238: Mystery Weekend on Whidbey Island (A Perfect Getaway from Seattle)

Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast

Anyone looking for a weekend getaway from Seattle, or a small-town add-on to a trip to the Pacific Northwest, Whidbey Island is a great choice. Learn all about where to stay and things to do on Whidbey Island and hear about a fun time to visit during Mystery Weekend in February!

Episode Highlights:

• Whidbey Island is one of the northern islands off of Seattle
• At the end of February each year the town of Langley hosts a Mystery Weekend
• You can get there via the Whidbey-Clinton ferry route or you can drive and take the bridge
• Learn more about Mystery Weekend:
  • Kim's article on 5 Things to Know About Langley Mystery Weekend: https://stuffedsuitcase.com/langley-murder-mystery-weekend/
  • Langley Mystery Weekend: https://whidbeycamanoislands.com/event/langley-mystery-weekend/2025-02-22/
• If you live locally, the winter is a great time to visit Whidbey Island because there aren't any crowds and the prices are much lower.
• Where to stay on Whidbey Island:
  • Comforts of Whidbey - winery bed and breakfast
  • Saratoga Inn - cute historic home turned into a hotel in downtown Langley
• The island is very dog-friendly with many hotels and restaurants that welcome dogs
• For the Langley Mystery Weekend you go to the tourism office and purchase a booklet and entry form to guess who did the crime. It offers discounts/coupons for local businesses and encourages you to explore and find clues at different locations. You then put all the clues together to guess and solve the crime. There are also volunteers around town who are in character as part of the story.
• A local resident writes the mystery every year and it changes each year so you can go every year for a different experience.
• You need a car to get around Whidbey Island. There is a long highway down the middle of the island and it is easy to navigate.
• Whidbey Island has an impressive food scene. A few to highlight include:
  • Saltwater - offers pub-style seafood restaurant in Langley
  • Savory - small-plates style restaurant that is perfect for sharing
  • Langley Kitchen - good for breakfast
  • Braeburn - good for lunch and breakfast
• Things to do in Whidbey Island:
  • Take a hike or get outdoors
  • Earth Sanctuary - $7.00 entrance fee, a space to be in nature, there is also a labyrinth
  • Hammons Family Preserve - great walking trails
  • State Park Beach with kite surfing
  • Shopping
  • Wine, cider and mead tasting rooms
• What to pack: a raincoat and waterproof shoes
• Where to take a photo: Hammons Preserve with a view of the water