Here’s How to Plan the Perfect Weekend on Whidbey Island

The tiny islands off the coast of Seattle are a little world amongst themselves. Hop on to a ferry, and you’ll find gems like Vashon or Whidbey Island, the kinds of place where you can spend a morning hiking windswept bluffs overlooking Puget Sound, lunch at a beloved gastropub, and enjoy the sunset while slurping on freshly shucked local oysters. We recently visited Whidbey Island for a partnership we did with Filson, and found that the island has everything: art galleries, farm-to-table restaurants, historic state parks, and charming coastal towns that are the stuff of a Nancy Meyers screenplay.

Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend reset or a proper escape, Whidbey delivers the kind of quiet adventure that feels especially necessary when you live on the coast and crave mountains instead. Here’s how to unwind when you’re there. 

Alexandra Ribar

Where to Stay

The newly minted Inn at Langley is the obvious choice if you want to treat yourself. This four-star hotel sits right on the water in Langley’s downtown, and the rooms are the kind of comfortable-elegant that makes you want to extend your stay by a night. Breakfast is solid, and the location means you can walk to half the restaurants in town.

Captain Whidbey is another excellent option that’s full of character and old-island charm. It’s a working historic hotel that feels lived-in, and there’s something appealing about staying somewhere that’s actually part of the island’s story rather than just a nice place to sleep. You get personality, you get location, you get the sense that you’re staying somewhere real.

Thomas J. Story

Where to Eat & Drink

Start with Oystercatcher for a special dinner. The menu changes with the seasons because they actually mean it when they say “local ingredients.” The islands surrounding Seattle are filled with incredible sustainable farms, making for truly fresh farm-to-table food rooted in the area’s landscape.

For casual eating, Toby’s Tavern is an island institution. It’s the salty dive bar of your dreams, with real food and the kind of crowd that looks like they actually live here. The vibe is a little bit divey, just as we like it. Little Red Hen Bakery is essential for breakfast pastries and sandwiches that’ll fuel a morning hike. And in a world that has no shortage of awesome pizza places, Goldie’s really stands out. The smoked wings and white pie are fantastic, and there are plant-based options on the menu, too. At Restaurant at Captain Whidbey, where you can order oysters and a glass of crisp white and watch the sunset as yachts pull into the docks. And if you’re looking for something aside from seafood with legit Mexican flavors, try Molka Xete. The owners also operate a darling ice cream shop called Beary Scoop in Coupeville as well.

Thomas J. Story

Things to Do

The hike you can’t miss is Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, a 5.2-mile loop that climbs to a bluff overlooking Puget Sound. You’re walking through working farmland with water views on one side and the kind of landscape that makes you remember why you came. It’s best at sunset, and it’s popular enough that you feel safe going alone.

If you’re up for a beachy walkabout Deception Pass State Park the trails that pass through both Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands are enough to keep you busy for a full day. Fort Casey Historical State Park and South Whidbey State Park are also worth exploring if you have the time.

Bring a bag and wander through Osprey Fish Co. for whatever fresh seafood speaks to you, then stop by Lavender Wind for locally-made trinkets to take home made by the region’s robust craft maker’s community.