This is a beautiful cottage stocked with every amenity you might need. Plenty of extra linens, paper products, basic toiletries, etc that are not always provided but that make vacation so much more stress free. John made the entire process, from check-in throughout our entire stay, so seamless, and he made it clear that he was available day or night for any issues that might arise. Definitely one of our best rental experiences ever! If we return to Orcas Island, we will definitely be returning to this cottage!!
We enjoyed our 4 days on Orcas Island - hiking and relaxing. John provided useful information on activities across the island and responded rapidly to our questions.
We enjoyed our stay. The house was clean and directions were written down for what you needed. The location was close to town so it was very convenient. Nice relaxing visit !
The location of the cabin is great! It didnât take us long to get to the popular are of the downtown area, and some of the sightseeing areas. Thereâs a nice view of the water from the sunroom and the front side patio of the cabin. We loved the Jacuzzi and the outdoor sitting area. Overall we had a nice stay, but there were some things in the cabin that prevented us from having a great stay. Some small things that can be easily fixed! There was a fair amount of dog hair in the sunroom, the garage where the ping-pong table is located, and unfortunately in the bed of the larger bedroom. The air conditioning, we think it gets overwhelmed easily and just stops working until it has a chance to recover. The cabin can be quite warm, especially in the bedrooms. We couldnât really open the windows due to no screens. We couldnât enjoy the garage where the ping-pong table is located due to the overwhelming smell. We knew the cabin would be a bit dated, (although appears well maintained), so we attributed the smell to the heat and that fact. However, when we went to wash our towels, we discovered a fair amount (large chunks) of mold in the front load style washer. Then the smell made sense. The towels also have a leftover smell from the washer, not strong but present. If those things can be addressed and fixed, we would totally come back! When we checked in they were super helpful, and gave us some ideas of what to do and let us know that if we needed anything to give them a call.
It's not a fancy place, but it has everything you might need for a lovely stay on Orcas. Vibrant gardens full of hummingbirds, your choice of patios depending on the time of day, great grill, and a resident pair of peacocks who visit every evening. How many places have you stayed with a house rule that says "do not feed the peacocks"? Lovely escape.
We had a great stay at the cabin and especially liked the ping pong table and hot tub! Great location -- close to the ferry and town. John was a gracious host who provided clear instructions on how to get to the property (and also to navigate the ferry, which was particularly helpful!) and made himself available for any questions we might have had.
My adult kids and I had a wonderful time at this well cared for, thoughtfully appointed property. We enjoyed this house, the hot tub, the views, the stars, as well as the comfort of a home that has everything we wanted. John was a great host. This is a favorite that weâll return to.
Very cozy, clean, and peaceful. Great for kids. There are geese and peacocks around the property for entertainment. Also, the hot tub was a big hit. Close to town, beaches, and parks. Very happy with our stay.
This was the perfect house for our family! We loved the outdoor patio and hot tub, and enjoyed watching a meteor shower from there. The owners were great at communicating and made everything easy - including renting kayaks. The property had everything we needed and was super clean and comfortable. Great hosts and great home!
We all loved our time and would come back if we get to Orcas Island. The house is spacious, super clean, comfortable and set up for hang time. We enjoyed our time in the hot tub; sitting in the various outdoor seating spots gazing at the view: playing ping pong; observing the peacocks; and sleeping peacefully. The place is away from the road and peaceful. There is enough room in the house for the three of us to get our own space and also cozy for time together. We enjoyed our stay so much.
Wonderful location near a quiet marina. The home was clean and well appointed for a getaway weekend with my sons. The sunset view over the rolling lawn towards the water was worth the trip alone. Our host was kind and responsive.
John Wachter has lived in Westsound for many years, and also operates his other facility Called Sunburnt Mermaid Cottages next door. The Sunburnt Mermaid property was originally purchased by John's grandfather, a Bellingham jeweler, more than 80 years ago. Over time many fruit trees and shrubs were planted on this fertile, sunny land, and today the estate has apples, plums, peaches, apricots, seabuckthorn, figs, currants, blueberries and raspberries designed by horticulturalist Arthur Koch, as well as medicinal herb garden designed exclusively by Chris Stateham. Recently a fantastic heated pool and spa with outdoor kitchen so guests can enjoy this gorgeous setting and feel the same magic they feel everyday living in paradise. John also enjoys antiques and collecting, and guests can see many vintage items throughout the property
Located on the sunny side of Orcas and One of the very few rental spots offering a heated pool (June thru mid September), Spa year round, pool hall/game room, kayak and bike rentals, organic garden fixings when in season, 850 feet of creek to explore in back woods, large outdoor fire pit with occasional local musicians joining the fun. So much more.
Come visit our other estate facility called Sunburnt Mermaid Cottages down the road 800 feet and explore the amazing grounds, gardens, eclectic barn and game room, beach, solar farm and much more.