Deception Pass Bridge connects Fidalgo to Whidbey Island and is the main way of going from one to the other. This beautiful bridge has two spans, one over Canoe Pass and the over across Deception Pass. Observation areas on the bridge provide great views but many visitors seem to prefer to only look down at the churning movement of the tidal water. A parking apron on the south, or Whidbey side, of the Bridge allows motorists to stop and explore the 4,134-acre Deception Pass State Park. Four sets of stairs provide access to the four corners of the Park and water. There are trails, picnic areas, beaches, and lots to discover. A favorite pastime is looking for agates along the beach. (Photographs of Deception Pass Bridge and the Park didn't come out - sorry.)
Whidbey Island, home to the Naval Air Station near Oak Harbor, is a place of lovely landscapes, picturesque water scenes, and quaint villages. Coupville seemed to have it all. The oldest town on Whidbey Island, Coupeville is located on the east side of the island, overlooking placid Penn Cove. Part of its charm are the 19th-century homes and storefronts but, for us, it was its wharf, the oldest surviving one in Puget Sound. Pleasure boats have replaced the fish and whaling boats of bye-gone days.