It's a Star Party on Whidbey Island
Summer is the season of stargazing, and if you’re able to drive off the mainland you might just find the best kept secret for a twinkling night sky: Whidbey Island. The best stargazing locations are far away from city lights, where the night sky can reveal itself and its millions of stars in all its glory.
Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island is a unique segment of the National Park Service, dedicated to preserving the prairies and architecture of the 1800’s. It offers one of the region’s most undeveloped spaces, which means dark skies ideal for stargazing. Join the Island County Astronomical Society for a Star Gazing at Fort Casey State Park within Ebey’s Landing on Saturday, July 27, from 9pm-11pm for an evening under the stars!
Enjoy a special presentation by the astronomers, followed by an hour of viewing with telescopes provided. The event is free to the public, but admittance to the park requires an Annual Discovery Pass ($35) or one-day pass ($11.50). Both passes can be purchased at the park entrance or online in advance. Guests should meet in the main parking lot at the park.
Tips to enhance your star party:
Dress in layers
Pack blankets, folding chairs, flashlights
Pack a thermos of hot chocolate or purchase treats from the nearby Prairie Center Red Apple Market in Coupeville
Chart your course with the Washington State Ferries, or take the scenic drive over Deception Pass
Make a weekend of it and book an overnight stay at a variety of hotels, B&Bs and inns throughout the island. Find options at this link.
Constructed in the late 1800s, Fort Casey is a 999-acre, historical state park once established for military defense and training through World War I and II. Places of interest include touring the Admiralty Head Lighthouse, exploring the fort houses and underground battery tunnels, and hiking the 1.8 miles of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail that wrap around the cliffside park.
Click here for more information on the event, and find detail on island amenities, lodging and a calendar of additional events visit whidbeycamanoislands.com. Connect on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook via @GoWhidbeyCamano.