Deer Harbor is a picturesque marina at the midpoint between two peninsulas on the island’s sleepy west side. From here, you can join a guided kayak tour or whale-watching excursion or charter a sailboat for a day on the water. Bikes are also available to rent. But if it’s more your speed to just hang out, this is an inviting spot for it, with one of the island’s only sandy beaches and views of the distant Olympic Mountains. There’s also the outdoor deck at Island Pie, where we had an early pizza dinner with a refreshing breeze. The chalkboard menu lists options like a seasonal squash pizza with a balsamic reduction, kale or beet salad, and—this being Orcas Island, after all—a smoked salmon mini pizza appetizer and Washington-made beer and wine.
