Disabled Business Travel in the San Juan Islands
Washington State Ferry Accessibility Makes Handicapped Travel Easier
Nov 9, 2008
Orcas Island, Washington offers a number of options for disabled travelers looking for accessible vacations and business travel ideas. Mostly rural, ancient fruit-bearing trees and rolling mossy hills are a feast for the eyes for handicapped travelers on the San Juan Islands. Orcas Island accessibility ensures business travel and vacations for the disabled are comfortable and stress-free.
The wheelchair-accessible Inn at Ship Bay provides a respite for disabled travelers. The Washington State Ferry has reduced rates and accessibility features to ensure a smooth ride to the island. What disabled travelers need to know about travel to the wheelchair-accessible Inn at Ship Bay on Orcas Island, Washington:
Washington State Ferry Accessibility
The Washington State Ferry has disabled traveler accessibility to make passage on the ferry easy and comfortable. Handicapped travel planning should include:
- Travelers in wheelchairs can double-check that the San Juan Islands ferry they will be traveling on has handicapped accessibility by calling 1-206-464-6400.
- While on the phone, callers are encouraged to ask about reduced rates for disabled travelers.
- Handicapped travelers should double-check the ferry times to the San Juan Islands when calling the ferry information line. The Washington State Ferry website doesn’t always have seasonal, up to date ferry schedules, but the Washington State Ferry hotline (and Orcas Island innkeepers) can provide this information.
San Juan Islands Handicapped Travel
Handicapped travel to the San Juan Islands via the Anacortes, Washington State Ferry is an easy trip from Seattle. With a bit of preparation, Orcas Island accessibility via ferry passage is easy to navigate:
- The exit is approximately 60 miles north of Belltown in Seattle and the drive along WA-20 (the highway off of the I-5 exit) takes about 30 minutes.
- An Ordinary Seaman working on the Washington State Ferry informed this business travel writer that the crew recommends that disabled passengers arrive an additional 30 minutes ahead of other arriving passengers, or approximately one and a half to two hours before boarding time during peak travel times.
- Upon arrival at the ferry, disabled passengers must notify the tollbooth operator to let him or her know that passengers need accessibility options for handicapped travel to the San Juan Islands. The tollbooth operator will point these passengers to a parking lane to wait for ferry boarding.
- Handicapped travelers heading to the San Juan Islands will be parked next to an elevator bank for easy access to the upper decks. The wide aisles on the upper decks facilitate getting around.
Wheelchair Accessible Inn
The wheelchair-accessible Inn at Ship Bay is one of the inns in the distinguished Unique Inns family, an organization dedicated to providing high-quality inn travel experiences. To find the inn upon arrival to Orcas Island, follow Crescent Beach Drive to Olga Road to arrive at the Inn at Ship Bay. The 10-mile drive from the dock takes about 20 minutes.
The guest room that’s been updated for accessible vacations and disabled business travel sits at the east end of the Inn at Ship Bay and features beautiful bay views. An oversized bathroom, lowered bed and extra-wide doorways means it’s easy to get around this wheelchair-accessible inn room. The porch is the perfect place to watch the sun drop over the yardarm and features an extraordinary view of the water and the antique orchard on the inn grounds.
For more information about San Juan Islands handicapped travel, wheelchair-accessible inns and Washington State Ferry Accessibility, contact:
San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 98
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
1-360-378-5240
Inn at Ship Bay
326 Olga Rd
Eastsound, WA 98245
1-877-276-7296
2100 Ferry Terminal Road Suite A
Anacortes WA 98221 USA
1-206-464-6400
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