Updated 3/16/23
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The island lifestyle is often a fit and healthy one, as the allure of natural beauty helps us get outside. Sometimes that call to venture into nature takes us right up amongst the trees, as with Canopy Tours NW. You can have a breathtaking zip line adventure along six routes through the heritage Camano Island forest. Walking trails and team-building ropes courses are also available, perfect for families or work groups.
Biking the Islands
Both Whidbey and Camano offer long, scenic, winding roads just begging to be explored, and bicycles are a great way to do it. Island County offers a wonderful map outlining the best routes on each island and warning where the shoulders are narrower. To rent a bike for the day, visit Skagit Cycle Center in Oak Harbor. For service, repairs, or route recommendations, check in with Bayview Bicycles.
Before You Ride
Before you ride, you can read more about cycling on Whidbey and Camano Islands and take a look at our maps.
Walking in Nature
The islands have an abundance of beautiful walking trails, often maintained by devoted volunteers. Clinton’s serene Whidbey Institute has a 106-acre trail network that’s open to the public from dawn to dusk every day; though bikes, horses, and dogs should be left at home. Take your canine companion on a leash through the woodland trails between Maxwelton and Langley Roads. These South Whidbey Parks and Recreation trails will lead you to Community Park, affectionately known as “Castle Park” for its fabulous playground. Your kiddos will surely love a visit to Freedom Park on Camano. Another excellent choice for trails, playgrounds, and sports fields is Fort Nugent Park in Oak Harbor; set on 40 acres just behind the downtown area. For more inspiration pick up a free copy of 24 Trails Off The Beaten Path at any visitor center.
Trails for the Mobility Challenged
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Golf and Fitness Centers
If hiking is too unstructured for you, get outside on one of our many picturesque golf courses. Even if you’ve never played, it’s hard not to enjoy a stroll over manicured lawns with views of the water. Oak Harbor is home to the Whidbey Golf Club, a semi-private course with public tee times available. Check out the pro shop at Holmes Harbor Golf Course in Freeland to equip you with everything you’ll need. Camaloch Golf Course on Camano also has a pro shop and boasts the onsite Rockaway Bar and Grill.
Fitness Journey
If you’re feeling inspired to get active but don’t know where to begin, there are local professionals to help you reach your goals. Try Vibrant Fitness in Langley or Coupeville Health and Fitness for a personal trainer to set you on the right track. Nutritionist Lori Taylor in Coupeville can guide you with a plan, and the Island Athletic Club in Freeland has weights, classes, and a swimming pool to help you get your strength up. Oak Harbor has Planet Fitness if you want to work out at your own pace.
Yoga and pilates are very popular pastimes, and there is no shortage of teachers or studios to help you advance your practice, such as the Pilates Collective, with locations in Langley, Freeland, and Oak Harbor. Many studios are also offering a zoom option for classes, so if you find an island instructor you love there may be a chance to keep seeing them even from afar! Try Movement Arts on Camano for yoga, or Chrysalis Yoga Shala in Oak Harbor. You’ll also find the Lotus Tea Bar and Studio there, for some healthy eats before or after class.
Treat Yourself
Wellness is not all movement however, sometimes we just need to take a quiet day for some self-care. For a beauty treatment that will leave you feeling your best, try Allure Salon and Spa in Oak Harbor, or The Beauty Lounge in Langley. Pamper your paws at Island Girl Nails in Clinton. For a taste of island bliss through massage or reflexology in a calming environment, check out The Seaside Spa and Salon in Coupeville, or the Camano Island Day Spa.
Everyone knows the benefit of green spaces and how they soothe the psyche, but to islanders the blue spaces are just as important. We treasure our nearness to the sea, and are always looking for new ways to connect with our coastal environment. For more information about how you can protect this precious habitat we share, reach out to Sound Water Stewards, always looking to the future.
Dive Deeper
Learn more about fishing, clamming, and crabbing.