Destination Guides - Central Whidbey Visitor Guide 2013

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Whidbey IslandVisitor Guide

Coupeville & CentralPh

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“Janet’s professionalism, intuition & Island knowledge are phenomenal!” - Jeff & Nora“Genuine, creative, outstanding service... Janet is truly a pleasure to work with!” - Arlynn & Chris

Live the Island dream…

FRONT STREET REALTY Drop by my office next to the Coupeville Wharf

22 NW Front St., Suite B • Coupeville 360-678-6100 • 206-387-1924 • www.janetburchfield.com

Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide The Whidbey Examiner 3

Small Town Charm . . . . . .4 Arts Scene . . . . . .6 Natural Beauty . . . . . .8 Family Fun . . . . .10 Birds, Whales and Wildlife . . . . .12 Whidbey Island Map . . 14-15 Ebey’s Prairie . . . . .16

Wonderful Whidbey Farms . . . . . 18 Greenbank Farm . . . . .20 Eat Like a Local . . . . .22 Calendar of Events . . . . .24 Whidbey Lodging . . . . .26

The Coupeville & Central Whidbey Visitor Guide is a special publication of The Whidbey Examiner

To subscribe, call 360-678-8060. Visit the Examiner online at

www.whidbeyexaminer.com

WhIdBEy ExAMINEr STAFF: Publisher & Executive Editor • Keven Graves

Editor • Megan HansenEditorial Assistant • Jessie Stensland

Staff Reporters • Justin Burnett, Ron Newberry, Jim Waller and Nathan Whalen

Production Manager • Michelle WolfenspargerAdvertising Manager • Lee Ann Mozes

Advertising Sales • Teri Mendiola, Lee Ann Mozes Gail Rognan and Kimberlly Winjum

Creative Artists • Rebecca Collins, Ginny Tomasko and Leslie Vance

ON THE COvEr:Photo of Ebey's Bluff taken by Sarah

Richards of Lavender Wind Farm.

© 2013 The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not

be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written

consent from The Whidbey Examiner and Sound Publishing, Inc.This Guide is available online at www.whidbeyexaminer.com

ExaminerNews from the Heart of Whidbey Island

The Whidbey

2013 Coupeville & Central Whidbey visitor Guide

Your Guideto the Best of

Central Whidbey

VISITOR CENTER905 NW Alexander, Coupeville • 360.678.5434

www.coupevillechamber.com

4 The Whidbey Examiner Central Whidbey Island Visitor Guide

Enjoy Our Small Town Charm

Nestled in beauty and steeped in history, the small Town of Coupeville is one place that truly should not be missed.

Located within the heart of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, a one-of-a-kind national park, the town houses the county seat, is dotted with his-toric structures and is, unsurprisingly, the second oldest town in Washington.

Founded in 1852 and named after Capt. Thomas Coupe, a New England sea cap-tain, Coupeville was established two years before Seattle. Much of the town’s his-tory has been carefully preserved, with more than 100 buildings on the National Historic Register.

Coupeville’s historic glory days began in the mid-1800s when its bustling little business district caught the attention of sea captains from New England, some 50 of whom eventually sailed into the pristine waters of Penn Cove and settled into their new home.

Coupeville thrived from the middle 1800s to the early 1900s. Businessmen sold goods to prospec-tors headed to Alaska to seek their fortune, steamboats built in Coupeville plied the waters of Puget Sound, and the town’s resi-dents built beautiful Victorian homes that boasted of the town’s prosperity.

In the late 1930s, as development shifted to other parts of Puget Sound, Coupeville settled in as a sleepy little agricultural village. Then in the late 1960s, a modest coffee shop opened and became a new focal point for the revital-ization of Coupeville’s historic waterfront shopping district. The owners of the Wet Whisker, Jim and Dave Stewart, went on

to found Seattle’s Best Coffee – part of the early Northwest coffee culture that forever changed the way Americans think about their favorite caffeinated drink.

Surrounded by scenic farms, the shim-mering waters of Penn Cove and Admiralty Inlet and the majestic mountain beauty of the Olympics and the North Cascades in the distance, Coupeville seems frozen in time. The town’s beautifully preserved historic buildings, peaceful charm and interesting, unique shops and restaurants attract visitors looking to experience a bit of the past while enjoying a relaxing getaway.

A great place to begin your visit to the Reserve is the Coupeville Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 905 NW Alexander St. in downtown Coupeville. The visitor center is housed in Coupeville’s

historic fire hall, which was built in 1937 and refurbished in 2011. Public restrooms can be found on the north side of the building.

Visitors to down-town Coupeville find a vibrant business district housed in the town’s original build-ings, charming bed-and-breakfast inns, beautiful Victorian homes, breathtaking views, a chance to see gray whales and orcas, and a warm welcome from locals eager to share the best of their hometown.

Coupeville also is home to the oldest working wharf in Puget Sound. The his-toric, barn-red granary at the end of the 450-foot pier was built in 1905 for the Mosquito Fleet and ships bringing supplies to Whidbey Island and carrying away the produce from local farms.

Today, the remodeled wharf building

Coupeville - a great place to begin your visit

Penn Cove Water Festival is held in May each year.

Save The DaTe!May 25 – Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance Ceremony, historic downtown Coupeville. A quintessential small-town parade honoring America’s veterans with music, food and celebration. coupevillechamber.com or 360-678-5434.

June 29 – Strawberry Social, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coupeville United Methodist Church. An honest-to-goodness old-time social featuring waffles, shortcake or sundaes made with fresh strawberries from Bell’s Farm near Coupeville. 360-678-4256.

aug. 10-11 – Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, historic downtown Coupeville. Artists and craftspeople fill the streets for this community celebration, held annually since 1964. The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will visit Coupeville Wharf and stage an exciting battle sail on Penn Cove. coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org or 360-678-5116.

Oct. 5-31 – Scarecrow Corridor, Coupeville. Vote for your favorite scarecrow on display all month in front of homes and businesses throughout historic Coupeville. coupevillechamber.com. 360-678-5434.

Dec. 7 – The Greening of Coupeville and annual Christmas Parade, 5 to 8 p.m. historic Coupeville. Pick a spot along Main Street or Front Street to watch an old-fashioned holiday parade led by Santa Claus aboard a decorated fire truck. Tree-lighting and caroling follow. coupevillechamber.com. or call 360-678-5434.

Coupeville offers a variety of unique businesses that take pride in presenting an attractive community.


COFFEE & BISTRO

200 S. Main St.360-682-5832

coupevillecoffeeandbistro.com

Eclectic Northwest Cuisine in a Casual Bistro Atmosphere

Where the locals go for coffee!

Hats • Shoes Purses • JewelryEmbellishments

for body & home

Where shopping is “Practically Magic”

2 Front Street • Coupeville • 360-678-0664

Phở • Mussels • Stir Frys • SeafoodFish & Chips • Sandwiches

Enjoy the best view in town from the historic Coupeville Wharf!

26 Front St., Coupeville, 360-678-4924

On the Wharf!

Phở • Mussels • Stir Frys • SeafoodFish & Chips • Sandwiches



On the Wharf!

Mussels • Crab Cakes • SeafoodFish & Chips • Stir Fry • Sandwiches



Welcome to the Port of Coupeville

Diesel & Unleaded Gas • Showers for Boaters • Café • Coffee Shop • Gifts Moorage • Marine Exhibits • Kayak Rentals • Historic Facilities

Protecting the Environment • Promoting EcoTourism

Greenbank Farm Coupeville Wharf & Marina

portofcoupeville.org • 360-678-5020

houses a restaurant, an espresso bar and shops featuring gifts and souvenirs, Whidbey-made products and marine supplies for those arriving by boat. The building also houses an interpretive display focusing on the marine life in Penn Cove, the preserved skeletons of a gray whale, a Dall’s porpoise and a sea lion as well as an interactive underwa-ter camera you can use to check out the sea life beneath the wharf.

The wharf also offers public rest-rooms and showers for visiting boaters. An 80-foot long fuel pier provides access to diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline. Floats attached to the wharf provide about 400 feet of mooring space for pleasure craft. No electricity or fresh water is available at these floats. Just west of the wharf are four mooring buoys for boats 32 feet or less.

One of the more unusual destina-tions for visitors to Central Whidbey is historic Sunnyside Cemetery, just south of Coupeville. Located high on a wooded ridge above Ebey’s Prairie, the peaceful grounds have a broad, sweeping view of Admiralty Inlet and the beautiful farm-land below. In the dis-tance, the white-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east provide a majestic backdrop.

Established in 1865 with the burial of Winfield Ebey, the cemetery is the final resting place of many early pioneers. Also buried at Sunnyside are Chinese laborers, Native Americans descended from Whidbey Island’s early occupants and sea captains from the eastern United States who sailed into Penn Cove in the early 1850s, found their idyllic vision of safe harbor, and stayed.

The cemetery is also home to Davis Blockhouse, a small structure originally built as a log cabin in 1853 and later remodeled into a blockhouse after pio-neer Isaac Ebey was beheaded in 1857 by a raiding party from a Northern tribe seeking revenge for the death of a chief. Ebey and his wife had been the island’s first white settlers, arriving in 1852.

Coupeville Wharf houses several businesses as well as serves as a docking location for boats.


Explore the Island Arts Scene

Save The DaTe!June 22-23 – Visual Voices, an art show, at the Coupeville Recreation Hall, featuring 11 women artists from Whidbey Island and benefiting the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation. Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.visualvoiceswhidbey.com

July 7 – Summer Swing Dance, 7 p.m. at Crockett Barn, Coupeville. Enjoy music from the seven-piece Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band. Sponsored by Concerts on the Cove. concertsonthecove.org or 360-678-6821.

July 27-28 – Artist invasion 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lavender Wind Farm, 2530 Darst Road.

Aug. 10-11 – Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, historic downtown Coupeville. Artists and craftspeople fill the streets for this community celebration, held annually since 1964. The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will visit Coupeville Wharf and stage an exciting battle sail on Penn Cove. coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org or 360-678-5116.

Aug. 24-25 – Whidbey Open Studio Tour, locations from South Whidbey to Greenbank. More than 25 artists open their art studios to the public. Visit whidbeyworkingartists.com

Central Whidbey offers a rich and varied art experience

Artists demonstrate their craft for visitors at the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival each year.

Endless inspirations make Central Whidbey a natural settling spot for art-ists.

It's why many artists make Central Whidbey home. Look around and it's easy to see why.

Inspirations are found in Central Whidbey’s landscapes of open prairie, bluffs, trails and beaches. Stunning pan-oramic views of water, land and history are offered at both ends of Coupeville from historic downtown to Fort Casey.

On the clearest days, light illuminates the nuances of the spectacular island scen-ery. When clouds blow in, they move fast, shape-shifting and sending shadows scud-ding across the fields of Ebey’s Prairie.

On foggy days, the jagged horizon of evergreens fades into a mist, intriguing the imagination. And on those gray days when clouds hang low in the sky, the colors of nature, with all the greens and punctuations of flower brights, glow all the more intensely.

Galleries representing regionally and nation-ally recognized artists and craftspeople are found in Coupeville, Greenbank and along Hwy. 20 at the head of Penn Cove.

Artist-owned and cooperative galleries, art shows and work-shops are opportunities for visitors to converse with local artists about their work, inspiration and techniques.

Beginning and profes-sional artists alike learn from top working artists in fiber arts, mixed media, painting and photography.

The Pacific Northwest Art School offers more than 100 workshops each year, ensur-ing there’s a class for the artist who wants to learn feltmaking to the one who wants

to learn how to oil paint landscapes.The art school pairs students with some

of the nation’s best artists, bringing togeth-er those who are eager to learn and those who are eager to teach.

Set in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, the school’s varied programs emphasize the visual arts. Established as the Coupeville Arts Center in 1986, today the school attracts both students and pro-fessional artists seeking a creative and beautiful atmosphere.

Many local artists also offer classes and workshops at their own studios.

Whidbey Island is home to three annual self-guided tours of artists’ studios, one in the spring and two in late summer.

The first summer tour is set for Aug. 24-25, featuring artists from South Whidbey to Greenbank. Central Whidbey artists will hold their summer tour Aug. 31-Sept. 2,

with this tour rang-ing from Greenbank to North Whidbey.

This format is a depar-ture from 2012 when an island-wide tour was held in October.

These summer tours offer an intimate look into the private working spaces of artists. Guests can meet local artists and purchase their work directly from them in the environment where it was created.

These tours also enable collectors to browse works before they’re shipped to a gal-lery or sold elsewhere.

Many vacationers return home with a truly original souvenir.

In addition to the large, organized tours, many of our local artists offer classes and workshops at their studios at various times throughout the year.

The performing arts are well represented

Steve Eelkema works at his gallery and working studio, Penn Cove Pottery in Central Whidbey.


on Central Whidbey, with a busy season of family-friendly concerts at Coupeville Town Park and other local venues pre-sented by Concerts on the Cove.

The fiber arts communities also gath-er at Greenbank Farm for special textile events. Whidbey Island’s Quilters on the Rock transform the big barn for their annual quilt show, and the Whidbey Weavers Guild offers handspun and hand-dyed yarns, weavings and jew-elry at their annual show and sale in November.

No matter what the season, visitors stepping into historic Central Whidbey Island will be surrounded by a rich and varied art experience.

Dive in and enjoy!

� e quality care and highly trained sta� of a big medical center,

right here on Whidbey Island.

Mary Leah Oman, M.D., is Board Certi� ed in General Surgery and a member of the American College of Surgeons and the

American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Physician referral services available. • 101 N. Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239 • www.whidbeygen.org • 360-678-5151 • 360-321-5151

Acute Medical Services; Caring for you and about you.

Inpatient and Outpatient Surgery Services; Our surgeon’s skills are close at hand.

An All-Digital Diagnostic Imaging Center; Medical imaging with a di� erence.

Accredited Cancer Care & Diabetes Education; You don’t have to go o� -island.

Whidbey Family Birthplace; � e closer and better birthing center.

Rehabilitation Service Centers; (Coupeville & Oak Harbor) the road to rehabilitation is close to home.

Mary Leah Oman, M.D., is Board Certi� ed in General Surgery Mary Leah Oman, M.D., is Board Certi� ed in General Surgery

“I chose to practice at Whidbey General because of its talented, caring

sta� , the breadth and depth of services o� ered, and the fact that I can

o� er the kind of personal care that every patient deserves.”

At Whidbey General, we are committed to reducing our use of resources and having less impact on our environment.

Central Whidbey offers many locations for artists to display their art including galleries and an art school.


Central Whidbey's history and charm are accentuated by a series of parks sprin-kled around the region. These parks not only display the beauty of Whidbey and Puget Sound, but offer a wide variety of activities and sights that attract visitors of all ages.

From breathtaking gardens to an under-water marine, from a former U.S. Army fort to a retired lighthouse, you will find it all on Central Whidbey. The parks provide hiking trails, beautiful beaches, tent and RV camping and play fields.

The most prominent on Central Whidbey is Fort Casey State Park. At the center of the park are the old Army structures and battlements that are a delight to explore.

The U.S. Army took over the land in 1890 and began building the fort in 1897. Along with Fort Casey, the army constructed Fort Warden (Port Townsend) and Fort Flagler (Marrowstone Island) to form the "Triangle of Fire." The con-figuration of forts protected Puget Sound from invasion of enemy ships.

Fort Casey, which was named after Brigadier General Thomas Lincoln Casey, was fitted with guns that had the ability to disappear from view to keep out of enemy sight and to protect the guns and the soldiers while reloading.

Ironically, the fort was almost obsolete when it was completed. The disappearing guns, once the cutting-edge of military technology, were vulnerable to aircraft which were invented about the same time.

The fort was deactivated after World War II.

The original guns were removed, but

two 10-inch and two three-inch guns were remounted for visitors to view.

In addition to exploring the military structures, visitors can hike the park's many trails, play on the beach and view an array of wildlife.

Fort Casey provides RV and tent camp-ing, a public-assess boat launch and a marine park for scuba divers.

Volunteers with the Fort Casey Volunteer Battalion lead 45-minute guided tours of the gun batteries at 1 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday from May 18 through Sept. 14. Tours also are offered on July 4 and Sept. 3. For more informa-tion, call 360-678-4519.

Included in the park is the Admiralty Head lighthouse. The lighthouse was built as a navigation aid for ships sailing down

the Strait of San de Fuca into Puget Sound. The original structure was removed and in 1903 a new l i g h t h o u s e was built with 18-inch walls designed to withstand the concussion of Fort Casey's massive guns. The lighthouse

was shut down in the 1920s.Today the lighthouse is an interpretive

center and during the Christmas season includes a holiday gift shop.

In 2012 a historically accurate lantern was reinstalled.

Fort Casey State Park is open 8 a.m. to dusk, and the picnic area is open April 30 to Sept. 30.

For information about the campsite, call 888-226-7688.

Fort Ebey State Park, also originally build as part of the coastal defense system, sits just north of Fort Casey and offers many of

Parks showcase Whidbey Island's natural wonders

Meerkerk Gardens is located just south of Greenbank Store, off Highway 525

Save The DaTe!MAY 12 – Mother's Day Concert,12-4 p.m. at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens in Greenbank. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.

JulY 5 – First Friday at the Farm, 5-8 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700..

SEPT. 8 – Community Concert & Salmon Barbecue, noon at Coupeville Town Park, Coupeville. Free outdoor concert follows sponsored by Concerts on the Cove; barbecued salmon served by the Coupeville Lions Club. coupevillelions.org or 360-678-4105.

SEPT. 21 – Tour de Whidbey, a 10 mile flat ride. Registration now open. www.tourdewhidbey.com.

OcT. 5-6 – Fall Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Buy all sorts of lovely rhododendrons and more. meerkerkgardens.org. 360-678-1912.

DEc. 7 – Jingle Trail Run and Walk, Camp Casey, Coupeville. 5k run and 1-mile walk through pretty forest trails. centralwhidbeychamber.com or 360-678-5434.

Admiralty Head Lighthouse is a landmark historic structure at Fort Casey State Park.

Bask in Our Natural Beauty


The Yoga LodgeWhidbey Island

yoga classes

retreats

bed & breakfast

WWW.yogAlodge.com

360-929-59853475 Christie Road, Greenbank, WA

Whidbey IslandWhidbey Islandon

❧ 10 acres of display gardens❧ 43 acres of forest trails❧ Rhododendron plant sales❧ Musical and festive events❧ Custom guided tours

in Greenbank

Open Daily 9-4www.meerkerkgardens.org

a 501(c)3 organization

a peaceful woodland gardenMeerkerktake a walk . . .

Custom guided tours

www.meerkerkgardens.org

A State Flower License Plate helps support Meerkerk

the same activities at a smaller scale.In the summer it is open 6:30 a.m.

to dusk. In the winter the campground closes Nov. 1 to Feb. 28, and day-use hours are 8 a.m. to dusk.

A Discover Pass is required to enter all Washington state parks, such as Fort Casey and Fort Ebey. For information about the pass, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

Another historic and interesting stop is the Greenbank Farm with its many offerings and spectacular views (of both sides of the island!). In the center sits a 100-year-old barn, shops, art galleries and a restaurant. The farm is a non-profit organization owned by the Port of Coupeville. In addition to its visitors' services, it offers a farm school for those wishing to get a better understanding of organic farming and the legendary Loganberry Festival (July 27 and 28 in 2013).

The farm businesses are open noon to 5 p.m. seven days a week and until 8 p.m. the first Friday of each month.

While in Greenbank, drive two miles south to visit the Meerkerk Gardens and its array of Northwest beauty. The not-for-profit garden includes 10 acres of display and educational gardens within a 43-acre woodland preserve. Over four miles of trails wind through the park. Friends of Meerkerk memberships, plant sales, admission and contributions com-bine to care for the gardens. The gar-dens are noted for their rhododendrons which hit full bloom in the spring.

A series of garden-related activi-ties, including hands-on, educational

programs for youngsters, are offered throughout the year. Musical and festi-val events also dot its calendar.

Summer hours (March 15 to Sept. 15) are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the winter (Sept. 16 to March 14), the park is open 9 a.m. to dusk.

Visit meerkerkgardens.org or call 360-678-1912 for more information.

Two popular Island County parks are Libbey Beach and Rhododendron Park.

Libbey Beach, at the end of Libbey Road north of Coupeville on Partridge Point, offers great views of the sun set-ting into Puget Sound, bird watching, barbecues and beach walks.

Rhododendron Park, about 1.5 miles south of Coupeville, provides three ball fields, restrooms, picnic area, playground, trails and sheltered barbecue area.

The park also offers 10 campsites open April 1 to Nov. 1. The sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Just up from the iconic Coupeville wharf sits Coupeville Town Park, home of a covered outdoor stage and host of summertime concerts. It is a popular picnic destination and offers restrooms, a tennis court and peak-a-boo views of Penn Cove.

Visitors can tour old military structures at Fort Casey State Park.

Rhodies are in full bloom in late spring at Meerkerk Gardens, where every variety of the flowers may be seen in peak months.

Central Whidbey offers no shortage of places to explore for children.

Kids get a chance to play in a real fort, dodge squirting clams on beaches and have a close encounter with skeletons of enormous sea life.

In downtown Coupeville, kids can walk out on Coupeville Wharf and check out colorful starfish hanging out u n d e r n e a t h the pier. In the historic building at the

end of the Wharf, they can visit Rosie, Rudy

and Samson – a display of the complete skeletons of a gray whale, a Dall’s porpoise and a Steller sea lion that once swam in the waters off Whidbey Island.

When you visit the pier when the tide is at its lowest, it’s easy to spot reefs of mussels, quirky tangles of brightly colored starfish and squirting clams. Families with older children may enjoy renting a couple of kayaks from the Harbor Store at the end of the wharf for a short paddle on the protected waters of Penn Cove.

At the Island County Historical Museum, you can see the largest collection of woolly mammoth artifacts in the Puget Sound region, most of which were found in glacial deposits on Whidbey Island. Kids are especially impressed by the big tusks and teeth. The museum also is home to Whidbey Island’s first car, a 1902 Holsman with black leather seats, 48-inch wheels

and a maximum speed of 25 mph.During Penn Cove MusselFest, held the

first weekend of March, the museum offers kids a chance to make unique mussel souvenirs and mermaid decorations.

Each October, the museum hosts Mammoth Day, an annual celebration of the island’s best-known prehistoric resident. By digging for and identifying different characteristics of real mammoth bones, kids are transformed into real, certified amateur paleontologists. Fun, hands-on activities include making and playing “prehistoric” musical instruments in a Caveman Band. A scavenger hunt in the museum and on its grounds is lots of fun, and along the way, kids get to learn a little about mammoth life.

Looking for a place for the kids to burn off some excess energy? A swingset and jungle gym can be found at Coupeville Town Park, just a short walk up Coveland

Street from downtown Coupeville.

At Greenbank Farm, kids can watch ducks and geese on the pond next to the big red barn or run through the fields where the farm’s signature loganberries once grew. The farm also offers an expansive and scenic off-leash dog park with views of two different mountain ranges.

On Sundays from spring through fall, the farm hosts a farmers market with fresh produce and local crafts, and the

annual Loganberry Festival in July always features face

painting, kids’ games and an old-fashioned hayride.

In October, the Coupeville Farmers Market hosts its annual HarvestFest, featuring a giant-pumpkin contest, silly scarecrows, wild and crazy relay races

fly a kite, build a beach fort, meet a wooly mammoth

Great Places for Family Fun

Save The DaTe!July 27-28 – Loganberry Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. A free annual wine-tasting, food, music and art extravaganza with activities for kids and a lip-smacking loganberry pie-eating contest. www.greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.

Aug. 10 – Whidbey Island Highland Games, Greenbank Farm. Bring the kids and check out the Whidbey Island Celtic Society’s annual celebration of all things Scottish. Enjoy pipe bands, pipers, dancers and athletic events along with sheepdog demonstrations and plenty of food and fun. wihg.org or 360-331-5437.

Aug. 15-18 – Whidbey Island Area Fair, Langley. Bring the whole family to our old-fashioned country fair, where you’ll enjoy music, carnival games and rides, food booths and lots of animals. whidbeyislandfair.com or 360-221-4677.

Sept. 21-22 – Whidbey Island Kite Festival. This colorful event colors the sky with all kinds of kites, single line, dual and quad line. There is a sportkite competition, mass ascensions, kite lessons, a teddy bear drop, kids kitemaking, and more. On Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. there is an amazing Indoor Kite Flying event at the Coupeville High School gym. 360-678-7052 or visit www.whidbeykites.org


Samson, a skeleton of a Steller sea lion that washed ashore on South Whidbey in 2008, is displayed in a building at the end of the

Coupeville Wharf.

Above, children enjoy many funactivities on holidays and during

festivals on Whidbey Island.

Karri Wright of Oak Harbor is all smiles during a photo oppor-

tunity in historic downtown Coupeville during Musselfest 2013.


and fun for all ages. Be sure to wander through town to check out the scarecrow competition!

Kids also love to explore the beach at Ebey’s Landing, just south of Coupeville. Walk for miles along a pristine shoreline, looking for agates among the rocks on the beach and keeping an eye out for whales, eagles, sea lions, container ships, cruise ships, tugboats – and even an occasional submarine.

Fort Casey State Park, which is close to the Keystone ferry dock, is a great place to fly a kite, explore the historic Admiralty Head lighthouse and play hide-and-seek in the old fort structures where soldiers once kept a lookout for invading foreign forces that never

came.At Seattle Pacific University’s Camp

Casey Conference Center, on Engle Road not far from Fort Casey State Park, a protected outdoor swimming pool is a great place to spend a warm summer day. The broad, grassy field where Army soldiers long ago practiced military drills is now host to the annual Whidbey Island Kite Festival, held each September.

A few miles north of Coupeville, the Blue Fox Drive-In is one of Washington’s few remaining outdoor cinemas. Open since 1959, the theater also offers go-carts, miniature golf and a game arcade, along with the latest movies starting at dusk.

We’ll take you where you need to go!

Public transportation throughout Whidbey & Camano Islands – Fare-free and Easy!

Check out our Google trip planner at www.islandtransit.orgToll-free: 1-800-240-8747

Island Transit

Across from the Keystone FerryCoupeville • 360-678-5396

FISH & CHIPS!Espresso, Ice Cream

& Chowder

360-678-1746105 NW Coveland St., Coupeville • Mon-Fri • 8–5

Fuel InjectionBrakes • Clutches

Electrical • EnginesTransmissions & more

CompleteAutomotive Repair

Domestic & ForeignDiagnostics & Tune-up

cards & candy

Eclectic toys, books

23 Front Street in historic

old tow

n Coupeville

678-6122 Open every day

The HoneyBear

A young visitor to Coupeville's MusselFest in March met a colorful, new, four-legged friend.


Birds, Whales & Wildlife

Save The DaTe!Aug. 15-18 – Whidbey Island Area Fair, Langley. Bring the whole family to our old-fashioned country fair, where you’ll enjoy music, carnival games and rides, food booths and lots of animals. whidbeyislandfair.com or 360-221-4677.

Aug. 25 – Wag & Walk, Greenbank Farm. Bring your four-legged, tail-wagging best friend for an afternoon festival celebrating all things canine. Benefits the Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation. wagnwalk.org or 360-678-7700.

Sept. 21-22 – Whidbey Island Farm Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, self-guided tour of working farms all over beautiful Whidbey Island featuring locally grown food and products, farm animals and a tour of the largest mussel farm in the United States. whidbeyfarmtour.com.

Sept. 21 – 4th Annual Whidbey Raptor Day, Pacific Rim Institute, 180 Parker Road, Coupeville. Upcoming event details to be announced. Visit www.pacificriminstitute.org and click events or 360-678-5586.

Get up close and personal with Whidbey's wildest residents

Hawks can be seen perching all over and soaring in the skies above Central Whidbey.

Life flourishes on the scenic landscape, in the skies above and below the lapping waves of Central Whidbey Island.

Bald eagles and hawks are omnipresent, riding the thermals rising from the earth. Tame deer graze all day on the parade grounds at Camp Casey. Giant octopus and rockfish the size of small dogs live in under-water gardens.

Then there's the coyotes, salmon, shell-fish, whales, seals, raccoons and a world-renowned diversity of birds.

It’s a natural paradise that’s equally rewarding to hikers, bicyclists, birders, whale-watchers, artists, photographers – and anyone looking for a serene island escape.

And just off the west shore of Central Whidbey, Smith and Minor Islands Aquatic Reserve, designated in 2010, cov-ers more than 36,300 acres of tidelands and seafloor habitat surrounding Smith and Minor islands, already part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Reserve.

Connected to neigh-boring Minor Island by a spit of land vis-ible only during low tide, Smith Island was once home to a light-house that endured for 100 years before ero-sion forced its abandon-ment in the mid-20th century. Little evidence of human habitation remains, and the local wildlife has reclaimed the island.

In Central Whidbey, farmers over the years have signed over the development rights to thousands of acres, now set aside forever as open prairie within Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

Central Whidbey’s spectacular natural environment beckons visitors to explore. Here’s a list of suggestions for enjoying the best of what the region has to offer:

Birding at Crockett Lake. Hands down, the state-designated Important Bird Area at Crockett Lake is Whidbey Island’s top bird-ing spot, among several great ones. Watch bald eagles devour their kill at the water’s edge while gangly great blue herons step deliberately in the marsh, necks coiled to spear dinner with their bills. This large marsh and adjacent saltwater shore attract dozens of migrating species, plus hawks, owls, swallows, red-winged blackbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds.

Watch gray whales in Penn Cove and Saratoga Passage. The large, leisurely grays often travel solo. Several take up residence in Saratoga Passage in March during their spring migration northward, staying through early June to feed on ghost shrimp in the sandy shallows. Watch for plumes of spray, arching backs and tail flukes from public-access points at Monroe Landing, the beach at the west end of Penn Cove, Coupeville Wharf, Captain

Coupe Park or Long Point. Book a springtime trip on a whale-watching boat from Coupeville Wharf. The grays will be found almost anywhere along the Whidbey and Camano shorelines from Coupeville to Langley.

See orcas in Saratoga Passage and Admiralty Inlet. Watch for agile, black-and-white orcas traveling in groups led by a female elder. Pods of Puget Sound resident orcas often prowl the west

shore of Whidbey from October through January and may be seen from any high ground or from the deck of the Keystone ferry. Visiting transients pass through our waters at any time of year on either side of the island, and occasionally are spotted in Penn Cove just off the Coupeville Wharf.

Admire underwater marine life at Keystone Jetty. Acres of anemones and

Wildlife and everyday life live in harmony on Whidbey Island. Many people visit Crockett Lake to bird watch, where this eagle photo was taken.


coral-encrusted rocks await scuba divers at the underwater marine park next to the Keystone ferry landing. Divers find a wonderland of riotously colorful rock-fish, large Pacific octopus and lingcod, schools of forage fish and undulating forests of kelp. A diver who visits on a weekend will often have the company of a lot of other visiting divers. But those who arrive on a weekday often get the

entire dive site to themselves. These waters are cold and the currents dan-gerous; consult a pro with local experi-ence at a dive shop in Oak Harbor or Anacortes.

Admire majestic trees along Madrona Way. There may be no more delightful canopy of madrona trees anywhere than along the several-mile stretch of Madrona Way, which hugs the southern shore of Penn Cove between Highway 20 and Coupeville. These rare, red-barked, broad-leafed evergreens grow mainly within sight of saltwater and reject human assistance of any kind, including watering!

Mingle with mussels and marine life at Coupeville Wharf. Gaze down from Coupeville Wharf at clusters of blue-shelled mussels, the succulent local bivalve that appears on restaurant menus worldwide. The world’s largest commer-cial mussel farm, Penn Cove Shellfish, grows them from lines suspended from dozens of aquaculture rafts anchored a mile west of this pier. Visit the marine exhibits at the end of the pier to learn more about the cove and what swims here. And enjoy the wealth of water-fowl that visits the cove from September through May, including grebes, loons, scoters and goldeneye ducks.

Enjoy trails and birds at Greenbank Farm at Whidbey’s narrow neck. The water on both sides of the Island can be seen from this rolling hillside, once

a vineyard and now set aside as public land for all to enjoy. Walk the farm and woodland trails, watching for herons, hawks and other birds hunting in the grassy fields. Take your dog – and please bag any pet waste.

Hike through old growth in the Classic U Forest. Marvel at rare mon-archs of the forest – centuries-old cedars – when you walk the Wilbert Trail through

the Classic U Forest at South Whidbey State Park.

Visitors looking for a detailed guide to Whidbey Island’s spec-tacular natural land-scape should pick up a copy of “Getting to the Water’s Edge on Whidbey and Camano Islands,” available for $15 at local bookstores and shops.

The book, written by local residents with extensive knowledge of the Island, provides maps and descriptions of 57 public places to enjoy the Whidbey shore and includes many trail maps and recre-ation suggestions. It’s also available by mail by placing an order at www.island.wsu.edu

Dan Pedersen is the author of “Whidbey Island’s Special Places,” a beautifully illustrated book that explores the island through the eyes of locals. The book is available at a variety of locations around Whidbey Island. Reach Dan at whidbeywriter.com

Seals sun themselves on mussel rafts at the Penn Cove Shellfish farm.

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Central Whidbey is a place of enduring beauty and historic grandeur. Its landscape is dotted with golden seas of agriculture, breathtaking scenic vistas and buildings of a bygone era that today, offer visitors a glimpse of the past.

The charming ambiance and small-town flavor for which the area is renowned are due in large part a community-driven effort 35 years ago to thwart development in Ebey's Prairie.

Their efforts made history, helping to establish Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve – a national park and the first of its kind. The enduring pioneer spirit and vision continues to be a part of our working rural community.

Established in 1978, the 17,400-acre Reserve preserves and protects a rural community and an unbroken historical record of Pacific Northwest history, from 19th century exploration and settlement to the 21st century. The landscape is a bucolic tapestry of fields, farmhouses and wooded hills that reflects the pattern of settlement from the 1800s.

The historical landscape of Ebey’s Landing appears much as it did a century ago. Historic homes, farmsteads and c o m m e r c i a l buildings remain in their original settings. Within the fast-growing Puget Sound region, the Reserve is the last remaining place where visitors can see a broad spectrum of Northwest history still intact within a large-scale landscape.

A great place to begin your visit to the Reserve is the Coupeville Chamber

of Commerce visitor Center at 905 N.W. Alexander St. in downtown Coupeville, where a large wall display presents the history of the area encompassed by the Reserve and a map to help you find your way around.

The visitor center has brochures on the Reserve, including one on local farms that features a map and guide to heritage barns.

On the ridge overlooking Ebey’s Prairie, the historic Jacob Ebey House hosts a seasonal visitor contact station. The house, which was built in the 1860s, has a interpretive panels illustrating 19th-century pioneer life.

Within the Reserve is one of the largest concentrations of historic architecture in the state, from pioneer blockhouses and Victorian homes to historic Coupeville storefronts.

Ebey’s Landing is one of the places where Washington began. Originally cleared by the Northwest’s native Salish Indians, the fertile land – an ancient lakebed – is still used for farming today. The Reserve reaches

beyond Ebey’s Prairie to include the b o u n d a r y lines of the original 1850s land donation claims. Many of the roads we use today are the same roads that farmers used more than 100 years ago.

E b e y ’ s Landing is unique in the

nation. While the Reserve is part of the U.S. National Park System and is protected from development, it is by no means a static museum of the past. Within its borders are the thriving small town of

Local pumpkin patches are a draw for families.

Ebey's Historic PrairieExplore the unbroken traditions of Ebey's Reserve

Save The DaTe!May 18 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville waterfront. Free family festival with Northwest tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, cultural demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, grilled salmon and other native and Northwest foods and children's activities. penncovewaterfestival.com or 360-682-5250.

aug. 31 and Sept. 1 –Summer Art Studio Tour, Greenbank to Deception Pass. More than 25 artists open their art studios to the public. Many island artists portray our historic and scenic Whidbey vistas in their works. whidbeyworkingartists.com

nov. 1-2 – Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve annual conference and celebration, Coupeville. Bring the family for a weekend of hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops Saturday and a community potluck Friday. nps.gov/ebla or 360-678-6084.

Central Whidbey farms provide many seasonal crops including

many varieties of pumpkins and squashes, like the native sweet

Hubbard Squash at Pioneer Farm.


Coupeville, neighborhoods tucked away in the trees, and productive farmland still being worked by descendants of some of the families who first established homesteads in the prairie landscape.

In 2013, the Reserve celebrates 35 years of protecting the unique historical and cultural landscape of Ebey’s Prairie. As Whidbey Island’s population continues to grow, awareness of the value of protecting this landscape is key to its continued preservation.

Development rights are purchased from willing landowners who want to see their land preserved as part of the prairie’s unbroken historical record, and sustainable building and land-use practices are encouraged as a way to limit our footprint on the land and protect our historic resources for future generations.

To encourage preservation efforts, the Reserve hosts the annual Preservation Field School, which provides people

with a hands-on opportunity to help preserve nationally significant historic structures for future generations. Past projects include the landmark wooden

water tower at the historic Kineth Farm on Smith Prairie as well as the historic Ferry House, which is located on the bluff just above Ebey’s Landing.

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Ebey's Prairie is home to several historic homesteads, which still function as working farms to this day.


With weather and market conditions continuing to be unpredictable, the optimistic and flexible nature of Whidbey Island farmers allows them to thrive in the 21st century.

Central Whidbey's agricultural scene currently includes cattle, sheep, llamas, goats, vegetable seed crops, hay, squash, lavender, potatoes, organic fruits and vegetables, flowers and even shellfish.

Families can get an up-close look at our working farms during the Whidbey Island Farm Tour, held this year on the weekend of Sept. 22 and 23. It’s a chance to visit with local farmers; purchase locally grown food; fiber and farm-related products; and soak up the friendly rural character of our beautiful island.

Some of the most scenic farmland is protected as part of Ebey’s L a n d i n g N a t i o n a l H i s t o r i c a l Reserve, which encompasses the fertile p r a i r i e s u r r o u n d i n g C o u p e v i l l e . Among the most profitable crops grown by Central Whidbey farmers today are vegetable seeds such as beet and cabbage. Seeds produced on Whidbey are distributed by multinational seed companies and may be planted as food crops all over the world.

Central Whidbey also is home to several farms that specialize in organic produce. Some sell their fruits and vegetables through community-supported agriculture, at local farmers markets or direct to local restaurants that like to “buy local.” Berries are an important crop, with

strawberries available in May and June at Bell’s Farm on West Beach Road and raspberries available at Milepost 19 Farm and several other farms in July.

During the growing season, local produce is available each Saturday at the Coupeville Farmers Market, located in the field behind the library, just two blocks south of the historic district and Coupeville Wharf.

At Greenbank Farm, a gorgeous sweep of land that started out as a dairy and later became the largest loganberry farm in the country, visitors can roam trails up into the rolling fields for a spectacular view of the sparkling waters and distant mountains that surround Whidbey Island. The upper

trails offer a place to let your dog run off-leash.

A small group of students are learning the ins and outs of farming by growing crops on several acres organic pasture. In addition, the students are r e s e a r c h i n g the best

organic seeds that could thrive in Whidbey's environment.

The historic barn and adjacent buildings house art galleries and a restaurant as well as shops featuring fine wines, cheeses and gifts. Outside, ducks and geese float on a pond next to a demonstration garden that beckons visitors to take a stroll. And in the lower fields, a training program provides aspiring farmers with an opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture and the business of farming.

At Lavender Wind Farm on Darst Road

Some farms feature "U-Pick" locations and times.

A variety of berries, like these Marionberries shown above, are grown on Whidbey Island.

Celebrate Our Wonderful FarmsFarmers embody entrepreneurial spirit

Save The DaTe!Aug. 15-18 – Whidbey Island Area Fair, Langley. Bring the whole family to our old-fashioned country fair, where you’ll enjoy music, carnival games and rides, food booths and lots of animals. whidbeyislandfair.com or 360-221-4677.

Sept. 21-22 – Whidbey Island Farm Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, self-guided tour of working farms all over beautiful Whidbey Island featuring locally grown food and products, farm animals and a tour of the largest mussel farm in the United States. Visit the website whidbeyfarmtour.com for updated information.

Mid OCt. – HarvestFest, Coupeville Farmers Market. Celebrate the end of the market season with fall produce, food, art, music, a giant pumpkin contest, wild and wacky relay races and more. Email [email protected]

NOv. 1-2 – Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve annual conference and celebration, Coupeville. Bring the family for a weekend of hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops Saturday and a community potluck Friday. nps.gov/ebla or 360-678-6084.


Seasonal Produce • Unique CraftsFun for the Whole Family!

Saturdays 10 am-2 pmApril thru mid-October • 8th & Alexander

[email protected]

Promote your business in the September issue of the 2013 Whidbey Island Farm

Tour Of� cial Guide publishing as a supplement to

The Whidbey Examiner Contact your sales rep at

360.675.6611.

ExaminerNews from the Heart of Whidbey Island

The Whidbey

News from the Heart of Whidbey Island

www.whidbeyexaminer.com

Promote your business in the September issue of the2013 Whidbey Island

publishing as a supplement to

Saturday, Sept. 15 & Sunday, Sept. 16 • 10 am to 4 pm

Whidbey Island

a supplement created by

Whidbey Island

Farm Tour Guide

west of Coupeville, you’ll find a pretty purple labyrinth in a spectacular scenic setting above the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A gift shop offers gifts, ice cream and other treats made with lavender essential oil.

Whidbey Island is home to a few more unusual agricultural operations as well, including the largest mussel farm in the nation. Driving along scenic Madrona Way just west of Coupeville, you can see floats bobbing on the waves of Penn Cove, where the workers of Penn Cove Shellfish grow mussels from “seed.”

Penn Cove mussels have emerged as one of Central Whidbey’s best-known farm products, and many local restaurants feature the small, shiny black shellfish on their menus. The mussels are delivered fresh daily to restaurants all over the region, including some of the finest restaurants in Seattle.

The Central Whidbey farm scene also includes a project aimed at encouraging native prairie plants that might otherwise disappear as open land is developed or used for more traditional farm production. At Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship just southeast of Coupeville, volunteers save seeds from about 20 endangered prairie plants, and those seeds are used to restore the prairie environment that settlers found when they first arrived in the 1800s.

Spring is a great time of year to see these rare wildflowers in bloom, and Pacific Rim welcomes visitors who enjoy roaming its trails, taking in the prairie landscape and watching the eagles, hawks and other raptors that hunt for lunch in the broad, open meadows. To get there, follow Highway. 20 south from Coupeville, and turn left at Parker Road. The entrance is on the right. Stop in at the office to ask directions to the trails.

While you’re there, you might even see a few pheasants on the Pacific Rim property; the land once housed a state-owned game farm that raised the birds to be released at hunting locations around Washington. Today, Pacific Rim keeps a few of the colorful creatures as a way of preserving a link to the historical use of the land.

Rich pockets of agricultural lands on Whidbey Island carry a deep history

of the evolution of farming. Salish tribes regularly burned the broad, open prairies to encourage wild camas and provide forage for game. As the early settlers arrived, they found the deep, loamy prairie topsoil and mild climate with good year ’round rainfall a sought-after gift. Land that settlers claimed on Whidbey eventually produced a wheat crop that broke the record for the highest yield per acre in the entire United States.

Early farms raised cattle, produced milk, grew hay, wheat, rye and oats as well as peas and potatoes. While the first farms were subsistence operations, Central Whidbey farmers went on to provide supplies for passing sailing ships and, later, for those headed north to seek their fortunes in Alaska.

Between the 1880s and 1920s, Chinese tenant farmers were known for their impressive potato crop. Remnants of their tiny, one-room shacks can still be seen tucked away at the edges of the prairie.

From the turn of the century to the 1960s, Central Whidbey was known for poultry production, and the early 1900s brought the first dairy creamery. Perfect climate conditions and the ability to grow top-quality forage crops kept dairies a mainstay of farming until the late 1990s, but changing market conditions and other factors led to the closure of the last dairy farm in 2007. Today, the Holstein heifers you see at local farms are being raised for farms elsewhere.


With future farmers learning their craft on picturesque farm fields, historic barns filled with art galleries, food and wine shops, the Greenbank Farm is an event destination that draws thousands of tourists and locals alike.

Greenbank Farm is nestled amid 522 acres of rolling fields, with quiet forest and sparkling wetlands beckoning visitors who want to relax and enjoy Whidbey’s laid-back atmosphere.

The farm is located at the narrowest part of Whidbey Island, and a short walk from the barns and shops to the top of the ridge provides a 180-degree panorama that features the snow-capped Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the west, Saratoga Passage and the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range to the east, and a view across Holmes Harbor to Mount Rainier toward the south. The upper trails offer a place to let your dog run off-leash.

An agriculture training center is thriving at the Greenbank Farm. It provides aspiring farmers with an opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture and the business of farming

through the course of a growing season. Greenbank Farm also is home to a

solar P-Patch, with solar panels installed by a local alternative-energy business, Whidbey Sun and Wind. A kiosk at the farm provides information about this community solar demonstration project.

A former dairy farm that more recently was home to the largest loganberry farm in the world, Greenbank Farm was threatened with development in the

mid-1990s, when owner Chateau Ste. Michelle made plans for a community with 700 homes. Local residents rallied to the rescue, and the farm was preserved as public property that includes c o n s e r v a t i o n easements that protect it from development.

The landmark farm is now host to working fields, a demonstration garden main-tained by the Washington State University Master Gardeners, a wildlife refuge a cultural and c o m m u n i t y center and a place

to kick back and relax.The barn and adjacent buildings that

house unique shops, art galleries and a restaurant are owned and operated by the Port of Coupeville. A stop at the

Greenbank FarmConnect with Island history amid pastoral beauty

Jan Gunn offers delicious treats at her Whidbey Pies Cafe.

Save The DaTe!June 22-23 – Loganberry Festival: the annual event features live music, wine tasting, loganberry pie eating contests, equestrian activities and children's activities.

Aug. 10 — Highland Games: Scottish culture comes alive during the 15th annual event that features such athletic games, highland dancing and, of course, bagpiping.

Sept. 22 — Whidbey Island Farm Tour: Greenbank Farm leaders are planning to offer slow food demonstrations, tractor demonstrations and walking tour of the Greenbank Farm.

nov. 1-2 — Uncommon Threads, Whidbey Weavers Guild Show and Sale: A community of fiber artists offer weaving, spinning, dyeing, basketry felting and more during a two-day event in the farm's rustic main barn.

nov. 29-Dec. 22 — Holiday Gift Market: Taking place over the course of four weekends during the holidays, the festive markets features local vendors and artisans along with a visit from Santa.

FirSt FriDAyS At the FArm includes wine and cheese tasting along with art, music and more during the monthly event that takes place in the evening. For more information about events at the Greenbank Farm, see www.greenbankfarm.biz or call 678-7700.

Greenbank Farm features several buildings including a barn used for many social functions.

Edible Works of Art

Fabulous artisan soups, salads, quiche, sandwiches, espresso,

select beer & wine and PIE, both sweet

& savory!

Dinners served the first Friday of each month. Reservations recommended.

(360) 678-1288 ~ Cafewww.whidbeypies.com

Fine Art Originals

Cards Prints - Gifts

Distinctive Art by Island Artists

360-222-3010 • www.artworkswhidbey.com

Rob Schouten Galleryconnection inspiration beauty

GLASS . JEWELRY . PAINTING FIBER ARTS . ENCAUSTICS SCULPTURE . CERAMICS

(360) 222-3070

Wine Tasting • CafeArt Galleries • Cheese Shop

Trails • GardensWildlife Viewing

Agriculture • Festivals & Events • Facility Rentals

Farmer & Artisan Markets

www.greenbankfarm.org678-7700 or 222-3151

farm’s wine-tasting room is a distinctly Northwest experience where visitors can explore fine wines in a casual and decidedly unstuffy atmosphere. And if you’re looking for picnic supplies, be sure to stop in at Greenbank Cheese to choose from a wide variety of foods that includes a number of locally made items.

The publicly owned farm features a full array of activities throughout the year that make the Central Whidbey facility a community destination.

And throughout the year, Greenbank Farm hosts a monthly First Friday on the Farm event that features art, wine, music, snacks and lively conversation.

The farm also hosts several popular annual events, including the family-friendly Loganberry Festival in July,

the Red Wine and Chocolate Wine Tour and Market in February, and a holiday market – complete with caroling and a tree-lighting celebration and visits with Santa – during the Christmas season.

The Greenbank Farm also has become a popular location for weddings, receptions and other celebrations, with ample parking for guests and a courtyard and gardens providing scenic surroundings for the historic, century-old barn that provides a center for events.

The Loganberry Festival pays tribute to the tart berry once grown in abundance on the property.

Students learn farming by taking an active role in the farm's production each year.



Coupeville Musselfest, held the first weekend in March, offers an amazing culinary array of

dishes featuring the famous mollusk.

Penn Cove mussels, lavender treats, local wines and more

Eat Like A Local

Save The DaTe!SATURDAYS – April 6 thru mid October, next to the Coupeville Sno-Isle Library Branch on the community green, Eighth St. and Alexander. Plenty of parking, hot food for sale, produce, arts & crafts, artisan breads and cheeses, and local camaraderie abound.

AUg. 3 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz. 360-678-7700.

AUg. 31 – Late Night Shopping, historic downtown Coupeville. Enjoy refreshments as you wander galleries and shops late into the evening. centralwhidbeychamber.com or 360-678-5434.

SepT. 8 – Community Concert & Salmon Barbecue, noon at Coupeville Town Park, Coupeville. Free outdoor concert follows sponsored by Concerts on the Cove; barbecued salmon served by the Coupeville Lions Club. coupevillelions.org or 360-678-4105.

MAR. 1-2, 2014 – Penn Cove Musselfest, downtown Coupeville and nearby venues. Celebrate Penn Cove's signature shellfish with chowder tasting, a mussel-eating contest and much more. thepenncovemusselfestival.com or 360-678-5434.

With Central Whidbey offering some of the richest farmland in the world, it's no wonder the area is quickly becoming known as a foodie destination.

Early settlers saw the potential for abundant crops here, noting the gentle marine climate, rich loam and just the right amount of rainfall. Thanks to efforts by local preservationists, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve is a protected prairie and farmland at the heart of the Island.

Today, Central Whidbey is dotted with small farms, where a new generation cultivates a variety of crops and farm life.

While many Islanders grow their own veggies or participate in Community Supported Agriculture Programs, visitors can enjoy the bounty from local farms at Central Whidbey’s two weekend farmers markets, at farm stands in summer, and year ’round at local restaurants.

Spring brings the return of a happy, healthy Whidbey Island tradition – weekend farmers markets – offer-ing fresh, locally-grown produce, baked goods, pre-serves and spe-cialty food items, plants, flowers, handcrafted soaps and lotions, arts, crafts, chef’s dem-onstrations and music.

The Coupeville Farmers Market, held on Saturdays in the Coupeville Community Green at Eighth Street and Alexander Street, opens in early April and runs until mid-October.

In operation since 1979, it’s the second-oldest continually operating

farmers market in Washington and its motto is “homemade, homegrown, and handmade.” Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays throughout the season.

From spring to fall, as the market gets under way, you’ll see food enthusiasts and local chefs scouting out fresh foods and planning menus based on what they find.

Restaurants throughout the area feature local products on their menu and advertise it proudly.

Spring market days feature bedding plants, fresh greens, rhubarb, hot food and a chance to talk to local growers.

Visitors can plan a sumptuous picnic from the bounty to be found at the

market, choosing the best produce from local, organic farms, berries, artisan cheeses, homemade bread and specialty jams and preserves.

At harvest time, Coupeville Farmers Market glows with fall colors — plump pumpkins, knobby giant squashes, rosy apples and smiling scarecrows. In 2012, the annual HarvestFest on Oct. 13

marks the end of the 2012 season for the popular market with music, games, a giant pumpkin contest and wild-and-wacky relay races.

At the markets, look for another specialty unique to Whidbey Island –

Loganberry Festival at the Greenbank Farm is one place where 'pie in the face' is considered cool.


Rockwell beans. The beans are named for Elisha Rockwell, who grew them here around the turn of the last century,

Rockwell beans are grown today by third-generation Island farmer Georgie Smith. Smith, who runs Willowood Farm on Ebey’s Prairie, grows produce for local farmers markets and for restaurants.

The white bean with cranberry mottling was held in such high regard by the farm wives of Ebey’s Prairie that many of them would save beans from the garden each year to plant in their kitchen gardens come spring.

You’ll find this bean on the menu at some local restaurants, and you can buy a bag of dry beans at the market to use in your own recipes.

At Greenbank Farm, stroll the trails for spectacular views of both Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountains and Admiralty Inlet and the Olympics.

Greenbank Farm is also home to a wine shop and tasting room that carries local wines.

The signature Greenbank Farm private label Loganberry wine and the unique Loganberry Dessert wine are best sellers.

Wine tastings are offered daily, and don’t miss the monthly First Fridays at the farm, when the wine shop highlights local wines and the farm’s art galleries entice visitors with wines, cheeses and art 5-8 p.m.

The Loganberry Festival held each year in July is the farm’s gift to the community, with live entertainment, food and artisan vendors – and all the loganberry pie you can eat.

Once the biggest loganberry farm in the world, Greenbank Farm still has some of the sweet, tart berries growing, and visitors can enjoy freshly baked loganberry pies among other delicacies at Whidbey Pies Cafe. The café is popular with locals and visitors and is open daily, year-round.

Greenbank Cheese & Specialties, open daily, is a great place to stop for picnic supplies.

The cheese shop at Greenbank Farm offers samples of local artisan and award-winning cheeses as well as unique marinades and dipping sauces, many made in the Northwest.

Locals wait all year for sweet, juicy strawberries from Bell’s Farm. The berries can be found at farmers markets from mid-June to mid-July, or arrange for u-pick/orders at the farm on West Beach Road north of Coupeville. After strawberry season fades, raspberries become available. Milepost 19 Farm on Highway 20 southeast of Coupeville offers fresh and frozen berries as well as preserves.

Lavender Wind Farm on Darst Road, off West Beach Road northwest of Coupeville, offers a variety of foods from mustards and jams to scone and cookie mixes, all made with lavender produced right there on the farm. The gift shop is open seven days a week.

At Sherman’s Pioneer Farm just outside Coupeville, Dale and Liz Sherman grow the only commercial crop of sugar Hubbard squash in the

country. Edwin Sherman planted the first sugar Hubbard crops on Whidbey Island during the Depression.

Sherman Farm is open weekends in October. Take a trolley ride out to the Pumpkin Patch, buy a fresh-made pie, check out the farm animals and let the kids run through the hay maze.

Coupeville also boasts Penn Cove Shellfish, the oldest and largest mussel

farm in America. Penn Cove’s unique hydrological and geographic features make it the most prolific mussel growing area in Washington. Look for the shellfish farm’s 60-foot, custom mussel-harvesting barges, next to the rafts in Penn Cove west of Coupeville.

Coupeville’s signa-ture shellfish have won top honors at international taste-test competitions for their sweet flavor and fabulous texture, and are annually the star of Penn Cove MusselFest in March. MusselFest is also a great chance to learn about sustainable sea farming methods used to grow and dis-tribute mussels, oys-ters and clams.

Fresh Penn Cove mussels, Manila clams and 27 varieties of Pacific oysters are

available in Coupeville at Prairie Center Red

Apple Market, 408 South Main St.The annual Whidbey Island Farm

Tour will be held the weekend of Sept. 21-22. The family-friendly free tour offers visitors a chance to meet local farmers, buy farm products, and see how small farms work to provide food for our tables.

Bon appetit!

Kapaws Iskreme in historic downtown Coupeville opens seasonally, offering hand-scooped ice cream and freshly-made waffle cones as well as shakes and smoothies.

Your island source for all things delicious!COUPEVILLE

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2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SaturdayS – through the second weekend in October – Coupeville Farmers Market on the community green off Alexander Street. Fresh produce, herbs, flowers, crafts, hot foods and baked goods.

SundayS – through the last weekend in September – Sunday Market, Greenbank Farm. Organic produce, honey, food and arts and crafts of all kinds. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7710.

april 13 – Meerkerk Magic, Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Enjoy the garden in peak bloom and shop for rhododendrons in the garden center. Children of all ages enjoy making forest fairies from woodland materials. meerkerkgardens.org or 360-678-1912.May 3 – First Friday at the Farm, 5-8 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. Meet the wine makers, shop the galleries and have a special dinner. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.May 12 – Mother's Day Concert,12-4 p.m. Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. meerkerkgardens.org or 360-678-1912.May 18 – Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville waterfront. Free family festival with Northwest tribal canoe races, native arts and crafts, cultural demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, grilled salmon and other native and Northwest foods and children's activities. penncovewaterfestival.com or 360-682-5250.May 25 – Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance Ceremony, historic downtown Coupeville. A quintessential small-town parade honoring America’s veterans with music, food and celebration. centralwhidbeychamber.com or 360-678-5434.May 25 – Late Night Shopping, historic downtown Coupeville. Enjoy refreshments as you wander the galleries and shops late into the evening. centralwhidbeychamber.com or 360-678-5434.June 7 – First Friday at the Farm, 5-8 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700. June 22-23: Visual Voices, an art show, at the Coupeville Recreation Hall, featuring 11 women artists from Whidbey Island and benefiting the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation.

Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.visualvoiceswhidbey.comJune 29 – Strawberry Social, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coupeville United Methodist Church. An honest-to-goodness old-time social featuring waffles, shortcake or sundaes made with fresh strawberries from Bell’s Farm near Coupeville. 360-678-4256. June 29-30 – World’s Biggest Garage Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Coupeville Elementary School. Get there early for the adrenaline rush when the starting gun blasts. coupevillelions.org or 360-678-4105. July 5 – First Friday at the Farm, 5-8 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.

July 14-19 – Whidbey Island Race Week. Whether you’re a sailor or you just enjoy watching the action from the Coupeville Wharf, you’ll enjoy these annual sailboat races from Oak Harbor to Coupeville on the scenic waters of Penn Cove. whidbeyisland raceweek.comJuly 7 – Summer Swing Dance, 7 p.m. at Crockett Barn, Coupeville. Enjoy music from the seven-piece Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band. Sponsored by Concerts on the Cove. concertsonthecove.org or 360-678-6821.July 27-28 – Loganberry Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. A free annual wine-tasting, food, music and art extravaganza with activities for kids and a lip-smacking loganberry pie-eating contest. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.

July 27-28 – Artist invasion 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lavender Wind Farm, 2530 Darst Road.aug. 3 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.aug. 10-11 – Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, historic downtown Coupeville. Artists and craftspeople fill the streets for this community celebration, held annually since 1964. The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will visit Coupeville Wharf and stage an exciting battle sail on Penn Cove. coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org or 360-678-5116.aug. 10 – Whidbey Island Highland Games, Greenbank Farm. Bring the kids and check out the Whidbey Island Celtic Society’s annual

celebration of all things Scottish. Enjoy pipe bands, pipers, dancers and athletic events along with sheepdog demonstrations and plenty of food and fun. wihg.org or 360-331-5437.aug. 15-18 – Whidbey Island Area Fair, Langley. Bring the whole family to our old-fashioned country fair, where you’ll

enjoy music, carnival games and rides, food booths and lots of animals. whidbeyislandfair.com or 360-221-4677.aug. 24-25 – Whidbey Open Studio Tour, South Whidbey to Greenbank. More than 25 artists open their art studios to the public. whidbeyworkingartists.comAug. 25 – Wag & Walk, Greenbank Farm. Bring your four-legged, tail-wagging best friend for an afternoon festival celebrating all things canine. Benefits the Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation. wagnwalk.org or 360-678-7700.aug. 31 & Sept. 1 – Summer Art Studio Tour, Greenbank to Deception Pass. More than 25 artists open their art studios to the public. whidbeyworkingartists.com

Sailboats dock at the Coupeville Wharf during race week in July.


aug. 31 – Late Night Shopping, historic downtown Coupeville. Enjoy refreshments as you wander galleries and shops late into the evening. centralwhidbeychamber.com or360-678-5434.Sept. 6 – First Friday at the Farm, 5-8 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.Sept. 8 – Community Concert & Salmon Barbecue, noon at Coupeville Town Park, Coupeville. Free outdoor concert follows sponsored by Concerts on the Cove; barbecued salmon served by the Coupeville Lions Club. coupevillelions.org or 360-678-4105.Sept. 21 – Tour de Whidbey, a 10 mile flat ride. Registration now open. www.tourdewhidbey.comSept. 21-22 – Whidbey Island Farm Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, self-guided tour of working farms all over beautiful Whidbey Island featuring locally grown food and products, farm animals and a tour of the largest mussel farm in the United States. whidbeyfarmtour.comSept. 21-22 – Whidbey Island Kite Festival. This colorful event colors the sky with all kinds of kites, single line, dual and quad line. There is a sportkite competition, mass ascensions, kite lessons, a teddy bear drop, kids kitemaking, and more. On Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. there is an amazing Indoor Kite Flying event at the Coupeville High School gym. 360-678-7052 or visit www.whidbeykites.org Oct. 5 – First Friday at the Farm, 5-8 p.m. at Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.

Oct. 5-31 – Scarecrow Corridor, Coupeville. Vote for your favorite scarecrow on display all month in front of homes and businesses throughout historic Coupeville. centralwhidbeychamber.com or 360-678-5434.Oct. 5-6 – Fall Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, Greenbank. Buy all sorts of lovely rhododendrons and more. meerkerkgardens.org or 360-678-1912.

Oct. 26 – Coupeville Halloween Torchlight Parade. A colorful children’s costume party by torchlight (flashlight) begins at dusk. Trick-or-treating and kids’ activities follow the parade. coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com or 360-678-3310.nOv. 1 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.

nOv. 1-2 – Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve annual conference and celebration, Coupeville. Bring the family for a weekend of hands-on farming and historic preservation workshops Saturday and a community potluck Friday. nps.gov/ebla or 360-678-6084.nOv. 30 — Gingerbread Workshop sponsored by Coupeville Chamber of Commerce and Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coupeville Rec Hall. Free family event. All fixins provided. Enter creations in the 4th Annual Gingerbread Challenge sponsored by The Whidbey Examiner. coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com or 360-678-3310.dec. 6 – First Friday at the Farm, Greenbank Farm. Wine and cheese tasting, art, music. greenbankfarm.biz or 360-678-7700.dec. 7 – Jingle Trail Run and Walk, Camp Casey, Coupeville. 5k run and 1-mile walk through pretty forest trails. centralwhidbeychamber.com or 360-678-5434.dec. 7 – The Greening of Coupeville and annual Christmas Parade in historic Coupeville. Stake out your spot along Main Street or Front Street to watch an old-fashioned holiday parade led by Santa Claus aboard a decorated fire truck. Tree-lighting and caroling follow.

Weather permitting, there is also a Christmas Boat Parade of Lights and late-night shopping 5-8 p.m. centralwhidbeychamber.com or 360-678-5434.dec. 7 – The Greening Concert in Coupeville. A Celtic yuletide concert featuring the Magical Strings performing with Irish instruments, step dancing and vocals. Sponsored by Concerts on the Cove. concertsonthecove.org or 360-678-6821.dec. 14 — Breakfast with Santa, 9 a.m. to noon at Coupeville Rec Hall. coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com or 360-678-3310.dec. 22 - Red Ticket Drawing. Shop, dine and stay with

participating merchants and earn red tickets to enter a drawing for $1,000 cash. Held at the Island County Historical Museum. Must be present to win. coupevillehistoricwaterfront .com or 360-678-5434.

For more information on central Whidbey Island events and news visit whidbeyexaminer.com

2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Many of Central Whidbey's events give children the chance to get up close and personal with farm animals.

Each year the Highland Games offers a glimpse into the past with a big festival.


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Destination Guides - Central Whidbey Visitor Guide 2013

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