Lodging: Rosario Resort and Spa

A Rosario Resort and Spa on Orcas Island

written by Cara Strickland

You’ll find Rosario Resort and Spa right on the water on Orcas, one of Washington’s beautiful San Juan Islands. Check in at the historic mansion, originally built by Robert Moran (once mayor of Seattle, as well as a shipping magnate) who was seeking the slower pace of island life for his health. You may want to do the same.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Choose from nine different room types across ten buildings (we suggest a quick call to find the best situation for you). Choose a hillside or harborside room, both with views of the water from your private balcony. Choose a room with a kitchenette and eat in, or rent a space for a romantic retreat or family reunion.

DINING
Though Orcas has a wealth of delicious local restaurants, you don’t have to leave the resort to dine well. For breakfast, lunch or dinner, start at the Mansion Restaurant on the enclosed veranda—be sure to claim your reservations during the summer season. Executive chef Ray Southern has been at the helm since 2015. His food emphasizes fresh, local flavors, often with creative twists. Stop for a nightcap at the Moran Lounge, in the mansion’s living room, and order a snack off the bar menu. During the warmer months, dine right on the water at the casual Cascade Bay Grill, or sip something from the Mansion pool bar with an all-day lunch menu.

AMENITIES
Be sure to stop in during one of the organ concerts in the music room (4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday in the summer). You might want to wander through the mansion museum before slipping into the outdoor or indoor pool, hot tub or sauna. Catch a fitness class or get a massage at the full-service spa.