Whidbey Island

Whidbey is one of my favorite islands in the Sound.  Deception Pass was one of the first day trips my family took when we moved here from California, and years later we discovered the quaint little coastal towns of Langley and Coupeville. Whidbey is the largest island in Washington and 4th largest in the lower 48 states. It's known history dates back to 1792 when it was first discovered by Joseph Whidbey and Peter Puget. Later settled by Isaac Ebey, a potato and wheat farmer who rowed daily across the inlet to work as Postmaster for Port Townsend...busy guy. The north end of the island's economy is cultivated by the Navy base and home to many military families, while the south end is marked by tourism and home to many working artists, writers, musicians and performers. Penn Cove, famous for it's Mussel Farm offers 27 varieties of freshly harvested shellfish...if you're into sort of thing. If you're a NW gardener, keep your eyes open for all the independent nurseries, my mom particularly likes Cultus Bay. And if you're a pizza lover (who isn't??), you gotta check out Langley's Village Pizzeria and get the Sicilian Crust.

Your tummy will be so full when you leave. 

 Downtown Coupeville's main street is lined with shops and restaurants, 

such as the craveable Knead and Feed.

 Jeremy and I have gotten to bike the trails at Fort Ebey a couple times, 

the Bluff Trail is the most scenic we've ridden yet, 

also great for walkers, this is must for any Washingtonian.

 Killing time, taking photos while Jeremy got the bikes ready.

 Got in some Disc Golf at the newly constructed Fort Nugent Park.

 Deception Pass

 Walking the Beach

 Keep your eyes open for wildlife

 A cheerful little chipper at our campsite.

Whether you've been here or not, I hope you will get to spend some time on this island gem. Enjoy! 

Cama Beach State Park - Camano Island

As winter approaches we have to get creative about weekend getaways since tent camping and hotelling it are not really an option. A few years ago I learned about the newly renovated cabins at Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island. We were pretty stoked to stay in a cabin with electricity for $17/night! (We later learned that there had been a pricing error, and the next year rates went up considerably, ranging now between $49-$159/night.) Formerly a private fishing resort until 1989, the park holds: 33 facilities ranging from Standard Cabins to Deluxe Bungalows, a very clean community bathroom and even the educational Center for Wooden Boats. The beach, known for it's clamming and crabbing, looks across the Saratoga Passage to the beautiful Whidbey Island in the distance.

 Such friendly little cabins.  Ours was conveniently located directly in front 

of the bathrooms, which came in handy for being in my third trimester!

 I was not expecting a sink, microwave and refrigerator... 

what a welcome surprise!

Click here for more pictures.

The vintage fill up station at the north end of the park. 

We did not get a chance to visit the Camano Island Coffee Roasters, but we did a drive-by and it looked pretty cool. We instead hit Blackbird Bakery Cafe in Stanwood on our way out of town. I think they served Zoka or Cafe Vita...anyway, it was a cute little shop with glowy lanterns in the windows. 

Camano Island is one of the lesser populated and developed islands in the Sound, with 56 miles of pristine beach and conveniently attached to the mainland by a bridge. This is a close-to-home vacation destination, which you will leave more refreshed than when you came. Happy Clamming!