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State Park Secret Stays, Classes with Culture, Destination Dining and More Reasons to Hunker Down Island-Style

State Park Secret Stays, Classes with Culture, Destination Dining and More Reasons to Hunker Down Island-Style

Destination Dining: New Island-Grown Eateries, Culinary Adventures, Returning Food & Wine Festivals

Whidbey Island is known for its vibrant and eclectic community of tastemakers, farmers, craft beverage producers and artisans. With some of the best hyper local cooking in the Pacific Northwest, don't miss these new eateries and returning festivals to celebrate these upcoming months: 

  • Food, Fire & Iron is a new collaboration and culinary adventure on Whidbey Island that pairs open flame cooking and community for delicious results. Culinary workshops coined “Fire Labs” offer interactive, open-flame cooking and dining experiences led by Blacksmith and Chef JP Dowdell and his partner Russell Sparkman, connecting guests with fresh, island-sourced fare and each other over hands-on meal preparation and enjoyment. In a world where diners are more polarized than ever and snapping images or connected to devices at restaurants, at Food, Fire &Iron, everyone works as a team to prepare each dish then sits down together during this dynamic interactive experience (3-5 hours).
  • Little Red Hen Bakery. For Tyler and Sara Hansen, bread became a passion at their restaurant, Coupeville's famed Oystercatcher. Recently, the culinary inclined couple expanded with a retail bakery, selling their freshly made baked goods. Known for baking bread in dutch ovens for a just-right crispiness, from the eggs to the flour, the ingredients are all locally sourced from the island.
  • Farmer & The Vine. As its name suggests, Farmer & The Vine is one-part wine bar, one-part farm-to-table restaurant. Located in the heart of Langley, the newly opened hybrid restaurant serves up artisanal cheese boards, salads, and other small bites sourced from Welborn Farm in Greenbank, to pair with regional wines and ciders.
  • Autumn on Whidbey Art, Wine & Spirits Tour. Take a self-guided tour through the island's wineries and distilleries, showcasing local artisans work at each venue. (Nov. 9-10, 2019). Whidbey Island Vintners & Distillers Red Wine & Chocolate. Spend the weekend wine tasting, mingling with island's winemakers, and tasting special releases paired with sweet treats. (Feb 8-9, 15-16, 2020)

State Park Secret Stays: Cozy Up in a Cabin, Rent Your Own Island and Unlikely Lodging Options

Both Whidbey and Camano Island are home to some of the most beautiful and historic state parks and beaches in the Pacific Northwest. Full of history and character, these destinations offer more than just a day trip. This shoulder season, skip the crowds and consider a secret stay at one of these charming locations:

  • Cama Beach Cabins. On Camano Island's southwest shore, Cama Beach State Park offers year-round beachside bungalows and cedar cabins, refurbished from their days as a 1930s-era Puget Sound fishing resort. The cabins offer stunning views of the Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountains, as a top island retreat.
  • Ben Ure Island. As one of Whidbey Island's most celebrated destinations, Deception Pass State Park still has a few secrets of its own. Beyond the seasonal campgrounds, visitors can rent the Ben Ure cabin, located on the remote Ben Ure Island near Cornet Bay. Accessible only by a kayak or rowboat, the 12-by-24-foot cabin for two takes “getaway” to a whole new level.
  • Historic Military Housing at Fort Casey. The Fort Casey Inn offers a historic hideaway with a charming row of cottages, built as officer housing just prior to World War one. Each two-bedroom house has living spaces, spacious kitchens, back and front porches and tranquility without televisions. Here, history buffs can delight in the past and take comfort in the present.

Inspired on The Islands: Sculpture Sanctuaries, Hands-On Art Classes & More
The natural beauty, rich history and unique character of the islands inspires an eclectic, art scene. On Whidbey Island, the outdoors offer an immersive experience from the carved workings at Cloudstone Sculpture Park to the peaceful stone circles at Earth Sanctuary. To get hands-on, visit Marbley in Coupeville, the only shop in the Pacific Northwest offering water warbling art sessions. The ancient art form is getting a new life, as customers get the chance to hand-paint silk scarves. On Camano Island, NW Glassquest offers unique glass blowing classes, where by appointment visitors can create their own custom glass floats. Most guests visit Camano Island's Arrowhead Ranch for the axe-throwing adventure, but this new destination also offers hands-on classes in its maker space. Craft a live-edge charcuterie board from a pre-cut, local wood slab. Then sand, oil and brand it for a handmade, custom charcuterie board. This winter and spring, plan an art-inspired weekend trip with these festivals:

Winter Wonders: Storm Watching, Winter Hiking & Birding  

For those with a sense of adventure, take the road less traveled this winter and take advantage of shorter ferry lines, secluded beaches and unique outdoor adventures Whidbey and Camano Islands have to offer:  

  • Winter storm watching from Whidbey Island's celebrated beaches, rocky outcrops and shoreline trails is a unique, seasonal past time. Deception Pass State Park, Joseph Whidbey State Park, Ebey's Landing or Double Bluff Beach all make great locations to bundle up and listen to the wind howl, watch the waves roar and ocean swell.
  • For fun in the trees, Canopy Tours NW on Camano Island offers a thrilling, year-round zip lining and canopy tour through a sustainably managed forest. Fun for children and adults alike, the family-owned operated farm includes a ride on a 1963 Unimog off-road vehicle, six zip lines, a log bridge, trail walks, and a 47-foot final descent.
  • For birders, Whidbey offers a multitude of birds in every season. Explore the mud flats and lowlands of Dugualla Bay, a popular spot for swans, ducks, and other wading waterfowl. Greenbank Farm features walkable fields and grassland, with a viewing platform for harriers, eagles, red tailed hawks, red winged blackbirds and herons.

An Island of Learning: Family-Friendly Forts & Museums

Blend a little learning and pastime with the thrill of exploring a new place on Whidbey and Camano Islands. Both destinations offer unique learning opportunities and indoor fun for families, in their own unique, island style. Inspire little minds at museums like the Langley Whale Center, that celebrates the lives of marine mammals of the Salish Sea, or the PBY Naval Air Museum in Oak Harbor that collects, preserves and exhibits historic Navy aircraft. Travel back in time at the Island Historic Museum in Coupeville, with exhibits on the island's early settlers and native people. Bundle up and pack flashlights for the tunnels and abandoned gun batteries for Fort Ebey and Fort Casey, two military fortifications  used during World Wars I and II. Explore the cliff-side gun batteries, abandoned tunnels, wooded trails and beaches.

 

About Whidbey and Camano Islands

Drive off the mainland to find two of the most accessible and scenic island destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Camano and Whidbey sit just north of Seattle, a short trip via bridge or ferry. Offering a different experience with each season, the islands provide locally inspired shops and restaurants, dynamic events for a variety of interests, recreation and beach combing. Rich history and a healthy dose of local color in all mediums is provided by the region's many artists. Lodging options range from nationally renowned hotels with farm to table dining to secret spots ideal for a quiet retreat. For more information on amenities, lodging and a calendar of events visit whidbeycamanoislands.com. Connect on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook via @GoWhidbeyCamano. 

 

Media Contact: Erin Osborne, ON Public Relations, 206-948-6059, [email protected]