Recreation

City Beach Park (360/679-5551), at the end of Beeksma Drive, has a sandy beach with piles of driftwood, sheltered picnic tables, swimming and wading pools, a gazebo, tennis and baseball facilities, campsites along the lagoon, and a Dutch-style windmill. There’s a nice view of the peaceful and protected harbor from here, and a great kiddie playground. Look for ducks along the shore. Tent camping costs $8 and RVs $15 with full hookups; no reservations.

Camping is also available at beautiful Deception Pass State Park [1], nine miles north, for $14–20. Other options are Quinn’s Deception Pass Campground (5050 N. Hwy. 20, 360/675-9597) or nearby Sunrise Resort at Deception Pass (550 W. Cornet Bay Rd., 360/675-6575). And there’s always the local Wal-Mart (1250 SW Erie St.) lot, which becomes an unofficial RV park each summer.

Smith Park at Midway Boulevard has a fine collection of old Garry oak trees and a large erratic boulder left behind by the last ice age.

Joseph Whidbey State Park (www.parks.wa.gov [2]) just south of the Naval Air Station on Swantown Road, is largely undeveloped, with picnic tables and a few trails. The real attraction here is a long and scenic beach, one of the finest on the island.

The hip-roofed Neil Barn (100 E. Whidbey Ave.) is owned by the city parks department and used as a roller-skating rink.

The city is home to the 18-hole Gallery Golf Course (Crosby Rd., 360/257-2295).

Rent kayaks from Adventure Marine (at the marina, 360/675-9395).