Embracing “slow travel” on Whidbey and Camano Islands
Located just a short ferry ride or drive from Seattle, Whidbey and Camano Islands feel like a world apart from The Emerald City. The hustle and bustle of urban life gives way to slower-paced ‘island time,’ and it’s easy to immerse yourself in the joys of ‘slow travel’: quiet forest hikes, misty morning strolls along the beach, nourishing locally-sourced meals, charming independent shops, and farm stands bursting with the best-of-the-season.
If you’re looking to plan a relaxing weekend getaway from Seattle, I recommend spending it on Whidbey and Camano Islands. Below are a few tips for slowing down and embracing life on the islands during your visit.
Prioritize nourishing local food
Island County is a thriving hub for local agriculture, farmers markets, and restaurants and makers that embrace the island’s fresh, local ingredients. Whether you’re looking to eat out or make a meal in your vacation rental, the island offers plenty of amazing local food options.
If you’re looking to eat out, on Camano Island we enjoyed coffee from Camano Island Coffee Roasters (their cold brew and cookies are excellent!), and breakfast at Cama Beach Cafe, which specializes in locally sourced and scratch-made food. On Whidbey Island Greenbank Pantry & Deli, Goldie’s and The Roost, and Molka Xete are can’t miss locations that prioritize fresh, local ingredients. For an upscale date night dinner I recommend making reservations at The Oystercatcher, which highlights the best ingredients and flavors of the Pacific Northwest coast.
In addition to meals out, on the islands we also enjoyed staying at vacation rentals with kitchens, which allowed us to cook some of our own meals. For breakfast we got freshly roasted coffee beans from Camano Island Coffee Roasters and bread and pastries from Little Red Hen Bakery. For dinner we enjoyed fresh veggies from the islands’ farm stands, Chef in the Black Bandana’s fresh pasta, and Whidbey Pies for dessert. Local produce can be purchased from the Coupeville Farmers Market, Three Sisters Market, Camano Commons Marketplace, and the many farm stands located throughout the two islands. The Whidbey Island Grown Food Hub is also a fantastic resource for local and artisanal foods. The Food Hub allows you to pre-order locally produced food for pickup and local delivery.
If you’re looking for a kitchen, we stayed at Saratoga Passage Beach House on Camano, and Vail’s View on Whidbey. Both accommodations were excellent!
Embrace experiences that give back to the islands
While you’re on the islands, we recommend prioritizing experiences that support the local economy and give back:
- Kristoferson Farm is a working farm that offers unique zipline ‘canopy tours’ that take visitors up into the trees to experience exhilarating rides through the old growth. The farm has been in operation since 1912, and they added ziplining as a way to diversify the farm and support their environmental stewardship and sustainable forest management efforts. This working farmland is part of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, and will be preserved for future generations of people, plants, and animals.
- Whidbey Island Kayaking is another outfitter to have on your radar. Offering kayak rentals and classes, they place a high priority on environmental stewardship, responsible recreation, and giving back to the island.
- Finally, historic downtown Coupeville is filled with charming family-owned stores. We recommend spending an afternoon strolling along the historic waterfront shops where the movie Practical Magic was filmed.
Take the road less traveled; hiking on Whidbey and Camano Islands
Whidbey and Camano Islands are both filled with beautiful hikes through peaceful forests and along dramatic coastlines. If you’re looking to escape the crowds and lower your impact on the islands, we recommend checking out trails listed in the island’s 24 Trails Guide, which spotlights lesser-visited hikes in the area.
Some of our favorite trails include:
- Camano Ridge Forest Preserve Trail (Camano Island): This hike is a 3.0 mile loop through a forest preserve. You’ll be shaded the entire way. This is a fantastic spot to keep your eyes out for birds and wildlife!
- Iverson Spit Waterfront Preserve (Camano Island): This delightful area offers some short hiking trails, including the 1.1 mile (round trip) Iverson Spit Preserve Loop. You’ll get excellent views of Livingston Bay and the Cascade Mountains.
- North Beach to Goose Rock (Whidbey Island): Located on the northern tip of Whidbey Island in Deception Pass State Park, this 4.4 mile (round trip) hike offers fantastic views of Deception Pass, the bridge, and you can walk along the beach shore.
- Ebey’s Landing Trail (Whidbey Island): This 3.6 mile hike starts high on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound. Then you will descend the bluff and walk along the beach back to the parking lot. This is a great place to find interesting shells and rocks!
In conclusion: embracing “slow travel” on Whidbey and Camano Islands
Whether you’re craving misty morning walks along the dock in historic Coupeville, hikes in the island’s peaceful old-growth forests, or nourishing locally sourced meals, time on the islands is sure to leave you feeling deeply rested and restored. For your next trip to Whidbey and Camano Islands I encourage you to embrace “slow travel.” From ferries to farms to forests, slowing down will help you discover all of the magic the islands have to offer.
