The Best Things to do on your Whidbey Island Day Trip

Another popular island getaway from Seattle is Whidbey Island, the largest island in the Puget Sound.

The fastest way to get to Whidbey is by taking the Mukilteo Ferry, which is about 40 minutes north of downtown Seattle. Depending on how much of the island you want to see, we recommend entering the island via the ferry and returning by driving through the Deception Pass bridge; this makes for a very scenic drive through the island, and ensures you don’t miss anything that Whidbey has to offer.

Want to stay the night on Whidbey? We’ve always eyed the Inn at Langley (Book on Expedia) for their spa and chance to see whales from the beachfront!

As with any trip, our first stop is always coffee. In our opinion, Whidbey is missing a good third wave coffee option. An optionable side trip to begin your journey is to visit Narrative Coffee (open in Google Maps) in Everett, which is just a 16 minute drive from the Mukilteo ferry terminal. The coffee there is some of the best I’ve had in the Greater Seattle Area, and it is definitely worth a stop.

Stop 1: Whidbey Island Bagel Factory

The ferry lands you right in the town of Clinton and just a short drive up the road is our first stop of the day: Whidbey Island Bagel Factory (open in Google Maps). Though the PNW is not known for bagels, these New York style bagels were especially good, toasted and ready to munch. They have every bagel you could imagine, from sesame to the classic lochs sandwich.

Stop 2: Langley & Shops

Now that we have carb loaded for the marathon that is the Whidbey Island food scene, a walk around the town of Langley makes for a great shopping break; hopefully long enough to digest for the fast approaching lunch. Langley has several quaint stores, Grayhorse Mercantile (open in Google Maps) and Good Cheer Thrift (open in Google Maps) were some of my favorites. A walk along the waterfront is beautiful and relaxing as you soak in the sights of the Saratoga Passage and nearby Camano Island.

Stop 3: Lunch at Ultra House

I hope by now you have yourself an appetite. Ramen is my favorite food and it is by no surprise then that Ultra House Ramen (open in Google Maps) right in downtown Langley is my favorite restaurant on Whidbey. Not only is their ramen world class, it is the best ramen I have had in Washington State thus far. I have been twice, and I would highly recommend ordering either their Tonkotsu, with the black garlic oil, or the Spicy Miso. They also have a great selection of Japanese beers, and all the asian snacks you could imagine for sale.

Stop 4: Wine/Mead/Liqueur Tasting

Whidbey touts having several great wineries and distilleries, my favorite being Whidbey Island Distillery (open in Google Maps). They forage berries on Whidbey and craft these incredibly sweet yet complex liqueurs. They are well known for their award-winning blackberry, but some of my favorites were their lingonberry and boysenberry liqueurs. Head over for a free tasting as a side trip, or use it as your appetizer before embarking on a winery tour, either way you will for sure want to pick up a bottle to add to your home bar. An honorable mention is Hierophant Meadery (open in Google Maps) which has an extensive mead list with many creative flavors.

Stop 5: Hike Ebey’s Landing or Fort Casey

Whidbey abounds in natural beauty, making it also a great hiking destination. The most popular in the area is Ebey’s Landing Bluff (open in Google Maps). The full loop is around 4 miles, but you can easily adjust the hike and simply walk to the beach. Warning that it can tend to get a bit smelly with the lagoon situated near the beach, so keep that in mind if you have a sensitive nose.

Another option is to walk around Fort Casey State Park (open in Google Maps) and see the disappearing guns. There is also the nearby Admiralty Head Lighthouse and stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and Port Townsend.

Stop 6: Coupeville

Now that you’ve successfully burnt off the coffee, bagels, and ramen, it's time for dinner! Another short drive north and you will find yourself in Coupeville (open in Google Maps). Coupeville is a small quaint fishing town with several fun shops and restaurants. The Wharf is a fun place to view the town and the Salish Sea.

Stop 7: Oak Harbor & Beyond

While we may have stopped there on our Whidbey Island trip, there are numerous other activities worth mentioning.

Oak Harbor, the biggest town on Whidbey, is another cute town with plenty of other eating options, as well as breweries. Deception Pass is a massively popular state park, known for its stunning view from the bridge. Locals often just drive to Deception Pass for hiking as well as camping. If you follow our trip path, then you will drive through Deception Pass on your way back to the mainland.

While we didn’t stay a night over in Whidbey, there are several great hotels in Whidbey that are worth checking out. The Inn At Langley boasts incredible views of the waterfront and a day spa. The trendiest hotel on the island is definitely Captain Whidbey in Coupeville; we definitely plan to stay here at some point in the future.

Whidbey has much to offer, from hiking, whale watching, to even thrift shopping and wine tasting. It is far too convenient to visit if you are a local to the area, or even if you are just visiting Seattle for several days.