If you forgoe the opportunity to stay at the Turtleback Inn, you will have denied yourself a truely fine experience. Bill and Susan (the owners/innkeepers) have operated it for 20+ years, and have refined innkeeping to an art form. They are like one's favorite aunt/uncle, are warmly and genuinely hospitable, and are extremely likable. The Inn is impecably clean. The tiniest detail has been attended to. The two guest buildings invite one inside without pretense or contrived charm. It is all genuine: the hosts, the Inn, the entire 80 acres. It is the real deal.

My wife and I had an opportunity for a 3 day "kid break". We jumped on it, and headed to the San Juans for a bicycle getaway. We booked the Turtleback on Orcas for 1 nite on "a flyer" after a cursory web review of the other options. We'd never heard of the place. We were going to play Sat & Sun nites by-ear with intentions of touring another island too. Long-Story-short: we were so taken by the Turtleback we continued to extend each day and spent all 3 nites there. We thuroughly enjoyed it! The Turtleback's contribution to a great weekend was of large measure. (1) Each of our 3 breakfasts was "gourmet", different, and fabulous! The coffee was excellent (we're Seattle coffee snobs) and bottomless. (2) The setting is bucolic and scerene; one is encouraged to wander. (3) The bed was firm and comfortable; the place is quiet; the sleeping was great! (4) The Inn's sitting/living room is charming, rich with wood, inviting to both genders, and the fireplace stoked and ready, with a generous wood supply 10 feet away under the front porch; the conversation with other guests was most interesting. (4) The entire place was squeaky clean. (5) The attention to detail was amazing, down to furnishing q-tips and even foam ear plugs for those who may be light sleepers.

While enjoying the fire in the evening, we purused scrapbooks of published, professional reviews. We were taken aback by the plethora of positive reviews the Turtleback has received over the many years from Sunset Magazine, LA Times, multiple travel magazines, etc, etc. You name it, its given Turtleback 5 stars. In other words, the place has credentials! IT IS A SLAM DUNK THAT YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

My husband and I stayed at Turtleback Farm Inn on the weekend of 2/6 - 2/8/04, and loved it! We stayed in the Orchard House. The room was quite large, with a free-standing gas stove and a private balcony overlooking the pasture. The bathroom held a quaint claw-footed tub and separate shower, and was also quite spacious.

The innkeeper, Emily, was terrific, and helped us find a masseuse at the last minute. The breakfasts were delicious, and included homemade granola and a different hot entree each day.

We loved the view of the pasture and sheep below, and laughed at the playful antics of the newborn lambs.

All in all, this was a romantic respite away from the hectic responsibilities of everday life. I highly recommend the Turtleback Farm Inn!

I can't believe that no one else has reviewed this great B & B. It's the perfect get-away. You could just totally relax here, or use it as a base to travel around this and the other San Juans Islands. You do need a car on Orcas. The owners and staff are extremely gracious and helpful and the room was delightful. (We stayed in the old farmhouse.) Would definately recommend it!