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BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON September 6, 2019

Escape to Camano Island, The Easy Island

Escape to Camano Island, The Easy Island, Cama Beach Cabins

Cama Beach

Introduction

If your weekend getaway to Whidbey Island left you wanting more downtime, why not continue your adventure with an escape to Camano Island, “The Easy Island?”

Located to the east of Whidbey, smaller Camano Island is home to nearly 16,000 residents year-round. With no ferry service available across Saratoga Passage between the two islands, visitors access the coastal community via I-5, exit 212, first passing through the town of Stanwood before reaching Camano.

Still a relatively undiscovered destination, even to Washingtonians, Camano Island offers timeless beauty, simplicity, and a laid-back vibe. But don’t worry. You’ll still have plenty of venues for adventure if that’s more to your liking.

What’s your travel style for a fun escape to Camano Island, “The Easy Island?”

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Escape to Camano Island, The Easy Island, tree climbing

Guide Matt Cunningham with AdventureTerra

AdventureTerra

To set the mood for your explorations on Camano, why not get up close and personal with an old-growth forest first before leaving Whidbey Island? AdventureTerra leads small group tree-climbing tours of 6 – 8 people that can take you 200′ off the ground into the heart of an old-growth forest.

For the last 8 years, owner/founder Leo Fischer has shared his enthusiasm for recreational tree climbing (also known as canopy climbing) in half-day tours, sunset climbs, and three-day programs. Fun and safety are top priorities, of course, but as Fischer explains, “You’ll also learn about ecology and forest prevention in addition to tree-climbing skills.”

Fischer also believes that “Tree climbing is a great way to get over a fear of heights. Our guide will climb right alongside side you every step of the way.” And if you require additional assistance, your guides will help you out with a pulley system designed to help get you to the top and back down.

For more information, visit AdventureTerra.

Canopy Tours NW

Canopy Tours NW

Canopy Tours NW

Now that you’ve had a taste of tree climbing, channel your inner Tarzan or Jane on a zip-lining tour with family-owned Canopy Tours NW on Camano Island. The company offers a gradual introduction to the sport with 6 zip lines, a log bridge, and short trail walks on the Kristoferson Farm. Other farm events include team building programs, dinners in the barn, crafting workshops, Fall Festival, and a Holiday Open House.

For more information, visit Canopy Tours NW.

Art Lovers

Matzke Sculpture Park, Camano Island

Matzke Fine Art Design and Sculpture Park

Each May the community hosts the Camano Island Art Studio Tour featuring resident artists showcasing artworks in ceramics, glass, jewelry, textiles, painting, and photography, among other mediums.

But you needn’t wait for May to view local art galleries and outdoor sculpture gardens. For instance, visitors can view harmony in art and nature with a stroll of the grounds at Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park. Matzke carefully selects international artworks for display inside her 3,000 square foot gallery, alongside her flower gardens and walkways through towering ancient cedars that grace the 10-acre property.

For more information, visit Camano Island Art Studio Tour and Matzke Fine Art and Design.

Beachcombers

Cabins at Cama B

Cabins at Cama Beach State Park

If your idea of a coastal retreat includes beachcombing, quiet time, and your own rustic waterfront cabin, Cama Beach State Park is a haven of tranquility, especially in the offseason.

Originally developed as a 1930’s fishing resort, today Cama Beach State Park provides families a relaxing environment where they can walk together along the beach or hiking trails close by. Other popular activities on-site include beach cookouts, dining at the Cama Café, tours of the Center for Wooden Boats, or local history lessons through artifacts with the Park Ranger.

For an even quieter venue on your escape to Camano Island, “The Easy Island,” hike the one-mile trail to neighboring Camano Island State Park. In or on the water, spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainer, plus the possibility of wildlife and whale sightings, make this a special destination for your weekend getaway.

For more information, visit Cama Beach State Park and  Camano Island State Park.

Wine & Beer Connoisseurs

Dusty Cellars, Camano Island

Welcome at Dusty Cellars Winery

Enjoy handcrafted wines in a boutique winery setting at Dusty Cellars Winery. Plan your visit for the first weekend of the month when the winery opens its tasting room for wine tasting. Or visitors can arrange private tours for small groups with a call to the owners. With production limited to 700 cases per year, expect to find their wines exclusively at local establishments on Camano Island.

Edward Lynn Cellars, Camano Island

Edward Lynn Cellars Wine Tasting

Here’s an idea for any wanderboomer empty nesters: follow in the footsteps of Bill and Sandy Kintner of Edward Lynne Cellars to transform your empty nest into a vineyard. Now you’re talking! With the goal of producing quality estate wines, since beginning their venture in 2010, the Kintners have previewed white wine varietals of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. Most recently the couple has introduced red blends and varietals like Malbec and Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to their boutique wine production.

When a beer is your beverage of choice, head to Ale Spike Camano Island Brewing. Whether your beer taste tends towards “light and refreshing” (Australian Sparkling Ale) or “bitter” (Bitter & Ugly),” the friendly, informative staff are bound to find you just the craft beer you’re looking for.

For more information, visit Dusty Cellars Winery, Edward Lynne Cellars. and Ale Spike Camano Island Brewing.

Coffee Aficionados

Camano Island Coffee Roasters

Camano Island Coffee Roaster

Inside the Camano Commons Marketplace, discover the secrets of what it takes to produce an ethical, fairly traded, healthy coffee with a tour of Camano Island Coffee Roaster. Not to mention the taste with flavor profiles that include cocoa, fruit, caramel, cinnamon, sugar, and nuts.

Founder Jeff Erikson is committed to producing quality certified organic, shade-grown coffee that preserves and protects the environment as well as providing a fair price for the farmers and coffee consumers.

Learn more at Camano Island Coffee Roasters.

To plan your next island weekend getaway, visit Whidbey & Camano Islands.

Wander on!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Island Getaways, Uncategorized Tagged With: Camano Island, weekend escape, weekend getaway

BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON September 5, 2019

Weekend Getaway to Whidbey Island

Weekend Getaway to Whidbey Island, View from Deception Pass Bridge

View from Deception Pass Bridge

Introduction

How about a weekend getaway to Whidbey Island for your next travel adventure?

Lucky those of us who live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. When the weather clouds part long enough to reveal clear blue skies, we can head to a nearby island for the perfect coastal getaway. Unless, of course, you already live on one and can simply hop to another one nearby.

While technically not one of the popular San Juan Islands’ archipelago north of Seattle, Whidbey Island lies close enough to often be mistaken as one. Stretching from north to south, the island covers an area forty-five miles long and up to 10 miles wide. Whether it ranks as the longest island in the contiguous United States remains a matter of some dispute among purists. Regardless, few would question Whidbey’s wild beauty, spellbinding views or launchpad to year-round adventures. 

Here’s how to make the most of your  weekend getaway to Whidbey Island:

Take a Ferry.

Mukilteo-Clinto WA State ferry

Aboard the Mukilteo-Clinton Washington State Ferry

Travelers have the option of driving across the Deception Pass Bridge from Anacortes at the north end or catching the Clinton-Mukilteo Washington State ferry that serves the south end.

While no visit to Whidbey Island would be complete without a drive across Deception Pass Bridge, arriving by ferry helps set the mood for the easy living you’re sure to enjoy over the next couple of days. The 15-20 minute ride is just enough time to view spellbinding scenery, kick back and experience how refreshing it feels to leave your cares behind. So go ahead and set your phone to “island time.” Better yet, put that phone away as the first step in your digital detox weekend.

Travel Tip: Be prepared for long wait times for the ferry during the summer high season, however. To minimize the lines and wait times, consider walking on if you can arrange transportation on the island, buy your tickets online, and/or travel early in the day or late at night.

For ferry schedule information, visit Washington State Ferries.

Visit Langley, “Village by the Sea.”

Begin your weekend getaway to Whidbey island with a stop by the sea in downtown Langley, a friendly community featuring boutique shops, fine restaurants, and art galleries. Stroll the walkways, pick up an espresso and pastry at Useless Bay Coffee Company, or order a picnic to go from The Star Store Market & Deli.

Shop if you must – and you must – at any one of several unique gift galleries: for just the right book, Moonraker Books; artworks, Rob Schouten Gallery, Callahan’s Firehouse Glass; home decor, Artisan Crafted Home, Edit, Wish by the Sea; chocolate, Sweet Mona’s Chocolate Boutique, Chocolate Flower Farm; handicrafts, Music for the Eyes; and clothing, Fair Trade Outfitters.

Travel Tip:

Weekend Getaway to Whidbey Island, Boy and Dog

Looking for Whales with Boy and Dog

What can be more endearing than a village that celebrates whale watching with its own springtime “Welcome the Whales Festival” as gray whales make their annual passage to Alaska and Canada? You can keep an eye out for whales yourself on the waterfront side of Front Street. Peer out at Puget Sound next to the “Boy and Dog” sculpture designed by artist Georgia Gerber. If you do sight a whale, wake the community by ringing the bell at Whale Bell Park.

Learn more about whale watching with a visit to the Langley Whale Center. 

For more information, go to VisitLangley.com.

Have a Slice of Pie at Greenbank Farm.

Jan Gunn at Whidbey Island Pies Café

For some locals and visitors, Greenbank Farm’s the place to go for endless water vistas, dog-friendly hiking trails, art galleries, and master gardens. But for pie lovers like myself, Whidbey Pies Café takes top billing. Among my favorites? How about marionberry, rhubarb, or triple berry for starters? But let’s not leave out the salted caramel apple or huckleberry. Sigh. So many Whidbey pies, so little room to digest – at least in one sitting – which is why I make a point of stopping by each time I head to Whidbey Island. The good news is you can always purchase a pie (or two) to go.

For more mouth-watering news about Whidbey Island Pies, see my previous post here.

Travel Tip:  Do walk the easy trails for unforgettable 360-degree views of the region. Puget Sound and the Olympics lie to the west while Camano Island, the Cascades, and Saratoga Passage lie to the east.

Discover Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve.

Weekend Getaway to Whidbey Island, Ebey's Landing

Beauty Abounds at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve

Boundless beauty awaits visitors to Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. From beach walks to nature hikes, from wildlife sightings to whale watching, from fishing to sailing, Ebey’s Landing offers the ultimate respite when “the world is too much with us,” as Wordsworth knew too well.

The Reserve includes Fort Casey, Ebey’s Landing, and Fort Ebey State Parks.  In 2018 the 19,333-acre Reserve celebrated its 40th anniversary. Thanks to concerned citizens, numerous volunteers, and creative, thoughtful stewardship, the Reserve provides a lesson in protection and preservation of nature’s finest gifts.

Travel Tip: Purchase a Discover Pass for access to Washington State Parks, or opt for fee-free days when no pass is required.

Explore Historic Coupeville.

Weekend Getaway to Whidbey island, Coupeville Wharf

Coupeville Wharf

Within Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, the historic town of Coupeville in Penn Cove is noteworthy for its claim to fame as Washington State’s second-oldest town. Its famed red building at the end of the pier is an eye-catcher from land and water. Stroll the wooden walkways, rent a kayak, or shop for souvenirs at the gift shop.

For lunch or dinner, Christopher’s on Whidbey is a local favorite. Additional favorite eateries include Ciao, Front Street Grill, Penn Cove Brewing, The OysterCatcher, Toby’s Tavern and Tyee Restaurant & Lounge. You won’t go hungry in Coupeville!

When dining in Coupeville, expect to find plenty of fresh shellfish on your dining menu. That’s because Penn Cove Shellfish is one of the largest sustainable farmed shellfish producers in the United States. Fresh from the waters of Penn Cove, diners can savor mussels, Manila clams, and over 27 varieties of Pacific Oysters.

Travel Tip: Place an order of Penn Cove mussels, clams or oysters to sample the fresh shellfish bounty of Whidbey Island.

Fly a Flight Simulator.

Take a Turn on the PBY Flight Simulator

The PBY – Naval Air Museum located in Oak Harbor takes you to the north end of Whidbey Island. An amphibious patrol bomber, the PBY was used to perform rescues and to search for enemy vessels during World War II, especially in coastal areas. The museum honors those who flew PBYs as well as service personnel from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

For an overview of the history of Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island, tour the museum’s artifacts and interactive exhibits. Take the opportunity to pause and reflect on the tremendous sacrifices endured by war veterans in order to preserve the fundamental tenets of U.S. American freedom and democracy.

Travel Tip: Engage the volunteer docents on your tour to learn fascinating facts about service personnel, flight equipment, and memorabilia. For sure experience a flight on the PBY in one of two simulators at the museum.

Drive Deception Pass Bridge.

Weekend Getaway to Whidbey Island, Deception Pass Bridge

Deception Pass Bridge

Deception Pass Bridge towers 17 stories above the turbulent waters below. The bridge is noted for its unparalleled views, elegant engineering design, and pragmatic solution to connecting three neighboring islands: Whidbey, Pass Island, and Fidalgo. The two-lane bridge is framed by giant cedar trees within the Deception Pass State Park and the Olympic Mountains to the west.

Travel Tip:  Park your car on either end of the bridge to walk across and snap photos of the spectacular landscape. Hike below to marvel at the challenge its construction posed to engineers and to appreciate the beauty of its architecture.

Enjoy your weekend getaway on Whidbey Island. Wander on!

Have you visited Whidbey Island? What’s your favorite Whidbey experience?

Next stop: Camano Island, “the Easy Island” for relaxing getaways.

Filed Under: Whidbey Island Tagged With: weekend getaway

Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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