Sleeps | 4 |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Bathrooms | 2 |
Space | 1,400 sq ft |
Property type | house |
Minimum Stay | 0 - 7 nights |
San Juan Waterhouse
Located on the sunny west side of San Juan Island, with stunning whale watching opportunities, this private, waterfront home offers superb vacation lodging.
Built uniquely close to the shoreline, the Waterhouse is a very secluded island home whose beautiful southwestern views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan De Fuca are breathtaking in all seasons. Situated on three acres with 1400 feet of rugged, pristine coastline, the home provides much sought after 'old island' privacy. Enjoy a front row view of the resident Orca whales, which hunt migrating salmon directly offshore and often sleep in the cove.
Custom built with much attention to creative details, enjoy a beautiful stone fireplace (gas flame just recently installed) when ambiance and warmth are the inspiration. The fully equipped kitchen includes a professional Viking stove, a great invitation to the serious chef. A stainless propane BBQ on the deck makes outdoor cooking a breeze.
Multiple French doors, a vaulted ceiling and an open living space floor plan surrounded by windows provide customized comfort, and spectacular water views from all rooms.
There is plenty to do with the rocky coves and a private gravel beach to explore. Tide pooling is excellent. Bring your binoculars because bird watching is superb, with resident Harlequin ducks and the local Bald Eagle 'Rocky'. Watch fox, otter, and deer close by, or pack your favorite beverages, a great book and relax on a sandy haven directly in front of the house. Two well furnished decks with outdoor seating, a picnic table and Adirondack chairs also beckon. Small beach fires are allowed if a fire ban is not enforced on the island. Best of all is whale watching as this stretch of shoreline has been identified by a Whale Museum biologist as a feeding area for Orcas. Watch whales pass by from the deck as their family groups come within a few yards of shore, hunting salmon.
Keywords: Spectacular Waterfront, Beautiful custom Home, private, whale watching,
Our family loved our stay at the Waterhouse. The drive to the house is an adventure. We saw deer, quail and eagles as we drove up to the home. When we arrived at the home the view was breathtaking. The home is right on the water and is picture perfect with its sod roof, amazing decking, and a view of the water from every room. We immediately went down to the rocks to take in the sounds and smells of the water. As we were soaking in the views of the mountains and ocean we noticed the orcas swimming past us. It was amazing! We were able to watch the whales 4 out of the 7 days we were there. It was unbelievable and so cool! We had the best place to whale watch on the island! We also went down to the tide pools each day when the tide went out to discover the amazing sea stars, sea cucumbers, star fish, crab, sea glass and so much more. We loved watching the bald eagles soar over us on the deck and perch on the rocks near the house. We also saw fox, seals, otters and porpoise from the house. The wave action is also awesome! We cooked or grilled every meal at the house. The kitchen is well equipped to cook any type of meal. We had ocean front lunch and suppers each night! The sunrise and sunsets are gorgeous and the star gazing is amazing. Our boys and my husband and I loved our stay here. It was so relaxing, beautiful and fun all at the same time. We hope to return again and again!
We loved the few days we spent here. The weather turned out to be beautiful, and we saw so many sites from the house itself, let alone the time we spent exploring the island. A fox came right up to the glass door and looked inside to see who we were, and two eagles circled the deck. One landed and posed for photos before calling to its friend and flying away. The house is spacious and homey, and I was able to conduct two classes online without a problem while there. I have a bad ankle and was in a walking cast, and I was able to get to the house without too much problem and even explored the rocks a bit.
We so want to return!
We had the best weekend with our family in this beautiful home. The views are just breathtaking... the photos don't do it justice! Our kids had so much fun exploring the grounds, making s'mores and watching the wildlife. We saw whales, sea lions, eagles and a sea otter greeted us on the deck one morning! Even when windy and raining, we had a great time playing games and cards while watching the huge waves. The house is warm and inviting and the owner was fantastic to work with. We miss it already and will definitely be back! Thank you again, Suzanne, for such a lovely experience!
We've stayed in many vacation rentals in Washington and Oregon over the past 19 years (everything from rustic cabins to elegant large houses) and the Waterhouse is one of my favorite places ever! It really feels like a well cared for home. This house truly fits in with the surrounding environment, with its low profile, shingles and sod roof. While there are a few other houses around, once you are there it feels quite private and it was built so that you can see the water no matter where you are in the house. As I'd hoped, the window benches are wonderful places to relax and watch the ever-changing sea and sky, even when the wildlife is quiet! The boys had fun exploring the rocks, logs and tide pools just outside the house, and even in April we had a warm day when we could sit in the chairs on the deck and soak in the sun! The kitchen is well stocked and the living room is cozy. The beds and furniture were really comfortable and all slept well! Suzanne made sure we understood how to work things and was very helpful. We did see birds, eagles, hawks, and deer, the fox stopped by a few times and an otter popped up on the grass for a few moments one evening. We knew we'd be too early for orcas this time, but hope to come back sometime when they're more likely to be around. All the San Juan Island activities were within a short drive and American Camp is just down the road with history, hikes, rocky coastline, pebble beaches and more wildlife. As we left I was trying to figure out when we could come back!
We spent a relaxing weekend over spring break in this lovely home. The view is wonderful, and the sound of the water lapping at the rocks is unforgettable. Our kids played on the pebble beach and enjoyed seeing otters, seals, and eagles. The owner (Suzanne) was helpful and accessible, and everything felt easy!
We stayed with our two kids for a long weekend during mid-winter break in February. Suzanne was extremely responsive in the lead-up and warmly welcomed us once we arrived. The house is simply spectacular in every way. Just feet from the shoreline, you are greeted with unbelievable views. The house is well laid out with separation between bedrooms, along with a main living area where everyone could hang out. The kitchen was well stocked and left us with nothing wanting. While we always enjoy going around the island, we felt perfectly happy spending many hours around the house reading, playing games, or gazing out the windows. The property is private and a nice size, giving the kids lots of room to play and explore. Will definitely be back!
Exploring Eagle Cove and Beautiful American Camp, miles of trails to hike nearby. Friday Harbor is a 12 minute drive, English Camp is a 20 minute drive and Roche Harbor 30 minutes.
Cleaning/Reset Fee | $90 + Tax |
Tax Rate | 10.57% |
Winter and Shoulder rates are for 1-4 occupants. There is a $40 charge/night for a 5th person. Summer occupancy is for 1-5 people.
Please use my directions provided at time of booking, or MapQuest directions. Using Google map will take you to the wrong address. Cancellation Policy : If you need to cancel we will gladly refund any monies received less a $50 handling fee if we are able to re-book the dates you had reserved or if reservation is cancelled prior to sixty days of scheduled arrival. . No refund will be made for unused days or days we could not re-book.
Winter and Shoulder season requires payment upon confirmation of booking. During Summer months 50% is required at confirmation of booking with remaining 50% due 30 days prior to check in. Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel we will gladly refund any monies received less a $50 handling fee if we are able to re-book the dates you had reserved. No refund will be made for unused days.