Left, sitting room at our Seattle hotel; at right, map of Whidbey
Island (go to Mukilteo ferry via I-5--from Seattle, @20miles on high
speed road--a few more on SR525).
Whidbey Island (in Island
County, WA) 2005:
A planner's "windshield" survey plus a few
"walkabouts" - we did not photograph the Naval Air Station in North
Whidbey. Oak Harbor, "A Place to Play" is the main city in this
area, and is served by water from the mainland; impervious
surfaces abound, along with "strip development" - shows the impact of
extension of public water supply to an island which in all other areas,
residents
must be concerned with draw down of its aquifer and saltwater intrusion
- Weston CT depends on wells and the health of groundwater - but Weston
is
not an island ('tho some might wish it were)!
FROM ONE GREAT VIEW (from our hotel room) TO ANOTHER...
Leaving our hotel
early, we caught the 9:30am ferry
out of
Mukilteo for Whidbey Island (see glorious view from a friend's deck).
NORTHWEST TERRITORY
Our
first stop - Deception Pass (northernmost
section of Whidbey - guess
what...Whidbey isn't an island in the sense of being totally
unconnected to the mainland). Passage through this end of the
island tricky for boats.
HISTORIC, TOURIST CENTER
First stop, Island
County seat Coupeville, historic and picturesque
area. Historical Society sets the
tone. (Not pictured, beautiful
public toilets.) Low tide.
Cute shops dot the main street in Coupeville; alternative fuel
vehicle piques interest; breakfast in Coupeville...
MORE HISTORIC WHIDBEY
Next stop, Ebey's Landing.
This is a large park and national historic
site. And Captain Ebey's house. (Looks like a pretty
romantic spot!)
CENTRAL WHIDBEY DOES FARM-RELATED BUSINESS:
There
appear to be 3 farmers' markets on Whidbey--Coupeville's, Central
Whidbey (the one pictured above - each bouquet from right group $7; restaurant
and wine tasting at "farm";
thoughtful inclusion
of hydrant for dogs...check link for Island County Code related to animals.
);
South Whidbey farmers do their
thing as well.
SOUTH WHIDBEY IS RURAL - NOTE HAY BALES IN FIELD.
Inland lakes in South Whidbey and Whidbey Institute and lots
of open
farm land typify this part of the Island...artists (i.e. glass
blower--the link above is to a cooperative of artists)
tucked away in the woods! "Cities" on Whidbey Island do their own
planning - see some examples of their studies HERE.
Home-businesses recognized as important asset in the socio-economic mix
of South Whidbey, but...
THE
HEART OF WHIDBEY ISLAND IS, WE THINK, HERE:
Island politics happens here
(left) and in nearby community
spaces; interesting mix of Native American and Northwest motifs
abound! Composting
toilet for public use, Goosefoot-Bayview (right);
and more of
the great view - Puget Sound and Canada in the distance!