Play Time!

For more ideas, look at collected brochures about local farms, gardens, farmers markets, activities, and most important, maps!  South Whidbey Record has a great events calendar that has the most up-to-date options.

[Best Playground Ever!] South Whidbey Community Park: South Whidbey Community Park is a 120 acre park located 2.3 miles south of the City of Langley on Maxwelton Road.  Enjoy the Castle Park playground, a skate park, four baseball fields, five soccer fields, and a basketball court, picnic areas, and trails for hiking.  Most trails lead to another park with lots of soccer fields and another small playground.

Double Bluff: Double Bluff Park is a beach located at the end of Double Bluff Road, off Hwy 525.  Lots of driftwood forts, sand, crabs, miles of shore to walk along, off-leash area for dogs, picnic area, etc.  Many good books have been read on the sands of Double Bluff while the kids amused themselves for hours.  On a clear day, you can see Seattle, Mount Rainier, and the Cascade and Olympic Mountains.  The park has an off leash dog area on the beach itself.  Wonderful on a sunny day! Or just about any day, really.

Maxwelton Beach:  At the end of Maxwelton Road, driving west. This beach is just fun.  Lots of sand, rocks, playground, picnic areas.  The small community that it is located in is really fun to see, as well.

Dan Porter Memorial Park: 3900 Deer Lake Rd, Clinton.  Closest park to the cabin.  It’s also just across the street from the Clinton “shopping center” (Clinton Foodmart).  A field and some playground equipment.  Also close to the Clinton Library.

Clinton Beach Park: Just as you get off the ferry, as you get to the first traffic light, there is a small sand & beach park to your right. There’s maybe 4 parking spots, and a sandbox with toys before getting to the driftwood and regular beach.  Small, but my kids can play there for hours!

Freeland Park: Located on Holmes Harbor, Freeland Park has picnic areas as well as a great play area. There is also a boat launch here. Beach access is right over the hill from the playground. It is pretty shallow so it is not a designated swimming area.

Swimming: Goss Lake and Deer Lake have public access points for swimming.  We have fond memories of them both.

Downtown Langley is simply charming, not just for the shops and restaurants, but there’s also a stairway near the pizzeria that goes down to a short beach walk.  The Commons on 2^nd St also has a super family-friendly room in the back with board games and Legos.

Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, 3531 Meerkerk Lane, Greenbank.  Costs $5 per adult and is worth the price on a nice day. Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, a not-for-profit garden open to the public, encompasses ten acres of display and educational gardens enveloped by forty-three acres of woodland preserve with 4+ miles of nature trails. Children make Fairy Houses under some of the trees (look closer to the stage area) during the summer, and you can see them for many months.

Ebey's Landing and/or Fort Casey, Coupeville area. Ebey's Landing is historical site often manned by docents and history buffs.  There's a cabin/homestead, and a hike down to the beach, as well as extensive trails.  Fort Casey has lots of original battlements, hikes, a light house often open for tours, and a public pool.  

Coupeville.  Coupeville is a town on the south part of the north side, about a 45 minute drive.  Much larger than Langley, it has charming Victorian style buildings, a great museum, and a wharf.  Also fun to park the car, and walk onto the Port Townsend ferry.  You walk off into downtown PT—kids like the candy shop, ice cream store, and toy store, but there are lots of things that the whole family can enjoy for a day.

Oak Harbor. It's on the opposite end of a long, narrow island (1+ hour drive), but Oak Harbor has the gorgeous Deception Pass State Park and bridge.  It also far more like the mainland in that you can find fast food places and big box stores, as well as a drive-in movie theater and other family fun attractions.