Fishing is popular in cranberry lake and in waters surrounding the island. The only access to whidbey island by vehicle is via deception pass bridge, so the washington state ferries provide two routes to whidbey island. There was a fair amount of share the road signage, and there are even bike racks shaped like whale tails near the clinton ferry terminal. The southern whidbey island fault should be considered capable of generating large earthquakes m 7 and represents a potential seismic hazard to residents of the puget lowland. South whidbey island, puget sound, wa south whidbey is a top10 finalist in our nicest place in america contest. Washington ferries use new app to help struggling orca population. Do your weekend right on whidbey island seattle refined. Orca network is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to raising.
Coupeville is famous for penn cove mussels, and whidbey island has some killer oyster access. During their migration from mexico, a small group of gray whales typically 812 forage on ghost shrimp in the waters around whidbey island, wa for 23 months. As a licensed brokerage in washington and across the united states, movoto has access to the latest real estate data including single family homes, condostownhouses, open houses, new listings, price reduced homes, recently bought homes, market trends, and more in washington and. From ten to twelve grays return most years to northwestern whidbey island or southeastern whidbey island and port susan, camano island, feeding on ghost shrimp and tubeworms for several months. Tara vacation rentals whidbey island vacation rentals p. Langley san juan safaris san juan island whale watching tours. Hiking the whale trail a walkable guide to whale watching. Theres definitely a sense of community and family, sandra says from the oak harbor. Oak harbor the island whaler departs friday through sunday from the oak harbor marina.
Youll embark on a tour of beach towns, ocean scenery, and fascinating nature. Follow the whale trail san juan islands washington visitors. Explore the some of washington states most beautiful coastline, enjoying activities such as whale watching, hiking, fishing, and scuba diving. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont. The first group seems to know where the best feeding grounds are. Forests drop down to hidden coves, rocky beaches and steep cliffs at whidbey islands edges before taking a dramatic pacific ocean plunge. The most convenient ferry route for visitors to seattle departs from mukilteo, a 35minute drive north of seattle. Because of whidbey islands temperate climate, many birds and waterfowl winter here, including an abudance of bald eagles. Whidbey island and the surrounding puget sound is world renowned as one of the greatest places on earth to view whales in their natural habitat.
Langley whale center 2020 all you need to know before. Orca networks langley whale center celebrates and shares the lives of gray whales, orcas and other. The 15 best things to do in whidbey island updated 2020. Whale watching from land whidbey and camano islands. Whidbey island, or drinking with strangers who are. Whale watching on whidbey island blog whidbey telecom. Mar 10, 2014 giant gray whales stop near whidbey island to feed on shrimp during their annual migration from baja mexico to alaska. Box 383, 18205 state route 525 suite 5, freeland, wa 98249 call or visit the website our beautiful homes are the perfect getaway for any occasion. More commonly known as whale bell park, this parks main feature is a brass bell donated to the city of langley by orca network that visitors ring when they see a whale passing through the saratoga passage. Whidbey island hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Along with the arrival of spring comes the passage of gray.
This facebook page is dedicated to helping promote employment on whidbey island by linking people who need jobs with people who. Whale watching is a pretty big deal here on whidbey. Island county has of shoreline with 67 public points. Weve been day tripping and taking visitors here for years, but it wasnt until just recently that we actually stayed the night as a family. From langley it takes approximately 1 hour 25 minutes to the anacortes ferry terminal, traveling via scenic whidbey island. Use our innovative tools to customize your search for washington real estate, oregon real estate and idaho real estate. Gray whale feeding in crescent harbor, whidbey island, april 10, 2010 gray whale tutorial gray whales eschrichtius robustus the saratoga gray whale field guide produced by cascadia research collective. This easily accessible island north of seattle is one of my favorite pacific northwest getaways. Connected to the washington mainland by a bridge spanning spectacular deception pass which provides a link to anacortes and thence onto the mainland, this island is a popular puget sound getaway for visitors up on the ferry from seattle, or down by road. After spending most of the summer in the san juan islands, our resident orca pods venture south into inland waters for the fall and early winter months, traveling down admiralty inlet chasing chum salmon runs into lower puget sound. Whidbey is about 30 miles 48 km north of seattle, and lies between the olympic peninsula and the i5 corridor of western washington. Jul 07, 2017 whidbey island is a place we will return to over and over again. Forests drop down to hidden coves, rocky beaches and steep cliffs at whidbey island s edges before taking a dramatic pacific ocean plunge. Whale watching tours from whidbey island whidbey and camano.
Trying to decide between spending two nights on whidbey island or san juan islands in washington. These creatures are of the pachyderm family, are mammals, and are the largest land animals alive today. The grays off whidbey, camano and hat islands are one of the most studied whale species on the planet. Lime kiln, san juan island candlelight vigil facebook event page. The langley whale center is a project of orca network, based on whidbey island, wa. Whidbey is a great combination of beautiful and accessible, but you get the feeling of being away, especially on the west side. Two and a half hour cruise with puget sound express. View all hotels near langley whale center on tripadvisor. Search all available mls listings in the pacific northwest with john l. Free admission to our educational exhibits, which include a harbor porpoise skeleton and other bone and pelt specimens. Connected to the washington mainland by a bridge spanning spectacular deception pass which provides a link to anacortes and thence onto the mainland, this island is a popular puget sound getaway for. Whidbey island historical spellings whidby, whitbey, or whitby is the largest of the islands composing island county, washington, in the united states. Tour the spectacular scenery around whidbey island, or venture out for an extended journey to the san juan islands with penn cove sailing associated with leisure yacht charters. The whales of puget sound whidbey and camano islands.
Whale watching in the spring is special when migrating gray whales and even humpbacks join the resident and transient orca in puget sound. Transient orca seen feeding on gray whale near whidbey island. Offering a selection of shops for both residents and travelers alike, clinton is the perfect place to gather supplies for the road. The other large island is camano island, east of whidbey. How a generation of killer whales was taken from puget sound. A trained eye can see them from miles away as their blows can reach up to 15 feet high. From langley it takes approximately 1 hour 25 minutes to the anacortes. The mv orca met her match, a grey whale swimming freely and peacefully off of the east coast of whidbey island, wa. Whale watching from land whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont need a.
This map from the orca network shows many great places around puget sound where you can watch whales, if there are any nearby. The returning gray whales, or sounders spend their days foraging in the waters around everett and south whidbey island. Whale watching tours from whidbey island whidbey and. Alki beach, west seattle candlelight vigil facebook event page 4. Whale watching on whidbey island whidbey island is lucky enough to be visited by two different populations of whales each year. Langley whale center 2020 all you need to know before you. Whidbey island local lending will is a social network of people on whidbey who are committed to a vibrant local economy and looking for ways to invest some of their money here on the island.
Come along with us as we spend mothers day weekend in the quaint port town of. Learn about the endangered southern resident orcas, transient orcas and gray whales. Whidbey island whale watching whidbey island events. The only bridge that reaches whidbey island is the deception pass bridge, state route 20, which connects the north end of whidbey to the mainland via fidalgo island. Orca network is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the whales of the pacific northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats. While we have wonderful boat tours that give you a great perspective, sometimes the whales schedule doesnt exactly match tour schedules. Puget sound producer lists current releases, provides vineyard pictures, and publishes winery news. Their habitat includes country bars, cheap nightclubs, and many of the fast food locations across the northwestern state of washinton and. Ill be road tripping with a 3 year old and am looking for a balance of good outdoor adventure that a 3 yr old can handle, scenery, food casual is fine looking for good quality seafood, etc. Rocks that build bridges and break down walls whidbey. Google earth satellite images provide novel method for examining. The resident pod of north puget sound gray whales feed off the waters of saratoga passage and possession sound from march to may each year. Whidbey island is a place we will return to over and over again.
Whidbey island webcams, whidbey traffic cams, clinton ferry, coupeville ferry. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in whidbey island, washington on tripadvisor. Sandra oldemeyer is passionate about welcoming residents home to welcome home. See orcas in the wild, learn about salish sea wildlife, and enjoy the ride into the whales world. People create, then hide or at times directly give lovingly decorated rocks in locations all over the island. Take a ferry ride over to the tiny town of clinton, where the whidbey island scenic isle way begins. While resident and transient orca can be found in puget sound almost any time of the year, march and april features the addition of gray whales, and. Arriving in seattle on july 28, 1965, griffin was given a heros. May 27, 20 whidbey island is a total dream for biking. For more information about welcome the whales weekend or orca networks whale sighting network, visit their website at pudget sound express will begin their season in early march, and may offer tours from south whidbey harbor. Wagnwalk, which takes place towards the end of august, is western washingtons premier celebration of dogs and things dogrelated. Whidbey island rocks is a group dedicated to creating those serendipitous moments for locals and visitors. One of the reasons i think whidbey island is so special is the arrival.
Whidbey island is an idyllic emerald escape beloved of stressedout seattleites. While its not as detached or nonconformist as the san juans theres a bridge connecting it to adjacent fidalgo island at its northernmost point, life is certainly slower, quieter and more pastoral here. Whidbey is a blend of low pastoral hills, evergreen and oak forests, meadows of wildflowers including some endemic species, sandy beaches, and dramatic bluffs with a few pockets of unfortunate. Nov 27, 2018 more commonly known as whale bell park, this parks main feature is a brass bell donated to the city of langley by orca network that visitors ring when they see a whale passing through the saratoga passage. Whidbey island vs san juan islands, washington united. Updated february 12, 2020 tours depart oak harbor and langley. May 17, 2016 the mv orca met her match, a grey whale swimming freely and peacefully off of the east coast of whidbey island, wa. Migrating gray whale watching in washington state island. Whidbey island area fair island county fair until 2012, on the third weekend of july, includes rides, food, and animal shows. Movoto gives you access to the most uptotheminute real estate information in freeland. Brooks recommends the east side of whidbey island for viewing gray whales that usually hang out around camano island. Prior to the completion of the bridge in 1935, whidbey island was linked to fidalgo island by the deception pass ferry, which ran from 1924 to 1935. Giant gray whales stop near whidbey island to feed on shrimp during their annual migration from baja mexico to alaska.
Whidbey island is situated in washington states puget sound, between the olympic peninsula and western washington. Its location 30 miles north of seattle makes this peaceful island getaway an excellent addition to any seattle vacation. The shoulders are wide, the traffic is minimal and courteous, and the hills are of the enjoyable rolling variety for the most part. While resident and transient orca can be found in puget sound almost any time of the year, march and april features the addition of gray whales, and boat tours are one of the best ways to see the whales. We have over 40 homes ranging from studio apartments for private getaways for two, or if you are planning a family reunion and need room. A whidbey island home to come back to the seattle times. Langley, coupeville, clinton, freeland, oak harbor, and greenbank all have wineries and brewing companies that hose tastings that means no matter where you stay on the island you should plan to grab a drink.
Our spring whale watching trips march through may frequent prime gray whale feeding grounds. In the spring the west side of camano island is a great place to spot gray whales while deception pass is a yearround hot spot for spotting everything from orcas to seals, otters and eagles. View all restaurants near langley whale center on tripadvisor. Gray whale feeding pits at low tide in saratoga passage. Langley whale center is run by volunteer docents and open thursdays through sundays, 11 am till 5 pm. If youre going to get away the hiltons also have a home in. Sightseeing, dinner, and whalewatching cruises are available from many nearby sites. Scott real estate, your trusted real estate resource. While its possible to see whales near the waters surrounding vashon island and seattle, the northern islands that surround puget sound are most commonly counted among the best spots to watch for whales. Others carry a written message of love or encouragement. You can download the app both on apple and android phones. Orcas, grey whales, mike whales, porpoises, and other species can all be viewed on the tours operated by local whidbey island whale watching tour operators.
There are many opportunities to observe the orcas from the many miles of shoreline on whidbey island, the kitsap and olympic. San juan island and orcas island, in particular, offer many options for boatbased whale watching opportunities. This ferry carries passengers across puget sound to the whidbey island town of clinton. Transient orcas seen feeding on gray whale south of whidbey island. Whidbey island whale watching on whidbey island yabsta.