Step onto horseshoe-shaped Orcas Island, drop your suitcase or backpack, and drink in the green paradise the locals call “the gem of the San Juans.” ­It’s a magical mix of arts and culture, lush forests, pristine lakes and endless outdoor possibilities. Most of Orcas Island’s 57 square miles are rural and hilly, a pleasure for drivers and a challenge for cyclists, with curving roads that wind through forests and past artists’ studios, fields with old apple barns, and the occasional turn-of-the-century prune drying barn. Take a driving tour around Orcas Island to experience all it’s hidden gems and notable stops!