Spring in the Pacific Northwest

Spring in the Pacific Northwest is truly remarkable. The Spring flowers are profuse and nowhere more beautifully represented than at the 2008 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Stay at the Gnome House or Maggie's Manor on your way to or from this beautiful event. The weather is usually a mix of clear clean air and puffy white clouds with a few spring showers. The 2008 Tulip Festival starts on the 1st of April and runs through the 30th of April. Last year the tulip festival tulips were right on time and it sure looks good for a right on schedule tulip festival show of color this year. Many tulip festival associated events are planned.  After you make your Gnome House or Maggie's Manor reservations on Orcas Island, click on the link at the bottom of this page to learn all about the tulip festival. It's a great web site.

Spring in the San Juan Islands

       The San Juan Islands are beautiful in the Spring too. In late April or early May you can be certain that the Orca Whales will be returning to our beautiful islands. This has long been a welcome event, like the blossoming of the crocus and the forsythia, to highlight the advent of another beautiful season in our world- famous pristine island archipelago. The Orca Whales are not the only wildlife attraction in these beautiful islands: the resident Minke Whales and the Dall's Porpoise; the Harbor Seals and the Harbor Porpoises; the Bald Eagles and the Osprey; the Great Blue Herons and the Cormorants; the Black tailed Deer and the Pheasants; and a multitude of songbirds and seabirds and Hummingbirds. Plus,  we have our own abundance of flowers and flowering trees to herald in the joys of Spring. The Famous Orcas Island Restaurants scattered throughout the island are open and bustling with hungry locals and visitors alike. The typical San Juan Islands quaint and the modern gift and clothing shops are full of unique handmade items, local art and unique spring and summer island wear. There are minimal other visitors for schools are still in session. The vacation rental rates and many hotel rates are still low even though it's really one of the very best times to be here as a visitor or an islander. Many islanders are happily planting and tending to their gardens. Baseball, softball and Little League are in full swing and Moran State Park is open for mountain bikes on some trails and hiking and strolling on all trails. Fishing in the lakes is great and sailing is superb for there is more wind than in the summer.

Special Spring Bonus if you rent between April 1st and June 7th

    If you have read this far we thank you, and we want to reward you by telling you that this Spring we are going to give some incentives for all of you to sign up for rentals in the Gnome House or Maggie's Manor between April 1st and June 7th . You will receive 10% of your total rental bill before sales tax as a credit toward purchases in our gift and clothing store Rhapsody of Orcas Island or our beautiful new store Spirit of the Northwest. You will receive a gift certificate upon arrival!  If you think about it,-- it's a very good deal. We are already giving you an off season rate and now we are giving you an extra Spring bonus too. We are doing this to try to get you to come up to the San Juan Islands in the Spring and we know that you will be glad you did. So don't delay! Go to our web pages for the Gnome House  and Maggie's Manor and find the vacation rental you like. Then check out the vacation rentals Rates Page and the Availability Calendars for April May and June. Then Email us or contact us by Phone and give yourself a real treat. We will answer any questions you may have about the San Juan islands, Orcas Islands, or our vacation rentals and work with you to plan an enjoyable trip to these beautiful San Juan Islands. After you have secured your reservations come back and explore the      LINKS PAGE  and get a taste of what you can expect on your Spring Vacation to Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands.

Click  Recommended Links  when you have secured your dates.

 If you would like a copy of the Orcas Island, Chamber of Commerce Map and Guide mailed to you: Click Here 

 

 

Photo of Skagit Valley Tulip Festival above by Wade Clark