Favorite Destination

Guest: Craig & Kerri (Louisiana)
Date of Stay: 09/30/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

This is not our first visit, nor will it be our last. We came this year in October. What a beautiful time to see the fall colors and enjoy the cooler (not cold) weather. We came all the way from Louisiana to escape the heat. The property is absolutely georgous! There are so many beautiful trees that make the house quiet and secluded. The home is very spacious. It was wonderful to be able to sit outside on the porch and drink a cup of coffee in the mornings. In the evenings, a fire in the fire pit roasting marshmellows and just relaxing! What more can one ask for?

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

children friendly and spacious

Guest: Z&Z (Redmond, WA)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/20/11

stayed with 2 nights with a friends family (I have 2 children and they have 3). The place was extremely clean and spacious, loved the dotted theme and the heart stones everywhere. The kids loved looking at the 2 deer that showed themselves occasionally, the treehouse kept them busy also. We enjoyed the bar-b-q and the campfire. The location was ideal with a 7 minute walk to the beach, enjoyed berry picking on our way. Looking forward to another stay already, many thanks to the Taylors for a comfortable stay.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Perfect vacation spot

Guest: Family Reunion Vacationers (Lake Forest, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/12/11 Review Submitted: 09/05/11

Island Place is the perfect spot for a great family vacation. House and property are in great shape and are "as-advertised". Saw deer every day (including a buck the first day), and also saw little black fox. Our girls (5 and 8) loved the play-house in back, and we used the fire pit to roast marsmallows one night. Highly recommend Orca-watching at Lime Klin Point State Park (on west side of island, short drive away) -- we saw lots of whales, a few even came within 20 feet of the shoreline. The Lavender Farm and Sculpture Garden are an excellent day trip, and be sure to plan a hike at the "American Camp". For out-of-towners, plan to allow enough time for you to catch the auto ferry from Anacortes (no reservations, so be prepared to wait). Also if you want to see Victoria, you should plan to go there before or after your Friday Harbor stay (doesn't work out so well for a day-trip).

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Island Place, a family place

Guest: Cindy (Redmond, Washington)
Date of Stay: 08/08/11 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

What a fabulous experience! We had two out-of-state daughters and their families coming for a reunion and we wanted to show our Iowa raised sons-in-laws the glorious Northwest. What better place than the San Juan Islands. Luckily we chose the best week of the summer. The beautiful ferry ride ending in charming Friday Harbor was only out done by the perfect house for our family's needs. We had four families, two with small children and the bedrooms fitted us perfectly. The living spaces were perfect for food prep, dining and an evening movie. The large back deck, hammocks and swings were a delight. For one day we also had our son and family with a 5 year old boy who rated the play house an enthusiastic "awesome". We played golf, toured Roche Harbor, visited the Lavendar Farm and attempted to see whales. We could have done so much more but were limited in time and babies. Judy and Greg were close and attentive when we needed them. All in all it was a perfect Place on the Island.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Perfect for our two families!

Guest: J 5 (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 07/31/11 Review Submitted: 08/07/11

We had a terrific time at this home, and I do mean home. The owners built it and take care of like their home which apparently it is at times. We had two families, 9 all together, and were extremely comfortable. Everything was clean and the linens even smelled fresh, including the charming bathrobes in each room. A fox welcomed us the first day and deer greeted us in the morning (cue the deer!) I can't remember a more relaxing vacation. And, San Juan Island is as charming as it gets. A five star vacation for both families. Oh, and the DVD collection is better than having Netflix, we watched one every night of our week there.

Owner response:At Island Place, we pride ourselves on delivering a clean and relaxing atmosphere. It is our goal that each and every guest experience the place and leave with memories of their vacation well spent! The dot robes seem to be a hit, most all the vacationers that have come this season have taken photos of themselves in the dot robes! Simple pleasures are the best! Thank you for your kind words.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great San Juan Island getaway house for families

Guest: HappyFamily (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 07/10/11 Review Submitted: 07/17/11

Very charming and relaxing property! This is a great place for families. The kids have lots of room to run around and play on the large property. Convenient to Friday Harbor, but still very quiet and private. The owners are very friendly and helpful, and took care of all our needs. House was well appointed. Highly recommended! We'll be back for sure.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

A Place to store up memories

Guest: The Inland Crew (Liberty Lake, Washington)
Date of Stay: 07/03/11 Review Submitted: 07/15/11

We spent a week at Greg and Judy's Island Place and we will always have great memories of our time there. My wife, myself, our four kids and our parents spent days out and about seeing the islands and our morning and evenings at their cozy cabin. It was the perfect place to escape from a busy day, kick up our feet and relax. Our kids felt at home seeing Lyndsey's childhood artwork in the halls and the polka dot beds kept them warm at night. My dad and I enjoyed the morning with our coffee, visiting and watching the deer in the lawn watching us. I would recommend the Island Place if you wish to store such memories for your family.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Delightful!

Guest: Cindy (Columbia, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/29/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

We had a wonderful stay. The house is roomy, with four large bedrooms, a good sized kitchen, and nice open living/dining area. There are two full baths -- one up and one down -- and an extra sink/mirror/cabinet in the downstairs master bedroom. The beds are very comfortable and the linens, comforters, and towels are top quality. Everything works fine and pretty much everything you need is there (WIFI, flat screen TV, coffee pot, coffee grinder, corkscrew, can opener, plenty of TP, etc). We had 4 families (2 couples and 2 young families of 4 each) and we were completely comfortable. That's the basics. But then -- there's magic here too. Inside, the decor is enchantingly whimsical. And the outdoor space is marvelous. The tree house is superb -- kids aged 2, 4, 5 and 7 played by the hour, enthusiastic (and safe) while parents relaxed in hammocks, watching bald eagles overhead. In the early morning and at dusk we all watched the deer and the foxes. We grilled on the back deck (gas grill) and roasted s'mores in the fire pit. The location is just what we were looking for -- not far from Friday Harbor, not directly on the water, not too hard to find. We spent our 3 days roaming the island, including exploring the beach at False Bay at low tide, enjoying some productive orca-watching at dusk south of Lime Kiln State Park lighthouse, plus visiting the alpaca farm and Roche Harbor & Friday Harbor. Judy was nice to rent from. We needed something for sleeping arrangements for the 2 year old, so she bought a pack'n play, which was great. She greeted us on arrival then we didn't see her again altho if we had needed anything, I'm sure we could have called her. There is a big marker board on a cupboard door with house information on it, which is a good format -- easy for everyone to read over and get the recycling system etc down. We took shoes off at the door as requested -- it took about 5 minutes to get used to this, but then we found it to be a definite advantage -- besides not tracking stuff all over the house, it was easy to find the kids' shoes -- they were in the pile by the door. No hunting all over, looking for sandals under the couch etc. I may institute that request at Grandma's house back home. I would definitely recommend this vacation retreat to others. The San Juans are marvelous, and this is the way to enjoy them!

Owner response:WOW! Never in our history have we gotten such a precise review. We are humbled by your kind words. Many thanks! Island Place.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children.

Beautiful home & garden, great owners, 5 min walk to beach, hammock, play house, deer, and peace!

Guest: st (Bellevue, Washington)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/29/11

What a lovely house! Full of light, comfortable furniture, cheerful colors, cozy robes, warm blankets, and clean towels : ) Lots of DVDs to choose from, plus PlayStation 2, board games, plenty of dishes, pots, glassware and silverware. Soap, shampoo, hand lotion in bathrooms. Beautiful garden -- we saw a coyote and several deer. Walked to a pebbly beach with great view. Had a couple of nice chats with Greg, the owner, who built most of the furniture and directed us to the nice sandy beach at Eagle Cove. 5 min (or less) drive to the town of Friday Harbor.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Everything was absolutely great! The house, the location and the hosts!

Guest: Maria (Redmond, WA)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

I have no words to say how perfect everything was during our stay. All the details in the house were carefully taken care of and all the accomodations were very comfortable. Located a few minutes drive from Friday Harbor's village and easy access to anywhere else in the island. We spent 3 days and 3 nights in the house with 2 other couples and 4 kids, who btw spent the great majority of the time outside playing in the "tree house" and making smores. Did I talk about the beautiful DVD collection? - great for those rainy days or quiet nights. The most difficult thing during our whole stay was to get the kids to say goodbye to the house!

Owner response:It is of great blessing to us, when we get a written review! We have found that many vacationers actually read them! We appreciate the opportunity to give our vacationers a fun-filled family time! It is especially lovely when our guests are respectful of the property and the house, Island Place awaits you!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.