Guest Author - Terri L Griffin

Whidbey Island is home to a Naval Air Station, several State parks, about 70,000 people and many recreational sites. Whether you’re looking for picturesque scenery, good food, historic sites or family fun, you’ll find Whidbey Island a worthwhile destination.

Getting to Whidbey Island
You can drive over the bridge at Deception Pass, at the north end of the island. Or you can ride on a ferry: the Port Townsend/Keystone ferry crosses in about 30 minutes; the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry takes about 20 minutes. Access the ferry schedules at the Washington State Ferries website.

Dining on Whidbey Island
Restaurants on Whidbey Island are as diverse as anywhere else. You can eat pizza, tacos, spaghetti, sushi, sandwiches, lamb, pie or just about anything else you crave. There are even a few fast food restaurants for those of you with kids like ours. Here are a few of our favorites. You’ll find more at the Whidbey & Camano Islands website.

The Knead and Feed Restaurant, located under #4 NW Front Street in Coupeville is a great spot for lunch. They bake breads, pies and more fresh every day; and they have a great view of Penn Cove.

The El Corral Mexican Restaurant on Kramer Road in Langley serves up a delicious array of Mexican favorites, as well as a few American dishes, for lunch and dinner.

Zorba’s, at 841 SE Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor is open daily for lunch and dinner and features an authentic Greek and Mediterranean menu.

Things to Do on Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island offers many unique shopping experiences: from the quaint, historic main street of Coupeville to the artisan galleries and shops of Langley, to specialty bakeries and a sweet shop in Freeland, there’s something here for everyone. Oak Harbor hosts both large national chain stores and small boutiques and specialty shops. The island is also home to numerous antique shops.

Nature lovers won’t want to miss Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Joseph Whidbey State Park, or Deception Pass State Park. Try Hastie Lake or Ala Spit for bird watching or hike the many trails found at South Whidbey State Park and Fort Ebey State Park. Be sure to take the history lovers in your family to one of our favorite spots, Fort Casey and Admiralty Head Lighthouse. And for you photography lovers, just about anywhere you go on Whidbey Island you’ll find breathtaking views of Puget Sound, the Cascade and Olympic Mountains and more.

Whidbey Island Events
Whidbey Island hosts numerous special events throughout the year. Art Festivals, Farmers’ Markets and Antique Fairs are just a few of the fun activities available. Catch the Coupeville Memorial Day Parade or celebrate Independence Day at Oak Harbor City Beach Park. Visit the Greenbank Loganberry Festival in July or the Island County Fair in August. There’s a Kite Festival in September, a Harvest Festival in October, the Freeland Festival of Lights in November, and a Christmas Boat Parade in December. Get the whole schedule here.

These are just a few of the things to see and do on Whidbey Island. For more ideas visit the Experience Washington website. You’ll also find lodging and restaurant listings.

Whether you want a unique shopping experience, a quiet weekend away, a hiking and camping adventure or just a fun day trip, visit Whidbey Island and discover its diverse activities and beautiful scenery.