Whidbey Island in May
Even on grey, drizzly days Whidbey Island offers green vistas overlooking spectacular water views.
On the way there
Our 2005 Dodge Durango is loaded with more stuff than we’ll probably need for our long weekend on Whidbey Island. Like a deconstructed S, Whidbey snakes it’s way along the Puget Sound and lucky for us there are multiple ways to access it by car. From the North part of the Sound, near the Salish sea, you can take the Deception pass bridge to Oak Harbor – the more commercial part of the island. From the middle part of the Sound the most convenient way is via the Mukilteo to Clinton ferry. Notice the word convenient and not fast. It’s really a toss-up whether it’s faster to take the ferry or drive over the Deception pass bridge. Since we’re staying on the south part of the island, we opt for the ferry.
Why Whidbey
My 40th birthday falls on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Our plans have been made for months and we’re looking forward to a beach weekend, even if the forecast promises cloudy skies and lots of rain. The house we rented is right on the beach! When the tide is high it’s almost like being on a ship. Every evening around 5:30pm a parade of cruise ships sail past, making their way from Seattle to the Pacific Ocean. From our spot, secure on land, we watch eagles find perches on the pier posts, little fish jump and play, herons stalking their prey, and kids running down the sandy shore.
Occasionally the cloudy skies would clear, and the sun appeared. When this happened, we sat in the Adirondack chairs outside, soaking in the warm rays and salty sea air. Despite the cloud cover and rainy days, mother nature put on a colorful display each night as the sun set behind the blues and purples of the islands, water, and mountains in the distance. Bold orange and pink hues painted the heavens fading to muted yellows and eventually black.
A brief history
The house isn’t the only place we visited. When looking into how Whidbey was formed, I found this paper, “Late Pleistocene Glacial History of Whidbey Island, WA”, which included a field guide. We’ll call it a treasure map. Sometime in the very distant past, the Juan de Fuca plate collided with the North American plate in the Puget Sound region, creating the many mountains surrounding it today (along with a lot of smaller tectonic plates, but that’s another story). During the most recent ice age, several ice lobes advanced and retreated over what now makes up the San Juan and Puget Islands. These built the islands up and packed them down over time, creating distinct layers that ultimately developed into the lazy, rolling hills and breathtaking bluffs we admire today. About 15,000 years ago, the ice retreated for good, and people showed up in the Puget Sound.
A side quest
So, Mr. Mile and I decided to hop in the Durango and follow the treasure map. We found a big boulder which the paper says is from Fidalgo Island up north.
Next stop, the phone company parking lot. We found this neat old phone booth but weren’t able to locate the geologic features from our treasure map. We had some fun before heading to Double Bluff County Park.
About a mile and half walk from the parking lot, the bluff is said to reveal the layers of deposit that formed the island. But we got distracted by the windsurfers and a “For Sale” sign on a little shack right next to the park. We never made it to the bluff. Maybe next time.
Places we recommend if you find yourself on South Whidbey:
Everything the Yelp reviews say about the scones and breakfast sandwiches are true. If you’re in the area, just stop and get whatever baked good is available.
It was raining when we went, but that didn’t stop the band from playing (under cover). The veggies were big and fresh, there were a variety of booths, loads of samples, plus prepared food! If you find yourself on the south-end of Whidbey on Saturday between 10am and 2pm don’t miss this farmers market.
The whole town is cute, there is a public restroom, beautiful water views, beaches, and cute shops to explore.
Spring’s bounty was in full display, Rhododendrons of every shade and hue create a symphony for the eyes. Bluffs and trails to the beach leave a lot to be explored. Pay the $5 per person fee and get lost in these gardens.
This trail through the woods is set up like a figure 8, plus there isn’t much up and down making it great for any age and physical level. There is an option to donate, but this place is free. Enjoy the ingenuity of the artists and the beauty of the island.
Looking forward to returning to Whidbey Island soon! Do you have a favorite place on Whidbey?
