16 Best Sights in The Puget Sound Islands, Washington

In late May and early June, Fort Ebey State Park blazes with native rhododendrons. West of Coupeville on Point Partridge, it has 3 miles of shoreline, campsites in the woods, trails to the headlands, a freshwater lake for fishing, World War II gun emplacements, wildflower meadows, spectacular views down the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and miles of hiking and biking trails. The park is a favorite with paragliders and hang gliders; watch them take off while you enjoy a picnic at a bluff-top table.

The reserve encompasses a sand-and-cobble beach, bluffs with dramatic views down the Strait of Juan de Fuca, two state parks (Fort Casey and Fort Ebey), and several privately held pioneer farms homesteaded in the early 1850s. The first and largest reserve of its kind holds nearly 400 nationally registered historic structures (including those located within the town of Coupeville), most of them from the 19th century. Miles of trails lead along the beach and through the woods. 

This 150-acre internationally recognized preserve is a stunning mix of natural woodlands and beautifully landscaped gardens—including a moss garden, a Japanese garden, a reflection pool, and the impressive former Bloedel estate home. Dazzling rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in spring, and Japanese maples colorfully signal autumn's arrival. Picnicking and pets are not permitted. Timed tickets can be reserved in advance.

With nearly 3.5 million visitors annually, this is the most visited park in Washington and one of the largest, with 4,400 acres. A big draw of the park is the historic two-lane Deception Pass Bridge connecting Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island, about 9 miles north of Oak Harbor. Park the car and walk across to get the best views of the dramatic saltwater gorges and churning whirlpools below. Then spend at least a few hours walking the 19 miles of rocky shore and beaches, exploring three freshwater lakes, or walking along the many forest and meadow trails. Camping is popular here too, with 234 campsites spread over three campgrounds and evening ranger programs at the amphitheater.

Twice a year (the second weekend in August and the first weekend in December), the island's artists and craftspeople put their best pieces on display for these three-day events, and you can buy anything from watercolors to furniture directly from the artists. Even if you can't make the official studio tours, check out the website, which has maps and information on studios and shops throughout the island, as well as links to artists' websites. Many of the shops have regular hours, and you can easily put together your own tour.

Under cooperative ownership and led by women, this longtime certified-organic winery 5 miles from the ferry landing produces around 1,200 cases a year from entirely island-grown varietals that thrive in the Puget Sound region. The winemakers compare their offerings to those that come from the Alsace or Loire Valley in France—on the light and fruity side—and you can enjoy a tasting of four pours for $18 on the winery's lovely sun-dappled patio. Kids will want to say hi to the draft horses that help till the fields. The tasting room is open Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5 pm.

A boutique winery with stylish coastal decor, Fletcher Bay focuses on Bordeaux grapes along with Tempranillo and Sangiovese sourced from Washington State's Yakima and Walla Walla valleys. The casual, dog-friendly winery, set in the Coppertop Business Park, has a kids’ play area, an enclosed patio with a fireplace and heat lamps, and live music every Wednesday evening. There's also a tasting room right in town ( 500 Winslow Way E) and a rooftop wine garden above it, with live music Sunday evenings.

The 467-acre Fort Casey Historical State Park, on a bluff overlooking sweeping views of Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Port Townsend ferry landing, was one of three forts (the "Triangle of Death") built after 1890 to protect the entrance to Admiralty Inlet from naval invasion. Look for the concrete gun emplacement and a couple of 8-inch "disappearing" guns. The charming Admiralty Head Lighthouse Interpretive Center is north of the gunnery emplacements. There are also grassy picnic sites, rocky fishing spots, waterfront campsites, and a boat launch on Keystone Spit. A Washington State Discover Pass is required ($45/year or $10/day; see  www.discoverpass.wa.gov). Once you're done exploring the park, take the nearby ferry to Port Townsend for a quick side trip or a long lunch.

On the southwest side of the island is this lovely and tranquil 137-acre park. There are 2 miles of hiking trails through forest, a long stretch of (sometimes) sun-drenched rocky beach, a dozen picnic tables, a boat launch, and even an underwater park for scuba diving. Along with views of the water and the Olympic Mountains, you might be lucky and get a peek of Mt. Rainier—or of the massive sea lions that frequent the near-shore waters. A loop trail through the park is suitable for all ability levels, and will take you past vestiges of the park's previous life as a military installation.

You can't miss the huge, chestnut-color, two-story barn out front—the centerpiece to this picturesque, 150-acre property, a former working farm that was once the top loganberry producer in the country (and maybe the world!) and later owned by Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, which produced and popularized loganberry wines. It now houses a café and several small shops, including cheese and wine shops where you can get provisions for a picnic. Greenbank's grounds include a demonstration garden and lovely walking trails, many of which are open for dogs to enjoy off leash. It's a popular place for bird watching too—bring your binoculars.

Collections include Ice Age relics, mammoth remains, and a strong Native American collection, including three rare cedar dugout canoes. The square-timber Alexander Blockhouse outside dates from 1855. Note the squared logs and dovetail joints of the corners—no overlapping log ends. This construction technique was favored by many western Washington pioneers.

Vashon has many parks and protected areas. Burton Acres Park, on the lush Burton Peninsula overlooking Quartermaster Harbor, is home to 64 acres of secluded hiking and horseback-riding trails. The adjacent Jensen Point, a 4-acre shoreline park, has picnic tables, a swimming beach, and kayak and paddleboard rentals (May through September).

The 53-acre Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens contain more than 1,500 native and hybrid species of rhododendrons and more than 100,000 spring bulbs on 10 acres of display gardens with 2 miles of nature trails. The flowers are in full bloom in April and May; summer flowers and fall color provide interest later in the year. The 43 remaining acres are kept wild as a nature preserve. Leashed pets are permitted on the gravel paths.

One of six giant trolls handmade from recycled materials by artist Thomas Dambo now lives in Bainbridge's Sakai Park, a little more than a mile off Highway 305 and eight minutes by car (about 30 minutes on foot) from the ferry terminal. Like the other five trolls in the Puget Sound area (Vashon Island, West Seattle, Issaquah, and Ballard) and Portland, Pia was built on-site in 2023 and will be there through at least 2026 but probably many years more. Her eyes are especially enchanting (and peaceful!). If you're into geocaching, look for the Adventure Lab that leads from the art museum to the Pia.

You can stroll along the beach, which is very picturesque thanks to Point Robinson Lighthouse. The lighthouse is typically open to the public from noon to four on Sunday during the summer; call to arrange a tour or rent out one of the historic beachfront Keepers' Quarters (two multi-bedroom houses) by the week. If you're lucky, you might even see an orca swim surprisingly close to the shore. The park has a gift shop that's open on weekends in the summer.

The flagship of the island's diverse arts community presents exhibits and events that span all mediums, including dance, theater, music, comedy, and art lectures. The VCA gallery's exhibits rotate monthly, featuring local and Northwest artists.