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Trying to fit everything you want to do on Whidbey Island into one week can be a tall order. With so many stunning sights, outdoor adventures, and local activities, it’s hard to know where to start.
You don’t want to miss out on all the amazing experiences the island has to offer, but how do you make sure you fit it all in without feeling rushed?
Look no further than our comprehensive guide of best things to do on Whidbey Island in one week. We’ve done all the research for you so that you can make the most of your trip with confidence!
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- Best Things to Do on Whidbey Island
- What are the best outdoor activities in Whidbey Island?
- VIDEO: Best Things to Do on Whidbey Island in One Week
- What are the best indoor activities on Whidbey Island?
- Where is Whidbey Island, Washington?
- How to Get to Whidbey Island
- Visiting Whidbey Island in the Off-Season
- Washington State Discover Pass
- Where We Stayed on Whidbey Island
- Places to Eat on Whidbey Island
- One Week Whidbey Island Itinerary
- What are the best day trips from Whidbey Island?
- SBT Summary: Best Things to Do on Whidbey Island
Best Things to Do on Whidbey Island
When COVID-19 arrived on the scene, and our planned trip to Europe had to be cancelled, there were no other prospects on the horizon. Some friends, however, had just completed a long road trip throughout the western U.S. Their travels included several days on Whidbey Island. Well, that got me thinking.
I proposed a road trip to my husband. It had to be somewhere with water, but not a sand and surf beach trip, and fairly relaxing. Enter Goss Lake on Whidbey Island in Washington State.
Airbnb didn’t disappoint, and in about two months’ time, we were on our way! And now, we’re letting you know the best things to do on Whidbey Island in one leisurely, relaxing week.
What are the best outdoor activities in Whidbey Island?
Okay! Now that you have your Discover Pass, here are the best (and kid friendly) things to do on Whidbey Island!
The best way to explore the state parks and forests and All. The. GREEN. that is Washington State is to get out into nature! There are miles of hiking trails and so much to do and see. Whidbey Island is an outdoor activity paradise!
VIDEO: Best Things to Do on Whidbey Island in One Week
1) Deception Pass State Park
One of our favorite Whidbey Island activities is exploring the state parks on the island. Deception Pass State Park is a great place to start. Perhaps make it the first stop on your itinerary! You might want to go back, as it’s really one of the best places!
Deception Pass State Park is quite large. Parts of the park are on Whidbey Island (the north end of the island), and others are on Fidalgo Island. There’s even a part called Cranberry Lake.
Several trails are doable for most anyone. The Sand Dunes Interpretive Trail is a 1.2-mile round-trip loop, with minimal elevation change. It is a paved trail with some gravel and is ADA accessible.
In a different area of the park, where there is a parking lot roundabout, there is a short walk on a 0.1-mile trail down to Little North Beach. This beautiful, pebbled beach is a great spot to view the Deception Pass Bridge (and maybe get a photo for your holiday card!).
A 0.2-mile trail leads up (and I mean up!) to the underside of Deception Pass Bridge. Take a break at the top, and catch your breath. The view to the west from up there is otherworldly!
The Rosario Tide Pools are in the northern part of the park, on Fidalgo Island. Kids and adults alike will enjoy following the marked path through the tide pools.
The Rosario Head Trail is a 0.25-mile round-trip loop that will provide endless views of the ocean. The cliffs are steep, though, so use much caution, especially with children.
2) Fort Casey State Park & Admiralty Head Lighthouse
Fort Casey, along with Fort Worden (near Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula) and Fort Flagler (on Marrowstone Island), formed the “Triangle of Fire” back in the day. Their job was to defend the entrance of Puget Sound from attack. Fort Casey was decommissioned shortly after the end of World War II.
Now, you can explore through the vast bunkers and batteries, including four historic guns. On a windy day, which is many days, bring a kite to fly on the parade field grounds.
Admiralty Head Lighthouse is open mostly on weekends, as well as some Fridays and national holidays.
3) Fort Ebey State Park
Trails and waterfront views abound at Fort Ebey State Park.
Take the trail to Lake Pondilla. It eventually leads to beach access. Bring a packed lunch, and eat at one of the scenic picnic shelters.
Then, drive to the unique gun battery that is built into the hillside and camouflaged.
4) Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
Not to be confused with Fort Ebey State Park, Ebey’s Landing State Park (or Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve) is a short 15-minute drive away.
You can stay near the parking area and enjoy the sparkling waters of Admiralty Inlet. Or, you can ascend the stairs to the top of the bluff and take a walk to some historic housing.
5) South Whidbey State Park
South Whidbey State Park’s 1.5-mile Wilbert Trail will take you through an old-growth forest, including an ancient (500-year old) cedar tree.
You will also find other ancient artifacts here, including a pay phone!
6) Blue Fox Drive-in Theater
When was the last time you went to a drive-in movie theater? I think I was in high school, which was a long time ago!
We wanted our girls to have the unique experience, so we went to a Whidbey Island institution, the Blue Fox Drive-In Theater, located in Oak Harbor. It opened in 1959!
As far as Whidbey Island tourist attractions go, this one has a lot to offer in the way of entertainment. Besides showing new releases (as well as classic favorites), there is a large arcade, go-karts, and an extensive food menu. Get there early to get a good spot in front of the movie screen, and have an evening of fun!
In warmer weather (warm for the PNW, at least), you might be able to sit outside your car in beach chairs. When we were there, however, it was chilly. So, we sat bundled up inside the car. But, we had to crack the windows, because the windows were fogging up. It was quite an experience that we’ll all remember.
But, when else will our kids experience drive-in movie theaters? Plus, it was their first time ever seeing the classic movie Raiders of the Lost Ark! Such a fun place!
7) Possession Point State Park
Just when you think you’ve seen all the beautiful places on Whidbey Island, Possession Point State Park comes along.
First of all, the parking lot is tiny. There might be spaces for a little over half dozen vehicles. If you can snag a spot, hang your Discover Pass in the window, and head to the beach trail.
The beach trail winds around and down to the most gorgeous pebbled beach. Looking to the north, you might be able to see snow-capped Mount Baker. When we were there, we even saw a couple orcas breaching in Puget Sound!
8) Dave Mackie County Park
Dave Mackie County Park is a great place to watch the sunset. Pack a picnic dinner (or pick-up some food) and head to the park. It’s quite small, most of it being taken up with a ballfield and parking lots. Near the shore, however, are picnic tables and a playground, perfect for dinnerizing and watching the sunset!
What are the best indoor activities on Whidbey Island?
Sometimes the weather might prevent you from enjoying outdoor activities. In that case, here are a few indoor options.
9) Games!
Yep! Good, ole board games! But, not necessarily old fashioned!
Our favorite game to take along on vacation these days is Catan. If you don’t have room for the regular game, there is a travel-size Catan that will tuck nicely into your bag.
10) Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum
Located in Oak Harbor, this museum was the perfect place for a rainy day (though we would have visited anyway!). It is well put together and full of unique and amazingly preserved artifacts, plus flight simulators. Admission is just $5/person (children under 6 are free), and it is well worth the price. The museum is self-funded, so every bit helps them stay open to continue teaching future generations about our country’s past.
Where is Whidbey Island, Washington?
Whidbey Island is a long, skinny, north-south island, northwest of Seattle in Puget Sound.
When finding it on a map, Whidbey Island seems little longer than it actually is. The north end of Whidbey Island stops at Deception Pass, where the Deception Pass Bridge connects it to Fidalgo Island.
How to Get to Whidbey Island
The way most people get to Whidbey Island is by car and/or boat. Car (& pedestrian) ferries are a dime a dozen in the greater Seattle and Puget Sound area and beyond.
Highway 20
If you don’t want to do the car ferry thing, you can drive onto Whidbey Island from the north. From the mainland, Highway 20 takes you first to Fidalgo Island and then continues onto Whidbey Island via Deception Pass Bridge.
My favorite way to get to Whidbey Island, however, is on a car ferry. There’s not just one Whidbey Island ferry. There are two ferry options that will get you to Whidbey Island.
Port Townsend / Coupeville Ferry
Port Townsend is located on the Olympic Peninsula. The ferry from there will take you to the Coupeville ferry station, which is on the west side of Whidbey Island, right about in the middle of the island. The Coupeville ferry terminal is actually located right next to Fort Casey State Park, which we’ll talk about in just a little.
Reservations are currently available for this route.
Mukilteo / Clinton Ferry
So, what ferry do you take to Whidbey Island?
By far, the most popular route to Whidbey Island is the Mukilteo Clinton ferry. Mukilteo is located 26 miles north of downtown Seattle. This one makes the most sense, if you’re coming from the Seattle area.
Reservations are NOT available for this route. It is first come, first serve only, so plan accordingly. Especially during the summer months and holiday weekends, the wait can be hours long. Make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare, especially in high-season or peak crossing times.
Bring a book to read. Get out of the car and stretch. Listen to the locals catching up with each other.
If you’re hungry and forgot to bring snacks, there is an Ivar’s just an 8-minute walk away, for some fish & chips!
Once you are on the ferry to Whidbey Island and it is underway, the crossing from Mukilteo to Clinton takes about 15-20 minutes. It’s pretty quick. Your destination will be the town of Clinton, which is on the far southeast part of Whidbey Island.
Visiting Whidbey Island in the Off-Season
Heading to Whidbey Island in the off-season will benefit you in many ways. Let’s see…
- Ferries – If you avoid peak times of day, you won’t have much trouble getting a spot on a ferry. There also won’t be as much competition for ferries that take reservations.
- Lodging – Your lodging choices will be plentiful and more reasonably priced.
- State Parks – You will virtually have the amazingly beautiful state parks to yourself! There were some trails where we literally saw no one else.
- Traffic – Traffic will be almost non-existent on the island (especially compared to SoCal!).
- Weather – You can experience all kinds of weather. It’s the Pacific Northwest (PNW), so the weather can change at any moment. Be ready! We experienced bright sunny days, as well as rainy days with gale force winds.
Washington State Discover Pass
Before we get into the best things to do on Whidbey Island, let’s talk quickly about the Washington State Discover Pass.
The Discover Pass is a hang tag that will provide vehicle access to an amazing number of Washington State Parks and other state recreation lands. A day-use pass costs $10, but an annual pass is only $30! This is a fantastic deal!
I highly recommend purchasing the annual pass. You will definitely get your money’s worth even in just a week on Whidbey Island.
The Discover Pass is also transferable between two vehicles, just not at the same time! Be sure to display your Discover Pass!
Where We Stayed on Whidbey Island
Are you looking for a vacation near the water, but not a sand and surf beach trip, and fairly relaxing? When I translated those parameters into Airbnb’s search, this cabin was literally the first property on the list. Since we were planning a little later than we normally do, it was mostly booked up. There was a small window of time available, so we took it!
It is located right on Goss Lake, which is on Whidbey Island. Yes, a lake on an island! So, the location is fantastic!
Besides checking all our boxes, it also gave us the ability to eat in and save some money that way. It provided privacy, was affordable, and had everything we needed for a great vacation. We had the best time at this cabin!
One of my favorite features is the deck off the master bedroom that looks out over the lake. I could sit there for hours! We actually did spend a couple days just hanging around the cabin (read: taking a nap!), playing games, exploring, and canoeing on the lake. In the off-season, we practically had the lake to ourselves.
Most of the other days were filled with short day trips to other parts of the island, including state parks, beaches, and old military forts (see all the places above). It was great to be out in nature!
The cabin is not far from Freeland, where there are restaurants, a large grocery store, and our favorite Whidbey Coffee location.
If you stay elsewhere on Whidbey Island, you can still enjoy Goss Lake. Goss Lake County Park is visible from the cabin. This “park” is technically a parking lot, bathroom, and public boat ramp. There’s a small grassy area that would be great for a picnic overlooking the lake.
Places to Eat on Whidbey Island
Herein are some of our favorite Whidbey Island restaurants and other places to buy food. One of our favorite things to do when we travel is to find good eats unique to the local area.
Rocket Taco in Freeland
In a word: yum! Rocket Taco has all the meat choices you’d want, plus several vegetarian choices. The blackberry margarita, made with freshly picked blackberries, was delicious. They also have a kids menu for your littles.
Payless Foods in Freeland
Yes, a grocery store. So, not necessarily a place to eat but a place to get things to eat!
Buy breakfast foods here (hello, Tillamook Yogurt). Fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee creamer. Apples bigger than my hand! It will save you time, money, and possibly calories, by not eating out for breakfast each day.
It was at Payless Foods where we found our new favorite bread: Dave’s Killer Bread. We chose their thin-sliced “Good Seed” variety for our daily PB&Js.
Being a large grocery store, Payless can also provide what you need if you’ll be making dinner at your place of lodging. And, in terms of dessert, they’ve got marionberry pies and all the local ice cream brands that you could want.
Whidbey Coffee
Ah, Whidbey Coffee. With a dozen locations throughout the North Puget Sound area, it’s their Freeland location that became our fast favorite. Besides the fact that it was not far from our place of lodging, we found the Freeland location to have less traffic, more friendly team members, and better made drinks.
In addition to the normal coffee shop menu items, they have seasonal specials, and my new favorite: the espresso milkshake!!!!!
The Farm Stand in Oak Harbor
The Farm Stand will satisfy your ice cream craving. They have tons of flavors, including one of my favorites that can’t be found just anywhere: cinnamon! Try local flavors, such as huckleberry, too.
Besides the ice cream, you will find fresh produce, local raw honey, fresh cut flowers, and…shave ice!
Don’t be surprised if some fighter jets come roaring along, while you’re enjoying your ice cream. The Farm Stand is right in the landing path of the Naval Air Station!
3 Sisters Market in Coupeville
Yep, another grocery store. However, two of our favorite PNW foods are sold here: Whidbey Pies and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese.
Whidbey Pies
If you don’t eat anything else on Whidbey Island, eat Whidbey Pies’ marionberry pie!
I don’t like run-of-the-mill pie crust. I usually eat the pie filling and ditch the crust. Whidbey Pies has no ordinary pie crust though. I did not leave a single crumb of Whidbey Pies’ marionberry pie on my plate. Their crust is so flaky, it’s amazing!
Even though you *have* to try the marionberry pie, Whidbey Pies sells a variety of other flavors, including triple berry, huckleberry, loganberry, and salted caramel apple. Some types are only seasonal, but there’s always something tasty available!
Although Whidbey Pies can be found at 3 Sisters Market, they are also available at various places around Whidbey Island and the Puget Sound area, including Greenbank Farm, their headquarters. Maybe someday they’ll start shipping out of state?!?!? Wishful thinking!
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
This company hails from Seattle, and their main store is right on a corner in Pike Place Market. Whenever we can find their Flagship cheese, we usually buy some. 3 Sisters Market sells it! What can we say? We love cheese!
Kapaw’s Iskreme (Ice Cream) in Coupeville
Enjoy an ice cream treat from the kindest proprietor we’ve met! Get your ice cream at Kapaw’s Iskreme on Coupeville’s main street (love the small town feel!). Then, consume your snack while walking along the nearby pier, taking in the sights all the way.
Whidbey Doughnuts in Langley
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we chose dinner time to head to Whidbey Doughnuts. And yes, we did taste some of their donuts. However, we also had their tasty Monte Cristo sandwich for dinner, as well as a breakfast sandwich from their all-day breakfast menu. P.S. Their onion rings are amazing!
Nuang Mai Thai Kitchen in Oak Harbor
On a chilly rainy day (or really, any day), this Thai food hit the spot. Chicken satay, yellow curry, and pad see ew. Service was fantastic! Enough said!
Pickles Deli in Clinton
A great sandwich can be hard to find. Pickles Deli solves the problem with their sandwiches and wraps. Plus, there’s a cute little picnic area out in front of the store.
One Week Whidbey Island Itinerary
This one week itinerary provides lots of leisurely free time, as well as seeing the major sites and taking in the natural beauty that Whidbey Island has to offer.
You can mix and match the days, depending on the weather or other variables.
Day 1
- Arrival in Seattle area
- Car ferry (preferably the Mukilteo to Clinton ferry) to Whidbey Island
- Check-in at lodging
- Dinner out & grocery shopping
Day 2
- Breakfast at lodging
- Pack lunch
- Deception Pass State Park
- Ice cream at The Farm Stand
- 3 Sisters Market for Whidbey Pies & Beecher’s cheese
- Dinner at lodging
Day 3 (leisure day)
- Breakfast at lodging
- Lunch out or at lodging
- Dinner out or at lodging
Day 4
- Breakfast at lodging
- Pack lunch
- Fort Casey State Park & Admiralty Head Lighthouse
- Dinner out or at lodging
Day 5
- Breakfast at lodging
- Pack lunch
- Fort Ebey State Park
- Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
- Ice cream in Coupeville
- South Whidbey State Park
- Dinner out or at lodging
- Blue Fox Drive-In Theater
Day 6 (or rainy day)
- Breakfast at lodging
- Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum
- Lunch at Nuang Mai Thai Kitchen in Oak Harbor
- 3 Sisters Market for another Whidbey Pies purchase
- Board games at lodging
- Dinner out or at lodging
Day 7
- Breakfast at lodging
- Possession Point State Park
- Lunch out
- Start packing up at lodging
- Pack dinner (use up leftover food, except what you need for tomorrow’s breakfast)
- Dave Mackie County Park for sunset
Day of Departure
- Breakfast at lodging
- Check-out from lodging
- Car ferry from Whidbey Island (Clinton ferry terminal) to Seattle area
- Head home!
What are the best day trips from Whidbey Island?
There are three main destinations to consider for day trips from Whidbey Island.
Seattle
The first is obviously Seattle. Take the Clinton to Mukilteo ferry, and drive south into Seattle.
Port Townsend
Take the Coupeville to Port Townsend ferry, and explore the far northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, including Fort Worden Historical State Park. For a future visit, you can even stay in the old officers’ housing there!
Always looking for tasty treats, I recommend Elevated Ice Cream in Port Townsend. It was there that we first became acquainted with the concept of an affogato (essentially a small espresso float!).
San Juan Island
Get ready for a long day that you will *not* soon regret.
The best day trip from Whidbey Island involves yet another car ferry. This one will take you from Anacortes (in the northwest part of Fidalgo Island) to Friday Harbor (San Juan Island). This ferry passage from Anacortes to Friday Harbor and back is one of the most scenic and amazingly beautiful boat rides ever!
Yes, you will be headed to San Juan Island, which is part of the San Juan Islands. I know, I know…just roll with it!
So, how does it all work, you ask? And, what will you do when you get to Friday Harbor?
I’ve got you covered with our article about how to get there and back, where to eat, and what to do on San Juan Island.
In order to make this work into your itinerary, you could consolidate a couple days on Whidbey Island to incorporate this day trip.
SBT Summary: Best Things to Do on Whidbey Island
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or an adventurous excursion, the array of activities available on Whidbey Island should easily accommodate all types and styles of vacationers alike.
If you have only one week to spend on Whidbey Island, make sure that you squeeze in as much of this awesome destination as your list will allow – it will be time well spent. And who knows, by the end of your visit you may find yourself dreaming up plans for another return trip!
Most importantly just remember to soak in every moment and enjoy all that Whidbey Island has to offer, from its stunning beaches to its amazing whale watching spots, and the countless natural areas to its old-growth forests.
Whidbey Island was calling my name. Maybe it’s calling yours, too?!?
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This looks like such a great trip. It is sooo beautiful up there in Washington! I often forget how beautiful our own country is. I haven’t been to Whidbey Island, but I have been to the San Juan Islands. I could spend a lot of time up there and not be mad about it. So gorgeous, relaxing and it looks like you found some great food!
It really is amazing…the change in scenery. Hopefully, you can make it to Whidbey some day!
This destination looks amazing and is honestly a place that I hadn’t heard of before! Your photos compliment the awesome information that you shared…so THANK YOU!!
Sounds like it’s time to start planning a trip to Whidbey, now that you know about it! 🙂
You Missed out on seeing Camano Island! There’s lots to see and do there too. You can drive to it by way of the Deception Pass Bridge, through LaConner and south to Camano. Come check us out too.
I’d love to check out Camano Island some day too!
I grew up in Washington State and we visited Whidbey Island often. I remember so many trips to Fort Casey! Great post! You make me want to go back as soon as possible to explore it again as an adult.
That’s fantastic! And yes, the scenery is just as amazing for adults!
Thanks for the review! We’re excited to have tours available of the interior of our beautiful PBY Catalina plane this summer. Her name is Gigi and we’re pretty proud of her.
That sounds great! I always love getting to see the inside of classic airplanes!
Great overview, and you captured the feeling! After we’d lived on Whidbey awhile, a friend from Virginia came to visit. I was driving her south toward Coupeville when she GASPED! I thought an animal was running into the road. No, it was her first view of the mountains. That reminded me to never take our wondrous island for granted.
There really is so much natural beauty! We love the PNW!
wow I was all in with the scenery and activities, but the food sounds amazing – homemade cheese sticks! wow! I also love daves killer bread – Trader Joes does have a similar version too. I have not been to PNW, we were planning an Alaska cruise in 2020, but you know how that turned out
You gotta get to the PNW some day! It’s so beautiful and…green! And, I hear you about planned trips in 2020. We were all ready to head to Europe.
You hit most of the high points, but a few more food/drink suggestions:
– Island Nosh in Clinton (all sorts of interesting noodle dishes from various cuisines)
– Gordons on Blueberry Hill in Freeland (great food, and service, spectacular view)
– Penn Cove Taproom (Freeland, Coupeville, Oak Harbor – great beers, Freeland has a Gordons food truck)
– Oystercatcher restaurant and Little Red Hen Bakery in Coupeville (serious foodie food, wonderful bread)
– Toby’s Tavern and Coupe’s Last Stand on Coupeville waterfront (classic American hamburg-hot dog fare, gives me flashbacks to the 1960’s)
– Flyers Restaurant and Brewery in Oak Harbor (brewpub with great beers)
Thanks for the tips. We’ll have to check them out next time!