Road Trip - Whidbey Island, WA

Whidbey Island map

On a crazy spur of the moment, Carol and I decided to take a one-day marathon road trip and check out Whidbey Island, Washington. We left Vancouver, Washington early in the morning and after driving about 4 hours and 250 miles, arrived at Deception Pass around noon. Deception Pass is a narrow strait at the northern end of Whidbey Island that separates the island from Fidalgo Island. The channel is spanned by the Deception Pass Bridge which, according to Wikipedia, is one of the scenic wonders of the Pacific Northwest. The bridge was completed on July 31, 1935, at the cost of $482,000 and in 1982 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Conveniently, just before the bridge, there was a parking area where we were able to pull over and walk out onto the bridge and check out the spectacular view of the bridge and channel below.

Deception Pass Bridge

Carol checking out view from Deception Pass Bridge

Looking northwest from Deception Pass Bridge

Steve checking out view from Deception Pass Bridge

We snaked our way south on highway 20 and stopped to check out the beach where there were people fishing, picnicking and enjoying a nice time at the beach. The amount of logs and woody debris on the shore was impressive as was the number of small boats close to shore.

People, boats and woody debris on Whidbey Island shore

About halfway down Whidbey Island, we stopped at the historic town of Coupeville which according to Wikipedia, is one of the oldest towns in the state of Washington. The town was very quaint and exuded charm with a cool fishing wharf, art galleries, touristy shops and restaurants.

Coupeville, Whidbey Island

Coupeville fishing wharf

Further down the road we stopped at Fort Casey State Park and checked out the Admiralty Head Lighthouse and Fort Casey disappearing guns that were transferred here from the Philippines in the 1960s.

Fort Casey disappearing guns

Admirality Head Lighthouse

Our Whidbey Island road trip ended with a ferry ride from Clinton at the southern end of the island to Mukilteo, Washington on the mainland.

Ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo, Washington

Ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo, Washington

TILOTD –

• Whidbey Island is 37 miles long and 1.5 to 10 miles wide and 168 square miles making it the 40th largest island in the US
• Deception Pass Bridge consists of a pair of bridges that were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
• George Vancouver named the pass "Deception" because it had misled him into thinking Whidbey Island was a peninsula
• Sea captain Thomas Coupe was the founder of the town Coupeville and was the only man ever to sail a full-rigged ship through the Deception Pass strait.
• In the early years travelers used a ferry to cross from Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island. To call the ferry, they banged a saw with a mallet and then sat back to wait for the ferry.
• In 1982, the Deception Pass bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Repainting the bridge cost more than the original construction cost.
• Coupeville was laid out in the 1850s by Captain Thomas Coupe, and named for him
• Coupeville was the film location for the cult classic film Practical Magic starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
• The second Admiralty Head lighthouse was constructed out of brick and stucco with walls thick enough to withstand earthquakes and the concussion of Fort Casey's guns.