If you enjoy a whimsical, wooded retreat, you may have already stayed in a couple of unique accommodations in B.C.
Whether you have worked up the nerve to dangle in the forest canopy in a spherical tree house on Vancouver Island or you have watched the ocean waves crash beneath your stilted tree house on the Sunshine Coast, our own beautiful backyard has some fairly eyebrow-raising options for folks looking to spice up their abode away from home.
But there are several other options located just across the B.C. border — and some of them give our local choices some stiff competition (they're wooden, too.)
Orcas Island is approximately a four-hour trek from Vancouver, B.C. via car and ferry, offering several activities for local travellers looking to explore somewhere new (but not too far away). Recognized by its horseshoe shoe shape, it is also the largest of the San Juan Islands and home to the 5,200-acre Moran State Park. Hikers can enjoy over 38 miles of trails through the breathtaking old-growth forest and dips in Mountain Lake.
After crossing the Canada-U.S. border, travellers continue down the Interstate 5 Highway in Washington State down past Bellingham. When you get near the City of Burlington, prepare to take Exit 230 toward 20/Burlington/Anacortes and turn left onto Skate Road. From here, you will need to follow directions via Google Maps or GPS to get down to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal that will take you to Orcas Island. You can check sailing times and availability for the Washington State Ferries with the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The ferry ride takes approximately an hour, but if you aren't a fan of ferries or want to avoid the drive down, you may also fly into Orcas Island via Kenmore Air.
Road trips from Vancouver to tree house stays in a forested oasis
While there are numerous accommodations on Orcas Island, folks looking for a unique, immersive experience will want to check out a tree house nestled in the heart of the woods.
Listed on Airbnb as the Orcas Island "Forest House," this adorable accommodation offers a peaceful retreat with "distant views toward the Salish Sea" and features "fine wood interiors, round rooms joined by interior corridors and expansive exterior decks."
The host writes that the Airbnb rental was featured on the "King 5 Seattle Evening News when it was known as Hobbit House" as well as a show called Treehouse Masters.
Guests can enjoy home-cooked meals via "a well-equipped kitchen with a four-burner gas stove," as well as an oven with "an over/under refrigerator with freezer above." There is also a smart TV for viewing movies and television, a queen-sized mattress with a skylight above it, and a deep soaking tub.
One of the unique features of the accommodation is how different rooms are connected, such as the bedroom, which is accessible by an outdoor deck. But a quick scroll through the photo gallery at the top of this story conveys all of the special appointments that give character to this charming forest dwelling.
Keep in mind, however, that the host does not allow children under 13 due to the deck railings.
