Deception Pass camping

We did our last camping trip of the season at Deception Pass last weekend and it did not disappoint! It's one of our favorite camping spots for a few reasons - the campsites are pretty private and shaded, the beach is just a few minutes walk away, lots of (kid-friendly) hiking trails nearby, and since it's at the top of Whidbey Island, you're pretty close to civilization if you need to get something.

We went with our pals Alisa and Alina and their parents Mei and Joe. We've known them since the kids were little, when Nora and Alisa became best buds in pre-school. The girls now all go to the same school (albeit they are all in different grades!) so it was fun to all celebrate the last weekend before school started together.

We did lots of beach time and a couple of hikes. We were surprised to see how many fisherman were fishing from the beach and saw three big Salmon get caught! The beaches had lots of really big driftwood that other folks had rearranged into forts and the kids loved playing in them. We also went to the tidepools nearby but since it was high tide, didn't see much.

We ended the trip with a stop at Shrimp Shack, a little seafood takeout place nearby that everyone raves about. I bought a pound of fresh boiled spotted shrimp ($16) for lunch while the others got things like a corndog (Nora), fried oysters (Evie) and an oyster sandwich (Scott). Everything was good, but the fresh shrimp were REALLY good - sweet and plump! I'd definitely go back for more.

One of the MANY forts on the beach.

Sunset on the beach, just a 5 minute walk from our campsite.

There was a fire ban but the Jr Ranger program had a propane pit for smores!

Smores is quintessential camping food!

Hike to the Deception pass bride. Look how clear the water is!

So many Anglers!

We also hiked the highest point on Whidbey, but truthfully, it's not that high or hard of a hike at all.

Good ranger programs! They had a concert one night that we went to in the outdoor ampitheater.

These two cuties used to be the best of friends when they were little.

Dock at Rosario Beach

The line at shrimp shack

oooooh, Shrimp! Get in my belly!

Yum Yum Give me Some!

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