Activity guidebook
Sightseeing
Host volunteers here a lot. Museum is full of local and naval aviation history. Great for all ages!
11 locals recommend
PBY Memorial Foundation PBY-Naval Air Museum
270 SE Pioneer WayHost volunteers here a lot. Museum is full of local and naval aviation history. Great for all ages!
Excellent island history and fabulous ice age exhibit downstairs. They have one of the only remaining log houses on the island and native canoes. PNWNAM museum usually has a coupon for $1 off admission for here. Ask the PNWNAM museum desk for coupon/bookmark when you visit PNWNAM.
11 locals recommend
Island county Historical society Museum
908 NW Alexander StExcellent island history and fabulous ice age exhibit downstairs. They have one of the only remaining log houses on the island and native canoes. PNWNAM museum usually has a coupon for $1 off admission for here. Ask the PNWNAM museum desk for coupon/bookmark when you visit PNWNAM.
Marina info regarding mooring. The yacht club is private, but does have room rentals/catering: Https://www.ohmarina.org/marina
Paddle boarding, kayak, and SUP rentals:
Https://www.facebook.com/whidbeyislandboatsandboards/
South Whidbey Windsurfing info: Https://se.kiteforum.com/kitesurf/spot/whidbey_island___double_bluff
City of Oak Harbor Marina
1401 SE Catalina DrMarina info regarding mooring. The yacht club is private, but does have room rentals/catering: Https://www.ohmarina.org/marina
Paddle boarding, kayak, and SUP rentals:
Https://www.facebook.com/whidbeyislandboatsandboards/
South Whidbey Windsurfing info: Https://se.kiteforum.com/kitesurf/spot/whidbey_island___double_bluff
Trout fishing, small boat launch, and swimming area. A parking lot separates the lake from the beach. Discovery pass required.
Cranberry Lake Campground, Deception Pass State Park
41229 State Rte 20Trout fishing, small boat launch, and swimming area. A parking lot separates the lake from the beach. Discovery pass required.
Charming local 3-screen theater. Newly remodeled snack bar with beer and wine. New seats as well...
Oak Harbor Cinemas
1321 SW Barlow StCharming local 3-screen theater. Newly remodeled snack bar with beer and wine. New seats as well...
Go carts, arcade, snack bar, and new bar. Excellent place to snuggle up in your car and watch a movie. Tune your radio to 88.7FM to listen to the show or pickup a speaker from the ticket office. Recommend arriving at least an hour early for popular/new releases. Movies start at dusk...
40 locals recommend
Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre
1403 N Monroe Landing RdGo carts, arcade, snack bar, and new bar. Excellent place to snuggle up in your car and watch a movie. Tune your radio to 88.7FM to listen to the show or pickup a speaker from the ticket office. Recommend arriving at least an hour early for popular/new releases. Movies start at dusk...
Really cool local art. Each piece has a QR code and you can watch a video of the artist explaining their work. The parking lot looks a little like a driveway from the road. Nice path through the woods, definitely take the extra loop. Cost: free will donation.
24 locals recommend
Price Sculpture Forest
678 Parker RdReally cool local art. Each piece has a QR code and you can watch a video of the artist explaining their work. The parking lot looks a little like a driveway from the road. Nice path through the woods, definitely take the extra loop. Cost: free will donation.
Food scene
Enjoy mostly scratch made and locally sourced fair. Craft cocktails and good desserts.
8 locals recommend
rustica cafe - wine bar - kitchen
670 SE Pioneer WayEnjoy mostly scratch made and locally sourced fair. Craft cocktails and good desserts.
Reasonably priced seafood and to go items. They have canned local troll caught tuna, salmon pate, smoked salmon, and live crabs (in season). Dine in or carry out...
24 locals recommend
Seabolt's Smokehouse
31640 State Rte 20Reasonably priced seafood and to go items. They have canned local troll caught tuna, salmon pate, smoked salmon, and live crabs (in season). Dine in or carry out...
One of the best cocktail menus in town. Excellent lunch specials and dinner favorites. Newly remodeled deck overlooking the harbor.
7 locals recommend
SWEET RICE THAI CUISINE & SPIRIT
885 SE Pioneer WayOne of the best cocktail menus in town. Excellent lunch specials and dinner favorites. Newly remodeled deck overlooking the harbor.
I've enjoyed nearly every item on their menu. Craft cocktails...
Two private backrooms for larger parties. Suggest calling ahead to reserve the room. Offers takeout and delivery as well...
The photos above are from their Freeland location. If you order delivery, choose Oak Harbor location. Also, Oak Harbor location is the closest recommended restaurant to the house.
38 locals recommend
China City
1804 Scott RdI've enjoyed nearly every item on their menu. Craft cocktails...
Two private backrooms for larger parties. Suggest calling ahead to reserve the room. Offers takeout and delivery as well...
The photos above are from their Freeland location. If you order delivery, choose Oak Harbor location. Also, Oak Harbor location is the closest recommended restaurant to the house.
Enjoy local Flyers brewery brews and pub fair. I've ordered nearly everything on their menu. Airplane themed...
12 locals recommend
Flyers Restaurant and Brewery
32295 State Rte 20Enjoy local Flyers brewery brews and pub fair. I've ordered nearly everything on their menu. Airplane themed...
Locally owned by brothers, Noe & Jose. Their breakfast/lunch/dinner is full of American and Mexican classics and one of the chefs is their mom... located inside Oak Town Mall on Pioneer.
6 locals recommend
Noe Jose Cafe Family Restaurant
830 Southeast Pioneer WayLocally owned by brothers, Noe & Jose. Their breakfast/lunch/dinner is full of American and Mexican classics and one of the chefs is their mom... located inside Oak Town Mall on Pioneer.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Bicycle Information
The Whidbey Island Bicycle Club has a Wednesday ride that leaves from Skagit Cycle on Pioneer. Saturdays, they have a 40 mile figure 8 loop that starts at the coffee place in the Papa Murphy's parking lot. For more info, check out: https://www.facebook.com/whidbeybicycleclub
Don't miss
Fishing, crabbing, clamming
More info and licensing: Https://whidbeycamanoislands.com/things-to-do/fishing-clamming-crabbing/
Getting around
Hiking ideas
Many state, county, and city parks, brief listing: Https://whidbeycamanoislands.com/things-to-do/hiking/
Dugualla State Park is about 5 minutes away. Features a few miles of looped trails. If you head straight to the beach, the climb is challenging on the way back. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/dugualla-state-park
Getting around
Horseback riding
Ride a horse...
https://pnwriding.com/
Don't miss
Birding
Enjoy watching birds? Our site is occasionally visited by eagles, herons, hawks, starlings, and other birds, such as our state bird, yellow goldfinch. For more birding info, check out the our local audubon society's field guide: Https://www.whidbeyaudubonsociety.org/birding-whidbey-island
Don't miss
Skagit Valley Guide
Our neighboring county, Skagit, includes Anacortes, Burlington, and La Conner. Here is their 2022 guide:
https://issuu.com/skagitpublishing/docs/exploreskagit2022
Getting around
Rock Taxi
The island only has one driver for Uber and Lyft. Recommend calling Rock Taxi, who's currently the only north end taxi service: (360) 914-3250
https://therocktaxi.com/
Getting around
Whidbey-Seatac Shuttle
Reservations online 24 hours prior or call them to schedule.
The Oak Harbor stop is behind Planet Fitness (a lot of people say behind the old Payless Shoes). If you use their other pickup locations, there's a surcharge.
360.679.4003
https://www.seatacshuttle.com/
Getting around
Free Island Transit Bus
The nearest official stop is across the street from Liberty Mart. The driver will stop anywhere along the route if it's safe to do so. Closest to the Route 3 is minimum 20 minute walk. Fakkema/Taylor - walk north on Hunt, right onto Taylor, and wait there. Hunt/Crescent - head south on Hunt, right Crescent, and wait there. Note: last bus leaving downtown on a weekday is around 5 pm.
https://www.islandtransit.org/
If coming from Coupeville ferry, transfer in Oak Harbor to Route 3. The ferry is free.