Amenities

The queen sized bed has a mattress topper, bamboo sheets, and a duvet; we also have extra blankets readily available. If you have additional guests, we can provide a queen-sized air mattress as well as a full sized air mattress, linens and blankets. More adventurous guests can even pitch their tent in the fully fenced yard.

The Blue House Aerie is set up for remote work, the table can be set up as a work area with our table sized mouse pad and if needed we can provide a collapsible table, monitor, and office chair. Our internet is Wave Gig Speed mesh service. We have a guest account for your use. Please note however that on Whidbey Island power and internet outages do occur. We do have a generator for power emergencies and we suggest that if internet service is critical you may want to bring along you own Mobile Hotspot router (example: MiFi, Jetpack).

While not a full-sized kitchen, the Aerie kitchenette does provide the space and tools for making snacks and as well as meals. The kitchenette has a dorm sized refrigerator with a freezer, microwave, an induction cook-top, toaster, Kurig coffee maker, tea kettle, and a full complement of utensils, silverware and Fiesta dinnerware. You will also find pots and pans, a colander, paper towels, bottled water as well as a Brita water filter, cutting pads, place mats and garbage bags. A countertop ice maker is available on request.

The kitchenette has a full sized sink, we provide Dawn dish soap and dishes, pans and all utensils are washed between guests in our dishwasher for your safety.

Grocery stores are found in Coupeville, Freeland and Oak Harbor; many of the island restaurants have take-out. Many of these places are listed with their location on the Experience Whidbey page.

We provide a variety of spices and oils from The Spice and Tea Exchange of Port Townsend and The Livery Olive Tasting Bar.

The entry to the Aerie is by stairs, the Aerie is on the second floor. There is a motion sensor light at the gate to the stairs for your safety and there are lights on the deck and by the door which you can leave on if you go out for the night.

Feel free to move chairs out to the deck, please remember to bring them back in if it looks like rain or it is windy and make sure that they are not left outdoors over night. There are also chairs and tables in the garden and lawn areas which you are free to use.

Our garden provides seasonal fruits and vegetables. As you go through the garden you may find a variety of seasonal fruits: apples, pears, plums, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, loganberries and blueberries. In season as well we grow potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, tomatillos, beans, cucumbers, summer and hard squash, kale, lettuces, carrots, radishes and a host of other veggies. You are welcome to harvest fresh for yourself and enjoy! There is also a firepit where you can enjoy the outdoors inside of the garden.

Whidbey is an island, there are beaches of all sorts and beach access most everywhere. There are several listings of good hikes and beach walks but we have 3 that we like in particular.

One thing to note is that it is always a good think to check the tide, what the level is and whether the time is coming in (water level is getting higher) or going out (more beach). We kind of gauge the point to watch at 4 feet. The Tide Chart at Admiralty Head is a good reference to follow.

• Ledgewood Beach County Park to Lake Hancock - One of our favorite walks, to be taken during low tide; the beach will be mostly sandy. From the Ledgewood Beach County Park, head south, to the left, and go about 2 ¼ miles. Please stay on the beach - Lake Hancock was formerly called the Lake Hancock Target Range and is posted by the Navy as a Restricted Area. The lake and the estuary are home to many birds and animals; a great place to sit and watch nature. Excellent view of the Olympic Mountains as well.

• Double Bluff Beach - A great public beach area with hiking opportunities

• Glass Beach in Port Townsend - A more challenging hike with the reward of easy to collect beach glass.

The Salish Sea has a bountiful collection of sea life. While much of it is underwater at low tide you are able to see a number of creatures as shown in this listing of marine animal species - https://soundwaterstewards.org/education-center/marine-species-identification/animals/