weekender destinations weekender
Head two hours south of the border for an action-packed
family adventure in Puget Sound
Whidbey Island
Getaway
room With
a viEW
Gaze at ships or
maybe even an orca
whale in Saratoga
Passage through the
window of your
hotel room (above)
at the Boatyard inn
(boatyardinn.com).
Relax in either a
waterfront or water-
view deck in any of
the 12 oversized
units, each equipped
with a mini-kitchen.
F
or a spring jaunt loaded with family
fun, Washington State's Whidbey
Island truly delivers, rain or shine.
COaStal aDventureS
Fly a kite, beachcomb or search for jade
and agates at Double Bluff Beach on the
south end of the 80-kilometre island.
Farther north, head to Fort Casey State
Park (parks.wa.gov/505/Fort-Casey) to
explore the historic gun batteries, and
scale the stairs of Admiralty Head
Lighthouse (admiraltyhead.wsu.edu) to
learn how lighthouse keepers once guided
tall ships toward the shore.
On the Water
Look for harbour seals, sea lions, Dahl's
porpoise or bald eagles while paddling
tandem kayaks in Saratoga Passage, with
a guide from Whidbey Island Kayaking
(whidbeyislandkayaking.com). More
wildlife, a history lesson – and racing like
the wind – await on the Deception Pass
Jet Boat Tour (deceptionpasstours.com).
lanD lOverS
Sweet tooth? Head to Sweet Mona's
(sweetmonas.com) for their signature
salted caramels and peanut butter cups.
Melt-in-your-mouth pastry dominates the
dessert menu at Whidbey Pies & Café on
Greenbank Farm (greenbankfarm.biz),
where you'll also find art galleries, a cheese
shop, gardens and hiking trails. For a change
of pace, Blue Fox Drive In (bluefox
drivein.com) not only gives you the movie
experience of yesteryear but also rents
go-karts for those with a need for speed.
DiY SOuvenirS
Glass blowing for kids? Anyone five years
and older can try it out at Callahan's
Firehouse (callahansfirehouse.com),
with the aid of one-on-one instruction.
Or, take stunning selfies on
a guided Whidbey Island
Photo Adventure –
for ages 12 and up
(whidbeyphotoadventures.com).
n
– Heather Larson
step back in time at Admiralty Head Lighthouse;
(right) take to the water with Whidbey island Kayaking.
(right) DiY glass art at
Callahan's Firehouse
(top) Heather Larson, courtesy boatyard Inn, Dan mahai, (kayak) brian atkinson/alamy/all canada Photos spring 2015 bca a .com 37
TIP!
Protect yourself
on any length of trip
across the border with
BCAA Travel Insurance.
Members save 10% at
bcaa.com/travel
