When you are here... you are home
"We had a great time at 'Beach House At Whidbey'! We took daily walks on the beach and enjoyed finding a variety of sea life in the tide pools. We had two families (7 people) and there was plenty of room for all of us. We'll definitely be going back."
Karlen Trucke, Issaquah, WA
"Wonderful family-friendly house with all of the things to do: tide pools, boat, hot tub, toys, and walks. We will be back with extended family."
Christina Huarte, Seattle, WA
"We had a fabulous stay at your house and wanted to thank you for all the thoughtful touches. We're already talking about making this a regular retreat for our families."
Deb Sorenson, Seattle, WA
"We had a fantastic time. We were a family in much need of slowing down. I don't think we left the house once after we arrived. Three days of playing games, talking, cooking and eating together is very hard to come by."
Julie Wolfe, Snohomish, WA
"Good attention to details, robes in bedrooms, towels neatly folded. A quiet retreat with all of the comforts of home."
Andrew Walker, Glendale, AZ
"FAVORITE THINGS- beautiful house, fireplaces, nice towels and linens, big bed, baby crib, well-stocked kitchen, and bedroom fireplace."
A.G., Seattle, WA
"We had a GREAT time! And could the weather have been any better? Wow! Thanks again! Very much needed stay."
C.P., Snoqualmie, WA
"Our two families had a wonderful, cozy stay. We snuggled by the wood fire, walked on the beach, took long hot tubs, and watched the birds on the bay. We felt comfortable and pampered, and would definitely return!"
Pam Hardman, Bellingham, WA
"It was so nice to be able to let our children explore while we watched from the house or hot tub."
Kathryn Doran
"Really nice, very comfortable."
Pieter Salverda
"We loved the peaceful home, easy trip from Seattle and feeling of getting away from it all."
Chris, Seattle, WA
"We had such a relaxing time! The wildlife was a treat for us. On our last day, we took a long walk down the beach and ran into 2 golden eagles (I think that's what they were) and they were magnificent. Our boys had the time of their lives and we think we will be back next year if your house is still available. Thanks for all of the extras that made things special: robes, kids toys, ipod docking station, etc."
J.H. & L.H.
"Wonderful house, terrific wild life, very relaxing, comfortable beds!"
Robin Lee, Wilmington, DE
"We liked best the hot tub, beach access, feel of being away from it all with still having it all (if needed)."
J.H.
"We had a wonderful time - we would recommend a stay to anyone - just not on the days that we come back!"
Michelle Humphrey
"A great place to stay - the set-up of the house, the BBQ, the beach, and the hot tub all made for a relaxing, fun place for family time."
G.P.
"Had everything we needed! This is the exact place for family to get away, even those with small children."
A.P.
"We enjoyed staying at your beach home. We cancelled all planned activities and just stayed at the house. We look forward to visiting in the future."
J.F. & S.F.
"We had a lovely time, your home was just lovely, thank you. We would very much like to come back next year for a longer stay."
S.K.
"Thank you so much! We felt very welcome and at home, and had a wonderful time."
Susan Papanikolas
"It was great, we had everything we needed. You must stay here! We had a great stay! Thanks for everything."
Maria College, Seattle, WA
"It was brilliant! Lots of fun. Relaxing. Go, relax and enjoy!"
Tom & Heidie Furin
"Directly on the beach, hot tub, kitchen well stocked. Nice place!"
S.M., Snohomish, WA
"The Beach House was amazing! Thank you. We truly enjoyed ourselves and hope to return."
R.A.
"Lovely beds, warm environment - we loved it! Thanks for everything!"
Gus Espinosa
"We had a terrific time walking the beach, visiting Langley and relaxing and eating great meals! The house was perfect!"
E.W.
Three Days at Whidbey
Day One
With anticipation for a much-needed break, my husband and I took our two young children, ages 2 and 5, to The Beach House at Whidbey vacation rental. After an easy ferry ride and a short drive we passed through
While we settled in, we picked up Penn Cove mussels from the Payless Market (1609 E Main Street, Freeland. Phone: (360) 331-4810). Served up with some crisp tomatoes, onions, garlic, crusty bread and crisp Sauvignon Blanc, we relaxed as our kids played in by the water and we enjoyed the peaceful view of
Day Two
We woke up to the bright sunlight that us city-slicker Seattleites long for. I manage to get in a quick dip in the hot tub and walk on the beach before the rest of the family woke up. As I fixed my morning coffee, I watched the hummingbirds outside the kitchen window, getting their own breakfast and buzzing about.
Drive to
For lunch, we stopped into Mike’s Place Restaurant and Creamery (219 1st Street,
Because I had heard so much about it, I popped into the Island Angel Chocolate Bar www.islandangelchocolates.com – the official the home of the “Truffle Shot.” Whether you take a shot “straight” or in coffee, it will definitely cure any sweet tooth. And speaking of chocolate, another interesting store is the Chocolate Flower Farm’s Garden Shed www.chocolateflowerfarm.com . This unique place offers “distinctive gifts with a chocolate twist” and has chocolate things I’d never dreamed of, including chocolate scented candles, chocolate teas, chocolate-colored flowers, and, of course, chocolate. I managed to separate from my busy kiddos just long enough to find a bit of peace in the Whidbey Island Soap Company www.whidbeyislandsoap.com . This little find is filled with bath salts, soft robes, candles, and all other products that will make you relax upon entering the store.
While mulling around town we also discovered a small playground in town. This is a great stop for those who want to relax and let their little ones get their energy out, especially after those ice cream cones.
After a full day on the town we decide to head home for some more beach fun and a bit more tide pooling discoveries. And what vacation could be more complete than a night of popcorn and movies. The Beach House at Whidbey has a great selection of old movies and kids flicks so the family fun continued. Headed Home As we head out of town, we can't resist a last stop at Whidbey Island Winery and Vineyards www.whidbeyislandwinery.com . The tasting room is located in a rustic farmhouse with bright cheery flowers decorating the grounds. The inside is quaint and warm and reminded me of a With a final farewell to the island (which my little ones now think is their island) we ferry back to the busy city and the chaotic life of a small family. Will we be back? Definitely. What would we bring more of next time? Time.
Day Three
After the previous day's exploration (whew!) we needed to have a restful morning. While my husband took out th boat for some fishing (compliments of The Beach House at Whidbey), my children and I enjoyed a breakfast on the beach, finished with sand castles and a rock-skipping contest.
For our daily jaunt we decide to take a drive over to Freeland. As we drive into the area, we can see how Freeland is recognized as the fastest growing community on Whidbey Island. While still embellishing the island charm, many new homes and resources are popping up in the landscape. While not as charming as Langley, this community offers many of the real-world resources such as a large grocery store and Ace Hardware store, plus many great restaurants.
We decide to visit
On our final day we woke up to a cooler weather and a cloudy moody Northwest sky. As we settle into the deck's cozy rocking seat, a warm blanket and some freshly brewed coffee, we marveled at how we could actually see the rain and clouds slowly approaching across the expansive sky. As if a signal to move on, we reluctantly pack up our things and say good-bye to the beach house.
