WorldMark Deer Harbor

Nice ferry trip to the Island. Checked into a warm, cozy suite for 2 and enjoyed the drive to Eastsound for some shopping and Dinner. Drove to Rosario resort to check out the grounds where my wife and I spent our honeymoon 31 yrs. ago. Went back to our Cozy suite and relaxed in our hot tub on a cool rainy night then enjoyed a good movie in front of the fireplace with my significant other munching on popcorn. Had a goodnight sleep, and woke up to get ready to leave WorldMarks Diamond in the Rough in Deer Harbor. We will remember this weekend, and We Will Be Back!!!

We couldn't find a buoy or dock space at Suchia or Matia, so on a Saturday afternoon on a gorgeous afternoon we called Deer Harbor about transient moorage and they accommodated us! We enjoyed the marina very much, the staff are friendly and courteous, the young ladies in the store make excellent coffee and ice cream cones, there's a restaurant up the hill as well as the Wyndham properties with a pool that boaters can use. Beautiful sunsets, quiet nights, island buses run regular (a little pricey, but. It bad). The marina has fuel and pump out.

Just up the hill from the harbor area. Our cottage was great. The hot tub on the deck (unit 105) was a nice treat after a day of hiking, cycling, or whale watching – even in the rain; our hot tub had a roof over it but walking around the area not all the units had this advantage. In the evening, you could sit at the table on the deck or in the hot tub and watching the activity in the harbor or just the birds flying around, including bald and golden eagles. There was very little traffic on the road, so taking walks in the evening or morning was no problem. This location is a little out of the way, but were made multiple trips to the hiking trails at other locations on the island with no problem and made it to most of the trailheads within 30 minutes. Cell phone and internet coverage in the area was marginal, but it you really need to find a signal it was possible – just might not be possible from you unit. Or if you need internet there is one public computer in the owner’s lounge.

Great view of the bay, lovely accommodations. Hot tub on your time on your porch. The studio deluxe easily slept the 4 of us but, no wall to muffle the snoring of your roommates. Lol!! Large bathroom area with very large shower. Bunnies were frolicking around the grounds.

My husband and I just spent Sat-Monday at this resort. It's breathtaking. The best rooms are 112 (that was us) 113, 114. You have the view of the bay from your own hot tub. YES, hot tub your very own. Things I noticed while on the Island. The people on this island are NOT very friendly. If you think you're coming to a island where everyone is laid back and nice, think again. Don't get me wrong, a few places were great. Worldmart was friendly, Orcas Island winery was friendly, The people at Rosario Resort the lounge are awesome, but they better be for the price of that place....Whew! They have a really cool museum at Rosario Resort. FYI everything on this Island is three times the amount. I was in line and heard a lady in front of me buying cigs, the price $11!!! I about fell over when I heard that. So if you're a smoker be aware. Places we ate: LOVED Deer Harbor Inn, best calm chowder I've ever had. New Leaf Cafe, it's not cracked up to what the reviews say. It's okay, but wouldn't go twice. Madrona Bar and Grill, excellent and the music play list they have is fabulous. (don't get the bloody mary ..yuck) A must is Oracs Island winery. Good wine and a cool chick who works there. Must see: Mt. Constitution.... AMAZING views the drive has winding roads and TON of deer. So be careful. Speaking of deer, they are everywhere and bunnies. There's a beach outside of Eastmore where you can park and gather seashells. We never saw any dolphins or whales , which was a bummer. October was a beautiful time to go. It was sunny and not to cold. Lastly: We almost didn't make it off the Island. The main ferry was broken and everyone was set back. The line was long, but we got on at 5:15 (thank god) So always make sure the ferry is working WAY in advance before you leave. I will have photos soon! Any questions, please ask I would love to help.

Great views, right near the water. We had a one bedroom unit, only a 2 burner microwave and small fridge ( the freezer is so small that it is not really a freezer). Hot tub on each porch are very nice, but they do have to have time to reheat fairly often. Great heated pool area. Three shared BBQ grills. Laundry facility is shared, but had no trouble with availability. Fitness room and pool table. We were in a handicap unit, but there is a significant hill to walk up and i believe this would be difficult for any one with problems walking. There is a decent size grocery store in East Sound, about 20 minute drive. also tried Buckbay Shellfish, very fresh clams, oysters etc. Very relaxing area. We had no cell coverage here. The Wifi is spotty and slow. Overall, I loved it here.

This side of the island was wonderful and fun. We spent a weekend there. The cabin we stayed at was beyond perfect, quiet, clean, big enough for two. The balcony offered a beautiful view of the marina. The water had a beautiful green like color, it reminded me of Spain, but better. We were on a very hot weekend it was about 75-80 degrees. We were able to go fishing at the west beach (I believe that is the name) we got only 1 fish, but we feel with the low tide and the unusual heat that would have been the case, still was an enjoyable experience. There is a lot of rentals for boats, Kayaks, stand up paddle, etc. Everyone on the island was very friendly. At night the temperature cool off a little bit and we were able to enjoy the hot tub, under a sky full of stars, you could see them all. It was beautiful. Totally recommend stargazing and wine with your love one. The next day we caught the 5'o clock ferry to Anacortes, if you plan to catch that one make sure you make it on time, otherwise the next and last one on a Sunday is at 7pm. The worldmark had also a pool and a rec center which we did used. There is a pool table and a huge screen.

Worldmark is a fantastic way of time share. Deer harbor is fantastic. All the Worldmark resorts we have stayed at have been exceptional. Deer harbor is lovely and quite. My husband is really enjoying all the beautiful boats. You can rent a sail boat and cruise around. Wonderful vacation spot.

The last time I came to Orcas Island, Deer Harbor Resort was a rundown mess. It appears that the WorldMark renovation has been so complete that the only thing recognizable is the setting. And the setting is wonderful. There are 25 units, most of them cabins spread up a hill above a small marina. These "cabins" are actually little houses - I liked mine so much I took lots of photos in hopes I could build one just like it as a rental at my house. My cabin layout was done so well that the space lived like separate rooms rather than a large studio. It had a king size bed, with a built-in dresser and three-sided fireplace that provided separation from the living room side. The couch folds out to a queen size bed. The dining table further separates the bed area from the kitchen area. Very well done, if not as well described here. The view is nice. Very nice. Especially from your own private hot tub. On your own private deck. At any time of the day or night (ideal for those who are tired of limited pool hours). Word of caution: Deer Harbor is on a peninsula on one end of an island. That means it is a looooooooooooong way (by city standards) to run out and pick up some adult beverages or snacks. There is a great grocery store in Eastsound, which is about 20 minutes away. The trip seemed like an hour the first time, because the speed limits are low and the roads are winding. But for those of you used to popping down to the mini mart for beer? There is a small market at the ferry terminal, and there is a spot east of Eastsound (on the way to Moran State Park/Doe Bay). The marina at Deer Harbor? It closes at 5pm. So plan accordingly! Likewise, dining options. Healthy eaters will be pleased that there is not a single fast food option on the island. Not even Subway. The aforementioned markets/marinas have premade selections. Those of us who come from "big" cities and don't generally go out before 8 pm? You will be S.O.L. on Orcas Sunday-Thursday, since only a couple of taverns serve food that late. On weekends, most places stop seating at 9. Outside the Deer Harbor Marina, there is only one restaurant near the resort, and it's only open 5-8 pm Friday - Tuesday. PLAN ACCORDINGLY! On the upside, I lost weight because I didn't plan accordingly. The things that separate a 4-dot rating from a 5-dot rating are the details. And in this case, two very important words: "ice tray". As in "lack thereof". People used to staying at WorldMark are accustomed to a full refrigerator and oven. This place has a small refrigerator with no ice maker; not even an ice tray. They provide an ice bucket and you trek to guest services for fresh ice. Like you do in hotels, but it's not the normal WorldMark experience. In a similar vein, those used to a having an oven with which to prepare, say, a pizza? You will have to improvise on the BBQs (by guest services) or in a microwave. The tiny kitchen works fine for those who are ok with 2 burners, a toaster, coffee maker and microwave. Go out and enjoy some great Island dining. There is a TON of room in the bathroom, and perhaps some of that could have gone into making the kitchen just a touch bigger to have a refrigerator that makes ice. Seriously, I could probably fit my car in the bathroom. There is a ginormous walk in shower, a double vanity, and the toilet is in its own room (hello privacy!). My favorite little upgrade at this WorldMark? Real wood doors (most WorldMarks have plastic doors) with lots of hooks - so you can hang up all the towels you are using in the hot tub and pool. I was here by myself, and getting the cover off the hot tub was really challenging, and putting it back on was nearly impossible (especially without waking everyone up at midnight). Tip: by flipping the cover on the long side, toward the neighboring cabin, you get the thing in a place where you can find leverage to get it back on. AND you have now created a privacy wall! You can thank me, yes you can. I had to call the service desk several times for things I couldn't figure out, such as the aforementioned ice, how to operate the DVD player - and how to get the cover back on the hot tub. The staff was amazingly patient and kind. Upon seeing me limp down the stairs with my ice bucket, the young maintenance guy ran up to retrieve it and tell me he'd deliver it to my cabin. I'll be back.