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Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor, WA

Photo: SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingLocal Gem

Oak Harbor

· Oak Harbor, WA

Why you should go…

Oak Harbor Main Street Association is a nonprofit formed to make the historic downtown a place residents and visitors want to explore, shop and dine, and it was designated a Washington State Main Street Community in 2016, one of 36 statewide. The group uses the Main Street Four Point Approach through Design, Outreach, Economic Vitality and Promotions committees to guide downtown revitalization on Whidbey Island.

  • #downtown
  • #historic
  • #shopping
  • #dining
  • #waterfront

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Oak Harbor, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum

    Under $25

    A Whidbey Island aviation museum tracing Naval air history in the Pacific Northwest through artifacts and flight simulators.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    History Buff

    Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve

    Free

    You hike a bluff trail above the Strait of Juan de Fuca past pioneer farms and explore the old seaport town of Coupeville.

    4.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Whidbey and Camano Islands

    Free

    Puget Sound islands north of Seattle with beaches, state parks, small towns and coastal scenery.

    4.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Deception Pass State Park

    Under $25

    You walk across the high Deception Pass Bridge, look down on the narrow channel, and hike forest trails to rocky beaches.

    9.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Fort Worden

    Under $25

    You explore old coastal artillery batteries, beaches and Officers Row at a former Army fort overlooking Admiralty Inlet.

    11 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Anacortes

    Free

    Visitor information center for Anacortes, the ferry gateway town to the San Juan Islands.

    15 mi awayMore like this