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Fall in Love with Island Living
Out here on Whidbey Island people fall in love with island living. Why? Because life slows down in the best way possible! One place where that feeling really comes to life is the Coupeville Wharf! It’s the kind of place where you find yourself lingering a little longer than planned, coffee or ice cream in hand, watching the water like you’ve got nowhere else to be. It honestly feels like time just kind of pauses.
Start your adventure with a wander down the pier. You’ll often pass locals chatting about what fun events are to come. Look out across the water and find boats gently rocking in the water. Finally, if you look over the edge of the wharf, chances are you’ll spot a seal or two curiously popping up to say hello or a starfish down below. It’s simple, peaceful, and exactly why people fall in love with island living.
Then there’s the local shops, fresh seafood, and that salty sea breeze that somehow makes everything taste better, just waiting for you to enjoy. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or settling in for a slow afternoon, there’s an easy rhythm here that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
Now, let’s talk about real beauty, the sunsets! When golden hour hits, the entire waterfront transforms, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The sky goes full show-off mode. Each layer of pink, orange, and deep blue reflects right off Penn Cove. It’s like a painting you didn’t know you needed. It’s the kind of moment that makes you pause… and maybe start thinking, what would it be like to live here full-time?
That’s the thing about places like the Coupeville Wharf, they don’t just give you a great day out, they give you a glimpse into a lifestyle. In real estate, we always say it’s about more than just the home, it’s about the community, the energy, the everyday experiences that come with it. And this? This is exactly what people are looking for when they dream about living on Whidbey Island.
Walkable waterfront charm, local flare, and views that never get old. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or you’ve been coming for years, the Wharf has a way of making you feel like you belong.
And honestly… that feeling? That’s what turns a place into home. If you are ready to call Whidbey home, connect with us and let us help you turn that dream into a reality.
Photograph by @cynthiawoernerphotography
Deception Pass
Deception Pass derives its name from its complex and tricky currents that can deceive mariners. It is notorious for its powerful and unpredictable tidal currents that can shift rapidly. Mariners, unfamiliar with the area often found themselves deceived by the challenging conditions. Navigating through the pass required skill and local knowledge to avoid dangerous whirlpools, strong eddies, and turbulent waters. Before European settlers arrived the indigenous tribes relied on the pass as a crucial trade route providing access to prime fishing grounds. Deception Pass holds a place of historical significance, symbolizing the resilient maritime traditions and skills of Native American peoples who thrived in the challenging coastal environment. Their mastery of the pass’s currents & ability to safely navigate its waters contributed to the rich cultural tapestry of the region.
Photo taken by: @KelseyKurtis
Learn more about Deception Pass here.
Check out the rest of Whidbey’s beautiful destinations from this series here.
Bunkers Overlook – A Legacy
The Fort Casey bunkers located in Coupeville sit perched atop the cliffs overlooking Admiralty Inlet. They stand as silent sentinels of the past, remnants of a bygone era when coastal defense was paramount. These imposing structures were originally built during World War I for coastal defense. They were designed to house artillery and troops and served as a strategic vantage point to protect the Puget Sound & PNW coast. Today, they offer a unique historical attraction for visitors. As you explore the bunkers, you may also catch a glimpse of Washington State Ferries gliding gracefully through the shimmering waters of Puget Sound, a reminder of the region’s maritime legacy and its enduring connection to the sea.
Photo taken by: @PNWBirdie
Check out the rest of Whidbey’s beautiful destinations from this series here.
Coupeville Waterfront
Captains in the 1850s knew paradise when they saw it. The deep waters of Penn Cove were advantageous for commerce, the land was lush, the sea life was abundant, and the views were incredible. Coupeville became known as the “City of Sea Captains,” where at least 5 wharves have stretched into the cove over the years. Today along the shoreline of the historic town, maritime commerce has mostly been replaced with local shops filled with books, treasures, art, and more. Restaurants serve the world-renowned Penn Cove mussels straight from the waters below. Enjoy Coupeville, one of the oldest towns in the state of Washington. This beautiful image of Coupeville Waterfront was taken by @pnwdeparture
Check out the rest of Whidbey’s beautiful destinations from this series here.
Fort Casey Forts
The coast artillery post displays of Fort Casey State Park includes four inactive historic guns atop bunkers, dark tunnels underneath and control towers to climb. It creates an opportunity for both historical education and exploration. One of three forts built in the 1890’s, Fort Casey is part of the “Triangle of fire” safeguarding the entrance to Puget Sound. Now, over 100 years old, the Battery Moore section has recently been restored to keep it safe to explore for future generations. It will look different in person than in the older photo on the front of this card. Take this to compare when you visit! If you are just visiting and find yourself falling in love with Whidbey Island and wishing to tour homes while your here, or wish to learn more about Whidbey Island connect with us.
Check out the rest of Whidbey’s beautiful destinations from this series here.
Visit Fort Casey
Working On Whidbey
Are you thinking of moving to Whidbey and wondering what working on Whidbey looks like? We’re not all retirees. Of Island County’s ~87,700 residents, ~28,000 residents have full-time jobs. (EDC Island County Profile 2020) The Navy accounts for ~11,000, so estimate that total at ~39,000. There are many retirees, children, and people employed part-time or not at all. One answer doesn’t fit all. Keep reading for the details.
The Navy Dominates
The Navy is the largest employer by thousands. If you live in or around Oak Harbor, they are hard not to notice. Some people in the military live as far south as Clinton. Others are quite far off-island and commute 45 minutes or more. Take a look at a map and notice the roads heading to the big blank space just north of Oak Harbor. Not everyone working on base are military personnel. Military bases tend to have a little bit of everything, including jobs for civilians. The base is why the Island’s population is concentrated on the north part of the island. It is also the reason there are so many businesses and jobs around it.
Airplanes Need Built
Ironically, the next biggest employer of islanders is also dealing in airplanes but is not on the Island. Boeing’s Everett plant builds the wide-body jet airplanes people are familiar with. Approximately 900 Boeing employees commute to the plant. That’s more than four times the number Walmart employs on the Island, and no on-island business is bigger. Boeing is only one example of off-island employers with island commuters. Over 35% of Island County’s employees leave the county to get to work. Some may have switched to “Work From Home”, but those jobs are in flux as employers and employees maneuver around each other while trying to find that remote vs. on-site balance.
Keep in mind, much of this data includes Camano Island because the government reports cluster data by county, as in Island County, rather than by geography, as in by island.
So, where is everyone else working on Whidbey?
As we noted, the Navy dominates with 63% of the workforce. The next biggest batch is 20% from governmental jobs like schools, city, county, state employees and hospitals. Then comes the private companies. The ones with more than ~50 employees add up to ~17%. Those three segments add up to ~100% but miss a large contingent that is harder to track. The number of people employed by small companies and entrepreneurs is about 6,000.
Understanding what works on Whidbey is different from what works in more conventional places, like big cities. Island County is officially designated as a rural county. Farm payrolls shift dramatically. Whidbey Island also has officially declared spaces that are Creative Districts. Wander around Whidbey and notice the many artists, studios, galleries, public displays, events, and performances. They also have supporting businesses supplying them with supplies, services, marketing, and such. Artists and farmers are so busy tending their projects and fields, and tend to be soloists, which means dutifully reporting data easily gets out-prioritized.
Is remote working on Whidbey a possibility?
While remote work may be a new thing for much of the world, Whidbey has also held a population of people who live here and commute to the rest of the world. Negotiating a deal in Kuala Lumpur? Your house address isn’t as important as having an airport available. Thanks to the Island’s connections, SeaTac (south of Seattle), Paine Field (close to the Clinton Ferry), and Bellingham’s international airport, a flight can be a drive, bus ride, or shuttle trip away. Canada’s even close enough that some will fly out of Vancouver’s airports when the flights are right. It is hard to track such travelers because they may be employed anywhere.
Sometimes the employers come to us, like when a movie or ad is being filmed here, or a retreat is being hosted here.
It is too easy to label such a big island with the impact of one employer. The Island has hundreds, thousands. We even have a boat builder and a few colleges.
And, of course, people move here and bring their businesses with them, or move here, and the island inspires their next enterprise.
But, retirement, or at least a sabbatical, that can work well for Whidbey too.
For a more in depth look at the data you might like to geek out on the Economic Development Council’s Island County Profile for 2020 by clicking here.
If you are considering a move to Whidbey and would like to discuss this in more detail and are not currently working with an agent connect with us to start the conversation.
Where Is The Health Care
Health is a serious issue. If you think you might be in an emergency, call 911.
Have you heard this one? “Doctor, doctor. It hurts when I do this. What should I do?” “Stop doing that.” That’s a joke, but frequently a visit to a doctor, clinic, or hospital needs more than a straight line and a punchline. Healthcare in a metropolis falls into stereotypes and conventional options. Rural areas tend to be different. Islands tend to be different. Rural islands definitely are different. And then there’s Whidbey’s different version of different. Seriously though, “where is the health care?”
Let’s start with the typical.
Whidbey’s main hospital is WhidbeyHealth Medical Center. It’s in Coupeville, the county seat, near the middle of the island. That’s key and handy to reaching many of the islanders. It is even close to the highway (US20). If they can’t handle your issue, they know places that can, and they know how to get you there. In their words;
“WhidbeyHealth Medical Center is a fully licensed and certified Critical Access Hospital. The WhidbeyHealth system, which includes the medical center, three EMS stations, and eight outpatient locations, employs more than 750 staff members. An exceptional nursing team and more than 70 providers support a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services.”
Depending on who is counting, they have a few dozen beds. That’s far smaller than facilities in Seattle, but more than many rural areas. Of course, Whidbey only has about 80,000 residents, while Seattle’s metropolitan area has more than 4,000,000.
WhidbeyHealth can’t do everything.
Few hospitals can. The helipad makes it easy to spot unless it is busy elsewhere picking up or delivering a patient to another facility. Seattle has places that specialize in treating cancers, and birthing babies,… The list is long. One name that makes folks take immediate notice is Harborview. The harbor it views is in downtown Seattle, but folks going there can be treated for trauma. Or, as the helicopter flies in and out, it may be local. It can take 45 minutes to drive from either end of the island to the middle. Helicopters fly faster than ambulances can drive, and can reach some remote sites that don’t have road access. A regional option is having a subscription with the helicopter service (LifeFlight). Of course, the typical emergency vehicle is an ambulance. (See our article on Fighting Fires).
Fortunately, many medical trips aren’t emergencies. Doctor appointments, immunizations, and minor issues may be handled there, but clinics are scattered about the island. The hospital may have what you need, but a clinic four miles away is going to be more convenient than one that involves a forty-minute drive (WhidbeyHealth locations linked below).
Other local options.
Most health issues have treatment options at the hospital, as well as non-profits focused on one issue.
Health care off island.
As with many things, personal preference may mean traveling off-island for personal needs. Some islanders maintain their old relationships with professionals from a previous residence. Insurance providers may prefer approved healthcare providers who are off-island. Traveling off-island can be inconvenient at best, but the ferries have procedures to allow preferential boarding, basically skipping the line. Call first, though. You can get more information about Washington State Ferries medical preferential loading here.
Many residents are close enough to other regional facilities like the hospitals in Anacortes and Everett. Especially for people living near the north end or the south end, it can be quicker or more appealing to drive across the bridge to Anacortes or the hopefully short-enough trip across the Clinton Ferry to Mukilteo and, hence, to Everett.
What about insurance?
Because Whidbey’s population is necessarily small, there are fewer local insurance options. Your results may vary. One bit of perspective: the folks who’ve lived here long enough have probably found a solution that works well enough for them. It may not be optimal, but the tradeoff can be not having to leave the island. Especially in bad conditions, it can be reassuring to have a more personal relationship at a critical time.
Military has additional options.
Military personnel also have alternatives at the Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor. Convenient and more likely to be aware of the concerns of service members. Click here for there directory.
Conventional medicine has been changing.
Treatments that were considered unconventional are now becoming more accepted. Chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncturists,… another long list. Some such services are available through hospitals and clinics, but they are frequently found as isolated providers. Being part of the Pacific Rim means many cultures are represented on Whidbey. What western medicine considers unconventional may be something that’s been practiced for thousands of years. That’s considered traditional to millions.
As usual, locals can know best.
Social media is filled with requests for various types of care. Birthing services, elder services, and mental health care are frequent requests. When in doubt, if you can’t find links from here, check with your neighbors. Everyone’s needs are different, so one answer doesn’t answer all. One source of information and support is Friends or Friends, another valuable non-profit on Whidbey.
Health data on Whidbey.
Over all of these details is overall health. How healthy is Whidbey relative to other parts of the country? US News & Report did some research.
“Overall, Island County got a 71.8. That sounds like a C, but the average for its peers is 45.3.” – AboutWhidbey
“Life expectancy is 4 years higher than the national average, 81.9 vs 7.9 years. People are more active, 82.3% vs the typical American at 75.5%. Folks are less likely to smoke (tobacco, that is) 13.9% vs 17.3%. And only 11.4% of adults are considered to be in poor health vs 16.1% for the nation.” – AboutWhidbey
Whidbey isn’t perfect. No place is, but whether from culture, or nature, or job benefits, living on Whidbey can be a treatment of its own. We hope this helped answer the where is the health care question for you, or at least points you in the right direction. See your doctor regularly, eat well, exercise, and enjoy living someplace healthy. Hmm. Might be time for a salad and a walk. Whidbey is certainly a good place for all of it. If your new to Whidbey and wanting to learn more keep searching through our blogs for a wealth of information about Whidbey. If you are considering making Whidbey home connect with us! Our agents are not only Real Estate experts but also are a wealth of information about Whidbey.
Weather in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest, or PNW, is a region known for its varied and often unpredictable weather. Located in the northwest corner of the United States, the PNW is home to a diverse array of climates and landscapes, ranging from the rainy, temperate rainforests of the coast to the dry, high-desert regions of the interior.
One of the most distinctive features of the PNW weather is the rain. The region is home to some of the wettest parts of the country. Some areas receive over 100 inches of rain per year. While the rain can be a nuisance at times, it is also a vital part of the region’s ecosystem. The rain provides the water needed to sustain the lush forests and vegetation that thrive in the region.
In addition to the rain, the PNW is also prone to fog and mist, especially along the coast. These foggy conditions can last for days at a time, creating a unique and sometimes eerie atmosphere.
Weather on Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island, located in the northwest corner of Washington state, is no stranger to the PNW’s unpredictable weather. Located in the Puget Sound, the island is influenced by both the maritime climate of the coast and the inland climate of the region. As a result, the weather on Whidbey Island can vary significantly from one day to the next. Sometimes a sunshining clear skies day gives way to rain and fog in a matter of hours.
One unique aspect of the weather on Whidbey Island is its location in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. The rain shadow effect occurs when moist air is forced up and over a mountain range. When this happens it causes it to cool and release its moisture in the form of rain or snow. As the air descends on the other side of the mountain range, it warms and becomes drier, creating a “rain shadow” region that receives less rainfall.
Due to its location on the leeward side of the Olympic Mountains, the areas of North and Central Whidbey Island experience this rain shadow effect, resulting in significantly less rainfall compared to other parts of the PNW. While the island still gets its fair share of rain and fog, it is generally drier and sunnier than the surrounding region. Less rainfalls makes it a popular destination for those seeking a respite from the rain.
Despite the often-variable weather, the PNW and Whidbey Island are beautiful and unique places to visit or call home. The diverse landscape and varied climate create opportunities for a wide range of recreational activities. Many people enjoy hiking and camping in the summer to skiing and snowboarding in the winter. So, whether you’re a seasoned resident or a first-time visitor, be prepared for a little bit of everything when it comes to the weather in the PNW and on Whidbey Island.
When you fall in love with the island and want to stay let us help you find your dream home. Connect with us here.
Fall Season: Apple Pie Recipe
Fall has finally arrived!
Many people have their own way of celebrating the changes of the season, whether it be the pumpkin spice latte in place of their usual, the apple cider wax melts in their burners or the purchase of the burnt orange coats and warm fussy socks. For us… one of our all-time favorite ways of celebrating is with the smell of warm apple pie filling our homes with mouths nearly drooling till the vanilla ice cream is plopped on top and served.
…and we would like to share that experience with you.
Don’t have a recipe of your own? Give this quick and easy one a try. It will not disappoint.
Pre: 30 Min
Cook: 1 Hour
Servings: 8
Makes: a 9-inch pie
INGREDIENTS:
_ 7-8 Granny Smith Apples
_ 1/2 C unsalted butter
_ 3 TB all purpose flour
_ 1/2 C white sugar
_ 1/2 C packed brown sugar
_1/4 C of water
_ 1 thawed 9-in double crust pie pastry
INSTRUCTIONS:
_ Peel and core apples. Slice into thin strips and set aside.
_Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 C).
_Press one pastry into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Roll out the remaining pastry and cut into thin strips to make the lattice topping.
_ In a pan melt butter over medium heat. Once melted add add flour to form a paste. Cook about 2 minutes until fragrant.
_ Add both sugars and water to the paste and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes then remove from heat.
_ Meanwhile place apple slices into the pie crust pie creating a mound.
_Pour the sugar paste over the top of the apple slices reserve a bit to brush your lattice topping with
_Using the remaining pie crust you cut into strips create a lattice topping and brush with remaining sugar mixture.
_ Bake in your preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 C) and continue baking until apples are soft roughly 35 to 45 minutes.
TOP WITH:
_ Vanilla Ice cream
_Serve slightly warm
_ Tag us on Instagram @Windermere_Whidbey_Island
_Enjoy
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