Best Things to Do With Kids on Beautiful Whidbey Island

Charming Whidbey Island is located just a short drive from Seattle in the Puget Sound, and it makes a wonderful day-trip destination — or longer getaway — with kids. Many Seattle-area families come to the island to camp at Deception Pass State Park and admire the iconic bridge, one of the most photographed in the state. But Deception Pass is just the beginning. 

I was raised on Whidbey and spent my childhood playing in the woods and swimming in Puget Sound. These days I’m lucky to visit several times a year and share island life with my own family. The island’s sandy beaches, native forestland, fascinating state parks, quaint seaside towns and breathtaking views continue to surprise and delight me. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite excursions with kids for your family visit to Whidbey Island.

Editor’s note: This article was first published in 2021 and updated most recently on June 20, 2025 by Parent Map’s managing editor, Allison Sutcliffe, who verified all information, fact-checked the article and added in some new activity ideas and details after visiting Whidbey Island with her family.

Play at the beach

Enjoying the public beaches is one of the main draws to visiting Whidbey Island. A few great beaches to explore during your visit to Whidbey Island include:

Maxwelton Beach/Dave Mackie Park 

This small public beach is located just a short drive from the Clinton Ferry Terminal and is a great spot for a picnic or a quick dip in the sound. For younger kids, there is a small play structure, and the beach is one of my favorite spots to watch the sun set over the Olympic Mountains before heading back to the mainland.

Double Bluff Beach

Double Bluff Beach sits slightly farther north on the island, about 15 minutes from the Clinton Ferry Terminal in the town of Freeland. It boasts a long sandy stretch of beach that’s the perfect spot to play for a day. It is also very popular with dog owners because here your pup can run free while you catch stunning views of Mount Rainier, the Olympics and even the Seattle skyline.

Dugualla State Park

This beach is on the north end of the island near Oak Harbor and close to Deception Pass State Park (about one hour north of the Clinton Ferry Terminal). We enjoy the kid-friendly 4.1-mile Wetland to Big Loop to North Loop Trail through the forest and finally dropping down to the beach. 

Local tip: Make sure you wear good water sandals or boots because there is a lot of mucky sand here.

Hike through native forests

Two of my favorite kid-friendly hiking areas on Whidbey include the Whidbey Institute and Saratoga Woods.

The Whidbey Institute Trails System

I played in these woods as a child, and the native cedar groves feel like home. At the Whidbey Institute, a nonprofit organization located on the south end of the island, find 106 acres of trails that are open to the public from dawn until dusk. 

Local tip: Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the property.

Saratoga Woods Trail

The Saratoga Woods Trail, close to downtown Langley on the south end, makes a great stop to stretch your legs while exploring other parts of the island. When my kids were younger, these trails were a lovely short introduction to the local native forest ecosystem.

Local tip: If you’re heading to either of these trails from the Clinton Ferry Terminal, Whidbey Island Bagel Factory, off WA-525 in the Ken’s Korner Shopping Plaza, makes a quick kid-friendly stop for breakfast or lunch (note that it is open weekends only).

Visit Fort Casey Historical State Park

Fort Casey Historical State Park, built in the late 1800s, was used as a military training facility up until the mid-1940s. The highlights for my son are the abandoned bunkers and mounted guns, but there’s plenty more to do at this sprawling park with hiking trails, camping facilities, beautiful views, a turn-of-the-century lighthouse and more!

Local tip: While lights have been added to some bunkers, there are still very dark spaces to explore, so bring your headlamp or flashlight.

Visit the quaint seaside towns of Langley and Coupeville

The towns of Langley and Coupeville have similar charm, and both warrant a visit. You’ll find seaside, historic buildings from the late 1800s, cute shops and enticing restaurants. Langley is located on the south end of the island, about 10 minutes from the Clinton ferry dock, and Coupeville is located in the center of the island about 35 minutes from either Clinton or the Deception Pass Bridge.

Local tips: Bring scooters for the kids. In Langley, The Commons Café & Books on Second Street is kid- and dog-friendly, and the Langley Whale Center, with its adorable underwater-themed Kids Room, has activities everyone can enjoy. Plus, admission is free. In Coupeville, be sure to check out the 30-foot gray whale skeleton, now on permanent display in the red wharf building. Kapaw’s Iskreme is where everyone goes for ice cream, and the flowers outside Kingfisher Bookstore make the space all the more welcoming. It’s worth browsing. 

Stop at historic Greenbank Farm and savor Whidbey Pies

I remember picking loganberries at historic Greenbank Farm as a child, back when it was still a working farm with U-pick fields. In 1997, a consortium of partners purchased the property and saved it from becoming a housing development. Miles of rugged farmland trails, great views of the mountains and sound, an awesome off-leash dog park and the opportunity to devour delicious pie from local favorite Whidbey Pies make it a great stop, with or without a canine companion. There is also a playground, a pond and shops to visit. Sometimes there are bubbles out for kids to play with.

Local tip: Pick up a bottle of loganberry liquor or loganberry wine from Greenbank Farm Wine Shop to enjoy later.

Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve and Fort Ebey State Park

Whenever friends or family visit Whidbey Island, I tell them they must hike Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. The scenic Bluff Trail along the sound is my go-to. I recently combined the Prairie Ridge Trail, Bluff Trail and Pratt Loop for a longer hike. The Davis Blockhouse and Jacob & Sarah Ebey House are also well worth a visit to learn some of the settler history of the area.

Local tip: The Pratt Loop, a level and short 1.3 miles, is perfect for young children. More ambitious hikers can combine several of these loops into a longer 5- or 6-mile hike.

Just to the north of Ebey’s Landing find Fort Ebey State Park, a former military fort designed as a coastal defense during WWII. This is a fun stop for the whole family. Visitors will enjoy exploring the gun battery and hiking or biking the 25 miles of mixed-use trails. The Kettles Trail System, through the forest as well as coastal landscape, is highly recommended. And the park also has a campground!

Local tip: Don’t miss climbing down into the hidden lookout bunker — find it in the middle of the west meadow at Fort Ebey State Park.

Wander in wonder at Price Sculpture Forest

We recently enjoyed visiting the Price Sculpture Forest in Coupeville. We found the trails to be fun and easy to navigate, and since admission is free, it’s an activity you can easily add to your itinerary without any regrets. The new augmented reality experience allows visitors to view art without the need for it to physically be there, and it’s absolutely alluring to kids.

There is a free self-guided tour available for download, but service in the park can be spotty, depending on your carrier. The park does not allow dogs, an important consideration if you are traveling with your pup. 

Local tip: You can also access the Sculpture Forest from the town of Coupeville if you want to extend your hike. Take the 1.5-mile walking path which runs from the historic waterfront in downtown Coupeville and ends at the park.