Planning a Trip

Getting There

From I-5, take Wash. 20 west at Burlington. The highway turns south before you reach Anacortes and crosses over the Deception Pass Bridge to reach the north end of Whidbey Island.

Washington State Ferries (tel. 800/843-3779 or 888/808-7977 in Washington, or 206/464-6400; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) operates ferries between Mukilteo and Clinton at the south end of the island and from Port Townsend to Keystone near Coupeville. Fares are $6.85 to $8.60 for a car and driver and $3.95 for passengers between Mukilteo and Clinton; $8.90 to $11 for a car and driver and $2.60 for passengers between Port Townsend and Keystone.

Visitor Information

Contact Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce, 107 S. Main St., Bldg. E (P.O. Box 152), Coupeville, WA 98239 (tel. 360/678-5434; www.centralwhidbeychamber.com); the Langley Chamber of Commerce, 208 Anthes Ave. (P.O. Box 403), Langley, WA 98260 (tel. 888/232-2080 or 360/221-6765; http://langleychamb.whidbey.com); or Island County Tourism (tel. 888/747-7777; www.whidbeycamanoislands.com).

Getting Around

Island Transit (tel. 800/240-8747 or 360/321-6688; www.islandtransit.org) provides free public bus service on Whidbey Island.

Festivals

In late February, aspiring private detectives descend on Whidbey Island for the Langley Mystery Weekend (www.langleymystery.com), during which participants wander around trying to figure out "who done it." On the first weekend of March, you can eat your fill of mussels at the Penn Cove Mussel Festival (www.thepenncovemusselfestival.com), and in mid-July, Langley celebrates the visual and performing arts with the Choochokam Arts (www.choochokam.org) festival. In early August, there's the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival (www.coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org).