A Weekend in Whidbey
Located just a 20 minute ferry ride from the Mukilteo ferry terminal, Whidbey Island is an ideal Pacific Northwest day trip. Pack a windbreaker, stand on the deck and let the sea breeze catch your hair.
Once on the island, take a short drive from the ferry terminal to the charming town of Langley. Langley is known for its vibrant arts community, scenic views of the sound, delicious seafood, and Whale Bell Park. Yep, it’s what it sounds like – ring the bell if you see a whale!
Langley also happens to be home to a couple of wineries, of course. And they’re worth the journey.
Coffee-drinking, whale-watching, art-browsing
No day trip is complete without a coffee and a walk.
Park your car and head straight to Sweet Mona’s. Sweet Mona’s is a woman-owned espresso and chocolate shop. I suggest grabbing a coffee and browsing the homemade chocolate, maybe picking some up for the car-ride home.
Coffee in hand, it’s time to stroll the streets, stopping in anywhere that piques your interest. Learn about marine life at the whale center, visit Callahan’s Firehouse Studio & Gallery to see the wide array of glass-blown creations, walk down the Whale Trail – a stretch of sandy beach that offers opportunities to spot whales, seals, and otters.
You can’t leave Langley without popping into a few art galleries. Spend some time weaving in and out of galleries showcasing unique work from a variety of artists of different mediums.
Local & fresh seafood
All that walking is sure to have made you hungry. There is no place better to grab lunch – or taste the sea – than at Saltwater Fish House & Oyster Bar.
Now is also your first opportunity to have a glass of wine. Start by consulting the oyster menu pasted on the wall. Order a few different kinds and experience how different oysters can taste. Ask the waiter for their wine-pairing suggestion – I usually opt for a dry white wine.
Next, order your main. Lobster roll, clams, or mussels. You can’t go wrong (although I am partial to the mussels).
Ott & Hunter
All that seafood made you thirsty, I know.
Head across the street to Ott & Hunter Winery where you can enjoy a gorgeous tasting menu in a comfortable couch-filled setting, complete with views of the water.
Ott & Hunter has two island locations – the Langley tasting room, open daily, and the Clinton Winery Production Site, by appointment only.
About Ott & Hunter:
“Nestled within deep woods of cedar, spruce, and fir, Ott & Hunter craft small quantities of exceptional blends and single varietal wines.
We use traditional French and artisan techniques: cold soaks, co-fermentation at crush, hand punch downs, stem inclusion, sur lie aging & battonage, minimal filtration or fining, and a mixture of neutral and once-used French oak barriques and puncheons.
We handle our wines very lightly during barrel aging, racking only after primary fermentation, occasionally after one year, and again prior to bottling. We favor low oxygen exposure and minimal sulfite additions to help preserve the wines’ structure and ability to age.”
Thrift & boutique shops
There’s nothing better than shopping after a wine tasting. Langley has quite a few boutiques and a large thrift store. I recommend stopping into Wish by the Sea for artisan gifts and coastal farmhouse decor and Good Cheer Thrift Store for some nostalgic finds.
Comforts of Whidbey
Finally, on your way back to the ferry you will pass by Comforts of Whidbey.
If you decide to stop in at this winery bed and breakfast, you may just be tempted to stay the night.
The Washington State Red reputation is certainly met with their top-selling Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrahs. The white wine selection seems as refreshing as jumping into a mountain lake in Washington on a warm summer day.
Quality and comfort go hand-in-hand at Comforts of Whidbey. Book a stay, enjoy the wine and views, and head back home feeling just that much more refreshed.
Editor
Natalie is co-founder and editor of The Grapevine Magazine where she helps winemakers big and small tell their stories. She lives in Manhattan, New York City.
