Anybody taken their boat to Rosario Resort in the last year or two? Can you
compare your most recent trip with one of 5-10 years ago from a boating
perspective?

SWilliams wrote:

Anybody taken their boat to Rosario Resort in the last year or two? Can
you compare your most recent trip with one of 5-10 years ago from a
boating perspective?

Can you be specific? I live near there and I drop in on them from time to
time. The people are still friendly and the local hikes are fun. What
specifically did you weant to know?

--
Paul Lutus
http://www.arachnoid.com

In article ,
says...
SWilliams wrote:

Anybody taken their boat to Rosario Resort in the last year or two? Can
you compare your most recent trip with one of 5-10 years ago from a
boating perspective?

Can you be specific? I live near there and I drop in on them from time to
time. The people are still friendly and the local hikes are fun. What
specifically did you weant to know?


I, too have been in and out of Rosario a number of times over the
last 15 years---usually in an 18' trailerable pocket cruising
sailboat (Windrose 18). I've even used their launch ramp for the
boat---but never again---as it's steep and slippery at
lower tide.

I don't recall any changes in the boating part of the trip.
As of a few years ago, there were still mooring buoys that allowed
resort privileges with your fee payment. I think there's still
fuel and marina moorage available. The restaurant and the
resort itself seems to change hands about each 5 years, but
the last time I was there the food was still pretty good.
The Cascade Bay Cafe near the docks was in operation and
had good breakfast and lunch fare.

Mark Borgerson

"SWilliams" wrote in message
news:SKg1b.170956$Oz4.44605@rwcrnsc54...
Anybody taken their boat to Rosario Resort in the last year or two? Can
you
compare your most recent trip with one of 5-10 years ago from a boating
perspective?

Still windy.

On the non-boating side, still more expensive than justified. Food at
restaurant is still good especially the dinner buffet. Deer still friendly.

In article ,
says...
"SWilliams" wrote in message
news:SKg1b.170956$Oz4.44605@rwcrnsc54...
Anybody taken their boat to Rosario Resort in the last year or two? Can
you
compare your most recent trip with one of 5-10 years ago from a boating
perspective?

Still windy.

On the non-boating side, still more expensive than justified. Food at
restaurant is still good especially the dinner buffet. Deer still friendly.



True, the menu in the main restaurant never has been for the light of
wallet. It shares that characteristic with the restaurant at Roche
Harbor. The seafood buffet was probably worth the price, but I think
it was only one day a week a few years back. Has that changed?

For an Orcas Island stop with a nearby restaurant, try Deer Harbor.
I think that the marina there has gone through a major upgrade recently
IIRC, the restaurant there was OK and much less expensive than Rosario.
The kids loved the sea otters hiding under the docks, too.

Rats, here it is the end of August and I haven't been near salt water
in months! Thankfully, I get to take a business trip to Port Townsend
tomorrow and can spend some time at least looking at boats.

Mark Borgerson

The purpose for my question is that for a very long time, we hit Rosario
once or twice each year by boat from our berth in Bellingham. There were
always at least two dock boys and a slip master bending over backwards to
help and welcome. They maintained numerous mooring buoys and plenty of good
anchoring, and they offered a free tender you could call with a blast on
your horn or call on your VHF. They made it very clear they wanted boats and
boaters and boaters' money. We were courted, appreciated and pampered, and
we loved our time there.
Our last visit was August 1999. There was no help on the docks, registering
was made to be extremely inconvenient, and we had to significantly invest in
expensive add-ons to get access to what had been included resort areas and
activities. We got the distinct impression that they would have been much
happier to see us if we had come by car or float plane and rented one of
their rooms or condos...
So, I'm trying to find out how Rosario is treating boats and boaters now
relative to the mid-70's, all the 80's and most of the 90's...
Did we just hit them on a VERY BAD weekend, or should we continue to go
elsewhere?

Can you be specific? I live near there and I drop in on them from time to
time. The people are still friendly and the local hikes are fun. What
specifically did you weant to know?

--
Paul Lutus
http://www.arachnoid.com

More's the pity, indeed.

I'd be interested to see how things have changed too. My last visit
was in about 1999. At that time I just got a temporary tie up
at the fuel dock and my son and I ate lunch at the Cascade Bay cafe.
I didn't notice the level of assistance at the marina or
the occupation rate of the marina. I do suspect that, as
the resort seems to change hands regularly, it may have fallen
among boating philistines. More's the pity.