First Time in Coupeville
Travel Itinerary
Welcome to the historic, seaside town of Coupeville. With walkable streets, a captivating mix of outdoor adventures and indoor activities, food, shops, and more, whether this is your first visit or your thousandth, there will always be more to see and do.
Welcome to the historic, seaside town of Coupeville. With walkable streets, a captivating mix of outdoor adventures and indoor activities, food, shops, and more, whether this is your first visit or your thousandth, there will always be more to see and do.
This itinerary is geared for the first time visitor to Coupeville. Whether you’re coming alone, as a couple, or with a young family; a busy summer weekend or a quiet mid-week excursion; traveling just to Coupeville or as part of a larger trip — this itinerary is a great starting place to build your perfect island getaway.
Day 1
Check in — Arrive in early or mid afternoon and get settled into your home away from home. Any of our local inns, B&Bs, or vacation rentals will serve as a perfect home base for your adventures.
Grab lunch — Experience your first taste of Coupeville with one of our many restaurants, cafes, and diners. Shake off the dust of the road and settle into relaxed island life over delicious food and drinks and unbeatable company, and settle on the highlights you want to experience during your trip.
Business Spotlight: CIAO
Whidbey Island’s most beloved Italian restaurant, Ciao Food and Wine offers authentic, made-to-order artisan Italian dishes and foods just blocks form the Coupeville waterfront.
Owner Mark Laska says, “I convey my love for people by cooking for them.” When he opened Ciao, he set out to create the kind of personable, memborable experience that feeds the soul and nourishes the body with fresh and beautiful food.
A full menu of pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and more, Ciao is a must for people of all ages.
Stop by the Visitor’s Information Center — Located at 905 NW Alexander Street within sight of the Coupeville Wharf, the Visitor’s Information Center is the perfect first stop in your exploration of Coupeville. Staffed with volunteers knowledgeable of and passionate about our Town, more information and guides than you can imagine, and the best tips to personalize your trip, we’re ready to help you have the dream vacation.
Explore the Coupeville Wharf — One of the most iconic sites on Whidbey Island, the Coupeville Wharf was built in 1905 as a grain wharf for local farmers shipping their product to market. It stands today in the heart of Puget Sound as a much beloved monument. No trip to Coupeville would be complete without photos of and from the Coupeville wharf.
Take a stroll along the boardwalk. Keep an eye out for whales, seals, and other marine wildlife. Enjoy the shops and cafes located within the historic building. Take a look at the ships and vessels moored alongside or near the pier. And be sure to leave time to take in the educational displays located within the hub of the wharf building and along the boardwalk itself.
Check Out Downtown Shops — Coupeville’s beautiful Front Street is positively packed with small, locally-owned shops. You won’t find a single chain here. Whether you’re looking for a unique memento of your trip, stunning art, gifts for friends and family, or unique clothing to add to your wardrobe, you can spend hours poking through our small downtown storefronts.
Take in the History — Coupeville is one of the oldest colonial communities in Washington State. The Island County Museum is located just steps from the Coupeville Wharf. Open seven days a week, it’s the perfect stop for families with young kids or seasoned travelers looking to know more. Or if it’s summer time, stop by the Schooner Suva docked at the Coupeville wharf to learn more about Penn Cove’s history of sailing and maybe even sign up for a sail on the historic schooner.
Dinner Time — Close out your first day in Coupeville with the flavors of the island.
Business Spotlight: Penn Cove Brewing Co.
Brewing beer on Whidbey Island had been a long-time dream of Coupeville natives, brothers Marc and Mitch Aparicio. They opened their first taproom here in Coupeville in 2016.
Focused on providing a warm and welcoming place for community members and tourists alike to enjoy craft beer and wine from throughout the region, Penn Cove Brewing Company is a great place to unwind from the day with a cold one around a warm fire.
Serving sandwiches, sausages, snacks, and more.
Day 2
Breakfast — Arise from your paradise, get ready for the day, and start off right with a small town breakfast. If you’re staying in one of our quaint B&Bs, your innkeepers will offer breakfast. If you have other accommodations, check out one of our downtown cafes for a delicious breakfast.
Business Spotlight: Little Red Hen
Little Red Hen Bakery, a staple of Coupeville life, is a must-visit early in the day before all the goodies sell out. Located at the end of Front Street overlooking the water, Little Red Hen is a great stop for take-out coffee, breakfast sandwiches, bread and pastries. Or stop in for a sit-down breakfast served by the friendliest staff on Front Street.
Little Red Hen offers small batch artisan breads, buns, rolls, and pastries from locally sourced ingredients. Starting out as the in-house supply of baked goods for the Oystercatcher, the passion of staff and the locals grew it into a business of its own.
This place is popular with the locals, so if you’re hoping to snag a table in the shop, be early. Or better yet, share a table and make some new friends!
Outdoor Adventures — After you’re fueled up from breakfast, it’s time to explore the great outdoors! Coupeville is located within Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve, which keeps the small town feel alive and surrounded by gorgeous, one-of-a-kind scenery.
Go for a hike at Fort Casey or along the bluff at Ebey’s Landing. Check out preserved prairie habitat at the Pacific Rim Institute. Go bird watching at Greenbank Farm. Commercials, movies, and millions of photographs try to capture the beauty of Central Whidbey, but you really have to experience it for yourself.
Lunch — After a physical day out and about, you’re probably ready for a refuel! There are still plenty more places in Central Whidbey to sit down to eat, or grab a take-out meal to enjoy while you experience even more of the natural beauty. Farmers markets and farm stands abound throughout the backroads during the summer months.
Business Spotlight: Callen's Restaurant
Overlooking even more stunning views between the wetlands behind the restaurant and the Coupeville Ferry pulling in directly across the street, Callen’s Restaurant is the perfect place to lunch after a morning hiking the trails of Ebey’s and Fort Casey.
Callen’s mission is for their family to serve island-inspired, real food to you and your family. The biggest dining room in Central Whidbey, there’s sit-down space for the whole family. Serving an affordable, diverse menu with a 10% military discount.
A full menu of sandwiches, salads, seafood, desserts, and a comforting kids menu.
Get Out on the Water — It is an island, and there are plenty of ways to get out and enjoy the water. Coupeville offers miles of accessible beaches to walk along and tidepools to explore. There are many places to enjoy boating, fishing, crabbing, or clamming. Companies offer boat tours out of the Coupeville and other nearby marinas. Rent a kayak from next to the Coupeville wharf or sign up for one of the famous Whidbey Island Kayaking guided tours. If you’re an experienced diver, there are opportunities at the Fort Casey Underwater State Park.
Art — If you have daylight hours left after all the exploring and want a unique way to wind down before dinner, or if the great outdoors aren’t really your thing, you may find the artistic spirit calling to you in Coupeville. Take a class at the Pacific Northwest Art School, headquartered in Coupeville. Check out our variety of art galleries, like one of the oldest cooperative galleries in the region, Penn Cove Gallery. Wander the trails of Price Sculpture Forest. Or take a small class with Paint with Bobbi. During the summer, many local artists participate in a studio art tour where you can find unique and all locally-made art in their studios.
Dinner — Return to Coupeville to grab dinner and maybe some dessert before your day ends.
Business Spotlight: Front Street Grill
Enjoy waterfront dining in the heart of the Coupeville waterfront district. Specializing in fresh and local fare, Front Street Grill is a popular dining spot with Coupeville visitors.
Opened in July of 2010, guests enjoy breathtaking views of the historic Coupeville Wharf and Mount Baker while enjoying fresh, sustainable seafood and northwest produce and beef.
Offering Penn Cove Mussels with 7 different preparations; grass-fed steaks, specialty burgers, and pasta dishes. Amazing wine list with over 140 selections, 16 beers and cider on draft, and a full cocktail bar and lounge.
Day 3
Breakfast — Before you begin saying your goodbyes to Coupeville, grab breakfast one last time at one of the diners you missed out on the day before.
Business Spotlight: Sunshine Drip
Sunshine Drip created a coffee shop that brings people together from all walks of life. A favorite gathering place of the locals, this is the breakfast spot to make you feel like you’ve always belonged here.
Sunshine Drip provides our historic town of Coupeville with a community gathering place, to enjoy a meal in the cafee, a good cup of organic coffee, and great conversation.
Breakfast sandwiches, quiches, yogurt bowls, lunch, wraps, smoothies, and of course, COFFEE.
Check Out — It’s time to say goodbye to your home away from home. We’ll miss you! If you want to come back soon, check with your lodging host; some B&Bs book out a year in advance on busy festival weekends.
Snag Last Minute Photos — This is your last chance to get those beautiful morning light photos of the Wharf, downtown Coupeville or our many State and National Parks.
More to See on the Way Out — But there’s so much to see and do even outside of Central Whidbey! If your schedule allows, make some time for some stops along the way. If you’re heading off the North end of the island, Deception Pass State Park is one of the busiest state parks in all of Washington State — and for good reason! If you’re heading West over the Port Townsend ferry, the Olympic Peninsula is positively packed with state parks, rain forests, and more natural beauty than we know what to do with. Towards the south and the Clinton-Mukilteo Ferry, Whidbey is home to more cute seaside towns to explore like Langley and Clinton.
More Ways to Explore
