Whidbey Island!
- navakallc
- Jun 2, 2024
- 3 min read
As an explorer, I always like to try new things, including places. Though there was this one place my parents and I found in 2020 that we kept going back to. That was Whidbey Island. Travelling to islands here is a completely unique experience, and not something we had tried before. I hadn’t been to many islands before, especially one at such a short distance. I had always been curious about islands as a kid, wondering what their mode of connection with the city was, how their way of life was different, and what an island looked like in general.
We had been to tons of parks, mountains, and beaches over the years, during various vacations. Though it was nice knowing that an excursion was just a car ride away. Ever since we came to the USA, I was always fascinated by the parks here, with their huge stretches of pathways for walkers or bikers, basketball hoops, tennis courts and of course, a kids’ playground. It was a nice place to go visit in the evening, watch the sunrise, or even play in the snow during winters. Once we started exploring more options, we discovered this island.
My favorite part about the journey there is the ferry ride. You have to travel to their ferry lanes, which is just like an airport terminal. Once you pay your ticket, they assign your car a specific lane, based on the order of people and how long they’re waiting. Once the ferry docks, the cars already in the vessel depart, and only then can you enter. Once everyone is in the ferry, you are supposed to turn the car engine off, so no accidents or pollution occur. The ferry then rides on the water to get to an island or peninsula. Once the ferry is underway, I love to get out of the car and go on the deck. The wind hits my face as I stand on the outer deck, my hair flying everywhere and the briny smell of sea unmistakable. I then close my eyes and imagine I’m flying, hands high in the air like the classic scene of Titanic. As the island comes closer, I look through my binoculars to try and find some local wildlife. We dock and the cars start driving out, merging with the incoming traffic and lost in a sea of cars.
Once we’re finally on the island, we make our way towards my favorite beach park, which has the best conditions to fly a kite. The wind is always high there, no matter what the weather. As I get out of the car and take in the breathtaking smell of sea and grass, my legs automatically lead me to our go-to spot. A picnic table on the hill, where you can see the sea and all the kites soaring through the air. The kites remind me of birds, soaring and swooping as they enjoy the summer sky. Sometimes they glide and land gently while some crash-land but get back up just as quickly.
Along with the kites, there is an old fort there, used during the time of World War II. It was the perfect destination to store and launch canons at nearby enemy ships, and has the perfect view to the water. I love climbing the rungs of the stairs, feeling the intensity of the history underneath my feet. From the very top, you can see a beautiful red and white lighthouse in the distance. The lighthouse is so significant in a town, representing the rich history that comes along with it. I remember watching the lighthouse in every one of my town based tv series, always fascinating me with the beauty it carries in its subtlety. I love gazing at it during the sunset, when the golden sunlight hits it at just the right angle and gives the lighthouse an ethereal glow.
Along with the lighthouse, the fort and the kites are the perfect combination. They bring hope and color, almost as if they were celebrating the lives of the warriors fighting for this nation. Kites are like people, it’ll take a while to climb high, but when you do, you’ll soar. Though just as quickly as you climb, you might fall, and the only kites who will persevere are ones who get back up again. I love that thought, lying on the grass, watching nothing but the journey of the kites on a nice summer day.