"Whidbey Island, Washington State" Top 5 Page for this destination Whidbey Island by royalempress

Whidbey Island Travel Guide: 105 reviews and 118 photos

Deception State Park on Whidbey

Welcome to our home in Coupeville, on Whidbey Island. I will be developing many more pages on Whidbey in the next few days.
Whidbey Island and Puget Sound were carved our by Glaciers during the Ice Age. Upon the Glaciers retreat, they left deep gouges which turned into many hundreds of miles of water ways and hundreds of Islands. Many of the Islands are inhabited and many are not. Some Islands have been set aside as preserves for the protection of breeding birds and marine life. The first inhabitants of the region were the Salish Indians. Later on many different Indian tribes settled in the area.
From the mid-sixteenth century, Spanish, Russian and the English exployers and traders frequented our region. In 1792 Captain George Vancouver sailed into the area trying to find the fabled NorthWest Passage. It was thought that there was a passage from our East Coast through the interior to the Pacific Coast . Captain Vancouver sailed down the Straight of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound thinking he had found the passage.
Many of our Islands were named after Spanish Captains and traders. They frequented the San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands.

Whidbey Island, Washington State - Whidbey Island

This picture was taken in front our home on Whidbey. As you probably noticed there are many high banks on Whidbey. Much of the high bank waterfront has access to those who love to walk the beaches.***** If you come to Whidbey to enjoy walking the beaches please watch the tides. Always walk on a outgoing tide or know when the tide will be high. On many of the beaches the water comes right up to the banks. It is not unusual to have 13 foot tides.

Whidbey Island is a long narrow Island which is approximately 50 miles long. At its narrowest it is a mile wide. The weather differs greatly on the Island. Down in the southern part of the Island, the rainfall is equal with Seattle which is around 60 inches a year or more. In the middle of the Island, (which is my home)Coupeville, the rainfall is from 15 to 19 inches a year. The reduced rain fall in our area is because we are in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains. The farther North you go from Coupeville, the rainfall averages increase.

Views of Olympic mts. from Fort Ebey--Coupeville

There are 4 main towns on Whidbey Island. The only fairly large city is Oak Harbor, and the population is around 30,000 people. Langley, a small town on the far Southern end of the Island is an upscale community. There are many small art and antiques shops. Next is Freeland, which consists of a grocery store, bank and hardware store. Next comes Coupeville(center of Island), a very historic small town, and then Oak Harbor. Please enjoy the pictures of Whidbey Island as I can post them.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful ocean side Island
Cons:None

Intro Updated Jun 17, 2007
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Reviews (73)

Fort Casey Gun Emplacements Things to Do (51)

The only remaining original cannon that could be found is now under going restoration. The cannon was found in the... more travel advice

Fort Casey Gun Emplacements - Whidbey Island

Fort Casey Gun Emplacements Things to Do (51)

This is a view from the back side of Fort Casey. After it was built a huge bank was filled infront for protection from... more travel advice

Camping Fort Ebey Things to Do (51)

This is the road that winds through the campground at Fort Ebey. The speed limit is enforced and is only 15 mph. more travel advice

Camping at Fort Ebey Things to Do (51)

There are hundreds of really great camp sites at Fort Ebey, Coupeville. There is room for tenters and motor homes. The... more travel advice

Hotels (16)
See All Officers Quarters pre-war, Fort Casey
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Comments (24)

cachaseiro Nov 1, 2010 at 1:26 AM Report Abuse

Thats a brilliant page. I was just reading about the island last week cause travel writer Peter Jenkins is roaming around out there at the moment.
glabah Dec 2, 2009 at 12:27 PM Report Abuse

Thanks for the post to the Washington forum about Langley. I'll have to get up there one of these days.
icunme Nov 8, 2009 at 12:22 AM Report Abuse

All I can say is the Royal Empress is one smart fish - living here w/chocolate - pampered no doubt, by you & Sue.
soundview Sep 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM Report Abuse

We love the Pondilla neighborhood, we looked at 565 Seaside in June, do you think any other houses will come on the market?
KiKitC Jul 13, 2009 at 3:01 AM Report Abuse

I do believe I would love it here. Forts, camping and photographing beautiful places. I like walking beaches...but 13 foot tides? Wow! Hope your birthday is full of friends and laughter.
canuck68 Mar 22, 2008 at 10:08 PM Report Abuse

You live on a beautiful island judging from your pictures and tips. I live close by and am ashamed to say I have never visited.
markelela Aug 8, 2007 at 3:07 PM Report Abuse

The inn is well located and quaint. We stayed in a Lagoon room (165. per night) our room was well below par. The double bed was lumpy and uncomfortable, tap dripped and the fixtures were old and stained. Dock was closed...
luckyzen Jul 8, 2006 at 11:49 PM Report Abuse

Gret pic.'s of Deception State Park, Mike. I see that you have a Birthday coming up.....Wishing you a good one! All of the very best!
makiro Jul 1, 2006 at 11:06 PM Report Abuse

I just returned from my first trip to Whidbey...what a wonderful place. Im enjoying your pages. Cheers, Rob
Acirfa Nov 25, 2005 at 1:56 AM Report Abuse

Wow tons of info on your home place and what a great place it looks to visit, lots of interesting places here it seems.