A Couples Day Trip to Whidbey Island, Wash.

We enjoyed the sunset on Coupeville on Whidbey Island, Wash.

Whidbey Island in Island County, Wash., surprised me. I hadn't visited Whidbey for about a decade and the rustic farms, lack of rain and adorable seaside towns greeted me like an old friend I couldn't quite remember. 

Darling Husband and I found ourselves in Mukilteo after the Boeing Future Of Flight Tour and I suggested we hop a ferry to the island. And it really was as simple as that.

Oh Mukilteo-Clinton ferry run - how I love how quick you are!

Ferry boats

Darling Husband and I both love boats. And we both needed breakfast. Because it was January, there was no line to get on the ferry. We stopped at coffee shop called Red Cup and enjoyed the cheerful spirit of this quaint little place. We got bagels and cream cheese and headed back to the car to sit in the ferry line. As soon as we finished our last bite, engines were turned on and we boarded the ferry. I love traveling in the offseason! After a quick 20 minute boat ride, we were on the island. 

LOVED Callahan's Firehouse in Langley. They let me hang around like a creep for a bit and watch their hot glass artist at work.

Antiques and whales

Our first stop was Langley. I had visited before, but had also recently read the town was developing more. It wasn't raining and we wandered the streets. I enjoyed watching glass blowing in a renovated fire house called Callahan’s Firehouse, poked our noses in an antique shop with the cutest salt and pepper shakers and stopped in the whale center to learn about the recent sightings. There had even been a whale sighting in Budd Inlet near Olympia. 

Prima Bistro

We stopped in Prima Bistro for lunch and it was packed. You may want to make a reservation in the summer. The food was quick. I had a small seafood plate with shrimp and almonds in truffle oil. The flavor was nutty and sweet, but the shrimp were a little over cooked. Dane had a pork belly sandwich and shoe string fries. The pork was also a bit overdone. Prices were decent and it would be great to return in summer and eat a meal on the deck. $$

The Vail Wine Shop & Tasting Room looks weathered, but the warmth and friendliness of the owners certainly make up for it.

Coupeville 

When we arrived in Coupeville after a 40-minute drive, the wind had died down a bit. I had never been to this little town and it was less developed than Langley, but had more accessible history. Many of the buildings on the main street had plaques saying what year they were built and what the original building housed. We stopped in one gift shop and I took Dane's picture with a fisherman and hung out for an hour in the Vail Wine Shop & Tasting Room to keep warm until our 5 p.m. dinner reservation. I loved the original wood plank floors and the owners' appreciation of Walla Walla wines. I did a tasting, Dane had a beer and we shared one glass of Pinot Gris. This place is dog friendly! A small puppy slept in the arms of a woman sitting behind me. $

The shopping on Whidbey wasn't tailored for 20-year-olds, but this fisherman in Coupeville was awesome.

Christoper’s On Whidbey 

We walked up the hill to Christopher's on Whidbey and it was getting dark quickly. Dane sat by my side at our table to enjoy the view. Staff was friendly, food was amazing and well-priced. Dane had seafood linguine and I had the daily special of seafood gnocchi. It was all cooked to perfection and I loved every bite. You will need a reservation. We observed one family dining, but the atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date night by the sea. $$

This coffee shop was closed when we visited, but would be a fun pit stop on the pier.

A final ferry thought

We considered taking the Coupeville ferry to Port Townsend and back to Olympia, but the ferry doesn't leave as often as the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry. We drove the 40 minutes

to Mukilteo and pulled into line just as they were boarding the last few cars. We felt lucky with our timing and enjoyed the boat ride back to the main land.

Verdict: Whidbey Island is very dog friendly. I wish we could have brought Ralphie. The shopping was OK overall, but great for art collectors and antiques lovers. It was very easy to see the main sights in just one day, and I'm happy we headed home to see our golden pop rather than staying overnight. Enjoy the short ferry lines during the offseason - we sure did!

I don't know the story behind this guy at the Vail Wine Shop, but he seemed like a local celebrity.