Whidbey Island, Washington State

Go to Ft Casey and take the ferry over to Port Townsend. Great beach, the old Army barracks, the small aquarium, the old town buildings. Excellent fresh fish and scenery.

If you really want to see some mountains, drive out through Sedro Woolley on Hwy 20 and into the North Cascades. you can stop at Concrete, but if you as far as Diablo it really something. Pack a picnic and pull over into a turn out an hike down to the river.

If you take the ferry to Port Townsend you can easily drive to Port Angeles and hike Hurricane Ridge. Or if the kids have any interest in the vampire stories Forks is close too. But if you go there, hike out to Second Beach, it's the prettiest beach in WA.

If you decide to actually go into Seattle, there's a bar on top of the Columbia building. Get a table reservation for 30-45 minutes before sundown. Killer view as the sun sets over the Olympics and the city lights up.

Thank you for your thoughts, KGC,

We have been to Olympic National Park at least 3 times, and to Seattle more times than I can count at this point. We’ve been to North Cascades and Mt. Baker and will be driving thru the area on our way to Whidbey from MN. For this trip, we will be on Whidbey and are looking for suggestions around the Oak Harbor area while the toddlers nap.

Right around Oak Harbor there isn't a whole lot, but if you can stretch it a bit here are some things we enjoy.

Meerkerk Gardens is about 30 minutes away. So is Anacortes. Both are nice, and Anacortes has a farmers market. Not big, big we enjoy it.

Ebey's Landing is closer, and a great hike. Being up on the bluff is very scenic and if you are lucky you may see a US Naval ship or submarine passing through.

Mt Erie and Sugar Loaf Loop is a nice hike if you have a clear day.

Coupeville is a cute little town and the wharf is nice. We used to sail from the base at Oak Harbor over to Coupeville and loved spending the day there. There is a nice park about a block from the wharf too.

Fort Ebey is close to Coupeville and nice to wander.

Obviously Deception Pass and the park. But also cross the highway across from the main entrance to the park and that will take you over to Cornet Bay.

Greenbank Farm is great. There are walking paths there as well. The pie shop is very good!

Double Bluff beach is nice, but at the southern end of the island. It is very popular with dog owners as it is an off leash area, but we have always found the dog owners there very responsible. We take our dogs there a few times each summer and have never had a bad experience, FWIW.

Can the toddlers nap in the car or in a stroller/backpack?
Here's something I found on the map that looks like a fun, short outing: https://www.wise.fun
Also in this area is Mariner's Cove County Park, where the beach will have Cascade views on a clear day. And Dugualla State Park, which looks like you could hike through the woods to a beach (?).
I agree with the suggestion to take the ferry to Port Townsend, but I would do it as a passenger, rather than bringing the car. It's more "city stuff" than a hike, but it is a pretty ride. The beach in Fort Casey is nice to walk on, and the old bunkers are cool. This is not the north end of the island, though.

FYI One disadvantage of staying near Oak Harbor is the noise from Growler training flights from the navy base. Have ear plugs if noise bothers you.

Ohhh I love the sound of the jets! My brother used to be stationed there as he flew those jets.

FWIW, even camping at Deception Pass the noise never bothered us, but everyone is different of course.

This is the noise map for Whidbey, https://sites.evergreen.edu/basewatch/wp-content/uploads/sites/426/2019/03/AriMap-1-768x1120.png. Interestingly, just south of the air base along the west side of Oak Harbor it is very quiet. Walk along the beach there, south of the blast wall (near the naval station campground) and it won’t bother you at all. But go into Coupeville by the outlying field and you won’t be able to hear yourself think if they’re doing touch and goes.

Oh, and a second vote for Double Bluff beach. But go early, parking can be tough.

Edit to add: the beach I referred to above is Joseph Whidbey state park. You can walk along the beach or inland there are hiking trails. The trails are very easy, but pleasant. https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/joseph-whidbey-state-park

All this information is terrific. You PNWers are always supper helpful.

In terms of noise, helpful to know. I always have earplugs, my husband snores. We were not bothered by airplane noise when we camped at Deception Pass, I recall seeing planes, that's for sure.

Plane noise doesn't bother me much. I grew up about a mile from a municipal airport, and I currently live quite close to the Minneapolis airport, in fact, I just heard a plane's roar overhead.

This is my first trip with our small camper. It will be interesting to see if the camper muffles noise any better than a tent. I would guess not much.

Just wanted to follow up with a thank you for the helpful information. We've returned from Washington, never enough time.

On the way out we drove through North Cascades National Park. One disappointment was the National forest campground, closest to the park on the east side was closed when we arrived due to possibility of trees falling. Super disappointing. Honestly the National Forest website needs major help. Yet, I know that staffing has always been an issue, even more so now. We ended up driving through the entirety of the North Cascades park and camped at a national forest campground on the west side of the park.

Because we were then well ahead of our intended itinerary, we were able to spend a few hours in Mt. Baker National Forest (Artist's point, etc.). We'd been to the area before, it is absolutely spectacular. We then drove on to Whidbey.

We went to a brewery (Thirsty Crab) at the southern point of Whidbey, good beer, great foodtruck and BINGO with the locals while we waited for my son and his family.

We ended up hanging out in Oak Harbor a fair amount. There is a great playground/beach area for exploring. We also did some window shopping, always love a good thrift store.

We spent a fair amount of time in Coupleville. Cute little town, we also did the Ebey's hike.

Upon arrival we were, in fact, greeted by LOUD airplane noise. It did seem to calm down in the evening, and boy the difference between camping in a tent vs. being in a camper.

Again, thanks to all.

Upon arrival we were, in fact, greeted by LOUD airplane noise.

That is the Sound of Freedom

https://cnrnw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Whidbey-Island/About/History/