My wanderlust fever has returned again. I keep finding myself lusting over Pinterest boards filled with photos of distant places that my soul craves to explore. Before allowing myself to dive too deep into the world of vacation daydreaming, I remind myself of the reality that a big trip isn’t on my itinerary anytime soon. Instead of wishing my days away, I’ve been feeding my travel cravings with daycations around Washington. In this case, a trip to Deception Pass + Whidbey Island was just what I needed.
Deception Pass
A few weekends ago, Brandon and I decided to take a two-hour road trip to the picturesque place known as Deception Pass.
Deception pass is where several channels connect and separate Whidby Island from Fidalgo Island. Until 1935 the only way to travel between the two islands was via canoe or boat. The beautiful blue/green water that powerfully flows under the bridge connects the Skagit Bay, Puget Sound, and Juan de Fuca straight, and also connects to the Pacific Ocean. As someone that is used to water being some shade of blue, this was a refreshing sight to see after looking at the very dark waters of the Puget Sound for the last four months.
Deception Pass Bridge
There are parking lots on both sides of the bridge, but we parked in the lot on the south side of the bridge because it’s free to park there. Regardless of the side you chose, both of them offer pedestrian access to the bridge. The bridge is about 180 ft above the water and I have to admit that it brought out my slight fear of heights. However, it’s an experience that you don’t want to miss. It feels magical to stand on the bridge while having a 360° view of all of the small islands and the rampant water all around.
In addition to the view from the Deception Pass Bridge, we also decided to explore the natural areas below the bridge. There are several small paths to walk on, all which offer magnificent views of the pass while being surrounded by evergreens. We found some rocks to sit on to take it all in. Upon taking a closer look, we even discovered wildflowers, berries, and birds flying around us while enjoying the scenery.
Just to be clear, this area isn’t what I would consider a real hike. It’s a very short trek, but worth seeing. If you are looking to hike or do some fishing, consider visiting Deception Pass State Park while you are there.
Whidbey island
After leaving Deception Pass we decided to continue our exploration on Whidbey Island. With no real destination, we drove around until we reached Coupeville, a tiny town with a stunning view of the Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. This is a small farming town with a population of about 2,000. While there we went to what could be considered the heart of Coupeville, which is called Front Street.
What really captured my attention about Coupeville is the Victorian architecture in this town. It’s my favorite era when it comes to structural design and Front Street and the surrounding area is filled with historic businesses and homes. On Front Street, there is everything from art galleries to gift shops, all which we made our way to during our visit.
Something I particularly enjoyed in Coupeville was visiting the Coupeville Wharf. This is spot primarily for boaters, but I enjoyed strolling along the boardwalk and visiting the Salty Mug. I probably ate the best scone of my life there.
Where to eat in Coupeville
I’m a dessert before dinner kind of girl, so we finished off our visit at the Front Street Grill. We are a surf and turf kind of couple. Brandon loves his burgers and I’m always up for a good piece of fish. Naturally, Brandon had his burger and I had the fish tacos. We were both happy with our meal and the only thing we enjoyed more was the view. This restaurant offers waterfront dining with great views of the Coupeville Wharf and of Mount Baker. Although, we didn’t get to see Mount Baker because it was super cloudy during our visit.
All in all, we had a great daycation exploring Deception Pass and Whidbey island. One day is definitely enough time to learn about the area, but next time I’d like to go back and stay at a bed and breakfast to enjoy more of the victorian architecture, as well as visit Deception Pass State Park.
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