coupeville & central whidbey 2010 visitor guide
DESCRIPTION
The official visitor guide for Coupeville and Central Whidbey Island.TRANSCRIPT
FRONT STREET REALTY
“Janet’s professionalism, intuition & Island knowledge are phenomenal!” - Jeff & Nora“Genuine, creative, outstanding service... Janet is truly a pleasure to work with!” - Arlynn & Chris
Live the Island dream…
Drop by my office next to the Coupeville Wharf22 NW Front St., Suite B • Coupeville, WA 98239
360-678-6100 • 206-387-1924www.janetburchfield.com
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 3
Small-town Charm 4
Enjoy our Scenic Parks 6
Island Romance 8
Birds, Whales and Wildlife 10
Ebey’s Reserve: Sense of Place 12
Whidbey Island Map 14
The Island Arts Scene 16
Our Farming Tradition 18
A Great Place for Family Fun 20
Revel in Our Sunny Weather 22
Finding Your Way 23
Calendar of Events 24
On the Cover:A little boy waves a flag at the Coupeville
Memorial Day parade, and racers compete on Penn Cove during Whidbey Island
Race Week in July.Photos: The Whidbey Examiner
The 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Visitor Guide is a special publication of The Whidbey Examiner, Whidbey Island’s only locally owned, independent community newspaper. To subscribe, call 360-678-8060. Visit the Examiner online at www.whidbeyexaminer.com.
Whidbey Examiner staff: Publisher & Editor Kasia Pierzga, Photographer Justin Burnett, Editorial Assistant Joan Soltys and Production Artists Sueann Carter & Scott Pendergraft. © 2010 The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from The Whidbey Examiner.
The 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Visitor Guide is available online at www.whidbeyexaminer.com.
COUPEVILLE & CENTRAL WHIDBEY VISITOR GUIDE
Dances performed by members of the Tshmshian Haayuuk tribe are a popular draw at the Penn Cove Water Festival, held each May along Coupeville's historic waterfront. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
4 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
In the heart of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve – the only reserve of its kind in the United States – is the small
town of Coupeville, a place steeped in history.Founded in 1852 and named after Captain
Coupe, a New England sea captain, Coupe-ville is the second oldest town in Washington, founded two years before Seattle.
Much of the town’s history has been care-fully preserved, with more than 100 buildings on the National Historic Register.
Coupeville’s early glory days began in the mid 1800s, when its bustling little business district caught the attention of sea captains from New England, some 50 of whom even-tually sailed into the pristine waters of Penn Cove and settled into their new home.
Coupeville thrived from the middle 1800s
May 29 – Memorial Day Parade and Re-membrance Ceremony, Coupeville. A quint-essential small-town parade followed by a free concert in Town Park. centralwhidbey-chamber.com. 360-678-5434.
June 26 – Strawberry Social, Coupeville United Methodist Church. An honest-to-goodness old-time social featuring waffles, shortcake or sundaes made with fresh strawberries from Bell’s Farm near Coupeville. 360-678-4256.
March 4-6, 2011 – Penn Cove MusselFest, Coupeville. Cel-ebrate Penn Cove’s signature shellfish with chowder tasting, a mussel-eating contest and more. thepenncovemusselfestival.com. 360-678-5434.
Locals and visitors alike turn out for Coupeville's annual Memorial Day parade, held each year the Saturday before the holiday. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
Coupeville offers all kinds of dining options, from waterfront restaurants and casual pubs to a summer hot dog stand. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
to the early 1900s. Businessmen sold goods to prospectors headed to Alaska to seek their fortune, steamboats built in Coupeville plied the waters of Puget Sound, and the town’s residents built beautiful Victorian homes that boasted of the town’s prosperity.
In the late 1930s, as development shifted to other parts of Puget Sound, Coupeville settled in as a sleepy agricultural village. Surround-ed by scenic farms, the shimmering waters of Penn Cove and Admiralty Inlet and the majes-tic mountain beauty of the Olympics and the North Cascades in the distance, Coupeville seems frozen in time. The town’s beautifully preserved historic buildings, peaceful charm and interesting, unique shops and restaurants
attract visitors looking to experience a bit of the past while enjoying a relaxing getaway.
Visitors find a vibrant business district housed in the original buildings of early Coupeville, charming bed and breakfast inns, beautiful Victorian homes, breathtaking views, a chance to see gray whales and orcas, and a warm welcome from locals eager to share the best of their hometown.
Coupeville also is home to the oldest work-ing wharf in Puget Sound. The historic, barn-red granary at the end of the 450-foor pier was built in 1905 for the Mosquito Fleet and ships bringing supplies to Whidbey Island and car-rying away the produce from local farms.
Today, in additon to shops and two eater-
HISTORIC COUPEVILLE
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 5
ies, the remodeled wharf building houses an interpretive display focusing on the marine life in Penn Cove, the preserved skeletons of a gray whale, a Dall’s porpoise and a sea lion as well as an interactive underwater camera you can use to check out the sea life beneath the wharf. The wharf is also home to KWPA 96.9, Whidbey Island Public Radio, a community radio station that offers local programming.
The wharf also has public restrooms and showers for visiting boaters. An 80-foot long fuel pier provides access to diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline. Floats attached to the wharf provide about 400 feet of mooring space for pleasure craft. No electricity or fresh water is available at these floats. Just west of the wharf are four moor-ing buoys for boats 32 feet or less.
One of the more unusual destinations for visitors to Central Whidbey is historic Sun-nyside Cemetery, just south of Coupeville. Located high on a wooded ridge above Ebey’s Prairie, the peaceful grounds have a broad, sweeping view of Admiralty Inlet and the beautiful farmland below. In the distance, the white-capped peaks of the Olympic Moun-tains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east provide a majestic backdrop.
Established in 1865, the cemetery is the fi-nal resting place of many early pioneers. Also buried at Sunnyside are Chinese laborers, Na-tive Americans descended from Whidbey is-land’s early occupants and sea captains from the eastern United States who sailed into Penn Cove in the early 1850s, found their idyllic vi-sion of safe harbor, and stayed.
The cemetery is also home to Davis Block-
house, a small structure originally built as a log cabin in 1853 and later remodeled into a blockhouse after pioneer Isaac Ebey was be-headed by a raiding party of Haida Indians in 1857. Ebey and his wife had been the island’s first white settlers, arriving in 1852.
Coupeville is a wonderful place for a quiet, romantic retreat, with dining and lodging op-portunities in serene and scenic settings. It’s also a great destination for an active vacation centered around beachcombing, trail hiking, sailing, sea kayaking, bicycling, kite-flying, birding and other activities.
When planning your trip, a great place to start is by contacting the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce at 360-678-5434, or [email protected].
Hats 3 Shoes
Purses 3 Jewelry
Embellishments for body & home
Where shopping is “Practically Magic”
2 Front Street • Coupeville • 360-678-0664
On the Wharf!
Phở • Chowder • Stir Frys • BurgersFresh Penn Cove Mussels
Summer Hours: 11 am – 8 pm DailyWinter Hours Vary – Please Call
26 Front St., Coupeville, 360-678-4924
• Tea & Accessories• English Treats• Tea Body Products• Self-Serve Tea Bar • Free WiFi
7 NW Front St.in historic Coupeville360-678-3012 www.exoticteastore.com
Tea & Talk
Enjoy our Garden Courtyard!
cards & candy
Eclectic toys, books
The HoneyBear
23 Front Street in historic old town Coupeville
678-6122 Open every day200 Coveland St. • www.thecoupevilleinn.com
360.678.6668 • WA & BC Reservations 1.800.247.6162
Welcome to the Coupeville InnLocated in downtown Coupeville
• Free Internet & Wi-Fi• Conference Rooms
• Continental Breakfast• View Rooms & Suites Available
One block from the wharf, museum, antique & gift shops
& restaurants
6 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
Kids of all ages enjoy visiting Central Whidbey’s beautiful parks, each of-fering something unique, including
beautiful hiking trails, pristine beaches, tent and RV camping, playfields, a historic fort, a retired lighthouse, spectacular gardens and an underwater marine park.
At Fort Casey State Park, families enjoy exploring the old fort structures that once were part of the U.S. Army’s “Triangle of Fire” – three military forts that together protected the entrance to Admiralty Inlet. Activated in 1901, the fort was equipped with batteries of “disap-pearing guns,” so named for their ability to dis-appear behind the walls of their emplacements during reloading, protecting the gun and crew from enemy bombardment. In its day, the dis-appearing gun was the height of military tech-
The bluff trail above Ebey's Landing just south of Coupeville has a spectacular view of Admiralty Inlet and the Olympic Mountains, and is a great spot to watch for eagles, hawks, seals, orcas and gray whales.
Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
Central Whidbey has plenty of scenic trails offering great views, glimpses of wildlife and a chance for visitors – both two-legged and four-legged –to enjoy the great outdoors. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
PARKS
nology. Fort Casey was used as a troop training facility during both World Wars.
Fort Casey State Park and adjacent Fort Ebey State Park offer RV and tent camping, hiking trails, fishing, miles of pristine beach to explore and lots of opportunities to see wildlife ranging from seals, waterfowl and shorebirds to our majestic national symbol, the American bald eagle.
Fort Casey also offers beach access, rest-rooms and a public-access boat ramp adjacent to the ferry terminal at Keystone Harbor. The site also boasts an underwater marine park that is a popular destination for scuba divers.
Fort Casey also is home to Admiralty
Head lighthouse, located high on a distinctive red bluff overlooking Admiralty Inlet and the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry crossing. Dur-ing its working life, it was an important navi-gational aid for sailing ships headed to Puget Sound from the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Built in 1903, the lighthouse, which re-placed the original wooden structure, boasts 18-inch, stucco-covered brick walls designed to withstand the concussion from Fort Casey’s big guns. It was operated only until the early 1920s, when steamships replaced sailing ships and the lighthouse was no longer necessary.
Today, the lighthouse houses Fort Casey’s interpretive center and is open to the public for
Wildflowers bloom at Pacific Rim Institute for Envi-ronmental Stewardship. Photo: Robert Pelant
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 7
free tours. It has also become a popular spot for weddings, and in December, when the building is dressed in its best holiday attire, it hosts a special holiday gift shop.
Island County-owned Rhododendron Park, about 2 miles south of Coupeville off Hwy. 20, offers RV and tent camping, trails, ball fields, picnic shelters, restrooms and a playground.
Nearby, Patmore Pit Off-Leash Dog Park offers 40 fenced acres that includes an agility practice area. The big, grassy meadow is a great place for unrestrained canine games of Frisbee or fetch. Water and waste bags are available on site. From Hwy. 20, turn onto Patmore Road, then onto Keystone Hill Road for a short dis-tance to the park entrance on the left.
Libbey Beach, another county-owned park, has restrooms and is a nice spot for bird-ing, a waterfront barbecue or a sunset walk on the beach. It’s on the west shore of the island at the end of Libbey Road off Hwy. 20, just north of Coupeville.
Another great place for a picnic is Coupe-ville Town Park, located about a block west of Coupeville Wharf. The park, which offers a picnic area, restrooms and a tennis court, also features a covered outdoor stage that hosts summertime concerts and other events.
If you’re looking for a playground where your children can burn off some energy, try the swings at Coupeville Town Park and the play-grounds at Coupeville Elementary School and at Rhododendron Park.
At Meerkerk Gardens near Greenbank, visitors can enjoy a Northwest-style woodland
garden surrounded by a lush, 43-acre woodland preserve. Be sure to visit during springtime to enjoy a spectacular wonderland of rhodies in full bloom.
Greenbank Farm, on Hwy. 525 just north of Greenbank, offers 522 acres of rolling fields, forest and wetlands with a 180-degree pan-oramic view of the Olympic Mountains and Admiralty Inlet to the west and the Cascade Range and Saratoga Passage to the east.
The historic farm houses several art galler-ies, a restaurant, a wine shop and a shop that features cheeses and specialty foods and gifts. The 100-year-old barn is a popular backdrop for outdoor weddings and other events, includ-ing the Loganberry Festival held each July.
360-222-3474
Wine Shop andTasting Room“Tasting Daily”
Wines from over 35 Puget Sound boutique wineries and our famous Loganberry Wine!360-678-7700 / 360-222-3151
Edible Works of ArtEspresso, Pies, Quiche, Soups,
Salads & Daily EntreesSelect beers and wines available
~Pies to take home~ ~First Friday Dinners~
360-678-1288
Distinctive Art by Island ArtistsFine Art Originals
Cards ~ Prints ~ Gifts artworkswhidbey.com / 360-222-3010
Greenbank C
heese & Specialties
765 Wonn Rd., Greenbankon Scenic State Route 525
• Hiking • Picnic Area •
• Gardens • Wildlife •
• Festivals & Events •
• Sunday Farmers Market • • Loganberry Festival July 24 & 25 •
• Oktoberfest Oct. 2 •• First Fridays Wine & Art Walk 5–8 PM •
www.greenbankfarm.com
Open Dai ly 10-5
(360) 222-3070 • robschoutengallery.com
Rob Schouten GalleryExceptional Art
Exceptional Location
Cheese, Crackers, Meats, Mustards, Loganberry Jam, Chocolate, Licorice & Local Specialties
FREE TASTINGS!
360-678-2120 •3475 Christie Road, Greenbank, WA
YOGA CLASSES
RETREATS
BED & BREAKFAST
THE YOGA LODGEON
WHIDBEY ISLAND
www.yogalodge.com
Welcome to the Port of Coupeville
Diesel & Unleaded Gas • Showers for Boaters • Café • Coffee Shop • Gifts Moorage • Marine Exhibits • Kayak Rentals • Historic Facilities
Protecting the Environment • Promoting EcoTourism
Greenbank Farm Coupeville Wharf & Marina
portofcoupeville.org • 360-678-5020
8 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
The serene and relaxing environment of Central Whidbey is a perfect place for romance.
Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, escaping for a honeymoon or looking for just the right place to “pop the question,” we of-fer a variety of accommodations ranging from private getaway vacation homes and intimate Victorian bed-and-breakfasts to traditional hotel suites and quaint country inns.
No matter what your taste – or budget – we’ve got just the perfect place for you to stay as you spend time on the Island.
During your visit, the historic waterfront town of Coupeville is a great place to spend a quiet day connecting with each other. Wander through the one-of-a-kind shops and galler-ies along Front, Coveland and Main streets, where you can discover local and regional art, interesting and offbeat antiques, home and cabin décor, apparel, jewelry and unique Northwest gifts.
Need help finding your way around? The friendly shopkeepers are glad to help!
At lunchtime, grab a bite at one of sev-eral local eateries, with menus ranging from traditional tavern and roadhouse fare and homemade pies to Northwest bistro-style din-ing, Vietnamese cuisine and memorable fine dining featuring mussels grown right here in Penn Cove.
A great way to relax and enjoy the spec-
First Fridays at the Farm, held each month throughout the year at Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art galler-ies, music. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
May 22 & 23 – Spring Wine-tasting and Farmers Market, Greenbank Farm. Painters, photographers, handcrafters, growers and producers bring the creativity of Whidbey and
the region to this market. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
July 24 – Summer Swing Dance, Crockett Barn, Coupeville. John Holte Radio Rhythm six-piece orchestra. Sponsored by Concerts on the Cove. concertsonth-ecove.org. 360-678-6821.
Aug. 28 – Whidbey Island Bluegrass Festival, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Listen to the twang of bluegrass in a laid-back celebration on the lawn amidst a spectacular woodland garden. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.
Feb. 12-14, 2011 – Red Wine & Chocolate, Greenbank Farm. Celebrate the flavors of red wine and handcrafted chocolates at this romantic Valentine’s Day celebra-tion. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
tacular local scenery is a drive along some of our most scenic routes.
From downtown Coupeville, follow Cove-land Street west to where it becomes Madrona Way, a winding route lined with majestic red madrona trees that follows the shoreline of Penn Cove, where you can see a floating mus-sel farm that grows Central Whidbey’s signa-ture shellfish.
South of Highway 20, Main Street be-comes Engle Road as it heads out of town across the pastoral farmland of Ebey’s Prai-rie National Historical Reserve. Follow the road uphill and take a right on Hill Road, which takes you out along the bluff above our island’s rugged western shore.
From Ebey’s Landing – the beach at the bottom of the hill – you can watch tugboats
With spectacular scenery and venues ranging from historic Greenbank Farm and the Admiralty Head light-house to romantic B&Bs, Central Whidbey is a great setting for romance. Photo: Pendleton Imaging
ISLAND ROMANCE
www.pendletonimaging.com
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 9
and container vessels on the waters of Admi-ralty Inlet, along with cruise ships headed to north to Canada and Alaska.
This stretch is Central Whidbey’s premier spot for a romantic stroll, with miles of un-spoiled beach and the perfect place to enjoy a spectacular sunset any time of year.
Another lovely place to discover is the Ad-miralty Head lighthouse, located high on a bluff overlooking Admiralty Inlet within Fort Casey State Park, just south of Coupeville. From the bluff, you can see the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry traveling back and forth be-tween Whidbey Island and the Olympic Pen-insula. A popular spot for weddings, the light-house is open for tours.
In Greenbank, explore the shops and res-taurant at Greenbank Farm. On the fi rst Friday of each month, the farm’s wine shop offers evening wine tastings, the galleries and shops are open late and the farm’s restaurant offers a special menu that often features lo-cally grown produce.
Greenbank Farm also offers walking paths in the rolling fi elds above the barns, where you can enjoy the pastoral scenery and the waters of Saratoga Passage beyond. It’s a great place to enjoy a romantic picnic amid pretty, rolling fi elds. Visit the farm’s shops to pick up some delicious picnic treats.
Just south of the farm, in the tiny hamlet of Greenbank, a small winery called Green-bank Cellars offers a place to taste local wines – and buy a bottle to take home.
Back from a day of shopping and explor-ing, you’ll want to fi nd a place to enjoy din-
ner before returning to your accommodations. Coupeville offers a variety of dining estab-lishments ranging from waterfront restaurants and a Northwest bistro to a friendly tavern and several cafés.
If you’re still not ready to turn in for the day, take your honey for a drive just north of Coupeville to the Blue Fox Drive-In, one of the few remaining old-fashioned outdoor cin-emas in Washington.
Coupeville also has a tradition of barn dances, including the Summer Solstice Barn Dance in June. And in October, plan to attend a barn dance and potluck planned as part of the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Re-serve anniversary celebration.
Eat, Relax, Enjoy the View
Amazing Cinnamon RollsPie • Soup • Salad
Sandwiches • BreadsLunch Daily • Breakfast on Weekends
4 Front Street • Coupeville Waterfront678-5431 • kneadandfeed.com
a bakery restaurant • two dining levels
An agent who goes above and beyond the crowd!
Acorn Properties • 32800 SR 20, Oak [email protected] • 360-672-4245
If once you’ve slept on an island, You’ll never be quite the same...Oh, you can’t say why, and you can’t say how, But you’ll never be quite the same!
For more than just an experience in Island living,call me – and live on an island!
I can’t do it without you – You shouldn’t do it without me!
PF
Your local source!
ARTISANAL CHEESE CHAMPAGNE
LOC
AL, O
RGA
NIC SCREA
MIN
’ BAN
SHEE BREA
D
FRES
H D
ELI I
TEM
S
CH
OCO
LATE
S
ALA
MI
OLIVES CRACKERS GIFTS
COUPEVILLE678.6608
www.bayleaf.us
OAK HARBOR675.6600
ARTISANAL CHEESE CHAMPAGNE
CRACKERS GIFTSOLIVES CRACKERS
FRES
H D
ELI I
TEM
S
CH
OCO
LATE
C
HO
COLA
TE
SA
LAM
I Greenbank Cellarsw i n e r y
3112 Day Rd., Greenbank • Thurs.-Mon. 11-5 or by appointment360-678-3964 www.greenbankcellars.com
10 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
The red-tailed hawks have seen it all. Cen-turies of Salish canoes. Tall ships. Trucks and tractors. Screaming Navy jet planes.
Yet the elegant raptors still hang on thermals and swoop over fields along the graceful shore of Ebey’s Landing near Coupeville. They watch for something to move in the grass below, dis-missing the handful of hikers making their way up the bluff-side trail at this exhilarating place where the prairie collides with the sea.
Raptors, coyotes, salmon, shellfish, wild-flowers and whales thrive amid the fields, skies, beaches and waters of rural Central Whidbey. Tame deer graze all day on the parade grounds at Camp Casey. It’s a natural paradise that’s equally rewarding to hikers, bicyclists, birders, whale-watchers, artists, photographers – and anyone looking for a serene island escape.
Over the years, farmers have signed over the development rights to thousands of acres, now set aside forever as open prairie in Ebey’s Land-ing National Historical Reserve.
Our spectacular natural environment beck-ons visitors to explore. Here are a few places to enjoy the best of what the region has to offer:
Birding at Crockett LakeHands down, the state-designated Important
Bird Area at Crockett Lake is Whidbey Island’s top birding spot, among several great ones. Watch bald eagles devour their kill at the water’s edge while gangly great blue herons step delib-
erately in the marsh, necks coiled to spear dinner with their bills. This large marsh and adjacent saltwater shore attract dozens of migrating spe-cies, plus hawks, owls, swallows, red-winged blackbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds.
Watch gray whales in Penn Cove and Saratoga Passage
The large, leisurely grays often travel solo. Several take up residence in Saratoga Passage in March during their spring migration northward, staying through early June to feed on ghost shrimp in the sandy shallows. Watch for plumes of spray, arching backs and tail flukes from pub-lic access points at Monroe Landing, west Penn
Cove beach access, Coupeville Wharf, Captain Coupe Park or Long Point. Book a springtime trip on a whale-watching boat from Coupeville Wharf. The grays will be found almost any-where along the Whidbey and Camano shore-lines from Coupeville to Langley.
See orcas in Saratoga Passage and Admiralty InletWatch for agile, black-and-white orcas trav-
eling in groups led by a female elder. Pods of Puget Sound resident orcas often prowl the west shore of Whidbey from October through Janu-ary and may be seen from any high ground or from the deck of the Keystone ferry. Transient orcas pass through our waters at any time of year on either side of the island.
Admire underwater marine life at Keystone JettyAcres of anemones and coral-encrusted
rocks await scuba divers at the underwater ma-rine park next to the Keystone ferry landing. Divers find a wonderland of riotously color-ful rockfish, large Pacific octopus and lingcod, schools of forage fish and undulating forests of kelp. Divers who arrive on a weekday often get the entire dive site to themselves.
The waters surrounding Whidbey Island are cold and the currents dangerous; consult a pro with local experience at a dive shop in Oak Har-bor or Anacortes.
NATURAL BEAUTY
A graceful blood star clings to underwater rocks (Photo: Mary Jo Adams); an orca breaches within view of the shoreline (Photo: Jill Hein); a bald eagle takes a rest along the beach (Photo: Craig Johnson).
A heron strolls along a Whidbey Island beach.Photo: Mary Jo Adams
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 11
Admire majestic trees along Madrona WayThere may be no more delightful canopy of
madrone trees anywhere than along the several-mile stretch of Madrona Way, which hugs the southern shore of Penn Cove between High-way 20 and Coupeville. These rare, red-barked, broad-leafed evergreens grow mainly within sight of saltwater and reject human assistance of any kind, including watering!
Mingle with mussels and marine life at Coupeville Wharf
Gaze down from Coupeville Wharf at clus-ters of blue-shelled mussels, the succulent local bivalve that appears on restaurant menus world-wide. The world’s largest commercial mussel farm, Penn Cove Shellfi sh, grows them from lines suspended from dozens of aquaculture rafts anchored a mile west of this pier. Visit the marine exhibits at the end of the pier to learn more about the cove and what swims here. And enjoy the wealth of waterfowl visiting the cove from September through May, including grebes, loons, scoters and goldeneye ducks.
Enjoy trails and birds at Greenbank FarmExplore Whidbey’s narrow neck. The wa-
ter on both sides of the Island can be seen from this rolling hillside, once a vineyard and now set aside as public land for all to enjoy. Walk the farm and woodland trails, watching for herons, hawks and other birds hunting in the grassy fi elds. Take your dog – and please bag any pet waste.
Hike through old growth in Classic U ForestMarvel at rare monarchs of the forest – cen-
turies-old cedars – when you walk the Wilbert Trail through the Classic U Forest at South Whidbey State Park.
Visitors looking for a detailed guide to Whidbey Island’s spectacular natural landscape should pick up a copy of “Getting to the Wa-ter’s Edge on Whidbey and Camano Islands,” available for $15 at local bookstores and shops. The book provides maps and descriptions of 57 public places to enjoy the Whidbey shore and includes many trail maps and recreation sugges-tions. It’s also available by mail by placing an order at www.island.wsu.edu.
– Dan Pedersen is the author of Whidbey Island’s Special Places, a beautifully illustrated book that explores the island through the eyes of locals. Reach Dan through whidbeywriter.com.
A free family festival
Tribal Canoe RacesStorytelling
Native Arts & CraftsChildren’s Activities
Save the Date: Next year’s Water Festival is on May 14, 2011!
Penn Cove Water Festival
PennCoveWaterFestival.com
continuing the tradition in Historic Coupeville
New! Native Spirit Art Show May 22–23
Saturday, May 22, 201011 a.m. to 6 p.m.
360-678-1800www.shipoffoolswhidbey.com
2072 Captain Whidbey Inn Road (off Madrona Way), Coupeville
Historic waterfront lodge and fi ne dining. The perfect retreat for romance, conferences and weddings.
Play Dine Stay
Louise Mueller, LMP, CNA2111 Madrona Way, Coupeville
off Hwy 20 across from Captain Whidbey Inn
By Appt. 360-678-2111madronamassage.net
Hot Stone � erapy • Re� exologyWarm Water Pool
Classroom & Meeting Space
Madrona Massage
Come relax at the beach
Coupeville Beach Cabin sleeps 12 Gorgeous Mt. Baker views, no bank
waterfront, adjacent boat launch and 2 kayaks for guest use.
Contact Dan: [email protected]
12 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
More than 30 years ago, local resi-dents and committed citizens came together to protect Ebey’s Prairie
from development. Their efforts made history, helping to establish our nation’s first historical reserve. The enduring pioneer spirit and vi-sion continues to be a part of our working rural community today.
Established in 1978, the 17,400-acre Re-serve preserves and protects a rural community and an unbroken historical record of Pacific Northwest history, from 19th century explo-ration and settlement to the 21st Century. The landscape is a bucolic tapestry of fields, farm-houses and wooded hills that reflects the pat-tern of settlement from the 1800s.
The historical landscape of Ebey’s Landing appears much as it did a century ago. Historic homes, farmsteads and commercial buildings remain in their original settings. Within the
fast-growing Puget Sound region, the Reserve is the last remaining place where visitors can see a broad spectrum of Northwest history still intact within a large-scale landscape. Within the Reserve is one of the largest concentrations of historic architecture in the state, from pio-neer blockhouses and Victorian homes to his-toric Coupeville storefronts.
Ebey’s Landing is one of the places where Washington began. Originally cleared by the Northwest’s native Salish Indians, the fertile land – an ancient lakebed – is still used for farming today. The Reserve reaches beyond Ebey’s Prairie to include the boundary lines of the original 1850s land donation claims. Many of the roads we use today are the same roads that farmers used more than 100 years ago.
Ebey’s Landing is unique in the nation. While the Reserve is part of the U.S. National Park System and is protected from develop-ment, it is by no means a static museum of the past. Within its borders are the thriving small town of Coupeville, neighborhoods tucked away in the trees, and productive farmland still being worked by descendents of some of the families who first established homesteads in the prairie landscape.
In 2008, the Reserve celebrated 30 years of protecting the unique historical and cultural landscape of Ebey’s Prairie. As Whidbey Is-land’s population continues to grow, awareness of the value of protecting this landscape is key
to its continued preservation.Development rights are purchased from
willing landowners who want to see their land preserved as part of the prairie’s unbroken his-torical record, and sustainable building and land-use practices are encouraged as a way to limit our footprint on the land and protect our historic resources for future generations.
May 22 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupe-ville waterfront. Free family fes-tival with North-
west tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, native and Northwest foods and children’s activities. In 2011, the festival will be held on Saaturday, May 14. penncovewater-festival.com. 360-678-5434.
Nov. 5 & 6 – Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve annual celebra-tion & conference, Coupeville. Bring the family for a weekend of hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops, a barn dance and the big-gest community potluck ever. www.nps.gov/ebla; 360-678-5787.
A SENSE OF PLACE
In the heart of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, within view of the Olympic Mountains, the fields at the historic Smith farmstead produce vegetables for sale at local markets. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
The beach at Ebey's Landing is a popular destination for salmon fishing. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 13
Across from the Keystone FerryCoupeville • 360-678-5396
FISH & CHIPS!Espresso, Ice Cream
& ChowderKalua Pig Plate, Ribs, Chicken, Portabella Mushrooms, Spam
Relaxed Dining, Take out, Catering
Call ahead or fax your order:360-678-5577
606 N. Main St., Coupevillewww.kimosislandbbq.com
Waterfront Dining at its Best!Steak • Seafood • Oysters • Chowder
Gourmet Burgers • Grilled Chicken • Full Bar
360-682-2551frontstreetgrillcoupeville.com
PENN COVE VIEW CONDOSleeps up to 4
(Upper fl oor condo in the heart of town)
360-682-2553coupevillewaterfrontlodging.com
PENN COVE POTTERY
Art Quilts, Glass & PotteryCreated by Local Artists
In the Historic San de Fuca Store26184 Hwy. 20
PENN COVE
P O T T ERY
Halfway between Coupeville & Oak Harbor at the 26 mile marker on Hwy. 20 • 360-678-6464
14 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 15
CO
UP
EV
ILL
E
LA
NG
LE
Y
FR
EE
LA
ND
GR
EE
NB
AN
K
OA
K
HA
RB
OR
BA
YV
IEW
CL
INT
ON
SW
ANTO
WN
FO
RT
NU
GE
NT
WEST B
EACH
WEST BEACH
ZYLSTRA
HA
ST
IE L
AK
E
ZYLSTRA
MONROE LANDING
AR
NO
LD
LIB
BE
Y
PE
NN
CO
VE
SCE
NIC
HEIGHTS
WEST BEACH
CR
OS
BY
HELLER
GOLF COURSE
AU
LT
FIE
LD
CR
OS
BY
OAK HARBOR
GOLDIE
WH
IDB
EY
REGATTA
PIO
NE
ER
MIDWAY
CR
ES
EN
T H
AR
BO
R
RESERVATION
PO
LN
EL
L
STRAWBERRY PT.
SIL
VE
R L
AK
E
DE
VR
IES
DE VRIES
GREEN
TR
OX
ELL
JO
NE
S
JO
NE
S
FR
OS
TA
D
TAYLOR
SLE
EP
ER
FA
KK
EM
A
TAYLOR
MA
DR
ON
A
MAIN
PA
RK
ER
EBEY
TE
RR
Y
ENGLE
HIL
L
EN
GLE
FORT CASEY
PA
TM
OR
E
PA
TM
OR
E
WA
NA
MA
KE
R
KEYSTONE HILL
MO
RR
IS
RA
CE
RACE HO
US
TO
N
NORTH BLUFF
SMUGGLER'S COVE
LA
GO
ON
PT.
BA
KK
EN DAY
SMU
GG
LER'S
CO
VE
RE
SO
RT
CLA
SS
IC
HO
N
EYMOON B
AY
BU
SH
P
T.
MUTINY BAY
MUTIN
Y B
AY
FIS
H
EAST H
ARBO
R
EAST HARBOR
EAST HAR
BORS
ARATO
GA
BR
AIN
ER
S
AMBLE
SARATO
GA
GO
SS
LA
KE
LONE LAKE
AN
DR
EA
SO
N
BAYVIEW
COLES
MAXWELTON
LANGLEY
SU
RFA
CE
MAXWELTON
BAYVIEW
LA
NC
AS
TE
R
MIL
LM
AN
USELESS BAY
DOUBLE
BLUFF
WILKINSON
EW
ING
SILLS
FR
EN
CH
CULTUS BAY
CA
MP
BE
LL
DE
ER
LK
. HOLST
HUMPHREY
BAIL
EY
SW
ED
E H
ILL
SP
RIN
GW
A T
ER
DO
W
LUCY
SCATCHET HEAD
CA
SE
HA
PP
Y V
AL
LE
Y
TH
OM
PS
ON
CRAWFORD
PL
AN
TA
TIO
N
DE GRAFF
FR
ON
T
HO
PE
IS
LA
ND
FID
ALG
O IS
LA
ND
DE
CE
PT
ION
P
AS
S B
RID
GE
WE
LC
HE
R
Whidbey
Island
LANGLE
CLI
NT
ON
-MU
KIL
TE
O
FER
RY
KE
YS
TO
NE
-PO
RT
TO
WN
SE
ND
FE
RR
Y
A
H BLUFF
MA
P LE
GEN
D
PARK
S1.
Dec
eptio
n Pa
ss2.
Lib
bey
Beac
h 3.
For
t Ebe
y 4.
For
t Cas
ey5.
Sou
th W
hidb
ey /
Clas
sic
U Fo
rest
Gree
nban
k Fa
rm
Visi
tor I
nfor
mat
ion
Tow
ns &
Citi
es
Boat
& F
uel
Adm
iralty
Hea
d Li
ghth
ouse
Mee
rker
k Ga
rden
s
Need
info
rmat
ion?
Th
e Ce
ntra
l Whi
dbey
Cha
mbe
r of C
omm
erce
Visi
tor C
ente
r at 2
3 NW
Fro
nt S
t. in
his
toric
dow
ntow
n Co
upev
ille
has
staf
f and
vol
unte
ers
read
y to
hel
p yo
u fi n
d yo
ur w
ay a
roun
d. F
ind
the
Cham
ber o
nlin
e at
ce
ntra
lwhi
dbey
cham
ber.c
om. C
all 3
60-6
78-5
434
or
e-m
ail v
isito
r@ce
ntra
lwhi
dbey
cham
ber.c
om.
Chec
k in
with
the
loca
ls
To fi
nd o
ut a
bout
loca
l eve
nts
and
activ
ities
, pic
k up
a c
opy
of T
he W
hidb
ey
Exam
iner
, Whi
dbey
Isla
nd’s
onl
y lo
cally
ow
ned,
inde
pend
ent n
ewsp
aper
. Fi
nd th
e pa
per o
nlin
e at
whi
dbey
exam
iner
.com
. To
subs
crib
e, c
all 3
60-6
78-8
060.
HA
RB
OR
PIO
NE
ER
P
ION
EE
R
PIO
NE
ER
MIDW
★
★
★
★
★★
★
E
SMU
GG
LER'S
CO
V
1
2 3
4
5
PO
PO
POO
LN
EN
EN
EL
L
STRAWBER STRAWBER STRARY P RY P RYT.
VE
R L
AK
E
HA
PP
Y V
HA
PP
Y V
HA
PP
YA
LL
E V
AL
LE
VA
LL
E V
AL
LE
VA
LL
E V
AL
LE
VY
Wit
h In
set
Map
of
His
tori
c C
oup
evill
eW
hidb
ey Is
land
N
aval
Air
Stat
ion
Dugu
alla B
ay
Cres
cent
Harb
or
Penn
Cov
e
Admiralty Bay
Holmes Harbor
Mut
iny
Ba
y
Usel
ess
Bay
Sara
toga
Pas
sage
Admira
lty In
let
TO
PO
RT
TO
WN
SE
ND
&
OLY
MP
IC P
EN
INS
ULA
☛
TO
MU
KIL
TE
O&
I-5
☛
Ebey’s
La
nding
Dece
ptio
nPa
ss
TO
BU
RLI
NG
TO
N&
I-5
☛
SAN
DE F
UCA
VisitorGuide10 April22kpREV.indd 14-15 4/26/10 1:51 PM
16 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
spring, features members of Whidbey Working Artists on Central Whidbey and the north end of the Island. A summer tour set for July 17 and 18 features more than 90 artists with studios scat-tered throughout the Island.
The annual Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour in September offers an intimate glimpse into the artists’ worlds. There is no better way to see and appreciate creation than at the point of in-spiration. The two-day tour gives guests the rare chance to meet nearly 100 artists and to purchase their work directly from them in the environment where it was created. Proceeds support scholar-ships for local aspiring artists. Many of our local artists offer classes and workshops at their stu-dios at various times throughout the year.
The performing arts are well represented on Central Whidbey, with a busy season of family-friendly concerts at Coupeville Town Park and other venues, presented by Concerts on the Cove.
The fiber arts communities also gather at Greenbank Farm for special textile events. Whidbey Island’s Quilters on the Rock transform the big barn for their annual quilt show, and the Whidbey Weavers Guild offers handspun and hand-dyed yarns, weavings and jewelry at their annual show and sale.
In Langley on the south end of Whidbey Island, the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts presents a full schedule of theater, concerts, dance, readings, movies and special events, such as Youth in Arts.
It’s no wonder that Central Whidbey is home to so many artists. Endless inspirations are found in Central Whidbey’s bucolic land-
scapes of open prairie, bluffs, trails and beaches. Soaring eagles draw the eye upward to an ever-changing sky. On the clearest days, the light il-luminates the nuances of the spectacular island scenery. When clouds blow in, they move fast, shape-shifting and sending shadows scudding across the fields of Ebey’s Prairie. On foggy days, the jagged horizon of evergreens fades into a mist, intriguing the imagination. And on those gray days when clouds hang low in the sky, the colors of nature, with all the greens and punctuations of flower brights, glow all the more intensely.
Galleries representing regionally and nation-ally recognized artists and craftspeople are found in Coupeville, Greenbank and San de Fuca along Hwy. 20 at the head of Penn Cove. Artist-owned and cooperative galleries, art shows and work-shops are opportunities for visitors to converse with local artists about their work, inspiration and techniques.
The Pacific Northwest Art School pairs stu-dents with some of the nation’s best artists, bring-ing together those who are eager to learn and those who are eager to teach.
Set in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, the school’s varied programs empha-size the visual arts. Formed as the Coupeville Arts Center in 1986, today the school attracts both students and professional artists seeking a creative and beautiful atmosphere.
In addition to classes, the Pacific Northwest Art School sponsors the annual Plein Air Paint-
At Greenbank Farm, where the resident geese occasionally cause a temporary traffic jam, several galleries showcase the works of local and regional artists. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
ers’ U.S. Open. Now in its fourth year, the five-day event celebrates painting outdoors. Artists compete to capture, in a few hours, the fleeting effect of light on the Island landscape. The only painting event of its kind in the nation, it allows both professionals and amateurs to work side by side. The closing evening includes a gala celebra-tion, where the winners are recognized and the week’s paintings are sold in both live and silent
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
auctions.Many local artists also offer classes and
workshops at their own studios.Whidbey Island is home to two annual self-
guided tours of artists’ studios, one in the spring and one in the fall. The Art Studio Tour, held each
Artists' palettes line Coupeville Wharf during Whid-bey Island Race Week. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 17
June 3 – Whidbey Island Preserva-tion Art Show,Pacifi c North-West Art School,C o u p e v i l l e .
pacifi cnorthwestartschool.org. 360-678-3396.
July 17 & 18 – Whidbey Working Art-ists Summer Art Studio Tour. Free self-guided tour from Greenbank to Oak Harbor. 360-678-3068.
Sept. 12 & 13 – Whidbey Artists Co-operative Show, Greenbank Farm. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Sept. 25 & 26 – Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. Some 100 work-ing artists and craftspeople welcome visitors into their studios. islandarts-council.org. 360-678-3396.
An artist demonstrates technique at Green-bank Farm. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
640 PATMORE RD, COUPEVILLECOOKONCLAY.COM
Please call ahead–we will want to meet you.360.678.1414
Windjammer Gallery& custom framing
featuring local & national artistsunique gifts • open daily
Located on Coupeville’s historic Front Street
360-678-9200 • windjammergallery.com
Your Guideto the Best of
Central Whidbey
360.678.5434 • 23 Front St., Coupevillecentralwhidbeychamber.com
Capture the spirit of Whidbey Island with original work from 20 Island artists
Open daily 10–5:309 NW Front St., Coupeville
360-678-1176 or www.penncovegallery.com
PENN COVEG A L L E R Y
77
Fine Art on Front Street
360-678-6616Just 2 blocks south of SR-20
405 S. Main St., Coupevillewww.tyeehotel.com
YEERestaurant, Lounge & Motel
The Local Favorite for Family Dining!
Daily Specials • Modest Prices • Salad Bar Delicious • Desserts
(Pool table & Pulltabs in Lounge)
We’ll take you where you need to go!
Public transportation throughout Whidbey & Camano Islands – Fare-free and Easy!
Check out our Google trip planner at www.islandtransit.orgToll-free: 1-800-240-8747
Island Transit
18 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
A successful farmer on Whidbey Island has always been one who is optimis-tic, entrepreneurial and able to adapt
to changing market conditions and climate.In the 160 years since settlers first began
farming on the Island, farms have gone from small to large and, it seems, back to small again as farmers continually adapt to market conditions.
Rich pockets of agricultural lands on Whidbey Island carry a deep history of the evolution of farming. Salish tribes regularly burned the broad, open prairies to encourage wild camas and provide forage for game. As the early settlers arrived, they found the deep, loamy, prairie topsoil and mild climate with good year ’round rainfall a sought-after gift. Land that settlers claimed on Whidbey eventu-ally produced a wheat crop that broke the re-cord for the highest yield per acre in the entire United States.
Early farms raised cattle, produced milk, grew hay, wheat, rye and oats as well as peas and potatoes. While the first farms were sub-sistence operations, Central Whidbey farmers went on to provide supplies for passing sailing ships and, later, for those headed north to seek their fortunes in Alaska.
Between the 1880s and 1920s, Chinese ten-ant farmers were known for their impressive potato crop. Remnants of their tiny, one-room shacks can still be seen tucked away at the edges of the prairie.
From the turn of the century to the 1960s, Central Whidbey was known for poultry pro-duction, and the early 1900s brought the first dairy creamery. Perfect climate conditions and the ability to grow top-quality forage kept dair-ies a mainstay of farming until the late 1990s, but changing market conditions and led to the closure of the last dairy farm in 2007. Today,
Aug. 19-22 – Island County Fair, Langley. Bring the whole family to our old-fashioned country fair, where you’ll enjoy music, carnival games and rides, food booths – and lots of animals. islandcountyfair.com. 360-221-4677.
Sept. 11 & 12– Whidbey Island Farm Tour. Free, self-guided tour of working farms all over beautiful Whidbey Island featuring locally grown food and products, farm animals and a tour of the largest mussel farm in the United States. whidbeyfarmtour.com.
Oct. 9 – HarvestFest, Coupeville Farmers Market. Celebrate the end of the market season with fall produce, food, art, music, a giant pumpkin contest, a pumpkin-pitching trebuchet and lots more. coupevillefarmersmarket.com.
the Holstein heifers you see at local farms are being raised for farms elsewhere.
Families can get an up-close look at our working farms during the Whidbey Island Farm Tour, held the first weekend in October. It’s a chance to visit with local farmers, pur-chase locally grown food, fiber and farm-re-lated products, and soak up the rural character of our beautiful island.
Some of the most scenic farmland is pro-tected as part of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, which encompasses the fertile prairie surrounding Coupeville. Among the most profitable crops grown by Central Whidbey farmers today are vegetable seeds such as beet and cabbage. Seeds produced here are planted as food crops all over the world.
Central Whidbey also is home to sev-eral farms that specialize in organic produce. Some sell their fruits and vegetables through community-supported agriculture, at local farmers markets or directly to local restaurants that try to “buy local.”
During the growing season, local produce is available each Saturday at the Coupeville Farmers Market, located in the field behind the library, within walking distance of down-town Coupeville.
At Lavender Wind Farm on Darst Road west of Coupeville, you’ll find a pretty purple labyrinth in a spectacular scenic setting above the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A gift shop offers lavender gifts, as well as ice cream and other treats made with lavender essential oil.
A visit to Sherman Farms on Ebey's Prairie near Coupeville is a highlight for locals and families visiting Central Whidbey during the harvest season. Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
FRESH FROM CENTRAL WHIDBEY
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 19
The Island is home to a few more unusual agricultural operations, such as the largest mussel farm in the nation. Driving along sce-nic Madrona Way just west of Coupeville, you can see floats bobbing on the waves of Penn Cove, where the workers of Penn Cove Shell-fish grow mussels from “seed.”
The Central Whidbey farm scene also in-cludes a project aimed at increasing the popu-lations of native prairie plants that might oth-erwise disappear as open land is developed or used for more traditional farm production. At Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship just southeast of Coupeville, volunteers save seeds from about 20 endan-gered prairie plants, and those seeds are used to restore the prairie environment that settlers found when they first arrived in the 1800s. Spring is a great time of year to see these rare wildflowers in bloom.
At Greenbank Farm, a gorgeous sweep of land that started out as a dairy and later be-came the largest loganberry farm in the coun-try, visitors can roam trails up into the rolling fields for a spectacular view of the sparkling waters and distant mountains that surround the Island. Dogs are welcome as long as they’re on a leash. The historic barn and adjacent buildings house art galleries and a restaurant as well as shops featuring fine wines, cheeses and gifts. Outside, ducks and geese float on a pond next to a demonstration garden that beckons visitors to take a stroll.
The farm is home to a Sunday produce and crafts market, and is a great place to enjoy a picnic on a warm, sunny afternoon.
simple. relational.relevant.
Oak HarborOH Senior Center51 SE Jerome St.
CoupevillePac Rim Institute180 Parker Rd.
ONE CHURCH • TWO LOCATIONS
ctkonline.com/whidbey
HAVE ALL THE FUN YOU WANT
Saturday & SundaySeptember 11th & 12th
XFor more information visit:www.whidbeyfarmtour.com
EBEY’S LANDING NATIONAL HISTORICAL RESERVE360-678-6084 www.nps.gov/ebla
Ebey’s ForeverConference
Presented by the Trust Board November 6, 2010encounter a living landscape, where intention & beauty meet
For the best in what’s local, shop the Coupeville Farmers Market
Saturdays 10 am-2 pmApril thru mid-October • 8th & Alexander
coupevillefarmersmarket.comwww.lavenderwind.com
2530 Darst Road, Coupeville I 360.678.0919
LAVENDERWITH A VIEWHave a wedding at the farm or come picnic. Taste lavender ice cream, buy lavender gifts, watch us distill lavender essential oil during harvest. Most products made here at the farm.
We are unique!• Labyrinth• Lavender Fields• Sunfl owers• Gifts and Plants
Open all year 10-4Summer 10-5
20 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
Central Whidbey offers lots of things for kids to see and do. In downtown Coupeville, kids can walk out on
Coupeville Wharf and check out the dozens of colorful starfish hanging out underneath the pier. In the historic building at the end of the Wharf, they can visit Rosie, Rudy and Sam-son – a display of the complete skeletons of a gray whale, a Dall’s porpoise and a Steller sea lion that once swam in the waters off Whidbey Island.
An educational display on marine life of-fers an underwater video camera through which you can see the starfish and other sea life thriving beneath the wharf. And when the tide is at its lowest, it’s easy to spot tangles of bright-orange starfish and squirting clams
features an old-fashioned hayride.In October, the Coupeville Farmers Market
hosts its annual HarvestFest, featuring a giant pumpkin contest, silly scarecrows, wild and crazy relay races and a pumpkin-pitching trebuchet. Be sure to wander through town to check out the scarecrow competition!
Kids also love to explore the beach at Ebey’s Landing, just south of Coupeville. Walk for miles along a pristine shoreline, collecting agates from among the rocks on the beach and keeping an eye out for passing container ships, cruise ships, tugboats – and even an occasional submarine!
Fort Casey State Park, which is close to the Keystone ferry dock, is a great place to fly a kite, explore the historic Admiralty Head light-house and play hide-and-seek in the old fort structures where soldiers once kept a lookout for invading foreign forces that never came.
At the Camp Casey Conference Center, on Engle Road not far from Fort Casey State Park, a protected outdoor swimming pool is a great place to spend a warm summer day.
A few miles north of Coupeville, the Blue Fox Drive-In is one of Washington’s few re-maining outdoor cinemas. Open since 1959, the theater also offers go-carts, miniature golf and a game arcade.
The Whidbey Island Kite Festival, held each year in September at the Camp Casey Conference Center, is a big attraction for kids of all ages. The 2010 festival is set for the weekend of Sept. 25 & 26.
Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
Need to burn off some energy? In Central Whidbey, miles of beaches await exploration.
Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
FUN FOR ALL AGES
from the pier. Families with older children may enjoy renting a couple of kayaks from the Harbor Store at the end of the wharf.
At the Island County Historical Museum, you can see the largest collection of woolly mammoth artifacts in the Puget Sound region, most of which were found in glacial deposits on Whidbey Island. Kids are especially im-pressed by the big tusks and teeth. The muse-um also is home to Whidbey Island’s first car, a 1902 Holsman with black leather seats, 48-inch wheels and a maximum speed of 25 mph.
Each October, the museum hosts Mammoth Day. By digging for and identifying different characteristics of real mammoth bones, kids are transformed into real, certified amateur pa-leontologists. Fun, hands-on activities include making and playing “prehistoric” musical in-struments in a Caveman Band. A scavenger hunt in the museum and on its grounds is lots of fun, and along the way, kids get to learn a little about mammoth life.
At Greenbank Farm, kids can check out a herd of fuzzy llamas, watch ducks and geese on the pond next to the big red barn or run through the fields where the farm’s signature loganberries once grew. On Sundays from spring through fall, the farm hosts a farmers market with fresh produce and local crafts, and the annual Loganberry Festival always
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 21
July 24 & 25 – Logan-berry Festival, Green-bank Farm. Food, music, art and activi-ties for kids, plus a lip-smacking loganberry
pie-eating contest. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Aug. 14 – Whidbey Island Highland Games, Greenbank Farm. An annual celebration of all things Scottish. Enjoy pipe bands, pip-ers, dancers and athletic events along with sheepdog demonstrations and plenty of food and fun. wihg.org. 360-331-5437.
Sept. 18 – Mammoth Day, Island County Historical Museum, Coupeville. Learn about the days when mammoths roamed the earth, and learn about fossils found here on Whidbey Island. Kids’ activities and more. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.
Sept. 25 & 26 – Whidbey Island Kite Fes-tival. Camp Casey Conference Center, Coupeville. Colorful kites fi ll the sky at his-toric Camp Casey, with kite making, ground and air displays, competitions and chil-dren’s activities set against the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and Admiralty Inlet. whidbeykites.org. 360-678-9358.
Oct. 23 – Coupeville Halloween Torchlight Parade. A fun children’s costume party by torchlight (fl ashlight) begins at dusk. Trick-or-treating and kids’ activities follow the parade. coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com. 360-672-4227. 360-678-1746
Complete Automotive RepairDomestic & Foreign • Diagnostics & Tune-up
105 NW Coveland St., CoupevilleMonday – Friday • 8–5
COUPEVILLE AUTO REPAIR
Fuel Injection • Brakes • Clutches• Electrical •
Engines • Transmissions & more
Here’s what we’ve got on tap!
Hungryfor some
Local Flavor?Penn Cove Mussels • Juicy Burgers • Seafood
Beer • Fish ’n’ Chips • Clam Chowder Pool Table • Spectacular Penn Cove View
Voted Best of Whidbey!
8 NW Front Street, Coupeville • 360-678-4222Find us online at tobysuds.com
www.atouchof dutch.com11 NW Front St., Coupeville
1-877-240-5400 � 360-678-7729Store Hours: Mon.–Sat. 10:30–5
Dutch Treats and More!
Pickled Herring
Licorice
SaucijzenbroodjeBitterballen
Cheese
Mettwurst
We carry a large selection of Dutch food, as well as Delftware, C & F quilts, jewelry, and Heritage lace.
A Touch of Dutch
People. . .Caring about People
Careage of WhidbeySkilled Nursing Facility
Physical, Occupational & Speech TherapyCardiac Rehab • Diabetic & Nutritional Teaching
Pet Friendly • Child daycare for our workers and our community
311 NE 3rd St., Coupeville360-678-CARE or 360-321-6660
Sponsored by
ibuywh
idbey
The Local Place to Shop and Buy Local
.com
Whidbey Island’s only locally owned, independent newspaper.
22 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
Freeland | 5531 Freeland Ave | 360/331-6006
Coupeville | 5 South Main St | 360/678-5858
Langley | 223 Second St | 360/221-8898
Oak Harbor | 32785 SR 20, Ste 4 | 360/675-5953
Windermere Real Estate/South Whidbey
Windermere Real Estate/ Whidbey Island
windermerewhidbey.com
Where will you write the next chapter of your life?
REVEL IN CENTRAL WHIDBEY SUNSHINE
The weather of the Puget Sound region has been described as extraordinary because of its mild, dry summers and
relatively warm, wet winters.But Whidbey Island is even more extraor-
dinary, thanks to the effects of the “rain shad-ow” cast by the Olympic Mountains, which places most of Whidbey Island in the driest region of Western Washington.
The rainfall variation along the 45-mile length of Whidbey Island clearly illustrates the rain shadow effect. The southern tip of Whidbey Island near Clinton is often not in the main rain shadow, as it is too far south. Rainfall there is about 38 inches per year – similar to Everett and Seattle.
A little farther north, yearly rainfall to-tals decrease to about 32 inches at Bayview, 26 inches at Freeland and Greenbank, and to about 21 inches at Coupeville and Oak Har-bor. At the northern tip of the island, Decep-
tion Pass State Park gets a bit more – about 24 inches.
Central Whidbey is lucky. It’s in the rain shadow “sweet spot,” enjoying one of the dri-est climates in western Washington.
The rain shadow also influences the kind of rain that falls in Central Whidbey. While other locations may be getting moderate rainfall, the Coupeville area often gets light rain or drizzle – and those showers are often brief. We also get a bit more sunshine and less cloudy weather.
Another unique feature is Whidbey’s fabu-lous summer weather. Temperatures are mild throughout the year due to the moderating effects of the cool waters of Puget Sound. In summer the water temperature is about 55 de-grees, which keeps air temperatures generally below 80 degrees and humidity at comfortable levels. A visit to a Whidbey Island beach on a hot day is refreshing.
Central Whidbey also enjoys dry, sunny summers. The average monthly rainfall in Coupeville in July is 0.73 inches, with August at 0.86 inches. That makes for some of the driest summers not only in the region, but in the entire United States. Planning an outdoor wedding or party? Your best chance of per-fect weather is between July 15 and Aug. 15. That’s also when temperatures are warmest, with the average high temperature at about 72 degrees.
On the other hand, if you are looking for wind and rain, plan to visit around the Thanks-giving holiday. The stretch between Nov. 15 and Dec. 8 has the best chance for rain. But if you’re a true Northwesterner, you know that a walk on the beach in the wind and rain can be exhilarating – as long as you’re dressed for the weather.
Whether you enjoy walking, hiking, bi-cycling, fishing or just wandering the shops of historic downtown Coupeville, Whidbey Island’s unique geography and location make for a wonderful climate bonanza.
– George Haglund
Central Whidbey enjoys lots of sunny weather.Photo: The Whidbey Examiner
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 23
FINDING YOUR WAY TO COUPEVILLE AND CENTRAL WHIDBEYFrom Seattle, Portland and points south:
From I-5 northbound, take exit 189 just south of Everett. Follow signs for the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry. Take the ferry to Clinton on Whidbey Island. Follow Hwy. 525 north, which takes you through the tiny village of Greenbank and past scenic Green-bank Farm. Hwy. 525 joins with Hwy. 20 just south of Coupeville. About eight miles north, a traffic light on Hwy. 20 marks the inter-section with Coupeville’s Main Street. Turn right (north) and drive one-half mile into the Coupeville Historic Waterfront District.
From Mount Vernon, Bellingham, Canada and points north:
From I-5 southbound, take Burlington exit 230 and follow signs to Whidbey Island on Hwy. 20. Once on Whidbey Island, follow Hwy. 20 south across the scenic Deception Pass Bridge and through Oak Harbor. About 10 miles south of Oak Harbor, a traffic light on Hwy. 20 marks the intersection with Main Street. Turn left (north) and drive a half mile into historic Coupeville. To get to Greenbank, continue south on Hwy. 20, which becomes Hwy. 525 a few miles south of Coupeville. Greenbank is about eight miles south of Coupeville.
Taking the ferry?Ferry schedules are available in Coupeville
at many local businesses, including Prairie
Center Red Apple Market, and at the Central Whidbey Chamber Visitor Center.
Port Townsend/Keystone ferry: Advance and same-day reservations are encouraged, but stand-by space is available on every cross-ing. There is no reservation fee. Full sailings and cancellations due to weather and tides can be expected. Reservations are required at least one day in advance for vehicles with trailers or RVs weighing 6,000 lbs. to 80,000 lbs.
You must arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure or you will forfeit your reservation.
Making reservations: The Central Whid-bey Chamber Visitor Center at the corner of Front and Alexander streets in downtown Coupeville can help you make a reservation. Reservations also may be made by phone at 206-464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977. To make a reservation online, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries. WiFi is available at several locations around Coupeville, including at the library.
Mukilteo/Clinton ferry: Expect delays during periods of heavy traffic, such as when headed north to the Island on weekday after-noons and evenings, especially on Fridays. When headed south to the Clinton dock, expect delays on Sunday afternoons and evenings. No reservations are available for this route.
Whidbey Island also is accessible from the I-5 corridor via Hwy. 20 and the Deception Pass Bridge.
Need information? The Central Whid-bey Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center has staff and volunteers ready to help you find your way around. Find the Chamber at the corner of Front and Alexander streets in historic downtown Coupeville, and online at www.centralwhidbeychamber.com. For infor-mation, call 360-678-5434, or e-mail [email protected].
Got extra time before your ferry ride?There’s plenty to do within a six-mile ra-
dius of the Keystone ferry terminal.You can visit Coupeville and spend time
visiting the historic waterfront district, where you can grab a bite to eat, visit our eclectic shops and take a walk on the historic Coupe-ville Wharf.
Also nearby are Fort Casey and Fort Ebey State Parks, where you can visit a historic lighthouse, explore old Army fortifications and take a walk on scenic beaches and trails.
At Greenbank Farm, you can visit shops, taste local wines and eat at a restaurant that serves the farm’s signature loganberry pie.
To find out what’s happening in the com-munity and learn about upcoming events, pick up a copy of The Whidbey Examiner, Whid-bey Island’s only locally owned, independent newspaper. Read the Examiner online at www.whidbeyexaminer.com.
The Locals’Best Friend.
www.whidbeyexaminer.com • 6 NW Coveland St. • Coupeville
Whidbey Island’s only locally owned, independent newspaper.• Politics • Business • Sports• Features • Events • Entertainment
THEOLoyal Reader
Hey!It’s just$23/yearo -Island!
Call 360-678-8060 to Subscribe!
ExaminerThe Whidbey
News from the Heart of Whidbey IslandNews from the Heart of Whidbey Island
~ enjoy our wildlife and open space ~
24 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
Saturdays through Oct. 9 – Coupeville Farmers Market. Eighth & Alexander streets, Coupeville. coupevillefarmersmarket.com.
Sundays through Oct. 3 – Sunday Market, Greenbank Farm. Produce, food, arts & crafts. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7710.
May 9 – Mother’s Day Harp Concert, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, off Resort Rd, Green-bank. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.
May 22 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville. Northwest tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, native dance & storytelling. penncovewaterfestival.com. 360-678-5434.
May 22 & 23 – Spring Wine-tasting and Farmers Market, Greenbank Farm. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
May 29 – Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance Ceremony, Coupeville. Parade followed by free concert in Town Park. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
May 29 – Art & Antiques Walk, Coupeville. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
June 3 – Whidbey Preservation Art Show, Pacific NorthWest Art School, Coupeville. pacificnorthwestartschool.org. 360-678-3396.
June 4 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. 360-678-7700.
June 12 – CeeCee James Blues Music Revival, Greenbank Farm. 360-678-7700.
June 26 – Strawberry Social, Coupeville United Methodist Church, 608 N. Main, Coupeville. All welcome. 360-678-4256.
June 26 – WharfFest, Coupeville. A family-oriented waterfront celebration of Coupeville’s maritime history. coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com. 360-678-5434.
June 26 & 27 – Spirit of the Northwest Art Show, Coupeville Recreation Hall, 901 NW Alexander. 360-678-0382.
July 18 to 23 – Whidbey Island Race Week, Watch from the Coupeville waterfront as boats compete. whidbeyislandraceweek.com.
July 2 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art & music. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700
July 3 & 4 – World’s Biggest Garage Sale, Coupeville Elementary School. 360-678-4105.
July 17 & 18 – Whidbey Artists Summer Studio Tour. whidbeyworkingartists.com.
July 24 – Summer Swing Dance, Crockett Barn, Coupeville. John Holte Radio Rhythm six-piece orchestra. 360-678-6821.
July 24 & 25 – Loganberry Festival, Greenbank Farm. Food, music, art, kids’ activities and a lip-smacking loganberry pie-eating contest. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
July 31 & Aug. 1– Whidbey Island Regional Art Exhibit & Sale, Coupeville Recreation Hall. 901 NW alexander. 360-678-3068.
Aug. 6 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art & music. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Aug. 9 & 16 – Whidbey Island Music Festival, Greenbank Farm. Music of Purcell and Handel. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Aug. 14 – Whidbey Island Highland Games, Greenbank Farm. Pipers, dancers and athletic events, sheepdog demonstrations and plenty of food and fun. wihg.org. 360-331-5437.
Aug. 14 & 15 – Tall Ships visit Coupeville. historicalseaport.org. 1-800-200-5239.
Aug. 14 & 15 – Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, Coupeville. Arts, crafts & music. coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org. 360-678-5116.
Aug. 19-22 – Island County Fair, Langley. islandcountyfair.com. 360-221-4677.
Aug. 23 – Wag & Walk, Greenbank Farm. A festival celebrating all things canine.
wagnwalk.org. 360-678-7700.
Aug. 24 to 28 – Plein Air Painters’ U.S. Open, Coupeville and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. A gala and silent auction of paintings is held on Aug. 28. pacificnorthwestartschool.com. 360-678-3396.
Aug. 28 – Whidbey Island Bluegrass Festival, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.
Aug. 28 & 29 – Whidbey Regional Art Exhibit, Coupeville Recreation Hall, 901 NW Alexander. Benefits animal shelter. 360-678-3068.
Sept. 4 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art & music. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Sept. 4 – Art & Antiques Walk, Coupeville. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
Sept. 5 & 6 – Antiques and Collectibles Show & Sale, Greenbank Farm. 360-341-3280.
Sept. 11 & 12– Whidbey Island Farm Tour. Free, self-guided family-friendly tour of local working farms. whidbeyfarmtour.com.
Sept. 11 & 12 – Whidbey Artists Cooperative Show, Greenbank Farm. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Sept. 12 – Community Concert & Salmon Barbecue, Town Park, Coupeville. concertsonthecove.org. 360-678-6821.
Sept. 18 – Mammoth Day, Island County Historical Museum, Coupeville. Kids can learn about fossils found here on Whidbey Island. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.
Sept. 25 – Tour de Whidbey, Coupeville. Bike tour with 10-, 40-, 50- and 100-mile routes. whidbeygen.org. 360-678-7656, ext. 4020.
see calendar, page 26
COUPEVILLE & CENTRAL WHIDBEY VISITOR GUIDE
2010 CALENDAR
2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 25
Nine officer’s houses with 2 bedrooms, bath, kitchen, living room. Heated outdoor pool in summer. Water views, walk to beach, Fort Casey State Park, Admiralty Head lighthouse and ferry to Port Townsend.
fortcaseyinn.com360-678-5050 / 866-661-6604
FORT CASEY INN COTTAGES
W
ater
/Mou
ntai
n Vi
ews
Walk to historic Front Street from this beautifully appointed suite-with-a-view. Private entrance & patio, kitchenette and WiFi.View of Penn Cove from the deck. One-of-a-kind setting.
COupE dE vIllA b&b
T
own
/ Wat
erfr
ont
A couples romantic retreat with six cottages nestled in 25 acres of wooded seclusion. All cottages include a fireplace, kitchen, Jacuzzi & self-serve breakfast. Outdoor hot tub & pool.guesthouselogcottages.comstay@guesthouselogcottages.com360-678-3115 / 800-997-3115
GuEST HOuSE lOG COTTAGES
Qui
et W
oodl
and
Enjoy coastal living in relaxed Whidbey style. Private baths and family-friendly. Views of Penn Cove and Coupeville Wharf. Just steps to waterfront, dining, shopping and parks. Nice breakfast included.
THE lOvEJOY INN & CARRIAGE HOuSE COTTAGE
Tow
n / W
ater
vie
w
This remodeled 1883 cottage next to Anchorage Inn is fully furnished with two bedrooms, bathroom, parlor with fireplace, dining room and kitchen. Sleeps six. Kids and pets [email protected] / 877-230-1313
CAlISTA COTTAGE
Tow
n/W
ater
vie
w
Voted Best in the West 2009-2010. We do it right! Relax and rejuvenate in our huge rooms with water views & private baths. Enjoy scrumptious breakfasts & afternoon receptions. Free WiFi, walk to waterfront and [email protected] / 877-678-4284
THE bluE GOOSE INN b&b
Tow
n / W
ater
vie
ws
1890 Victorian with two lovely guestrooms with private baths. Full, elegant breakfast amidst antiques and treasures. Enjoy tea in the afternoon. Well-behaved children welcome.
compassrosebandb.com360-678-5318 / 800-237-3881
COMpASS ROSE b&b
Tow
n / E
bey’
s Pr
airi
e
Victorian-style B&B just steps from Coupeville’s historic waterfront, featuring seven well-appointed rooms with private baths. Full, sit-down gourmet breakfast.
[email protected] / 877.230.1313
ANCHORAGE INN
T
own
/ Wat
er v
iew
A
Near the historic waterfront, the historic Jacob Jenne House (1889) offers 3 distinctive guest rooms. Next door, Wisteria Cottage has room for 4 and small kitchen. WiFi available; Thai restaurant on site.
mysite.verizon.net/penncovebb360-632-6316
THE INN AT pENN COvE
Tow
n
Lovely country farmhouse bed & breakfast on 5 acres overlooking Penn Cove and framed by the Olympics and Cascades. Full breakfast or continental breakfast & afternoon tea, coffee & fresh-baked cookies.spinnakertea.com360-678-4481
SpINNAKER TEA HOuSEW
ater
/Mou
ntai
n Vi
ews
Lovely private garden cottages. Newly remodeled with hot tub & a spacious 3-bedroom view home nestled in historic old town Coupeville. Adjacent to park, beach, shops and restaurants.
gardenislecottages.com360-678-5641
GARdEN ISlE GuEST COTTAGES
Tow
n / W
ater
vie
w
Two newly renovated units 1-1/2 blocks from historic waterfront, next to park. One BR, 1 bath unit and 2 BR, 2 bath unit, both with fire-place and full kitchen, breakfast and laundry facility. Great view in 2-bedroom unit!
[email protected] / 800-247-6162
COlbuRN HOuSE
Nea
r W
ater
fron
t
26 The Whidbey Examiner 2010 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide
Sept. 25 & 26 – Whidbey Island Kite Festival, Camp Casey Conference Center, Coupeville. whidbeykites.org. 360-678-9358.
Sept. 25 & 26 – Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. islandartscouncil.org. 360-678-3396.
October – Scarecrow Corridor, Coupeville. Vote for your favorite scarecrow. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
Oct. 2 – Oktoberfest, Greenbank Farm. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Oct. 7 – Plein Air Photography Show & Sale, Pacific NorthWest Art School, Coupeville. pacificnorthwestartschool.org. 360-678-3396.
Oct. 9 – HarvestFest, Coupeville Farmers Market. Food, art, music, giant-pumpkin contest, a pumpkin-pitching trebuchet and lots more. coupevillefarmersmarket.com.
Oct. 9 & 10 – Uniquely Whidbey Biz Expo, Coupeville High School campus. islandcountyeconomicdevelopmentcouncil.net. 360-678-6889.
Oct 9 to Dec. 18 - Red Ticket $1,000 Cash Giveaway, Coupeville. Shop, dine and stay with participating merchants and earn raffle tickets for a drawing for $1,000 cash. coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com. 360-678-5434.
Oct. 15 – Tingstad and Rumble in concert, Camp Casey Conference Center, Coupeville. concertsonthecove.org. 360-678-6821.
Oct. 23 – Coupeville Halloween Torchlight Parade. Children’s costume party by torchlight (flashlight) begins at dusk. coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com. 360-672-4227.
Oct. 31 – Halloween Kids’ Party & Costume Parade, Greenbank Farm. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Nov. 5 & 6 – Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve annual celebration and conference, Coupeville. Hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops, a barn dance and the biggest potluck ever. www.nps.gov/ebla; 360-678-5787.
COUPEVILLE AND CENTRAL WHIDBEY VISITOR GUIDE 2010 CALENDAR (con’t)
Nov. 5 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art & music. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Nov. 6 & 7 – Uncommon Threads: Whidbey Weavers’ Guild Show and Sale, Greenbank Farm. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Nov. 21 – Coupeville Lodging Open House, historic Coupeville. Bed-and-breakfast inns open their doors for visitors. coupevillelodging.com. 360-678-5581.
Nov. 26 to Dec. 19 – Holiday Gift Shop, Admiralty Head Lighthouse, Fort Casey State Park. Open weekends. admiraltyhead.wsu.edu. 360-240-5584.
Nov. 26 to Jan. 2 – Victorian Holiday Christmas Parlor Exhibit, Island County Historical Museum, Coupeville. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.
Nov. 27 – Tree-Lighting Celebration, Greenbank Farm. Caroling, hot cider & cookies, arts & crafts and a visit with Santa. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Nov. 27 to Dec. 20 – Holiday Gift Market, weekends at Greenbank Farm. Bring the kids for a visit with Santa. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
Dec. 3 – Concerts on the Cove Holiday Concert, Coupeville. Saratoga Symphony presents “Night Visitor.” concertsonthecove.org. 360-678-5581.
Dec. 3 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art & music. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700
Dec. 4 – Jingle Trail Run and Walk, Fort Ebey State Park, Coupeville. 5k run and 1-mile walk. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
Dec. 4 – The Greening of Coupeville and annual Holiday Parade, historic Coupeville. A holiday parade featuring Santa Claus aboard a decorated fire truck. Tree-lighting and caroling follow. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
Dec. 4 – Art & Antiques Walk, Coupeville. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
Dec. 18 – Holiday Home Tour, Coupeville. Enjoy a tour of local historic homes all decked out in their holiday finest. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.
Plan ahead for 2011
Feb 5 – Sound Waters, Coupeville High School campus. A fascinating one-day “university” with classes on marine life, plants and wildlife of Whidbey Island. beachwatchers.wsu.edu. 360-679-7327.
Feb. 12 to 14 – Red Wine & Chocolate, Greenbank Farm. A romantic Valentine’s Day celebration. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.
March 4 to 6 – Penn Cove MusselFest, Coupeville. Celebrate Penn Cove’s signature shellfish with chowder tasting, a mussel-eating contest and more. thepenncovemusselfestival.com. 360-678-5434.
March & April – Meerkerk Gardens Spring Flower Show, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.
March 27 – Cookin’ in the Kettles Mountain Bike Race, Fort Ebey State Park, Coupeville. A challenging 6.5-mile loop on forested park trails, with a short race for kids. Sponsored by the Skagit Bicycle Club. 360-929-5003.
April 16 & 17 – Meerkerk Magic Festival of Flowers and Fairies, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Children of all ages love this tradition of making forest fairies from woodland materials. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.
May 8 – Mother’s Day Concert, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Live music in a serene garden setting. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.
May 14 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville. Tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, native dance & storytelling. penncovewaterfestival.com.
May 28 – Memorial Day Parade & Re-membrance Ceremony, Coupeville. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.
calendar, from page 24
For over 40 years, Whidbey General has been there for us
We are One Team with One Purpose: Caring for You! Physician referral services available
101 N. Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239 www.whidbeygen.org • 360-678-5151 • 360-321-5151
Providing:
Acute Medical Services for most of your in-hospital medical care needs.
Inpatient and Outpatient Surgery Services; so your family can always be close at hand.
An All-Digital Diagnostic Imaging Center; faster results to end the uncertainty.
Accredited Cancer Care services; you don’t have to go off-island.
Whidbey Family Birthplace; for a close, safe, and satisfying birth experience.
24/7 Emergency Dept. and EMS (Ambulance) for that unexpected medical crisis.
And much, much more ... if you haven’t looked at us lately, take another look.
When Dawn Sellgren was a little girl growing up in Coupeville, she spent many afternoons playing on the Meng Farm – the site where Whidbey General Hospital was later built. All her children were born at Whidbey General, and her daughter’s children were born here, too. Whidbey General has always been there for the Sellgren family, and they’ve come to depend on having such a quality healthcare facility so close to home.
FREELAND1609 E. Main St.360-331-4760
www.lindsfreeland.com
COUPEVILLE40 N. Main St.360-678-4010
www.lindscoupeville.com
WHIDBEY ISLAND ARTISTSGREETING CARDS
ROB SCHOUTEN
ANNE WATERMAN
CRAIG JOHNSON
MARK VAN WICKLER
MEREDITH MCLEODANDREA COMSKY
BETTY RAYLE
PAM BARGER
BART RULON
MICHAEL STADLER
VERONICA VON ALLWORDEN
DAN KARVASEK MARY STANFORD
NAN HAHN
GAYLEN WHITEMAN