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The Quinn Cottage
An Orcas Island Waterfront Retreat
The Quinn Cottage is a lovely waterfront home nestled on a wooded acre of land looking across Harney Channel to Shaw Island. The famous and beloved San Juan Island ferries and a continual parade of pleasure boats sail by the cottage’s view throughout the day.
The cottage is just two miles from the Orcas Island ferry landing and its quaint village, which has a well-stocked country market, numerous shops, small eateries and coffee shops, the Victorian era Orcas Hotel with its gourmet restaurant, movie rentals, whale watching excursion boats, and kayak rentals. Killebrew Lake, a little-used Department of Forestry lake and wetlands area, is only one mile away. It is fun for exploration and possible warm-water swimming.
An abundance of wildlife can be enjoyed from this pretty seaside retreat: deer, rabbits, raccoons, otters, mink, seals, bald eagles, heron, and an endless variety of other sea, shore, and land birds. At low tide the rocks at the water’s edge offer hours of exploration for oysters, starfish, crab, small fish, octopus, jelly fish, and other sea creatures.
At night the sound of water lapping against the rocks and beach lulls visitors to sleep.
This light, airy, newly remodeled home has an open living room, dining room, and kitchen with vaulted ceilings, skylights, and floor to ceiling windows opening onto a large wrap-around main deck. The panoramic view from this "great room" is stunning. It is also completely furnished with all the details of a cozy family cottage.
The main level has two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and one with a trundle bed (to be used as either two twins or one king), as well as a cute, colorful bathroom with shower. The lower level is another large bedroom/playroom with a king bed and bunk beds. It is accessible by exterior stairs and its own private exterior entry. The water view is beautiful from this room's large windows. It is not a separate rental unit and will not be occupied by a second party.
All bedrooms have lovely pillows and spreads, cozy comforters, and high quality bedding and linens. The entire home has many European Bed and Breakfast touches and amenities.
Wood is supplied for the charming wood-burning stove in the living room. In addition every room in the home has its own baseboard heater and separate thermostat for year-round comfort.
The open, sunny kitchen is fully equipped for cooking, dining, and entertaining with lovely dishes, table ware, and linens. Even the gourmet cook will find the necessary appliances, cookware, bake ware, and utensils for any special meal or recipe.
The pantry/laundry room has a washer and dryer, cleaning and laundry supplies, picnic ware, beach towels, and ample storage space. The refrigerator has nice freezer space. Many cooking essentials are available for use by the rental guest, including spices, herbs, coffee, tea, sugar and oils, and much more.
The large glassed-in upper deck has Adirondack chairs and side tables, a large covered dining table, a charcoal barbeque, and a picnic table with an umbrella. The lower deck has Steamship lounges, rustic wooden chairs and tables, another picnic table with benches, and a double hammock.
Both decks are lovely spots for reading, relaxing, dining, and the constant viewing of water and wildlife. The landscaped areas immediately surrounding the house have whimsical pieces of “exterior art” and a full herb garden for guests' use. The acre of land beyond the house is covered with mossy knolls and sunny fields, creating a cushion of peace for the cottage. No road noise can be heard from this serene spot.
Other amenities of this inviting home include family games, a library of adult and children’s books and movies, magazines, DVD players, a stereo, and maps and information for the island visitor.
Orcas Island itself offers an endless array of activities and adventures, including hiking, sea kayaking, lake and ocean fishing, boating, whale watching, canoeing, shopping, beachcombing, biking, and diving, as well as day trips by ferry to other islands and Victoria, British Columbia.
The island has numerous artists’ colonies that welcome visitors to take classes, view artists at work, and purchase wares. Moran State Park has miles of hiking trails and three lakes to explore, with water warm enough for swimming during the summer.
Park rangers and docents offer walks and talks on a great variety of topics. The island has many local fairs and celebrations, open-air music concerts, quality live theatre, flea markets, garage sales, and farmers’ markets.
Eastsound, the main village on the island, and a 15 to 20-minute drive from the Quinn Cottage through pastoral farmlands and beautiful mountain vistas, is a charming town with many restaurants and specialty shops as well as a major super market.
A stay on Orcas Island leaves all visitors with lasting memories of adventure, escape, and rejuvenation. One of the Quinn Cottage vacationers said it this way: “As I sat on the deck on the last day of our week’s stay, watching the sun slowly set over the shimmering water in front of me, I got a lump in my throat knowing that I had to leave this amazing place. I could see why the Quinns have been coming here for more than twenty-five years and still can’t wait to return. I knew that I would return as well.”
We invite you to visit this special island and stay in our own magic spot, the Quinn Cottage. Please check our website calendar for available dates. We look forward to getting your request by email. Please also feel free to request by email additional photos as well as more excerpts from the Quinn Cottage guest book.
No Smoking, No Pets. |
