Hello Whidbey Island! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: A mystery fossil caper, an orca action festival, and a new foot ferry + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
A small-town getaway: Stanwood sits between Skagit Bay and Port Susan with island access, a walkable downtown, and Amtrak Cascades service. Its lively calendar includes a farmers market and a tea party -- see Stanwood's small-town draw.
A timeless waterfront escape: Coupeville moves at an easy pace, with weathered docks, historic storefronts, and 19th‑century buildings along the waterfront. The 1905 Coupeville Wharf and country’s first National Historical Reserve define unhurried charm -- explore Coupeville's waterfront.
New island getaway option: Pilot summer foot ferry between Everett and Langley is now running on a 45-passenger catamaran, about $20 round trip, with 10-hour parking and a shuttle up the bluff in Langley -- try the ferry to Langley.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Press start, Whidbey: Blue Fox Arcade is the perfect quick reset this week when cabin fever hits. It’s local, lively, and delightfully noisy, with enough blinking lights to entertain kids and stir your inner 90s gamer... tap a card, chase some tickets, then leave with bragging rights.
Outdoor reset, anyone?: Between sports fields and courts, a kid-approved playground, meandering walking paths, and a legit 18-hole disc golf course, Fort Nugent Park is the easy win when cabin fever hits. Pack a frisbee, rally the crew, and call it cross-training for real life.
Upgrade your yard game: Mailliard's Landing Nursery is the longtime, family-owned spot locals trust for plant hauls and smart advice, voted Best Garden Center on Whidbey Island for years. Swing by this week to level up beds, snag handsome pottery, and chat with folks who actually remember what your yard looks like.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🕵 Mystery of the Magic Fossil @ Oak Harbor Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:30 AM – Trade your true-crime podcast for a museum caper where a dinosaur fossil’s gone missing, and Detective Diggs needs backup. Gather clues, grill suspects, and crack the case with the kids. It’s screen time you can feel smug about, and actually fun.
🎨 Dot, Spot, Art! @ Langley Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 2:00 PM – This hands-on art workshop tips its hat to Seurat and Kusama, proving one dot can make a point, a pattern, or your afternoon. Learn how the masters connected the specks, then create your own masterpiece with assorted materials, zero performance reviews. Low stakes, high joy.
🍽 Community Feast @ Callahan's Firehouse (Langley) | Wednesday (6/24) at 5:30 PM – Our open-air potluck stretches one long table down the block, proving you can still pass the peas to people you usually only wave at from your car. Neighbors and visitors sit together, share a meal, and trade stories, recipes, and that famous cobbler.
📚 Freeland Library Family Festival @ Freeland Library | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – Summer in Freeland means the library gets loud, in a good way. The annual Family Festival brings Mutiny Bay Brass Band to the stacks for toe-tapping tunes, neighborly chatter, and kid energy you can borrow, then return, no overdue fees. Low-key, lively, unmistakably local.
🐋 Orca Action Month Festival @ Langley Whale Center | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – Orca Action Month is splashing into the Langley Whale Center with info on how to help, a slideshow of Southern Resident rock stars, and crafts for the crafty. Started by locals Susan and Howard, it blends learning, advocacy, and a nod to our finned neighbors.
🦶 Sasquatch Walk @ Flintstone Park (Oak Harbor) | Saturday (6/27) at 1:00 PM – Whether you believe in Bigfoot or just good grazing, this downtown Oak Harbor stroll lets you sample bites and sips from participating merchants. Think progressive snacking, familiar faces, and zero camping required. If Sasquatch shows, save him the last slider.
💦 Sensory Splash @ North Whidbey Pool, Park & Recreation District (Oak Harbor) | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – Take a breather and bring the crew for a sensory-friendly open swim for people with special needs and their families. No soundtrack, no glare, just water and breathing room. Open swim rates apply, $5 resident, $6 non-resident.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Whidbey Island report Weather forecastToday — High: 78°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 0%
Partly sunny, with a high near 78. West southwest wind 2 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. West southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 68°F — Low: 52°F — Precip: 64%
Rain likely after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 52. This house is wildThis gated Whidbey Island estate spreads across 6 private acres with sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. Fruit orchards, gardens, and open pasture frame the property, while the warm, beautifully finished main home pairs comfort with luxury. A 2-bedroom guest residence, RV garage retreat, and prime Clinton ferry access add standout versatility.
Take a peek inside → |
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