can get toasty- but that's NW toasty, not middle America toasty). Get your reservations now. Things book up fast.

We have been having a very cool wet summer. But typically the rains are infrequent in the second half of July and all of August. Olychick has lots of good advice. The ferries are very crowded if you plan to drive on during the weekends (it is easy to walk on). I live on another island in Puget Sound and Sunday evenings in the summer, cars sometimes have a 2 hr. wait to get back to Seattle.
It is a beautiful area and the summers are glorious (this year being an exception).

Here is a link that might be useful: 78 MINUTES of Summer

Thank you for the wealth of information. I've cut-n-pasted this thread to my personal file. Your comments have definitely quashed our worries about visiting during the summer.

Chickadee, The trip you took sounds great! Oh how I wish we had enough time to drive down the coast into wine country. The Inn looks absolutely beautiful. I've never stayed at a boutique hotel. This might be the time to splurge and do it. I hear ya about the B&B...I think you either like the social aspect of having the owners on-site or don't. I'm the latter. Whale watching is a to-do item on our list. Would you recommend the outfitter that took you on your trip?

Trailrunner - You're criss-crossing the country! Now you need a trip to Southern CA so you can hit all 4 corners of the contiguous US. I'm sure Bellingham will be a wonderful break from your hot summer.

Olychick - I completely agree with you about staying on the water. I tend to get my travel budgets in trouble because I book rooms with ocean views. It's worth it though. Between Chickadees ferry reservation tip and your ferry wait story I'll have to really plan this part of my trip well. Love DH, but the man has no patience. A 2hr wait....uhm, not for him. He'd just turn around and stay on the island the rest of the trip. Oh, you said we should book now but we're not traveling until July 2012 - or do people book 1yr in advance?

Nan53 - 78 minutes?! What strange, strange weather. We've had so many 100+ days I really can't even imagine not getting above 80. You've said it's not usual. What is a normal summer for you area?

Jennifer

haha Jennifer...that is where we will be when we leave Bellingham and head slowly down the coast to San Diego where my DS2 lives ! Then work our way back across the US on the route I rode last year. Will get in about 6000 miles before we get back to AL. Will look forward to another day or so out on Vashon while we are on the road. Need to write a book ! c

Yes, book one year in advance if you can. People come to stay and book the next year before they leave. I've given up on my favorite place because I could NEVER get a reservation after I missed one year :-(

And some summer weekends (starting Thursdays) a 2 hour ferry wait at Anacortes would be a breeze...sometimes it is much longer. Much, much longer...not all the sailings go to all the islands. So you have to get there very early for your ferry and if it's full you have to wait several hours for the next one and hope you get on that one. Luckily it is a beautiful place to wait.