Spacious, historic waterfront home on sunny southern tip of Lopez Island

The spacious, historic Lopez homestead sits on two open acres (mostly lawn with a big garden and a few fruit trees), with 250 feet of waterfront, leading to a secluded private beach. It has 3 living rooms, 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a state of the art kitchen, a game room, and breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains, smaller San Juan islands, open sky, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sea birds, seals, and otters easily seen from six different rooms. Originally built in 1898, expanded in the 1980's, and updated with high-speed Internet, large screen TV, DVD player, it is the best possible mixture of the old, the new, and the timeless.

From the moment you step in, a breathtaking view of water, islands and mountains greets you. You are immediately at home in the heart of the house, a huge, kitchen-dining-gathering area with wall-to-wall windows and a cheery wood stove. Designed for those who like to cook, and those who like to watch the cook-cook, the kitchen features a six-burner, gas Viking stove and Sub Zero Refrigerator. A large table in front of a bank of window seats enables service for 8, with a card-table extension if needed. A propane grill is just steps away on the deck outside.

The kitchen opens up in two directions, with staircases on both sides. Off to the left is a comfy living room, with its own little gas fireplace, and books and games galore. Snuggle in here with a blanket and a good book, and you’ll wonder where the hours have gone. Beyond this room, a second living room is set up with an electronic piano, and coffee table for working puzzles, or planning island adventures. Both of these living rooms present layered views of the vegetable & flower garden, followed by the island's original community center built in 1897, and the magnificent vista beyond.

A convenient small bath with shower is just off the kitchen. To the right of that, is the third, larger living room designed for your enjoyment with leather couches, large screen tv, and a large game table. A DVD library, wi-fi and cable are all part of the package.

From this living room, take the front staircase up to a huge master bedroom with en suite bath (double sinks and a large shower), walk in closet, dresser and beautiful king bed. A private couch is set up to maximize your view from a wall of windows.

For your convenience, a washer and dryer are in the nearby laundry area.

Buffering the master suite from other bedrooms is a large game room, where you can enjoy playing ping pong without missing an inch of the view.

On the east side of the house find three more bedrooms and a full bath with tub. Two of the bedrooms face across the lawn to the spectacular view of mountains and water. They both boast queen size beds. A third room has bunk beds.

Take the stairs down the other side, and find two more bedrooms (one with queen bed, one a bunkhouse) with a Jack-and-Jill half bath between them.

Outside is where the real fun begins. A huge lawn is the perfect place for a game of Bocce, Whiffle or Frisbee. The large, organic garden invites you to share from its bounty. If the apple and pear trees are in season, enjoy some fruit straight off the vine. You may want to just lay back on the two person hammock, or loll around on the over-sized swing. You could also take a long hike. Bring your binoculars to see shorebirds, songbirds or raptors. Or you may be like the hundreds of cyclists who make Lopez their destination and opt for a bike ride, up hill, down dale, and through the woods. When night arrives, no need to go in. Chorus frogs will serenade you as a spectacular night sky unveils itself.

At some point you’re bound to want to be on, in, or around the water. You can access over 250 feet of medium-bank waterfront by way of solid timber stairs with a sturdy driftwood handrail. Swimming is only for the fearless, but this is a kayaker’s paradise, and launching is easy from our private beach. You can spend hours just watching the wildlife. Eagles abound near here; orcas and porpoises can occasionally be seen from shore with binoculars; otters and seals come right up to our rocks. Fish and crabs are plentiful in waters nearby. At certain times of the year, after dark enjoy the magic of bio-luminescence.

Heading back, you may want to stop at the fire pit and take a seat on the driftwood bench to tell tales drink wine or roast marshmallows.

If you can tear yourself away from here, take a short trip to Lopez Village, where you'll find, shops, restaurants, art galleries, a fully stocked grocery, and on Saturday mornings during the summer, a great Farmer’s Market.

Here are some more favorite places of ours

* Fisherman Bay with a marina, bike and kayak rentals, dining options and plenty of picnic spots.

* Agate Beach with its colored rocks.

* Shark Reef Park where you can look down from the bluffs,on the seals and sea lions, while watching exciting tidal waters.

* Iceberg Point with its hike to rock cliffs and panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca.

* Spencer Spit State Park, a wooded wonderland close to the ferry

* Watmough Bay Preserve with Caribbean-colored waters and dramatic cliffs