Nestled on the shores of Penn Cove, an inlet that sits at the midway point of Whidbey Island, is Captain Whidbey Inn. The 6-acre, historic waterfront property first opened its doors more than 110 years ago, in 1907. Purchased in 2018 by The Q Hotel Group (known for renovations of Hotel Ballard and Semiahmoo Resort), it reopened to guests in April of this year and features 30 historic guest rooms, suites and cabins. The inn—perfect for hosting destination weddings and events small or large—is close to the city yet feels worlds away. (Whidbey Island is accessible by car/passenger ferry, which departs from Mukilteo, just 23 miles north of Seattle, and runs every half hour during peak season.) Dubbed the “unofficial official lodge” of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, the property serves as a gateway to the “beautiful and rugged wild” of the Pacific Northwest.
The space didn’t just get your average face-lift: With cabin design collaborations featuring Pacific Northwest standouts, such as Seattle’s Glasswing and Portland’s Beam & Anchor, the inn is an Instagram-worthy design mecca, full of elevated rustic-chic elements that make for a truly memorable getaway experience for couples and wedding guests alike. A new coastal-cuisine-focused restaurant headed by executive chef Eric Truglas and a specialty bar program by acclaimed Seattle bartender Erik Hakkinen can provide customized catering for any celebration, including the rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour, reception, morning-after brunch and more. Activities inside (a library and 112-year-old fireplace for getting cozy) and out (including rowboats, remote control sailboats, bicycles, a chef’s garden and lawn games) make it easy to picture the ultimate destination wedding-weekend locale, Pacific Northwest island style, year around. The inn is also a hot spot to put on your bachelorette or bachelor hit list: Guests can reserve the entire upstairs—located above the bar—which comes complete with a lounge space and a “cocktail phone,” for ringing in drink requests to the bartender. Now that’s a party.
(Photography: Meraki Narrative)
