My family has been coming here each summer for four years now and will be coming again next year. My wife and I have three children and we have stayed in Cabin #1 three times and Cabin #3 one time. On our last trip during the first week of this August, we stayed in Cabin #1 which sleeps eight people.

First of all, Mar Vista is not for everyone. Don't expect Marriott's or even Best Western. The cabins have been around for probably 40 years. The furniture and interior is circa 1970's. The beds are a little worn and in one of the cabins (Cabin #3), the bathroom had a strong odor of water damage in the walls and floor. On the plus side, the kitchens are fully equipped and you can pretty much cook just about anything you want.

However, Mar Vista is the perfect place if you want to get away from it all and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. The eight cabins on 30 acres are spaced far apart from each other and most have a nice view of Haro Strait. I have seen Orcas, bald eagles, otter, seals, deer, foxes, and raccoons. The resort has a promitory with an expansive view of Haro Strait from which you can watch Orcas, the Olympic Mountains, and the beautiful sunsets. False Bay is just a few hundred feet from Mar Vista and is a safe place to kayak in, or just explore during low tide.

Mar Vista is also very family friendly. We have taken our teenage nephews and they enjoyed the resort (much too our surprise). We had rented kayaks and kept them on the beach and my nephews were in them several hours a day. The resort has a playground for younger children and a lot of open space for other activities.

I rent kayaks during my stay and spend hours each day exploring the life around the rocks. You can also go fishing or crabbing.

We enjoy Mar Vista for the peace and quiet and wildlife and will continue to vacation there every year.

My husband and I decided to splurge and book four nights at Mar Vista Resort on San Juan Island. We arrived early and were pleased to be told we could check in early. Upon entering the cabin, we noticed a cute moderately decorated living room and kitchen. Travelling further through, we found two bedrooms and a nice sized bathroom between them. We heard a honk and the person from the office had stopped and yelled that the Orcas were passing in the Ocean in front of us. So, we ran down the path to the lookout area that they had set up for all visitors to view the ocean. We were able to see the Pod of Orcas passing and had enough time to jump in our car and head to Lime Kiln State Park.

There are eight cabins with sleeping arrangements for eight guests down to two. All cabins have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, lovely decks to relax on, and kitchen supplies that will help make delicious meals. The owners are very friendly and will leave you alone in your own cabin without disturbance. We will definitely stay there again and again. It is a wonderful place to enjoy San Juan Island and have privacy and nature everywhere.