Things to Do on Whidbey Island
When I was growing up on Whidbey Island, I went through a few phases. There was a phase, when I was around 18, that I thought that Whidbey Island was boring, that there were no fun things to do on Whidbey island. After I left the Island for a few years, got my degree and I got to witness the horrors of the real world (traffic, mostly), I began to see just how wrong I’d been. We may not have tall buildings, but we do have some of the best experiences you can get out of life, which I’ve outlined here.
Take a Hike or Ride a Bike! (On a beach, through a forest, anywhere really…)
Seriously. Get up, walk out the door, and go for a hike. The hiking is really just trying to find the best view, that’s what it’s all about. Whidbey Island has more than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails, plus miles upon miles of beautiful beach to comb over and enjoy. Whether you prefer a sandy beach, that stretches as far as you can see, a back country trail through Pacific Northwest rain forest, or a windswept and rocky cliff side trail, you’ll find it on Whidbey Island. Enjoying the outdoors is one of the best things to do on Whidbey island.
Go Fishing, Crabbing, or Shellfishing
If you like to fish, you’re in luck. Whidbey Island has amazing saltwater and freshwater fishing all year round. Salmon, Steelhead, Cod, Flatfish, and Perch are some of the popular saltwater species, while freshwater game includes trout and bass. If fishing isn’t you’re thing, try crabbing. throw the pot in, burn some time enjoying the view off the pier or the boat, maybe crack open a beer, and when it feels right, pull up a pot full of dungeness and red rock crab. If you think harvesting shellfish should be more work than crabbing, you can always dig for clams. All you need is your state fishing license, a shovel and bucket.
Go Wine Tasting (or beer, spirits, and liqueur tasting)
Small family wineries and a craft distillery, and a taproom set in spectacular rural countryside offer critically acclaimed wines, award winning liqueurs, craft beers and unpretentious hospitality. Passionately created and diverse in style, there is an island wine to tempt every wine-lover. The wines of the island represent the full range of the Washington varieties and regions including the exquisite and rare estate wines of the Puget Sound AVA, the states’ 3rd oldest designated grape growing region. The cool clean air, fresh spring water coupled with the finest ingredients culminates in world-class spirits.
For all that Whidbey Island has to offer – Charming seaside towns, unspoiled beaches, world class cuisine, a vibrant arts community and unlimited recreational possibilities, a good drink makes it that much better.
Have a Nice Dinner, then See a Show
Whidbey Islandoffers a cornucopia of food & wine pleasures, year around, from award-winning restaurants, to bountiful farmers markets. The only thing can compete with the quality of food and drink you can find on Whidbey is our vibrant arts community. My favorite date-night: a dinner out, followed by a play, or musical performance.
Enjoy Viewing Some Art, Or Make Your Own
Often referred to as Puget Sound’s Largest Artist’s Colony, Whidbey is home to numerous working artists, writers, and performers. These include many well-known painters, sculptors, glass artists, wood workers, metal workers, mixed media artists, photographers, authors, poets, actors, and musicians. Your time on Whidbey is well spent taking an artwalk in any of our galleries in any of our communities.
Kayaking, Windsurfing, Kite-boarding, Skim-boarding, Surfing, Swimming, etc…
Double Bluff Beach on South Whidbey is the island’s most popular kiteboarding site, offering the best opportunity at low tide for kiteboarders new to the sport. If you want to kayak, there are many companies that rent them for the day, or offer guided tours. If you own your own kayak, you can easily launch it at a public beach access. From your kayak you may see Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron, Cormorants and Harlequin Ducks. You may also see Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, Dall’s Porpoise and more. In the early spring, try out Saratoga passage where Gray Whales cruise through and feed on the local ghost shrimp. Surfing can be done at Fort Ebey State Park, and skim-boarding is a popular pass time at many local beaches.
Festival Season
Running from Spring through Fall, Whidbey Island Festival Season is something special. From the famous Coupeville Musselfest, to Choochokam Arts Festival, Djangofest, Race-Week, The Kite Festival, and more. Take a look at our festival calendar and find the ones that sound good.
Go to a Museum
If you’re a history buff, you can find some of the truly interesting things in Whidbey’s past and present. Per example. Did you know that the first full-time colonist on Whidbey Island, Col. Isaac Ebey was killed by a party of Haida Native Americans? Following the death of one of their chiefs and 27 other tribal members in an attack by the US Navy the previous year, the Native American party searched for a white Hyas Tyee (great chief) in retaliation. They succeeded in their mission and killed Ebey in 1857.
Top 6 Private and Public Parks on Whidbey Island
From state parks, historic sites, and scenic byways to seaside villages and public gardens, Whidbey Island blesses it’s inhabitants with abundant opportunities to enjoy a marine environment surrounded by snow-capped peaks. State parks like Fort Casey and Fort Ebey give you camping, hiking, and history, while privately owned parks such as Earth Sanctuary in Langley and Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens give you the opportunity to see Whidbey’s flora and fauna. Locally managed parks like Oak Harbor’s City Beach, and Langley’s Castle Park round out our great park system.
Boating or Whale Watching
Surrounded by Puget Sound and dotted with beautiful lakes, boating on and around Whidbey Island is a great way to spend a day or a lifetime. Whether you decide to sail Deer Lake on an El Toro, cruise through Deception Pass as you slide through the roiling tides, or power around Saratoga Passage looking for whales, your day on the water is going to be a blast.
