We spent the morning at this beach and had a lovely time. The beach itself is sort of a pebble…read morebeach and although low tide was around 7:00 this morning, when we arrived just before 9 the tide was still quite low. It was perfect for viewing the tide pools. We saw lots of crabs, tadpoles, shrimp, fish and even a little sea urchin. I had forgotten how much fun it was to do things like this and it made me super nostalgic for my childhood. There were lots of people with dogs, walking along the beach and the pathways. I also really loved the Maiden of Deception Pass; both the statue and the story. On the walk from the parking area, we saw lots of birds and rabbits and it is just a really beautiful place to visit. If we lived in the area I would come here often and I recommend a stop to anyone who hasn't yet had the pleasure.

Absolutely stunning views from the bluff at this beach. A short trail that leads above the beach…read moreand gives you the opportunity to see up and down the coast. All the way towards the bridge at deception pass. And there are clean restrooms here too. Always a must when I take a drive here. Discovery Pass required. Do it! Get outside and enjoy the wonderful experience of the PNW. SYOY!

We stumbled upon this absolute gem of a county park on a recent camping trip to Whidbey Island, and…read moreI just had to make a Yelp page for them! This spot is so pretty, located way off of busy Hwy 20 at the end of a dead end road. It's pretty basic - there are no amenities (not even a port-a-potty, eek) but don't let that stop you from visiting. The beach is absolutely breathtaking, with views across to Hope Island State Park and the mainland, and literally hundreds (if not thousands) of huge pieces of driftwood. My guess is the trees that float down the Skagit during flood season eventually end up at this park, and I'm here for it because there were some GIANT ones! There's also a tiny, no-frills boat-in campsite at the north end of the park, but the real experience here is to walk south along the spit where you can almost see Deception Pass, which is right around the corner. There's no lack of boats, sea life, and birds to enjoy. No to mention this was one of the best rockhounding areas I've been to in quite awhile! I had to resist re-starting my infamous fourth grade beach rock collection. This is definitely worth the visit, and the beach walk to the end of the spit is worth it (if not a bit more tiring than it looks). There was only one other person here during our visit, too, so it was super quiet!

The summit view is obscured with tall trees so it can be difficult to get a good view unless you…read morewant to do a little more hiking beyond the summit parking lot. On clear days you can see Mount Baker. There's a neat statue on top called, Mountain Guardian, with a small information placard explaining the significance of the work. It really meshes into the surrounding forest. Nice hiking overall, pretty peaceful. The road to the top is well maintained, although it's a little twisty at times so definitely do not speed or else you might wipe out, or wipe out the oncoming traffic!

Some great views with good hiking trails…read more Can get windy so you might want to bring a coat

I stopped at Bowman Bay one day on my way to Oak Harbor to visit my grandma. I had packed a lunch…read moresince I was traveling in the morning to midday and traffic was starting to pick up. My sister had recently come here to go kayaking and recommended it as a spot to visit. So, I decided to give it a try as a lunch spot. Discovery passes were required for parking, fortunately I had thought ahead and it was in the glove compartment of my car. I arrived towards the morning side of noon on 1 September 2021 and parking was abundant. The weather was sunny with a slight wind. So I decided to park, grab my lunch and eat on a piece of driftwood on the beach. A group of kayakers were just heading out as I ate and a few dog walkers made their way up and down the shore. Just up from the beach there were picnic tables and a large grassy expanse. A trail led off into a wooded area. The restroom building not far from the parking lot was kept cleanly.

This is one of those perfect little bays where time passes you by. Clean bathrooms. Easy parking,…read moremore spots down the road where they rent kayaks if it's full. An absolute lovely hike to Rosario Beach and Rosario Head, about a mile and hugs the coastline.

My four-year-old daughter and I LOVED Fort Ebey State Park. We went on a sunny August day and had…read morethe best afternoon. Coming from out of state, we easily purchased a $10 Discovery Pass day ticket and parked in the lot. Using our flashlight on our phone, we explored the actual fort, built during World War II as a coastal defense. The fort is preserved well and you can go inside all the rooms and tunnels. There are also trails along cliffs lined with meadows and forests, offering beautiful views of the water. There are public restrooms near the parking lot.

Ebey's Landing is a great place to start exploring Whidbey Island because this is where Colonel…read moreIsaac N.Ebey started his exploration of the island and also died here during a revenge killing. He died at the hand of Hatain native men. He was the first non native resident of the island. Today it is a great place to enjoy a picnic, stroll the beach, skip rocks, explore whatever is brought out by the tides, and just have a great time.

Watmough Bay is located within the larger Watmough Bay Preserve. The Bay itself is a national…read moremonument thru the U.S. Department of the Interior while the Watmough Bay Preserve is run through the San Juan County Land Bank. Watmough Bay is also called the San Juan Islands National Monument. The view of the Cascade mountains and the Bay itself are beautiful. There is a small parking lot off a short drive from Watmough Head Rd with a number of parking spaces. The Bay and the Preserve share a parking lot and trailhead. A short trail takes you to the Bay and the beach. The Cascade mountains are visible straight-out from the beach. Depending on the time of year you go, they might even be snow-capped! The rocks on the beach are beautiful to look at (no taking/collecting though!) and the water crystal clear. The driftwood makes for a nice seat if watching the ducks swimming in the water. Occasionally one would dive down beneath the surface of the water, and it was fun waiting and watching to see where they would pop up again. The rocky cliffs forming the sides of the Bay were also beautiful. A great place to go and clear one's mind and take in the beauty of the San Juan Islands and the Pacific Northwest.

Love everything about this place! My friends and I found a place to sit and chill by the water…read more We watched people on their paddle boards and boats, so peaceful. There's a trail nearby that goes up, takes you through trees, and when you get to the top, breathtaking views!

An absolute favorite for good ole woods on the lake camping! Campgrounds have so much variety in…read moreshade, waterfront options, RV hookups, walk-in, and group sites. Their bathrooms and showers are well maintained, and the public use areas are always kept up as well. They staff a little snack shack where you can find limited swim gear and accessories, plus impressive snacks, coffee, ice cream, candy, etc. The lake is a non-motorized boat lake, but they rent out water toys or bring your own float islands and paddleboards. Mt. Constitution is also found within the park and is a must visit! Views into Canada and over the WA coast are to die for on a clear day. Whether you're visiting just for the day or longer, Moran State Park is an oasis worth experiencing!

This is probably the biggest highlight on Orcas Island if you're outdoorsy!…read more Lakes, scenic views, trails a plenty even leading to an ice cream finish, water activities, and on and on and on. I had only wished we had one more day. My group did the Cascade Lake Loop, Cascade Fall's, plus give or take hopping on to another trail to widen the "loop." Day passes are $10 bucks and go off an honor system with completing a short form with vehicle and govt issue ID details and dropping them into a collection box. Plenty of places to park near multiple different trail entrances. The trails are well maintained & the trees are massive. Sugar shack offered up some delicious ice cream during our widening of said loop. There were clean bathrooms and a large playground located near this pit stop. Plenty of entrances/parking to different trailheads can be found along the outskirts. Definitely recommend for anyone taking a vacation on Orcas Island. And as always practice leave no trace!

I read about this trail online and decided to check it out today. It's a flat and paved trail with…read moreBeautiful views of the Guemes channel, Anacortes ferry terminal and sorrounding islands. Take your bike, bring your kids and the dog. The trail is 3 miles out and back, it connects to the Ship Harbor interpretive trail on one side and the other end will eventually connect to the Tommy Thompson trail making it one long trail.