Embracing the Island Life
Whidbey life is about much more than just the house you live in or the location. It’s about the people and the lifestyle you curate. Here are 5 aspects of life on Whidbey that make it more special, in my opinion, and some great things for you to explore to see what resonates with you!
1 Community spirit
For a relatively small island, we have a large number of non-profit organizations and interest groups, hundreds in fact. Volunteering is one of the ways I have deepened my understanding of how our island community works and has increased my sense of connection to it. Whether you are more of a hands-on volunteer or enjoy something more cerebral, there is a way to enjoy giving back. The Whidbey Community Foundation has a non-profit directory that would be a good place to find an area of interest for a start. If it’s more of a hobby or strict interest group, you will have to do some hunting, but it won’t be hard to find if you just ask. Whether you like knitting, raising chickens, playing music, painting rocks, and many more common and obscure interests, there’s a group for that! The Whidbey Community Facebook group can be a wild place but if you ask a question like “where can I find a group to go open water swimming with” there will be lots of answers that will lead you in the right direction.
2 Arts and culture
The more I look for and experience the arts scenes on Whidbey, the more I find that impresses me. From skilled musicians to incredible craftsmen, from fine arts to prolific writers, it’s an island burgeoning with imagination and creativity! To get acquainted with working artists, you could go on the annual studio tour. For performing arts, be sure to follow Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley or our quaint Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor. For live music, there are loads of little events, but it’s the 3 day free Oak Harbor Music Festival that puts Whidbey Island on the map.
3 recreation
Whidbey offers endless outdoor activities. Some favorites are hiking, kayaking, bird-watching, pickleball and golf but some higher adrenaline options include mountain biking, paragliding, kite surfing, even nearby rock climbing. There’s no shortage of ways to stay active and there is a club for just about every outdoor pursuit and interest. Hiking and walking are probably the most popular outdoor activities and the fact that there are 7, that’s SEVEN, State Parks on this one little island (Dugualla Bay, Deception Pass, Joseph Whidbey, Fort Ebey, Fort Casey, South Whidbey, and Possession Point) there are also loads of smaller County parks, Land Trust trails, and city and town parks. No lack of options for exploration.
4 Events and festivals
We have lived her for 20 years, are pretty keen on events, and haven’t even scratched the surface on attending them all. To find out what’s going on I recommend the Whidbey Camano Island Calendar or just searching on Facebook for events with the word Whidbey or the specific area you are looking in. A couple of our favorites are the free community concert series in Windjammer Park sponsored by Windermere, the Coupeville Practical Magic events, and the Whidbey Island Garden Tour. One event that we haven’t gone to yet but is growing in popularity is the Whidbey Ren Faire.
5 Relaxation
Island life encourages you to slow down and enjoy the moment. Find your favorite spot to unwind and soak in the beauty. After a while everyone on Whidbey seems to find their favorite hike for thinking, spot for a good sunset, mountain vista, or an early morning drive. Can’t wait for you to discover yours!
