We love spending time in the San Juan Islands and Orcas Island is one of our favorite. Like all places we visit frequently we have generated a list of our favorite places to go and things to check out.

I could spend hours looking around this small, thoughtfully curated shop, Nest Flowers. On this particular day I walked away with a moss ball plant, a bright orange begonia and a hot pink Kalanchoe. I am happy to report weeks later all my purchases are still thriving!

This little white church is one of the most picturesque buildings in Eastsound. I don't know if it is the bright red door or the crisp white picket fence which charms me more.

A morning spent in Eastsound would not be complete without a stop at Brown Bear Baking for a delicious baked good. The kitchen is open to the rest of the space and I always enjoy watching my food be made right in front of my very eyes. We did not realize until it was too late that they also served lunch, but the owner was quick to create little cups of chili and pieces of cornbread for us to sample. Hands down, if you want friendly, efficient service go to Brown Bear Baking.

Walking around town it was fun to catch glimpses of Spring popping up all around us.

Orcas, like many of the San Juan Islands is home to many local artists/artisans. This makes finding something locally made to take home as a souvenir, a simple undertaking.

Our favorite spot for dinner is the New Leaf Cafe in the Outlook Inn. We are big fans of their fish entrees and love their creative twists on regional cuisine.

Other spots we recommend visiting are:

Kathryn Taylor Chocolates, they offer the most beautiful hand painted chocolates with some of the most unique flavors like Pink Peppered Mint and Douglas Fir. They also sell Snoqualmie Ice Cream, which you can never go wrong ordering.

The Orcas Island Farmer's Market is held on Saturdays from 10am-3pm (from the first weekend in May to the last weekend in September) and is a great place to find locally made honeys, charming handmade gifts and beautiful flowers.

Olga's is a beautiful women's boutique, think organic cottons and unique jewelry. They also just recently started carrying some charming infant clothing and toys.

Moran State Park is the perfect place to camp, hike and enjoy the views from Mount Constitution. Standing at 2400 feet, the summit of Mount Constitution is the highest point on Orcas Island. On a clear day you can see all the way to Canada.

A weekend on Orcas makes for the perfect getaway from Seattle. You can either fly, or drive and then take a ferry to get there. Depending on the season it feels like a completely different place. In the Summer it is buzzing with mountain bikers, hikers and kayakers and in the Winter it is a bit sleepy and extremely tranquil.

You can check out previous trips we have taken to Orcas here and here.