coupeville & central whidbey island 2012-13 visitor guide

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VISITOR GUIDE

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“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

2012-13 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 1

Small Town Charm . . . . . . 2 Natural Beauty . . . . . . 4 Romantic Getaway . . . . . . 6 Birds, Whales and Wildlife . . . . . . 8 Arts Scene . . . . . 10 Family Fun . . . . . 12

Wonderful Whidbey Farms . . . . . 14 Whidbey Island Map . . .16-17 Greenbank Farm . . . . . 18 Eat Like a Local . . . . . 20 Ebey’s Prairie . . . . . 22 The Rain Shadow Effect . . . . . 24 Finding Your Way . . . . . 26 Calendar of Events . . 28-30 The Best in Island Lodging . . . . . 32

The 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 PierzgaEditorial Assistant • Justin Rothboeck

Graphic Design & Production • Denise Westmoreland

ONTHECOvEr:Background: Penn Cove / Joe Novotny

Inset: Penn Cove sunset / Rick Lawler; Coupeville Farmers Market / The Whidbey Examiner; Coupeville Wharf / The Whidbey

Examiner; Tsimshian Haayuuk dancer, Penn Cove Water Festival / The Whidbey Examiner; Admiralty Head Lighthouse / Rick Lawler.

To see more photos from Rick Lawler, visit whidbeyphotos.com.© 2012-13 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.

This Guide is available online at whidbeyexaminer .com .

ExaminerThe Whidbey

Whidbey Island’s Only Locally Owned, Independent Newspaper

Coupeville & Central Whidbey visitor Guide

2 The Whidbey Examiner 2012-13 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide 2012-13 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 3

In the heart of Ebey’s Landing National Histori-cal Reserve – the only reserve of its kind in the U n i t e d States – is the small town

of Coupeville, a place steeped in history.

Founded in 1852 and named after Cap-tain Coupe, a New England sea captain, Coupeville is the sec-ond oldest town in Washington, having

been founded two years before Seattle. Much of the

town’s history has been carefully preserved, with more than 100 buildings on the National Historic Register.

Coupeville’s historic glory days began in the mid 1800s, when its bustling little business dis-trict caught the attention of sea captains from New England, some 50 of whom eventually sailed into the pristine waters of Penn Cove and settled into their new home.

Coupeville thrived from the middle 1800s to the early 1900s. Business-men 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 Victo-rian homes that boasted of the town’s prosperity.

In the late 1930s, as develop-ment shifted to other parts of Puget Sound, Coupeville settled in as a sleepy little agricultural village. Then in the late 1960s, a modest coffee shop opened and became a new focal point for the revitalization of Coupe-ville’s historic waterfront shop-ping district. The owners of the Wet Whisker, Jim and Dave Stewart, went on to found Seattle’s Best Coffee – part of the early Northwest coffee culture that forever changed the way Americans think about their favorite caffeinated drink.

Surrounded by scenic farms, the shimmering waters of Penn Cove and Admiralty Inlet and the majestic mountain beauty of the Olympics and

the North Cascades in the distance, Coupeville seems frozen in time. The town’s beautifully pre-served 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.

A great place to begin your visit to the Reserve is the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 905 NW Alexander St. in down-town Coupeville. The visitor center is housed in Coupeville’s historic fire hall, which was built in 1937 and refurbished in 2011. Public restrooms can be found on the north side of the building.

Visitors to downtown Coupeville find a vibrant business district housed in the town’s original buildings, 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 carrying away the produce from local farms.

Today, the remodeled wharf building houses a restaurant, an espres-so bar and shops featur-ing gifts and souvenirs, Whidbey-made prod-ucts and marine sup-plies for those arriving by boat. The building also houses an interpre-tive 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 also offers 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.

Coupeville - a great place to begin your visit

njoy Our Small Town CharmE

Save The DaTe!May 26 – Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance Ceremony, historic downtown Coupeville. A quintessential small-town parade honoring America’s veterans with music, food and celebration. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.

June 30 – 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.

aug. 11 & 12 – Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, historic downtown Coupeville. Artists and craftspeople fill the streets for this community celebration, held annually since 1964. The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will visit Coupeville Wharf and stage an exciting battle sail on Penn Cove. coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org. 360-678-5116.

OctOber – Scarecrow Corridor, Coupeville. Vote for your favorite scarecrow on display all month in front of homes and businesses throughout historic Coupeville. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.

Dec. 1 – The Greening of Coupeville and annual Holiday Parade, historic Coupeville. Stake out your spot along Main Street or Front Street to watch an old-fashioned holiday parade led by Santa Claus aboard a decorated fire truck. Tree-lighting and caroling follow. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.

Teens relax on the dock at the Coupeville Wharf.

The Coupeville Farmers

Market offers fresh produce in

season.


Pedestrian Overpass

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Circle Dr

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isure

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Hawthorne St

NE Pennington Lp

NE Pennington Lp

Summit Loop

NE Maple Pl

NE 7th St

NE 8th St

11th Ct

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To Oak Harborand Deception Pass

To Sunnyside Cemetery & Ebey’s Landing

To Clinton

To Keystone FerryFort Casey State ParkEbey’s Landing

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Coupeville

Coupe’s Village

CoupevilleElementary

Coupeville Middle & High School

H Whidbey General Hospital

Island County Courthouse

Town HallCoupeville

Library

PostOffice

Boat Launch

CoupevilleWharf

Captain Thomas Coupe Park

6th Street Park

Cook’s Corner Park

Coupeville Town Park

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O


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C o u p e v i l l eNo electricity or fresh water is available at these floats. Just west of the wharf are four mooring 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. Lo-cated 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.

a vibrant business district . . . charming bed & breakfast inns,

beautiful Victorian homes, breathtaking views

Established in 1865 with the burial of Winfield Ebey, the cemetery is the final resting place of many early pioneers. Also buried at Sunnyside are Chinese laborers, Native Americans descended from Whidbey Island’s early occupants and sea captains from the eastern United States who sailed into Penn Cove in the early 1850s, found their idyllic vision 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 beheaded in 1857 by a raiding party from a Northern tribe seeking revenge for the death of a chief. Ebey and his wife had been the island’s first white settlers, arriv-ing in 1852.

PennCoveWaterFestival.com

Tribal Canoe RacesMusic, Dancers, Food, Storytelling

Native Arts & CraftsChildren’s Activities

Saturday, May 19, 201211 am to 5 pm

In Historic Coupeville

Penn Cove Water Festival

Save the date:Next year’s festival is on May 18, 2013

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Pedestrian Overpass

20

20Black Rd

NW Oakmont St

Terry Rd SW

Cook Rd

NW 4th St

Snomount St NW

NW Madrona W

ay

Tremont St

NW Coveland St

Autumn Pl

NW Front StNE Front St

NW 7th St

NW 6th St

Capstan Ct

Mead

ow C

t

NW Gr

ace St

N Main

St Albion

St

Dean M

anor Ci

r

N Broa

dway

St

S Ebe

y Rd

S Main

St

Ft Ca

sey Rd

NW Vi

ne St

N She

rman

Rd

NE Ce

nter S

tNE

Haller

StNE

Kinn

ey St

NW Kr

euge

r St Gle

nwoo

d Ct

Cente

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Kinne

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tHaller

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Wilke

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WNW

Alex

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NW Gr

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NE C

lapp

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NE G

ould

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NE O

tis St

NE Pe

rkins

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NE La

Salle

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Lindsa

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E

Faris

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NE Le

ach St

Jackso

n St N

E

NE M

oore

Pl

Britta

ny Ln

Maxw

ell St

NE

NW Ba

kervi

ew Pl

NW 6th St

NW 1st St

NW Birch St

Bainbridge Ln Henry Lp

Terry Rd

Terry Rd

NE Birch St

NW 7th St

NW 8th St

NE 9th St

NE 8th St

NE 7th St

NE 6th St Ne 6th St

NE 5th St

NE 4th St NE 4th St

Circle Dr

NE Parker Rd

NE Lovejoy St

NE Le

isure

St

NE Schefflera Pl

Hawthorne St

NE Pennington Lp

NE Pennington Lp

Summit Loop

NE Maple Pl

NE 7th St

NE 8th St

11th Ct

NE 3rd St

To Oak Harborand Deception Pass

To Sunnyside Cemetery & Ebey’s Landing

To Clinton

To Keystone FerryFort Casey State ParkEbey’s Landing

NW Colburn

St

Colbu

rn St

NE C

lapp

St

Penn Cove

Coupeville

Coupe’s Village

CoupevilleElementary

Coupeville Middle & High School

H Whidbey General Hospital

Island County Courthouse

Town HallCoupeville

Library

PostOffice

Boat Launch

CoupevilleWharf

Captain Thomas Coupe Park

6th Street Park

Cook’s Corner Park

Coupeville Town Park



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Downtown Coupeville Inset

Downtown Coupeville See Inset

1 ATouchofDutch2 AquaGifts3 Bayleaf4 CentralWhidbeyChamber5 Christopher’sonWhidbey6 Ciao7 CoupevilleAutoRepair8 CoupevilleCoffee&Bistro9 CoupevilleFarmersMarket10 CoupevilleNatural11 EaglesSong12 EbeyBowl&EB’sDiner13 FarFromNormal14 FrontStreetGrill15 FrontStreetRealty

16 Kapaw’sIskreme17 Kim’sCafé18 Knead&Feed19 LavenderWindFarmGiftShop20LindsPharmacy21 OneMoreThing/BacktotheIsland22TheOystercatcher23PrairieCenterRedApple24TheCoveThaiCuisine25TheHoneyBear(MarinersCourtBldg)26TyeeRestaurant&Motel25VailWineShop(MarinersCourtBldg)27 WhidbeyNaturalPet28WindermereRealEstateP FreePublicParking(RVaccessible)

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Kids of all ages enjoy visiting Central Whidbey’s beautiful parks, each offering something unique, including beautiful hiking trails,

pristine beaches, tent and RV camping, play-fields, a historic fort, a retired lighthouse, spectacular gardens and an underwater marine park.

At Fort Casey State Park, fami-lies enjoy explor-ing the old fort structures that

once were part of the U.S. Army’s “Triangle of Fire” – three mili-

tary forts that together protected the entrance to Admiralty Inlet. Activated in 1901, the fort was equipped with batteries of “disappearing guns,” so named for their ability to disappear behind the walls of their emplacements during reloading, protecting the gun and crew from enemy bombardment.

In its day, the disap-pearing gun was the height of military tech-nology. Fort Casey was used as a troop train-ing 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 ma-jestic 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 Key-

stone-Port Townsend ferry crossing. During its working life, the lighthouse was an important navigational aid for sailing ships headed to Puget Sound from the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Built in 1903, the lighthouse, which replaced the original wooden structure, boasts 18-inch, stucco-covered brick walls designed to with-stand the concussion from Fort Casey’s big guns. It was operated only until the early 1920s, when steamships replaced sailing ships and the light-house was no longer necessary.

Today, the lighthouse houses Fort Casey’s in-terpretive center and is open to the public for 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 spe-cial holiday gift shop.

A Discover Pass is required for entry into all of Washington’s state parks.

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 and a separate area for timid or small dogs. 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 near Milepost 19, turn onto Patmore Road for a short distance to the park entrance on the left.

Parks showcase our Island’s natural wondersBask in Our Natural Beauty

Save The DaTe!MAY 13 – Mother’s Day Concert, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Bring a picnic lunch and relax on the lawn amid a spectacular display of blooming rhododendrons. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.

MAY 19 & 20 – Savor Spring Wine Tour, hosted by Whidbey Island wineries. whidbeyislandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.

Sept. 16 – Community Concert & Salmon Barbecue, Coupeville Town Park, Coupeville. Free outdoor concert sponsored by Concerts on the Cove; barbecued salmon served by the Coupeville Lions Club. concertsonthecove.org. 360-678-6821.

Nov. 23–Dec. 16 – Holiday Gift Market, weekends at Greenbank Farm. Local artisans create a festive marketplace in the farm’s historic red barn. Be sure to bring the kids for a personal visit with Santa. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

Dec. 1 – Jingle Trail Run and Walk, Camp Casey, Coupeville. 5k run and 1-mile walk through pretty forest trails. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.

Ebey’s Landing offers miles of

scenic beaches.

The snowy Olympic Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop for Smith Farm on Ebey’s Prairie.


Admiralty Head lighthouse and the old gun batteries at Fort Casey State Park provide a great place to explore.

EBEY’S LANDING NATIONAL HISTORICAL RESERVE360-678-6084 www.nps.gov/ebla

Explore America’s Rural Heritage

Visit a pioneer homeExperience the Jacob Ebey House, a short walk from the end of Cemetery Road near Coupeville

Discover the heart of Ebey’s ReserveCentral Whidbey Visitor Center905 NW Alexander Street, downtown Coupeville

Libbey Beach, a county-owned park, has restrooms and is a nice spot for birding, a waterfront barbecue or a sunset walk on the beach. It’s at the end of Libbey Road off Hwy. 20, just north of Coupeville.

Another great place for a picnic is Coupeville 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 out-door 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 playgrounds at Coupeville Elemen-tary School and at Rhododendron Park.

At Meerkerk Gardens near Greenbank, visitors can enjoy a Northwest-style wood-

land garden surrounded by a lush, 43-acre woodland preserve. Be sure to visit in spring to enjoy a spectacular wonderland of rhodies in full bloom. The gardens also host an annual spring rhododendron sale and a variety of garden-themed activities for adults and children.

Greenbank Farm, on Hwy. 525 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 spe-cialty cheese shop. The 100-year-old barn is a popular backdrop for outdoor weddings and other events, including the Loganberry Festival held each July.

200 Coveland St. • www.thecoupevilleinn.com • 360.678.6668 • WA & BC Reservations 1.800.247.6162

• Free Internet & Wi-Fi• Conference Rooms • Continental Breakfast

• View Rooms & Suites AvailableSenior & Military discounts

Located in downtown CoupevilleOne block from the wharf, restaurants,

museum, antique & gift shops.

WELCOME TO

� e Coupeville Inn

❧ 10 acres of display gardens❧ 43 acres of forest trails❧ Rhododendron plant sales❧ Musical and festive events❧ Custom guided tours

take a walk . . .

in Greenbank

Open Daily 9-4www.meerkerkgardens.org

a peaceful woodland gardenMeerkerk

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

Amazing Cinnamon RollsAmazing Cinnamon Rolls


Spectacular beaches, intimate lodging and great restaurants The serene and relaxing environment of Central Whidbey is a perfect place for romance. Whether you’re celebrat-

ing an anniversary, es-caping for a honeymoon or looking for just the right place to “pop the question,” we offer a variety of accommo-dations ranging from private getaway va-cation homes and intimate Victorian bed-and-break-

fasts to traditional ho-tel 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 galleries along Front, Coveland and Main streets, where you can discover lo-cal and regional art, interesting and offbeat antiques, home and cabin décor, apparel, jewelry and unique Northwest gifts. Need help find-ing your way around? The friendly shopkeepers are glad to help!

At lunchtime, grab a bite at one of several local eateries, with menus ranging from traditional tavern and roadhouse fare and homemade pies to Northwest bis-tro-style dining, Vietnamese cui-sine, restaurants that emphasize foods produced by local farms and memorable fine dining featuring mussels grown right here in the clear waters of Penn Cove.

A great way to relax and enjoy the spectacular local scenery is a drive along some of our most scenic routes. From downtown Coupeville, follow Coveland 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 a floating mussel farm grows Central Whidbey’s signature shellfish.

Following Main Street south across Highway 20,

the road becomes Engle Road as it heads out of town across the pastoral farmland of Ebey’s Land-ing 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 see tugboats and container vessels on the waters of Admiralty Inlet, along with cruise ships headed to north to Canada and Alaska. This stretch is Central Whid-bey’s premier spot for a romantic stroll, with miles of unspoiled beach lined with bleached driftwood, eagles, hawks and gulls soaring overhead and sea lions bobbing in the surf. With a sweeping view to the west, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a spectacu-lar sunset any time of year.

Another lovely place to discover and explore is the Admiralty 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, ex-plore the shops and restaurant at Greenbank Farm. On the first Fri-day 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 locally grown produce.

Greenbank Farm also offers walking paths in the rolling fields above

the barns, where you can enjoy the pastoral scenery and a view of the waters of Admiralty Inlet to the west and Saratoga Passage to the east. It’s a great place to enjoy a romantic picnic amid pretty, rolling fields. Visit the farm’s shops to pick up some delicious picnic treats.

Just south of the farm, the tiny hamlet of Greenbank has a restaurant and small grocery.

Escape for a Romantic Getaway

Save The DaTe

FirSt FriDAYS at the Farm, held each month throughout the year at Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art galleries, music. greenbankfarm.com. 360-678-7700.

April 28 – Evening of Wine and Rhodies, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Tours, wine tasting and a silent auction in the gardens. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.

JulY 21 – Summer Swing Dance, Crockett Barn, Coupeville. Enjoy music from the seven-piece Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band. Sponsored by Concerts on the Cove. concertsonthecove.org. 360-678-6821.

oct. 6 & 7 – Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. Some 100 working artists and craftspeople welcome visitors into their studios. islandartscouncil.org. 360-678-3396.

Nov. 10 & 11 – Fall Wine Tour. Local wineries present tastings and tours. whidbeyislandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.

Feb. 9–10 & Feb 16-18, 2013 – Red Wine & Chocolate, Greenbank Farm and Whidbey Island wineries. Celebrate the flavors of red wine and handcrafted chocolates at this romantic Valentine’s Day celebration. whidbeyislandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.

A newlywed couple strolls through the

loganberry patch at Greenbank Farm.

Rhododendrons in bloom at Meerkerk Gardens.


Serving Man and Beast since 1904, the historic Greenbank Store and the Greenbank Grille are among the islands most memorable places to

stop and browse, dine and stock up on sumptuous comestibles!

No visit to Whidbey Island is complete without a stop at

the historic, famous...

Greenbank Store & GrilleAt Mile Marker 25 on Highway 525360.678.3300Like us on facebookfacebook.com/greenbankgrille

Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails • Cold Beer • WineCoffee • Espresso • Homemade Pastries

Groceries & Supplies • Breakfast Burritos • Deli

Back from a day of shopping and explor-ing, you’ll want to find a place to enjoy din-ner before returning to your accommoda-tions. Coupeville offers a variety of dining establishments 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 cinemas in Washington.

Coupeville also has a tradition of barn dances, such as the Summer Swing Dance in July, and old-fashioned community pot-lucks, including one held each year in No-vember at the historic Crockett Barn as part of the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve anniversary celebration.

103 NW Coveland St., CoupevillePlease call for reservations 360-678-5480

Fresh, Creative, Northwest Cuisinein an elegant dining atmosphere

featuring a variety of local & international wines

*

Comfort Food, Italian Style

ciao701 N Main Street • Coupeville

360-678-0800ciaowhidbey.com

We support our local growers.

Solar Shades • Shutters • Wood BlindsCellular Shades • Draperies • Window Film

COUPEVILLE

360-678-7592 • 360-672-7592

Every window a canvas Every home a gallery

Angelie’sCUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS

COFFEE & BISTRO

200 S. Main St.360-682-5832

coupevillecoffeeandbistro.com

Eclectic Northwest Cuisine in a Casual Bistro Atmosphere

The Best Espresso in Town!


Get up close and personal with Whidbey’s wildest residentsThe red-tailed hawks have seen it all. Centuries

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, wildflow-ers and whales thrive amid the fields, skies, beaches and waters of rural Cen-tral Whidbey. Tame deer graze all day on the parade grounds at Camp Casey. It’s a natural para-dise that’s equally rewarding to hikers, bicyclists, birders, whale-watchers, artists, photographers – and anyone looking for a se-rene island escape.

And just off the west shore of Central Whidbey, Smith and Minor Islands Aquatic Reserve, designated in 2010, covers more than 36,300 acres of tidelands and seafloor habitat surrounding Smith and Minor islands, already part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Reserve.

Connected to neighboring Minor Island by a spit of land visible only during low tide, Smith Island was once home to a lighthouse that en-dured for 100 years before erosion forced its abandonment in the mid-20th century. Little evidence of human habitation remains, and the local wildlife has reclaimed the island.

In Central Whidbey, farmers over the years have signed over the development rights to thou-sands of acres, now set aside forever as open prairie within Ebey’s Landing National Histori-cal Reserve.

Central Whidbey’s spectacu-lar natural environment beckons visitors to explore. Here’s a list of suggestions for enjoying the best of what the re-gion has to offer:

Birding at Crockett Lake. Hands 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 her-ons step deliberately in the marsh, necks coiled to spear dinner with their bills. This large marsh and adjacent saltwater shore attract dozens of mi-grating species, 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 Pas-sage 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 public-access points at Monroe Landing, the beach at the west end of Penn Cove, 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 anywhere along the Whidbey and Camano shorelines from Coupeville to Langley.

See orcas in Saratoga Passage and Admiralty In-let. Watch for agile, black-and-white orcas travel-ing in groups led by a female elder. Pods of Puget Sound resident orcas often prowl the west shore of Whidbey from October through January and may be seen from any high ground or from the deck of

the Keystone ferry. Visiting tran-sients pass through our waters at any time of year on either side of the island, and occasionally are spotted in Penn Cove just off the Coupeville Wharf.

Admire underwater marine life at Keystone Jetty. Acres of anemones and coral-encrusted rocks await scuba divers at the underwater marine park next to the Keystone ferry landing. Div-ers find a wonderland of riotously colorful rockfish, large Pacific oc-

topus and lingcod, schools of forage fish and undu-lating forests of kelp. A diver who visits on a week-end will often have the company of a lot of other visiting divers. But those who arrive on a weekday

Birds, Whales and Wildlife

Save The DaTe

Aug. 16–19 – 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.

Aug. 26 – Wag & Walk, Greenbank Farm. Bring your four-legged, tail-wagging best friend for an afternoon festival celebrating all things canine. Benefits the Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation. wagnwalk.org. 360-678-7700.

Sept. 15 – Mammoth Day, Island County Historical Museum, Coupeville. Learn about the days when mammoths roamed the earth, and learn about fossils found right here on Whidbey Island. Activities for kids of all ages. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.

oct. 4 – Plein Air Photography Show & Sale, Pacific NorthQWest Art School, Coupeville. cenrtalwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.

Feb. 2, 2013 – 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/island/soundwaters. 360-679-7327.

An exploration of local beaches provides an up-close look at marine wildlife.

Orca whales are among the wildlife seen in the waters around Whidbey Island.

Jill Hein photo.


often get the entire dive site to themselves. These waters are cold and the currents dan-gerous; consult a pro with local experience at a dive shop in Oak Harbor or Anacortes.

Admire majestic trees along Madrona Way. There may be no more delightful canopy of madrona trees anywhere than along the several-mile stretch of Madrona Way, which hugs the southern shore of Penn Cove between Highway 20 and Coupeville. These rare, red-barked, broad-leafed ever-greens grow mainly within sight of saltwa-ter and reject human assistance of any kind, including watering!

Mingle with mussels and marine life at Coupeville Wharf. Gaze down from Coupe-ville Wharf at clusters of blue-shelled mus-sels, the succulent local bivalve that ap-pears on restaurant menus worldwide. The world’s largest commercial mussel farm, Penn Cove Shellfish, 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 that visits the cove from September through May, including grebes, loons, scoters and goldeneye ducks.

Enjoy trails and birds at Greenbank Farm at Whidbey’s narrow neck. The water 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, watch-ing for herons, hawks and other birds hunt-ing in the grassy fields. Take your dog – and please bag any pet waste.

Hike through old growth in the Classic U Forest. Marvel at rare monarchs of the forest – centuries-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 land-scape should pick up a copy of “Getting to the Water’s Edge on Whidbey and Camano Islands,” available for $15 at local book-stores and shops.

The book, written by local residents with extensive knowledge of the Island, 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 illus-trated book that explores the island through the eyes of locals. The book is available at a variety of locations around Whidbey Island. Reach Dan at whidbeywriter.com.

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Whidbey waters are filled with fascinating creatures such as this chalk-lined Nudibranch. Mary Jo Adams photo.

10 The Whidbey Examiner 2012-13 Coupeville & Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide

Central Whidbey offers a rich and varied art experienceExplore the Arts Scene

It’s no wonder that Central Whid-bey is home to so many artists.

Endless inspirations are found in Central Whidbey’s bucolic landscapes of open prairie, bluffs, trails and beaches. Soar-ing eagles draw the eye up-ward to an ever-changing sky.

On the clearest days, the light illuminates the nuances of the spectacular island scenery. When clouds blow in, they move fast, shape-shifting and sending shad-ows 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 art-ists and craftspeople are found in Coupe-ville, Greenbank and along Hwy. 20 at the head of Penn Cove.

Artist-owned and cooperative galler-ies, art shows and workshops are op-portunities for visi-tors to converse with local artists about their work, inspira-tion and techniques.

Beginning and professional artists alike learn from top working artists in fiber arts, mixed media, painting and photography.

The Pacific Northwest Art School offers more than 100 workshops each year, ensuring there’s a class for the artist who wants to learn Japanese braiding to the one who wants to learn how to paint boats and marinescapes.

The art school pairs students with some of the nation’s best artists, bringing 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. Established as the Coupeville Arts Center in 1986, today the school attracts both students and professional artists seeking a creative and beautiful atmosphere.

Many local artists also offer classes and work-shops at their own studios.

Whidbey Island is home to two annual self-guid-ed tours of artists’ studios, one in the spring and one in the fall. The Spring Studio Tour and Sum-mer Studio Tour set for Aug. 24-26 feature artists in Central Whidbey and the north end of the Island.

The islandwide Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour, set for Oct. 6 and 7 this year, offers an inti-mate glimpse into the artists’ world. There is no better way to see and appreciate creation than at the point of inspiration.

The two-day tour offers an intimate look into the private working spaces of nearly 100 artists in 45 studios across the island. Guests can meet local art-ists and purchase their work directly from them in the environment where it was created.

These tours also enable collectors to browse works before they’re shipped to a gallery or sold else-where. Many vaca-tioners return home with a truly original souvenir.

In addition to the large, organized tours, many of our local artists offer classes and work-shops 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. Whid-bey 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

Save The DaTe

JuNe 23 & 24 – Visual Voices: An Art Show and benefit for the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation, Coupeville Recreation Hall. A juried art event featuring top regional artists. whidbeyartshows.com

Aug. 5 & 12 – Whidbey Island Music Festival, Greenbank Farm and St. Augustine’s Church in Freeland. Performances by Tekla Cunningham, violin; Catherine Webster, soprano, Janet See, flute; Laurie Wells, viola and more. whidbeyislandmusicfestival.org.

Aug. 11–12 – Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, historic downtown Coupeville. Artists and craftspeople fill the streets for this community celebration, held annually since 1964. The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will visit Coupeville Wharf and stage an exciting battle sail on Penn Cove. coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org. 360-678-5116.

Aug. 24–26 – Summer Art Studio Tour, Greenbank to Deception Pass. More than 25 artists open their art studios to the public. whidbeyworkingartists.com.

oct. 4 – Plein Air Photography Art Show & Sale, Pacific NorthWest Art School, Coupeville. Free. pacificnorthwestartschool.org. 360-678-3396.

oct. 6 & 7 – Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. Some 100 working artists and craftspeople welcome visitors into their studios. islandartscouncil.org. 360-678-3396.

A budding artist tries her hand

at throwing a pot during the Coupeville Arts

Festival in August.

Fans enjoy live music during the annual Loganberry Festival at Greenbank Farm in July.


annual show and sale in November.In Langley on the south end of Whidbey

Island, the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts presents a full schedule of theater, con-certs, dance, readings, movies and special events, such as Youth in Arts.

No matter what the season, visitors step-ping into historic Central Whidbey Island will be surrounded by a rich and varied art experience.

Dive in and enjoy!

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A local artist shows his technique during an art show at Greenbank Farm.

Many of the local artists offer classes and workshops at their

studios at various times throughout the year.


Fly a kite, build a beach fort, meet a woolly mammoth A

Central Whidbey offers lots of things for kids to see and do.

In downtown Coupe-ville, kids can walk out on Coupeville Wharf and check out the dozens of colorful starfish hang-ing out underneath the pier. In the historic building at the end of the Wharf, they can visit Rosie, Rudy and Samson – 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 offers an underwater video camera through which you can see the starfish and other sea life thriving beneath the wharf. And when you visit the pier when the tide is at its lowest, it’s easy to spot reefs of mus-sels, quirky tangles of brightly colored starfish and squirting clams. Families with older children may enjoy renting a couple of kayaks from the Harbor Store at the end of the wharf for a short paddle on the protected waters of Penn Cove.

At the Island County Histori-cal Museum, you can see the largest collection of woolly mam-moth artifacts in the Puget Sound region, most of which were found in glacial depos-its on Whidbey Island. Kids are especially impressed by the big tusks and teeth. The mu-seum 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.

During Penn Cove MusselFest on the first weekend of March, the museum offers kids a chance to make unique mussel souvenirs and mermaid decorations. And each October, the

museum hosts Mammoth Day, an annual cel-ebration of the island’s best-known prehistoric resident. By digging for and identifying different characteristics of real mammoth bones, kids are transformed into real, certified amateur paleon-tologists. Fun, hands-on activities include mak-ing and playing “prehistoric” musical instru-ments 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.

Looking for a place for the kids to burn off some excess energy? A swingset and jungle gym can be found at Coupeville’s Town Park, just a short walk up Coveland Street from downtown Coupeville.

At Greenbank Farm, kids can watch ducks and geese on the pond next to the big red barn or run through the fields where the farm’s signature lo-ganberries once grew. Bring a handful of carrots or an apple to feed to the friendly ponies that live in one of the fields on the hill.

On Sundays from spring through fall, the farm hosts a farmers market with fresh produce and local crafts, and the annual Loganberry Festival in July always features face painting, kids’ games and an old-fashioned hayride.

In October, the Coupeville Farmers Market hosts its annual Har-vestFest, fea-turing a giant-pumpkin con-test, silly scare-crows, wild and crazy relay races and fun for all ages. Be sure to wander through town to check out the scarecrow com-petition!

Kids also love to ex-

plore the beach at Ebey’s Landing, just south of Coupeville. Walk for miles along a pristine shoreline, looking for agates among the rocks on the beach and keeping an eye out for whales, eagles, sea lions, container ships, cruise ships, tugboats – and even an occasional submarine!

Fort Casey State Park, which is close to the Key-stone ferry dock, is a great place to fly a kite, ex-

Great Place for Family Fun

Save The DaTe

JulY 21–22 – Loganberry Festival, Greenbank Farm. A free annual wine-tasting, food, music and art extravaganza with activities for kids and a lip-smacking loganberry pie-eating contest. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

Aug. 11 – Whidbey Island Highland Games, Greenbank Farm. Bring the kids and check out the Whidbey Island Celtic Society’s annual celebration of all things Scottish. Enjoy pipe bands, pipers, dancers and athletic events along with sheepdog demonstrations and plenty of food and fun. wihg.org. 360-331-5437.

Sept. 15 – Mammoth Day, Island County Historical Museum, Coupeville. Learn about the days when mammoths roamed the earth, and learn about fossils found right here on Whidbey Island. Activities for kids of all ages. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.

Sept. 22 & 23 – Whidbey Island Kite Festival. Camp Casey Conference Center, Coupeville. Colorful kites fill the sky in the parade grounds at historic Camp Casey, with kite making, ground and air displays, competitions and children’s activities set against the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and Admiralty Inlet. whidbeykites.org. 360-678-9358.

Children enjoy the craft tent at

the Coupeville Arts Festival in August.

Colorful spinnakers line up in Penn Cove during Whidbey Island Race Week in July.


Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce 32630 SR 20Oak Harbor, WA 98277OakHarborChamber.com(360) 675-3535

Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce905 NW Alexander StreetCoupeville, WA 98239CentralWhidbeyChamber.com(360) 678-5434

Freeland, WA 98249

Greater Freeland Chamber of Commerce 5575 Harbor Avenue, #101

Freeland-WA.org(360) 331-1980

Langley Chamber of Commerce 208 Anthes AvenueLangley, WA 98260VisitLangley.com(360) 221-6765

Clinton Chamber of Commerce

9289 Highway 525, Clinton, WA 98236 ClintonChamberofCommerce.org(360) 341-3929

Camano Island Chamber of CommerceSR 532 & North Camano Dr.Camano Island, WA 98282CamanoIsland.org(360) 629-7136

Visitor Information Centers:For in-person help and detailed information, call or stop by one of the many visitor centers located throughout the islands.

The Shortest Distance to Far Away ®

WhidbeyCamanoIslands.com

plore the historic Admiralty Head lighthouse and play hide-and-seek in the old fort struc-tures where soldiers once kept a lookout for invading foreign forces that never came.

At Seattle Pacific University’s 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. The broad, grassy field where Army soldiers long ago practiced military drills is now host to the annual Whidbey Island Kite Festival, held each September.

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, along with the lat-est movies starting at dusk.

Kapaws Iskreme21 Front Street • Coupeville11:30-5:30 • 7 Days a Week!

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Local families carry on our tradition of small-scale agricultureCelebrate Our Wonderful Farms

A successful farmer on Whidbey Island has al-ways been one who is optimistic, entrepreneurial and able to adapt to changing market

conditions and climate.In the 160-plus 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 Whid-

bey Island carry a deep history of the evo-lution 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 eventually produced a wheat crop that broke the record for the highest yield per acre in the entire United States.

Early farms raised cattle, pro-duced milk, grew hay, wheat, rye and oats as well as peas and potatoes. While the first farms were subsistence operations, Central Whidbey farmers went on to provide supplies for pass-ing sailing ships and, later, for those headed north to seek their fortunes in Alaska.

Between the 1880s and 1920s, Chinese tenant farmers were known for their impres-sive 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 production, and the early 1900s brought the first dairy creamery. Perfect climate conditions and the ability to grow top-quality forage crops kept dairies a mainstay of farming until the late 1990s, but changing mar-ket conditions and other factors led to the closure of the last dairy farm in 2007. Today, the Holstein

heifers you see at local farms are being raised for farms elsewhere.

The Central Whidbey agricultural scene cur-rently includes cattle, sheep, llamas, goats, veg-etable seed crops, hay, squash, lavender, pota-toes, organic fruits and vegetables, flowers and even shellfish.

Families can get an up-close look at our work-ing farms during the Whidbey Island Farm Tour, held this year during the weekend of Sept. 15 and 16. It’s a chance to visit with local farmers, purchase locally grown food, fiber and farm-related products, and soak up the friendly rural character of our beautiful island.

Some of the most scenic farmland is protected as part of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Re-serve, which encompasses the fertile prairie sur-rounding Coupeville. Among the most profitable crops grown by Central Whidbey farmers today are vegetable seeds such as beet and cabbage. Seeds produced on Whidbey are distributed by multinational seed companies and may be planted as food crops all over the world.

Central Whidbey also is home to several farms that specialize in organic pro-duce. Some sell their fruits and vegetables through communi-ty-supported agriculture, at local farmers markets or direct to local restaurants that like to “buy local.” Berries are an im-portant crop, with strawber-ries available in May and June at Bell’s Farm on West Beach Road and raspberries avail-able at Milepost 19 Farm and several other farms in July.

During the growing season, local produce is available each Saturday at the Coupeville Farmers Market, located in the field behind the library, just two blocks south of the historic district and Coupeville Wharf.

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 gifts, ice cream and other treats made with lavender essential oil.

Whidbey Island is home to a few more unusual agricultural operations as well, including the largest

Save The DaTe

Aug. 16–19 – 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. 15 & 16 – 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. 13 – HarvestFest, Coupeville Farmers Market. Celebrate the end of the market season with fall produce, food, art, music, a giant pumpkin contest, wild and wacky relay races and more. coupevillefarmersmarket.com.

Nov. 9 & 10 – Ebey’s Forever Conference and Community Celebration. Bring the family for hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops, a barn dance and the biggest community potluck ever. nps.gov/ebla. 360-678-6084.

Nov. 10 & 11 – Fall Wine Tour. Local wineries and Greenbank Farm host tastings of local wines. whidbeyislandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.

Children enjoy an autumn visit to a pumpkin patch in

Ebey’s Prairie.

Fresh produce awaits customers at the Coupeville Farmers Market, held each

Saturday from April to October.


mussel farm in the nation. Driving along scenic Madrona Way just west of Coupeville, you can see floats bobbing on the waves of Penn Cove, where the workers of Penn Cove Shellfish grow mussels from “seed.”

Penn Cove mussels have emerged as one of Central Whidbey’s best-known farm prod-ucts, and many local restaurants feature the small, shiny black shellfish on their menus. The mussels are delivered fresh daily to res-taurants all over the region, including some of the finest restaurants in Seattle.

The Central Whidbey farm scene also in-cludes a project aimed at encouraging na-tive prairie plants that might otherwise dis-appear as open land is developed or used for more traditional farm production. At Pa-cific Rim Institute for Environmental Stew-ardship just southeast of Coupeville, volun-teers save seeds from about 20 endangered 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, and Pacific Rim welcomes visitors who enjoy roaming its trails, taking in the prairie landscape and watching the eagles, hawks and other rap-tors that hunt for lunch in the broad, open meadows. To get there, follow Hwy. 20 south from Coupeville, and turn left at Park-er Road. The entrance is on the right. Stop in at the office to ask directions to the trails.

While you’re there, you might even see a few pheasants on the Pacific Rim property; the land once housed a state-owned game farm that raised the birds to be released at hunting locations around Washington. To-day, Pacific Rim keeps a few of the colorful creatures as a way of preserving a link to the historical use of the land.

At Greenbank Farm, a gorgeous sweep of land that started out as a dairy and later became the largest loganberry farm in the country, visitors can roam trails up into the rolling fields for a spectacular view of the sparkling waters and distant mountains that surround Whidbey Island. The upper trails offer a place to let your dog run off-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. And in the lower fields, a training program provides aspiring farmers with an opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture and the business of farming.

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Whidbey Island Lavender . . .A Unique Experience

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Need iNformatioN?Contact the Central Whidbey Chamber of

Commerce Visitor Center at 905 NW Alexander Street

in the heart of Coupeville’s historic district. www.centralwhidbeychamber.com

[email protected] • 360-678-5434 •

CheCk iN with the loCals To find out about local events and

activities, use your smartphone to click on the QR code above, which takes you

directly to the mobile site of The Whidbey Examiner, Whidbey Island’s only locally owned, independent newspaper. Find the paper online at whidbeyexaminer.com. To subscribe, call 360-678-8060.

WhidbeyIsland

WhidbeyIsland

Greenbank Farm

Admiralty Head Lighthouse

Visitor Information

Towns & cities

Boat & Fuel

Meerkerk Gardens

Dog Parks

PARKS1. Deception Pass

2. Libbey Beach

3. Fort Ebey

4. Fort Casey

5. South Whidbey / Classic U Forest

MAP LEGEND

Lavender Wind Farm

KeystoneCaFé

CooK onCLay

GreenbanK store & GriLLe

taste For Wine

HoLmes HarborCeLLars

spoiLed doG

Winery

WHidbey isLand Winery

WhidbeyExaminer.com


Connect with Island history amid pastoral beautyGreenbank Farm

Greenbank Farm is nestled amid 522 acres of rolling fields, with quiet forest and sparkling wetlands beckoning visitors who want to relax and enjoy Whidbey’s laid-back atmosphere.

A former dairy farm that more recently was home to the largest loganberry farm in the world, Greenbank Farm was threatened with develop-ment in the mid-1990s, when owner Chateau Ste.

Michelle made plans for a community with 700 homes. Local residents ral-lied to the rescue, and the farm was preserved as public property that includes conservation easements that protect it from development. The landmark farm is now host to working fields, a demonstra-tion garden maintained by the Washington State University

Master Gardeners, a wildlife ref-uge, a cultural and community center and a

place to kick back and relax.The barn and adjacent buildings that house

unique shops, art galleries and a restaurant are owned and operated by the Port of Coupeville. A stop at the farm’s wine-tasting room is a dis-tinctly Northwest experience where visitors can explore fine wines in a casual and decidedly unstuffy atmosphere. And if you’re looking for picnic supplies, be sure to stop in at Greenbank

Cheese to choose from a wide variety of foods that includes a number of locally made items.

The farm is located at the narrowest part of Whidbey Island, and a short walk from the barns and shops to the top of the ridge running pro-vides a 180-degree panorama that features the snow-capped Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the west, Saratoga Passage and the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range to the east, and a view across Holmes Harbor to Mount Rainier toward the south. The upper trails offer a place to let your dog run off-leash.

In the lower fields, a training program pro-vides aspiring farmers with an opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture and the busi-ness of farming.

Greenbank Farm still features rows of vines laden in late summer with the uniquely sweet, tart berries. The taste of loganberries evokes the essence of childhood summers, with memories of juice-stained fingers and pies cooling on the win-dowsill. For a taste of loganberry pie during your visit to the farm, stop in at Whidbey Pies Café.

Greenbank Farm also is home to a solar P-Patch, with solar panels installed by a local alter-native-energy business, Whidbey Sun and Wind. A kiosk at the farm provides information about this community solar demonstration project.

And throughout the year, Greenbank Farm

Harness the Power of the Sun & Wind!Whidbey Sun & Wind is proud to help our

neighbors and community utilize our abundant renewable energy resources.

SOLAR ELECTRIC • SOLAR WATER HEATING • WIND POWER • MICRO-HYDRO • COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIALWhidbey Sun & Wind • Purveyors of Positive Energy • 360-678-7131 • www.whidbeysunwind.com

The Whidbey Sun & Wind team at the Greenbank Community Solar Project.

Save The DaTe!

FirSt FriDAYS at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music and more in the evening on the first Friday of each month. greenbankfarm.com. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

JulY 21–22 – Loganberry Festival, Greenbank Farm. A free annual wine-tasting, food, music and art extravaganza with activities for kids and a lip-smacking loganberry pie-eating contest. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

Nov. 2 & 3 – Uncommon Threads: Whidbey Weavers’ Guild Show and Sale, Greenbank Farm. A community of fiber artists offers unique weaving, spinning, dyeing, basketry, felting and jewelry in the farm’s iconic red barn. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

Nov. 23–Dec. 16 – Holiday Gift Market, weekends at Greenbank Farm. Local artisans create a festive marketplace in the farm’s historic red barn. Be sure to bring the kids for a personal visit with Santa. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

Greenbank Farm is home to a

herd of alpacas.


Wine Shop and Tasting Room“Tasting Daily”

Wines from over 35 Puget Sound boutique wineries and our famous Loganberry Wine!

360-678-7700 / 360-222-3151

Distinctive Art by Island ArtistsFine Art Originals

Cards ~ Prints ~ Gifts artworkswhidbey.com / 360-222-3010

• Hiking • Picnic Area • Gardens • Wildlife • Festivals & Events •

• Sunday Farmers Market • Loganberry Festival July 21 & 22 •• First Fridays Wine & Art Walk 5–8 pm Year Round •

www.greenbankfarm.com

360-222-3474

• Cheese • Crackers •• Meats • Mustards •

Loganberry Jam • Chocolate •• Licorice & Local Specialties •

FREE TASTINGS!

765 Wonn Rd., Greenbank on Scenic State Route 525

Edible Works of ArtEspresso • Pies • Quiche • Soups • Salads & Daily

Entrees • Select beers and wines available~Pies to take home ~First Friday Dinners~

360-678-1288

hosts a monthly First Friday on the Farm event that features art, wine, music, snacks and lively conversation.

The farm also hosts several popular an-nual events, including the family-friendly Loganberry Festival in July, the Red Wine and Chocolate Wine Tour and Market in February, and a holiday market – com-plete with caroling and a tree-lighting cel-ebration and visits with Santa – during the Christmas season.

The Greenbank Farm also has become a popular location for weddings, receptions and other celebrations, with ample park-ing for guests and a courtyard and gardens providing scenic surroundings for the his-toric, century-old barn that provides a cen-ter for events.

360-678-2120 •3475 Christie Road, Greenbank, WA

YOGA CLASSES

RETREATS

BED & BREAKFAST

THE YOGA LODGEON

WHIDBEY ISLAND

www.yogalodge.com

Bagpipers perform during the annual Whidbey Island Highland Games at Greenbank Farm.


Penn Cove mussels, lavender treats, local wines and moreEat Like a Local

Central Whidbey offers some of the richest farmland in the world. Early settlers saw the

potential for abundant crops here, noting the gentle marine climate, rich loam, and just the right amount of rainfall. Thanks to efforts by lo-cal preservationists, Ebey’s Land-ing National Historical Reserve is a protected prairie and farmland at the heart of the Island.

Today, Central Whidbey is dotted with small farms, where a new generation cultivates a variety of crops,

and raises chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, alpacas, and cattle.

While many Islanders grow their own veggies or participate in Community Supported Agri-culture Programs (CSAs), visitors can enjoy the bounty from local farms at Central Whidbey’s two weekend farmers markets, at farm stands in summer, and year ’round at local restaurants.

Spring brings the return of a happy, healthy Whidbey Island tradition – weekend farmers markets – offering fresh, locally-grown produce, baked goods, preserves and specialty food items, plants, flowers, handcrafted soaps and lotions, arts, crafts, chef’s demonstrations and music.

The Coupeville Farmers Market, held on Saturdays in the Coupeville Community Green at 8th and Alexander, opens in early April and runs until mid-October.

In operation since 1979, it’s the second-oldest continually operating farmers market in Washington and its motto is “homemade, home-grown, and handmade.” Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays throughout the season.

From spring to fall, as the market gets under way, you’ll see food enthusiasts and local chefs scouting out fresh foods and planning menus based on what they find.

Spring market days feature bedding plants, fresh greens, rhubarb, hot food and a chance to talk to local growers.

Visitors can plan a sumptuous picnic from the bounty to be found at the market, choosing the best produce from local, organic farms, berries, artisan cheeses, homemade bread, and special-ty jams and preserves.

At harvest time, Coupeville Farmers Market glows with fall colors – plump pumpkins, knobby giant squashes, rosy apples, and smiling scare-crows. In 2012, the annual HarvestFest on Oct. 13 marks the end of the 2012 season for the pop-ular market with music, games, a giant pumpkin contest, and wild-and-wacky relay races.

At the markets, look for another specialty unique to Whidbey Island – Rockwell beans. The beans are named for Elisha Rockwell, who grew them here around the turn of the last century,

Rockwell beans are grown today by third-generation Island farmer Georgie Smith. Smith, who runs Willowood Farm on Ebey’s Prairie, grows produce for local farmers markets and for restaurants.

The white bean with cranberry mottling was held in such high regard by the farm wives of Ebey’s Prairie that many of them would save beans from the garden each year to plant in their kitchen gardens come spring.

You’ll find this bean on the menu at some local res-taurants, and you can buy a bag of dry beans at the market to use in your own recipes.

At Greenbank Farm, stroll the trails for spectacular views of both Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountains and Admiralty Inlet and the Olympics.

Greenbank Farm is also home to a wine shop and tasting room that carries local wines, includ-ing Whidbey Island Vineyards & Winery, Green-bank Cellars, Comforts of Whidbey, Blooms on Whidbey, and Holmes Harbor Cellars. The signa-ture Greenbank Farm private label Loganberry wine and the unique Loganberry Dessert wine are best sellers.

Wine tastings are offered daily, and don’t miss the monthly First Fridays at the Farm, when

Save The DaTe!

MAY 19 & 20 – Savor Spring Wine Tour, local wineries and Greenbank Farm. whidbeyislandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.

JuNe 30 – 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.

Feb. 9-10 & 16-18, 2013 – Red Wine & Chocolate, Local wineries and Greenbank Farm. Celebrate the flavors of red wine and handcrafted chocolates at this romantic Valentine’s Day celebration. whidbeyislandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.

MArch 2 & 3, 2013 – Penn Cove MusselFest, Coupeville. Celebrate Penn Cove’s signature shellfish with chowder tasting, a mussel-eating contest and more. thepenncovemusselfestival.com. 360-678-5434.

Mark Laska of Ciao prepares vegetables grown locally on Whidbey Island.

Mussels are Penn Cove’s

signature shellfish.


the wine shop highlights local wines and the Farm’s art galleries entice visitors with wines, cheeses and art from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Loganberry Festival held each yea-rin July2 is the Farm’s gift to the community, with live entertainment, food and artisan vendors – and all the loganberry pie you can eat.

Once the biggest loganberry farm in the world, Greenbank Farm still grows the sweet, tart berries, and visitors can enjoy freshly baked loganberry pies among other delicacies at Whidbey Pies Cafe. The café is popular with locals and visitors and is open daily, year-round.

Greenbank Cheese & Specialties, open dai-ly, is a great place to stop for picnic supplies.

The cheese shop at Greenbank Farm of-fers samples of local artisan and award-winning cheeses as well as unique mari-nades and dipping sauces, many made in the Northwest.

Locals wait all year for sweet, juicy straw-berries from Bell’s Farm. The berries can be found at farmers markets from mid-June to mid-July, or arrange for u-pick/orders at the farm on West Beach road north of Coupeville. After strawberry season fades, raspberries become available. Milepost 19 Farm on Hwy. 20 southeast of Coupeville offers fresh and frozen berries as well as preserves.

Lavender Wind Farm on Darst Road, off West Beach Road northwest of Coupeville, offers a variety of foods from mustards and jams to scone and cookie mixes, all made with lavender produced right there on the farm. The gift shop is open 7 days a week.

At Sherman’s Pioneer Farm just outside

Coupeville, Dale and Liz Sherman grow the only commercial crop of sugar Hubbard squash in the country. Edwin Sherman planted the first sugar Hubbard crops on Whidbey Island during the Depression. Each sugar Hubbard weighs about 20 pounds, keeps well, and is wonderful in pies and many other recipes

Sherman Farm is open weekends in Oc-tober. Take a trolley ride out to the Pumpkin Patch, buy a fresh-made pie, check out the farm animals and let the kids run through the hay maze.

Coupeville also boasts Penn Cove Shell-fish, the oldest and largest mussel farm in America. Penn Cove’s unique hydrological and geographic features make it the most prolific mussel growing area in Washington. Look for the shellfish farm’s 60-foot, custom mussel-harvesting barges, next to the rafts in Penn Cove west of Coupeville.

Coupeville’s signature shellfish have won top honors at international taste-test com-petitions for their sweet flavor and fabulous texture, and are annually the star of Penn Cove MusselFest in March. MusselFest is also a great chance to learn about sustain-able sea farming methods used to grow and distribute mussels, oysters and clams.

Fresh Penn Cove mussels, Manila clams and 27 varieties of Pacific oysters are avail-able in Coupeville at Prairie Center Red Apple Market, 408 South Main St..

The annual Whidbey Island Farm Tour will be held the weekend of Sept. 15-16. The family-friendly free tour offers visitors a chance to meet local farmers, buy farm products, and see how small farms work to provide food for our tables. Bon appetit!

Dinner Th-Sun • Seasonal Hours901 Grace Street • Coupeville • 360.678.0683

www.oystercatcherwhidbey.com

Simply Good Food

Charming and intimate seaside dining fresh from the prairie.

Waterfront Dining at its Best!

360-682-255120 NW Front Street • Coupevillefrontstreetgrillcoupeville.com

Phở • Mussels • Stir Frys • SeafoodFish & Chips • Sandwiches

Enjoy the best view in town from the historic Coupeville Wharf!

26 Front St., Coupeville, 360-678-4924

On the Wharf!

wine shop &tasting room

Specializing in Washington Wines

23 Front Street, #5 • Coupeville360-632-2227 • VailWineShop.com

a comfortable place to experience wine . . .

Your Guideto the Best of

Central Whidbey

Visitor Center905 NW Alexander, Coupeville • 360.678.5434

centralwhidbeychamber.com


More than 30 years ago, local residents and committed citizens came together to protect Ebey’s Prairie from development. Their efforts made history, helping to establish our nation’s f i r s t historical reserve. The endur-

ing pioneer spirit and vision continues to be a part of our working rural community today.

Established in 1978, the 17,400-acre Reserve pre-serves and protects a rural community and an un-broken historical record

of Pacific Northwest history, from 19th century exploration and settlement to the

21st century. The landscape is a bucolic tapestry of fields, farmhouses and wooded hills that re-flects the pattern 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 land-scape.

A great place to begin your visit to the Reserve is the Central Whidbey Chamber of Com-merce visitor Center at 905 NW Alexan-der St. in downtown Coupeville, where a large wall display presents the history of the area encompassed by the Reserve and a map to help you find your way around.

The visitor center also has brochures on the Reserve, including one on local farms that fea-tures a map and guide to heritage barns.

On the ridge overlooking Ebey’s Prairie, the historic Jacob Ebey House hosts a seasonal visi-tor contact station. The house, which was built in the 1860s, will soon also host a display illustrat-ing 19th-century pioneer life.

Within the Reserve is one of the largest con-

centrations of historic architecture in the state, from pioneer blockhouses and Victorian homes to historic 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 farm-ing 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 Sys-tem and is protected from development, it is by no means a static museum of the past. Within its borders are the thriving small town of Coupe-ville, neighborhoods tucked away in the trees, and productive farmland still being worked by descendants of some of the families who first es-tablished homesteads in the prairie landscape.

In 2012, the Reserve celebrates 34 years of protecting the unique historical and cultural landscape of Ebey’s Prairie. As Whidbey Island’s population continues to grow, awareness of the

value of protecting this landscape is key to its continued preservation.

D e v e l o p m e nt rights are pur-chased from willing landowners who want to see their land preserved as part of the prairie’s unbroken historical record, and sus-tainable 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.

To encourage preservation efforts, the Re-serve hosts the annual Preservation Field School, which provides people with a hands-on opportu-nity to help preserve nationally significant his-toric structures for future generations. Past proj-ects include the landmark wooden water tower at the historic Kineth Farm on Smith Prairie as well as the historic Ferry House, which is located on the bluff just above Ebey’s Landing.

Explore the unbroken historical tradition of Ebey’s Reserve

Save The DaTe

MAY 19 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville waterfront. Free family festival with Northwest tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, cultural demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, grilled salmon and other native and Northwest foods and children’s activities. Enjoy the Native Spirit Art Show at the Coupeville Recreation Hall. penncovewaterfestival.com. 360-678-5434.

Sept. 15 & 16 – 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. 360-678-5434.

Nov. 9 & 10 – Ebey’s Forever Conference and Community Celebration, Coupeville. Bring the family for hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops, a barn dance and the biggest community potluck ever. nps.gov/ebla. 360-678-6084.

bey’s PrairieE

Built in the 1860s, the historic Jacob Ebey House now houses a seasonal visitor contact station on the ridge overlooking Ebey’s Prairie.

Built in 1860, the historic Ferry House

once served travelers headed to and from

Port Townsend.


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

Healthy Food for Your Island Paradise

On the Waterfront 12 Front Street • Coupeville

(360) 682-5270www.eaglessonghealth.com

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• C h o c o l a t e • I c e C r e a m • W i n e • S u p p l e m e n t s •

• B o o k s f o r M i n d B o d y S p i r i t • R a w F o o d •

Freeland | 5531 Freeland Ave | 360 / 331-6006

Langley | 223 Second St | 360 / 221-8898

Windermere Real Estate / South Whidbey

Coupeville | 5 South Main St | 360 / 678-5858

Oak Harbor | 32785 SR 20. Ste 4 | 360 / 675-5953

Winderemere Real Estate / Whidbey Island

windermerewhidbey.com

Find Yourself on Whidbey Island

Family Dermatology CoMedical Dermatology

General Dermatology SurgeryMohs Surgery

Cosmetic Dermatology

205 South Main St., Bldg B • Coupeville, WA 360.682.5024 / 360.682.5749 (fax)

www.FamilyDermCo.com


The weather of the Puget Sound region has been described as extraordinary be-cause of its mild, dry sum-

mers and rela-tively warm, wet winter.

But Whid-bey Island is even more e x t r a o r -d i n a r y , thanks to the ef-

fects of the “rain shadow” 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 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 totals de-crease to about 32 inches at Bayview, 26 inches at Free-land and Green-bank, and to about 21 inches at Coupeville and Oak Harbor. At the northern tip of the island, Deception Pass State Park gets a bit more – about 24 inches.

Central Whid-bey is lucky. It’s in the rain shadow “sweet spot,” enjoying one of the driest 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.

Central Whidbey also enjoys dry, sunny sum-mers. 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 also in the entire United States. Planning an outdoor wedding or party? Your best chance of perfect weather is between July 15 and Aug. 15. That’s also when tempera-tures are warmest, with the average high tem-perature at about 72 degrees.

On the other hand, if you are looking for wind and rain, plan to visit around the Thanksgiving 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 exhilarat-ing – as long as you’re dressed for the weather.

The beaches and bluffs of Whidbey Island – particularly the west side – can get some pretty powerful winds, so be prepared with a good windbreaker. Thanks to the wind-chill factor, a 30 mph wind makes the temperature feel about 10 degrees cooler. And you can always head over to the east side of the island, where winds are generally lighter.

C oup e v i l le t e mp e r at ure records since 1895 provide a picture of the overall mild climate – as well as the ex-tremes. In Jan-uary, the aver-age maximum te mp e r at ure is 44 degrees, while the aver-age minimum is 34 degrees. July and August are very close

in temperature with maximums averaging 72 degrees and minimums averaging 50 degrees. The record high temperature is 98 degrees, and the record low is 3 degrees.

Whether you spend a day on the island, an extended vacation, or the rest of your life, you’ll enjoy Central Whidbey’s climate bonanza.

–George Haglund

Great weather makes outdoor adventures fun

Save The DaTe

MAY 19 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville waterfront. Free family festival with Northwest tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, cultural demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, grilled salmon and other native and Northwest foods and children’s activities. Enjoy the Native Spirit Art Show at the Coupeville Recreation Hall. penncovewaterfestival.com. 360-678-5434.

Nov. 9 & 10 – Ebey’s Forever Conference and Community Celebration, Coupeville. Bring the family for hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops, a barn dance and the biggest community potluck ever. nps.gov/ebla. 360-678-6084.

Nov. 3, 2012–JAN. 4, 2013 – Victorian Holiday Display, Island County Historical Museum, Coupeville. The museum brings Central Whidbey’s history alive with a Victorian Christmas parlor exhibit. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.

Built in 1861 and rebuilt in 1903, Admiralty Head

Lighthouse beckons visitors to explore.

A rainbow lights up Penn Cove. Photo by Robert Pelant.

evel in our Rain ShadowR


408 S. Main St. • Coupeville • 678-5611 • www.pcredapple.comMon-Sat 7 am - 9:30 pm • Sun & holidays 8 am - 9 pm

Create the Perfect Picnic

PRAIRIE CENTER

• Rotisserie Chicken• Fresh Fruits & Veggies• Ready-to-Eat Sandwiches & Salads• Cheeses & Breads• Wine & Beer• Snacks• Desserts

• Maps • Gas• Video Rental• Fishing Licenses• Local Products• Washington Parks Discover Pass

Please join us ~ Friday, August 3, 2012 - Our Annual Lobster, Seafood & Produce Sale

• Fishing Licenses• Local Products• Washington Parks Discover Pass

Award WinningArtisan Wines

Open 11am–5pm•Summer•Wed-Sun/Winter•Fri-Sun(360) 331-3544 • 4591 Honeymoon Bay Rd

holmesharborcellars.com

Noted as:

the Best Wines & Wine experience on Whidbey

‘08 Cab Sauv Gold MedalSan Francisco Int’l Awards

‘08 Petit Verdot Double GoldSeattle Wine Awards

www.whidbeyislandwinery.com

Tasting RoomOpen

11-5pmSummer

Closed Tues.Winter

Closed Mon. & Tues.

360-221-20405237 Langley Rd.

Langley, WA

TwentyYearsofAward-WinningExcellence&InnovationInWinemaking

Tasting RoomOpen

11-5pmSummer

Closed Tues.

TwentyYearsofAward-Winning

Extraordinary Hand-Crafted Pinot Noir from the Heart of Puget Sound

Visit us at:5881 Maxwelton Rd, Langley

(360) 661-6226For hours and upcoming farm events visit:

www.spoileddogwinery.com

Extraordinary Hand-Crafted Pinot Noir


Across from the Keystone FerryCoupeville • 360-678-5396

FISH & CHIPS!Espresso, Ice Cream

& Chowder

From Seattle, Portland & 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 Greenbank Farm. The highway joins with Hwy. 20 just south of Coupe-ville. About eight miles north, a traffic light on Hwy. 20 marks the intersection 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 Mar-ket at 408 S. Main St. and at the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce visitor center at 905 NW Alexander St.

Port Townsend/Coupeville ferry: Advance and same-day reservations are encouraged, but stand-by space is available on every crossing. There is no reservation fee. Full sailings and cancel-lations due to weather and tides can be expected. Reservations are required for vehicles with trailers or RVs weighing

6,000 lbs. to 80,000 lbs. at least 1 day prior to sailing. You must arrive at the terminal at Keystone Harbor at least 30 minutes before your scheduled depar-ture or you will forfeit your reservation.

Making reservations: The Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce visi-tor center at 905 NW Alexander St. in the heart of Coupeville’s historic district can help you make a reservation on the ferry.

Reservations also may be made by phone from 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call Washington State Ferries at 206-464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977 or simply dial 511.

To make a reservation online, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.

WiFi is available at several locations around Coupeville, including at many lodging establishments, at the Coupe-ville library at 788 N.W. Alexander St. in downtown Coupeville, and at Keystone Café, which is right next to the ferry dock at Keystone Harbor.

Mukilteo/Clinton ferry: Expect de-lays during periods of heavy traffic, such as when headed north to the Island on weekday afternoons and evenings, especially on Fridays. When headed south to Mukilteo, expect delays on Sun-day afternoons and evenings. No reser-vations are available for this route.

Whidbey Island also is accessible from the I-5 corridor via Hwy. 20 and 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 905 NW Alexander St. in Coupeville’s historic firehouse in the heart of the his-toric district, and online at www.central-whidbeychamber.com. For information, call 360-678-5434, or e-mail [email protected].

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2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTSSaturDayS through the second weekend in Octo-ber – Coupeville Farmers Market. Fresh produce, herbs, flowers, crafts, hot foods and baked goods. SunDayS through the last weekend in September – Sunday Market, Greenbank Farm. Organic produce, honey, food and arts and crafts of all kinds. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7710.april 14 – Meerkerk Magic, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Enjoy the garden in peak bloom and shop for rhododendrons in the garden center. Chil-dren of all ages enjoy making forest fairies from wood-land materials. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.april 28 – Evening of Wine and Rhodies, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Tours, wine tasting and a silent auction in the gardens. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.May 13 – Mother’s Day Concert, Meerkerk Rhodo-dendron Gardens, Greenbank. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.May 19 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville waterfront. Free family festival with Northwest tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, cultural demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, grilled salmon and other native and Northwest foods and children’s activities. Enjoy the Native Spirit Art Show at the Coupeville Recre-ation Hall. penncovewaterfestival.com. 360-678-5434.May 19 & 20 – Savor Spring Wine Tour. Local winer-ies and Greenbank Farm host tastings of local wines. whidbeyislandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.May 26 – Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance Cer-emony, historic downtown Coupeville. A quintessentially small-town parade honoring America’s veterans with music, food and celebration. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.

May 26 – Late Night Shopping, historic downtown Coupeville. Enjoy refreshments as you wander the galler-ies and shops late into the evening. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.June 1 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.June 23 & 24 – Visual Voices: An Art Show and benefit for the Whidbey Gen-eral Hospital Foundation, Coupeville Recreation Hall. A juried art event fea-turing top regional artists. whidbeyartshows.com June 30 – Strawberry Social, Coupe-ville 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. June 30 & July 1 – World’s Biggest Garage Sale, Coupeville Elementary School. Get there early for the adrenaline rush when the starting gun blasts. coupevillelions.org. 360-678-4105. July 6 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm.

Wine and cheese tasting, art, music and more. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.July 15–20 – Whidbey Island Race Week. Whether you’re a sailor or you just enjoy watching the action from the Coupeville Wharf, you’ll enjoy these annual sailboat races from Oak Harbor to Coupeville on the scenic waters of Penn Cove. whidbeyislandraceweek.com.July 21 – Summer Swing Dance, Crockett Barn, Coupeville. Enjoy music from the seven-piece Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band. Sponsored by Concerts on the Cove. concertsonthecove.org. 360-678-6821.July 21–22 – Loganberry Festival, Greenbank Farm. A

free annual wine-tasting, food, music and art extravagan-za with activities for kids and a lip-smacking loganberry pie-eating contest. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.aug. 3 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music and more. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.aug. 5 & 12 – Whidbey Island Music Festival, Green-bank Farm and St. Augustine’s in Freeland. Performances

by Tekla Cunningham, violin; Catherine Webster, soprano, Janet See, flute; Laurie Wells, viola and more. whidbeyislandmusicfestival.org.aug. 11 & 12 – Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival,

historic downtown Coupeville. Artists and craftspeo-ple fill the streets for this community celebration, held

annually since 1964. The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will visit Coupeville Wharf and stage an exciting battle sail on Penn Cove. coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org. 360-678-5116.aug. 11 – Whidbey Island Highland Games, Green-bank Farm. Bring the kids and check out the Whidbey Island Celtic Society’s annual celebration of all things Scottish. Enjoy pipe bands, pipers, dancers and athletic events along with sheepdog demonstrations and plenty of food and fun. wihg.org. 360-331-5437.aug. 16–19 – 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.aug. 24–26 – Summer Art Studio Tour, Greenbank to Deception Pass. More than 25 artists open their art studios to the public.

whidbeyworkingartists.com. aug. 26 – Wag & Walk, Greenbank Farm. Bring

your four-legged, tail-wagging best friend for an after-noon festival celebrating all things canine. Benefits the Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation.

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2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTSwagnwalk.org. 360-678-7700.Sept. 7 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

Sept. 15 – Mammoth Day, Island County Historical Museum, Coupe-ville. Learn about the days when mammoths roamed the earth, and learn about fossils found right here on Whidbey Island. Activities for kids of all ages. islandhistory.org. 360-678-3310.Sept. 15 & 16 – Whidbey Island Farm Tour. Free, self-guided tour of working farms all over beautiful Whid-bey Island featuring locally grown food and products, farm animals and a tour of the largest mussel farm in the United States. whidbeyfarmtour.com.Sept. 16 – Community Concert & Salmon Barbecue, Coupeville Town Park, Coupeville. Free outdoor concert sponsored by Concerts on the Cove; barbecued salmon served by the Coupeville Lions Club. concertsonthecove.org. 360-678-6821.Sept. 22 & 23 – Whidbey Island Kite Festival. Camp Casey Conference Center, Coupeville. Colorful kites fill the sky in the parade grounds at historic Camp Casey, with kite making, ground and air displays, competitions and children’s activities set against the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and Admiralty Inlet. whidbeykites.org. 360-678-9358.OctOber – Scarecrow Corridor, Coupeville. Vote for your favorite scarecrow on display all month in front of homes and businesses throughout historic Coupeville. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.Oct. 4 – Plein Air Photography Art Show & Sale, Pacific NorthWest Art School, Coupeville. Free. pacificnorthwestartschool.org. 360-678-3396.

Oct. 6 & 7 – Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. Some 100 working artists and craftspeople welcome visitors into their studios. islandartscouncil.org. 360-678-3396.Oct. 6 & 7 – Fall Plant Sale, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Buy all sorts of lovely rhododen-

drons and more. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.Oct. 13 – HarvestFest, Coupeville Farmers Market. Celebrate the end of the market season with fall

produce, food, art, music, a giant pumpkin contest, wild and wacky relay races and more.

coupevillefarmersmarket.com.Oct. 27 – Coupeville Halloween Torchlight Parade. A colorful children’s costume party by torchlight (flashlight) begins at dusk. Trick-or-treating and kids’ activities follow. coupevillehistoricwater-front.com. 360-678-3310.nOv. 2 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.nOv. 2 & 3 – Uncommon Threads: Whidbey Weavers’ Guild Show and Sale, Greenbank Farm. A community of fiber artists offers unique weaving, spinning, dyeing,

basketry, felting and jewelry in the farm’s iconic red barn. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

nOv. 3–Jan. 4 – Holiday Display, Island County Historical Museum, Coupeville. The museum brings Central Whidbey’s history alive with a Victorian

Christmas exhibit. i360-678-3310

nOv. 9 & 10 – Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve annual celebration, Coupeville.

Bring the family for hands-on farming and historic pres-ervation workshops, a barn dance and the biggest com-munity potluck ever. nps.gov/ebla. 360-678-6084.nOv. 10 & 11 – Fall Wine Tour. Local wineries and

Greenbank Farm host tastings of local wines. whidbey-islandvintners.org. 360-321-0515.nOv. 23–Dec. 16 – Holiday Gift Market, weekends at Greenbank Farm. Local artisans create a festive market-place in the farm’s historic red barn. Be sure to bring the kids for a personal visit with Santa. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.nOv. 23–Dec. 30 – Holiday Gift Shop at Admiralty Head Lighthouse, Fort Casey State Park. Open weekends. admiraltyhead.wsu.edu. 360-240-5584.nOv. 30 – Pre-Greening Concert, Coupeville. A Celtic

yuletide concert featuring the Magical Strings per-forming with Irish instruments, step dancing and vocals. Sponsored by Concerts on the Cove. conc-ertsonthecove.org. 360-678-6821.Dec. 1 – Jingle Trail Run and Walk, Camp Casey,

Coupeville. 5k run and 1-mile walk through pretty forest trails. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-

5434.Dec. 1 – The Greening of Coupeville and annual Holi-day Parade, historic Coupeville. Stake out your spot along Main Street or Front Street to watch an old-fashioned holiday parade led by Santa Claus aboard a decorated fire truck. Tree-lighting and caroling follow. centralwhidbeychamber.com. 360-678-5434.Dec. 7 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music and more. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.Dec. 23 - Red Ticket $1,000 Drawing, historic down-town Coupeville. Shop, dine and stay with participating merchants and earn red tickets that are entered into a drawing for $1,000 cash. The drawing is held Dec. 13 on the front steps of the Island County Historical Museum, and you must be present to win. coupevillehistoricwater-front.com. 360-678-5434

Welcome to the Port of Coupeville

Diesel & Unleaded Gas • Showers for Boaters • Café • Coffee Shop • Gifts Moorage • Marine Exhibits • Kayak Rentals • Historic Facilities

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Bird photos by Craig Johnson. Whale photo by Jill Hein. Great blue heron & Cooper’s hawk by Mary Jo Adams.


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Feb. 2, 2013 – 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/island/soundwaters. 360-679-7327.

Feb. 9–10 & 16-18, 2013 – Red Wine & Choco-late, hosted by Whidbey Island wineries. whidbeyis-landvintners.org. 360-321-0515.

March 2 & 3, 2013 – Penn Cove MusselF-est, Coupeville. Celebrate our signature shellfish. thepenncovemusselfestival.com. 360-678-5434.

March 23 & 24, 2013 – Meerkerk Magic, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Enjoy the garden in peak bloom. Children of all ages enjoy making forest fairies from woodland materials. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.

May 12, 2013 – Mother’s Day Concert, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Enjoy relaxing live music in a serene woodland garden setting. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.

May 18, 2013 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupe-ville. penncovewaterfestival.com. 360-678-5434.

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coupeville & central whidbey island 2012-13 visitor guide

Documents

whidbey examiner coupeville

whidbey island map

wonderful whidbey farms

examiner staff

small town of coupeville

suite b coupeville

coupeville wharf22 nw

island dreamdrop