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Whidbey Farmers Markets
If you were given the task of describing this beautiful island, how would you respond? What would you say? Would you highlight the Navy community of Oak Harbor? Or maybe the vibrant artisan culture? What about the plethora of State Parks that help to preserve our island’s beauty?
We all know any one of these features would be a more than fair depiction of this wonderful oasis we call home, but there is one more description that is often glanced over.
Farms.
Did you know Whidbey Island is home to over 400 farms both large and small? Fresh fruit, vegetables, livestock, flora, honey – you name it. The agricultural life on this island is incredible and something to be admired.
That admiration is often reflected in the island’s farmers’ markets where you can purchase produce grown and harvested by these local farmers. Below is a list of the three main Whidbey Farmers’ Markets on the island.
Whidbey Island Farmer Market | Windjammer Park, Oak Harbor
Coming this summer, for the first year ever, is the Whidbey Island Farmers Market in Oak Harbor! After the dissolution of the Oak Harbor Farmers Market earlier this year, passionate farmers and vendors gathered together to create a new non-profit market for the people of Oak Harbor. They will be a great addition to the Whidbey Farmers Markets!
This year the market will be located in Windjammer park and feature vendors such as Maya Farm, The Case Family Farm, Flightline Franks, and so many more.
As of right now, the market is set to be every Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM between June to September.
Stay up to date by following their Facebook Page.
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Coupeville Farmer Market | 788 NW Alexander St, Coupeville
Established and well-loved, the Coupeville Farmers Market has been selling local produce to islanders for over 40 years. With organizers focused on cultivating an appreciation for community, it’s not hard to see why it has lasted for such a long time.
Frequent vendors include Bell’s Farm, North Whidbey Farm, Arbia Pizza, Blanket Creations by Mary, Whidbey Kettlecorn, and many more.
The market is Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM, between April to October.
To learn more, you can visit their Website.
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Bayview Farmers Market | Bayview Rd, Langley
Undeniably the largest Whidbey Farmers Market on the island would be Bayview. With approximately 50 regular vendors a week including Blackberry Moon Farm, Lesedi Farm, Julie’s Lumpia Hut, and so many more; this market attracts visitors both on and off-island. You do not want to miss a chance to stroll through these stands!
Starting in mid-April and ending in mid-October, this market is 10 AM to 2 PM Every Saturday.
You can learn more and get the exact start and end dates on their Website.
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Summer Time Sweet Treats
Summer Time Sweet Treats
What do you do to keep cool in these hot summer months? One of our favorite things is to head out for a cold and sweet treat! Thankfully, Whidbey is home to some amazing places for just that!
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KAPAWS Iskreme – 21 Front St NE, Coupeville
One of Whidbey Island’s best-kept secrets, KAPAWS is a favorite stop for some amazing ice cream and quaint small-town atmosphere. We highly recommend grabbing one of their fresh waffle cones that you can smell a mile away. The best part is their $1 kid cones – for kids only! Open 7 days a week from 11 am to 5:30 pm, KAPAWS offers friendly service, generous portions, and reasonable prices that won’t disappoint!
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Ciao – 701 Main St N, Coupeville
You may be surprised to learn that Ciao isn’t just about the amazing pizza. Every day, gelato is made in-house from a recipe created in the 1700’s! Made from milk rather than cream gelato sports a velvety texture that will make your taste buds dance. Stop by Monday through Saturday 11am-8pm to try out one of their many flavors. We especially love their Affogato, which is gelato floated in espresso! Yum!
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K&R Farms “The Stand” – 36699 SR 20, Oak Harbor
If you’ve ever driven toward Anacortes, you probably noticed the farm stand on highway 20. K&R Farm’s “The Stand” is a favorite stop for local produce, fresh beef, ice cream, and many other tasty delights. Recently, The Stand started serving Hawaiian shaved Ice and it has been a big hit! Hawaiian shaved ice differs from your run of the mill snow cone because of the soft snow-like texture that absorbs all the flavor of the syrup and makes for a refreshing treat! You can visit the stand 7 days a week from 11 am to 6 pm.
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Toppins – 32650 SR 20 A101, Oak Harbor
“Frozen yogurt your way” is our favorite way to describe Toppins. With 12 different frozen yogurt flavors and 80+ topping choices, all self-serve, you can create your own dessert masterpiece. What’s even better is that it doesn’t stop there! Toppins also offer’s floats made with your frozen yogurt flavor choice. We really enjoy their pineapple float with its refreshing flavor that is perfect for summer. You can stop by for your cool off treat from 11 am to 10 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am to 9 pm on Sunday.
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Café de Lisio – 957 Ault Field Rd, Oak Harbor
It may be easy to miss, but Café de Lisio is famous locally! Their “mile-long” menu of creative combinations for all their delicious coffee drinks may be overwhelming so just tell the barista what you’re after and they can suggest one for you. Everything can be done icy cold and kid friendly! Our favorite cold menu item is the Attitude Adjuster, and trust us, you will not be disappointed. The café and drive through are open from 5am-6pm Monday through Friday and 6am-5pm Saturday and Sunday for your convenience.
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Parks in Oak Harbor
Parks in Oak Harbor
With summer winding down, we love to get outside and enjoy that glorious sunshine, and what better way to do that than visit some of the many parks in Oak Harbor? We love these parks because they are close by which makes them perfect for an after-work picnic or an evening out in the fresh air.
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Flinstone Park and City Beach
Have you ever noticed the famous Flinstone car on Bayshore Drive? You guessed it! That would be Flinstone Park which connects to City Beach. This is a perfect place to take a walk down the boardwalk, look for hidden treasures on the beach, build a driftwood fort, or sit and enjoy the scenery on one of the many benches along the beach. Another thing we love is that it is close to downtown shopping, and restaurants! We love to grab an ice cream cone at Popsies and take a stroll through the park.
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Fort Nugent
Ft. Nugent Park offers a wide variety of things to do for kids and adults alike. Soccer, Football, and Baseball fields take up a large portion of the park providing plenty of space to run free, kick a ball, play catch, or practice your batting skills. A large wooden Castle-like play structure is a favorite among the kids in Oak Harbor and is what gives this park its nickname “Castle Park”. A large disc golf course runs throughout the wooded area of the park which makes for beautiful walking trails to enjoy.
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Joseph Whidbey State Park & Rocky Point Beach
Joseph Whidbey State Park is a favorite of Whidbey residents thanks to its cool hiking trails and beach with beautiful views of the Strait of Juan De Fuca. A covered picnic area, grills, picnic benches, miles of beach to comb for treasures, and hiking trails to venture make this park a great place to have an adventure or family day in the sun. When the wind is blowing hard this is a favorite spot for kite surfers too which makes quite a spectacle!
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Dugualla State Park
While Dugualla State Park may technically be part of the famous Deception Pass State Park, it is virtually untouched. Dugualla is a peaceful place with hiking trails, spectacular scenery, and a beach area to explore. Not many people know of this hidden gem making it a great place to enjoy quiet and nature.
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Deception Pass State Park
This may seem like an obvious choice, but there is so much to love about Deception Pass State Park we had to include it! Chances are you’ve only seen a portion of all it has to offer. The iconic bridge, beaches, hiking trails, and lakes offer so much variety it can take years to explore every aspect. You can swim at Cranberry Lake, spot critters along the beaches, hike one of the many trails throughout the park, enjoy a picnic at a covered picnic area, and soak in a gorgeous sunset over the sound all in one place. Our 5 favorite “hidden” features of this massive park are as follows…
- Hoypus Point is on the opposite side of Hwy. 20 from the main part of the park. Just take Cornet Bay Rd. East till it dead ends.
- There is a little cabin you can rent on Ben Ure Island but you have to have your own kayak, canoe or other human-powered watercraft to get there!
- Rosario Head is a favorite well-worn path out to the most spectacular point and vista. Don’t miss reading the legend of the maiden Ko-kwahl-alwoot on your way or the tidepools! Best way to get here is the trail connecting to Bowman Bay.
- Pass Lake is known for its fly fishing but few know about its miles of quiet and heavily wooded trails on the West End.
- The path to Lighthouse Point from Bowman Bay is spectacular! Little inlets, views of the bridge, and a variety of native foliage make this a visually stunning hike that is worthy of repeat visits.
Oak Harbor offers so many different parks to enjoy, and these are just a few. What are some of your favorite parks to visit? We would love to hear about them!
Take a Closer Look at the Parks in Oak Harbor:
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Fourth of July Celebration on Whidbey Island
Fourth of July Celebrations on Whidbey Island
Carnivals, parades, BBQ’s, music, and of course huge firework shows make an incredible Fourth of July celebration on Whidbey Island. There are small events up and down the island but the two hot spots for firework shows and lots of activity are Oak Harbor and Freeland.
Freeland Celebrations:
The celebration begins in Freeland on July 3rd with their annual “Celebrate America” event at Freeland Park. Starting mid-afternoon there will be face painting, bounce houses, music, and live entertainment for you to enjoy! This year the event will feature a magic show, circus tricks, martial arts demonstrations, a dance team, and a Neil Diamond tribute band. At the end of the day, the party will go out with a bang with the largest fireworks show on Whidbey Island beginning around 10:20 pm. For a full schedule of events click here! https://whidbeycamanoislands.com/event/celebrate-america-2018/.
Oak Harbor Celebrations:
In Oak Harbor, Independence Day festivities take over the whole town! The carnival will be open June 29th through July 4th with rides, classic carnival food, games, and so much more! You can purchase your carnival tickets ahead of time here ( https://oakharborchamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/7591 ) to avoid long lines at the event. On July 4th the party continues with a day that is jam-packed with activities. It all starts with the annual Rotary Pancake Breakfast, grand parade down Bayshore Drive, and throughout the day you will be able to check out the street fair on Pioneer as well as enjoy live music at Smith Park. Finally, to wrap up an eventful day, you won’t want to miss the firework show that starts at dark. (Rumor has it that it will be the tallest show ever!)
We can’t wait to take part in the fun this year! If this is your first year experiencing the bustle to take place on the island, you won’t be disappointed! If you have been, we want to know what your favorite part is!
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Summer Programs for Kids
Summer Programs for Kids
With only a few weeks left in the school year, the thought of having the kids home all day is probably on the forefront of your mind. What will you do to keep the kids busy this summer and keep their little minds engaged? A perk of living on Whidbey in the summer time is that there are plenty of opportunities for the kids to get outside and play. On top of the longer play hours and beautiful weather, Whidbey offers a variety of programs the kids can get involved with throughout the summer.
- Sailing Camps are offered for kids ages 9-15 by Oak Harbor Youth Sailing. These week-long camps begin June 25 and run through July 30 from 11:00AM – 4:30PM. See https://www.oakharboryouthsailing.org/registration-information for more information on registration and pricing.
- The Camp Casey Pool is open to the public on June 16th and is open every day (except for Sundays) from 12-5pm. Admission is only $5 per person, with the option to purchase a punch card for frequent visitors. The Camp Casey Pool also offers American Red Cross swim lessons for ages 4 and up. Click here for swim lesson dates and prices : http://spu.edu/depts/casey/Recreation/swim-lessons.asp .
- The Whidbey Playhouse will host their 4th annual Youth Summer Theater Workshop July 9th through August 2nd. This workshop is a great place for young actors and actresses to learn new skills and get comfortable on the stage. For more information on the course, pricing, and registration click here: https://www.whidbeyplayhouse.com/summer-camp .
- The Whidbey Children’s Theatre in Langley is a great place for kids to get involved in theatre, participate in shows of their own, and take classes to work on their skills. Classes are offered for kids as young as 4 up to 19 years. For more information on how your kids can get involved, check out their website here: http://wctmagic.org/ .
- Summer Dance Camps are offered through Leaps & Bounds Dance and Tumbling Center for children ages 3-5. Week-long camps begin on June 5th with the last camp beginning on July 24th. Each week has a different theme, perfect for those who want to continue past their one-week camp. For more information regarding registration and pricing, click here: http://danceoakharbor.com/summer_camps .
- Sno-Isle Libraries offer some really fun summer reading programs and activities in both Coupeville and Oak Harbor. Their annual “Explore Summer” program for kids begins on June 1st, along with a variety of other reading activities throughout the summer. This is a great way to keep your kids fresh on their reading skills and continue learning during those months away from school. For more information visit their website at https://www.sno-isle.org/summerteens/ .
- Sign your kids up for the Kids Bowl Free program! Oak Bowl in Oak Harbor participates in this program, where kids can bowl up to 2 games per day for FREE. Find out more information and get your kids signed up by clicking here: https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/index.php .
- Create your very own glass art at Callahan’s Firehouse in Langley! Callahan’s Firehouse offers the unique experience of glassblowing and the opportunity to make your very own creation. Ages 5 and up can participate by choosing their own colors for their art and be guided through each step to creating their very own masterpiece! Visit their website to schedule your appointment and read up on important information before your visit. https://callahansfirehouse.com/schedule-glassblowing/ .
- You can never go wrong with a trip to the Blue Fox Drive-In. With an arcade, go-karts, and a huge selection of yummy snacks, the Drive-In is a treat for the whole family. The longer daylight hours will make for a late start on the movie, but just think of the sleeping in that will be happening the next day! Check out their website to see what’s playing each week, along with their weekly concession deal. http://www.bluefoxdrivein.com/ .
- For military families, take advantage of the Youth Activities Center and the wide variety of programs to take place throughout the summer. The Youth Center is available to kids ages 12-18 of active and retired military, DOD civilians, and DOD contractors. Different programs are available for different interests (art, team sports, video games, etc.) as well as volunteer opportunities and field trips to different places. Learn more by clicking here: https://whidbey.navylifepnw.com/programs/92723cd7-11c2-4e97-9e22-1f663d448a94 .
As you can see, there is no shortage of things to keep the kids occupied this summer. What are some summer activities your family enjoys?
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