Greenbank Farm

Leaving S. Whidbey Park, turn left on Smuggler’s Cove and head initially in the direction of Coupeville. When you get to 525, however, make a right turn and head south. We’re going to backtrack for a moment. Turn left at the signs to Greenbank Farm (open daily from 10 am to 5 pm; 360-678-7700), an unassuming and thoroughly welcoming place that has become an island landmark over the years. In the early 1900s, the Philips family wondered what the land on Whidbey Island would grow. After much in the way of experimentation, they switched in the 1930s from dairy to berry farming, and by 1972 the Greenbank Berry Farm was known as the largest loganberry farm in the United States. When that way of life was threatened in recent years by possible development of the farm’s 522 acres, an intense local effort resulted in the acquisition of the farm by the citizens of the island in 1997. Browse through the gift shop, buy some loganberry jam, taste one of the many fine wines of the Puget Sound Appellation, or enjoy a light lunch or snack (with a delicious slice of pie, of course!) in the Whidbey Pies Café. The locals who run the place are incredibly friendly. Many activities are scheduled year round at the farm, including a Sunday Market, each Sunday from mid-May to October, when you can buy island-grown produce, flowers, and crafts from 11 am to 2 pm. In July, the farm celebrates its agricultural heritage with the annual Loganberry Festival. August brings the skirl of bagpipes and the swirl of kilts at the Highland Games, while in December, Winter on Whidbey means hayrides, bonfires, hot cider, and caroling.