Orcas Today: Thursday, December 25th
Merry Christmas from all of us at Orcas Online!
Merry Christmas from all of us at Orcas Online!

7 miles. 900 feet elevation gain and loss The Mount Pickett Service Road and Trail runs through Moran State Park’s Natural Area Preserve which is one of the oldest undeveloped areas in the San Juan Islands. The parking at the Cascade Falls trailhead is the quickest route to the Service Road that leads towards Mount Pickett. An alternative starting point is the picnic shelter and parking at Mountain Lake; follow the trail to the southern end of the lake and continue east-southeast to the Mount Pickett trail. In addition to the undisturbed natural beauty of the area, Mount Pickett is also one of the most remote hiking locations on Orcas Island. Featuring a Natural Area Preserve; the densely wooded trail takes hikers away from roadways and campsites into the rustic woodland beauty that the Pacific Northwest is known for. Pack and prep for a challenge; Orcas Islanders use this trail as a test for their hiking and climbing endurance.

I am not, in any way, shape, or form, a guru in the ways of fine dining. Asking someone like me for advice on whether one fancy restaurant is better than another is more akin to asking a robin which tree is better for them to build a nest in. I will, however, argue vehemently that I love food (not that there’s anyone arguing with me, just a self-debate to pass the time), more so than others; be it American, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, the list would continue to the end of the page if I had my way (though my editor would have quite the hissy fit). So while I may be spouting off my own nonsense about what I think of a restaurant, I hope that my personal preferences invigorate you to explore new places, and sample new dishes, as I will be doing throughout these reviews. Alright, enough BS; let’s get started with Kingfish at West Sound! Kingfish boasts a wonderful view from the deck, and a decent view from the seat facing the front door (I’m told by my esteemed colleague…