Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island is the longest island in the contiguous United States reachable by ferry, and its variety of landscapes rocky headlands, quiet farmland, artist communities, and dense state park forest makes it compelling for groups of nearly any interest. The Clinton ferry from Mukilteo delivers passengers to the island's southern end in just 20 minutes. Langley, a compact village perched above Saratoga Passage, has been an arts hub for decades, with galleries, independent bookshops, and restaurants focused on local shellfish. Further north, Coupeville is one of Washington's oldest towns, with a restored main street of Victorian buildings and a wharf where Manila clams and Penn Cove mussels are harvested. Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve protects a working agricultural landscape settled in the 1850s trails cross bluffs with panoramic Sound views. Deception Pass State Park at the island's northern tip is Washington's most visited state park: the 1935 steel bridge spanning the tidal channels of Deception Pass is 180 feet above the water and offers dizzying views of the rushing currents below.