Let’s take a quick trip to Whidbey Island, a short ferry ride from a Seattle suburb and a world away from the busy city. Highlights include idyllic kayaking, beach walks, incredible restaurants and a magical stay in a treehouse.

Exploring the bays and inlets around Whidbey Island is a beautiful way to work up an appetite for ... [+] the seafood that comes from local waters.

The state of Washington is rightly famous for its beautiful islands, each with its own charms. While the San Juan Islands draw loads of seasonal visitors, Whidbey Island is a collection of communities with distinctive personalities and lots of full-time residents.

There’s a navy base in Oak Harbor, where you’ll likely hear jets roaring overhead during training exercises. Just down the road, Ebey’s Landing is a National Historical Reserve with an excellent day hike where you’re almost guaranteed to see bald eagles up close.

Along the main road, rolling grain fields are interspersed with verdant stands of evergreens and you’re never far from the shore or a good meal.

On a recent getaway, I drove onto the island from the north, thrilling over the dramatic bridge high above the waterway known as Deception Pass. Team Our Grand Tour has enjoyed memorable campouts at the wonderful state park, but this trip was all about indulging in some creature comforts and what better way to launch that delicious mission than with a stop at Chris’ Bakery? Don’t you dare miss the bacon maple bar at this popular place that offers a drive-through option.

Chris' Bakery in Oak Harbor, Wash., serves up classic sweet treats and bread, as well as a lineup of ... [+] sandwiches. The Bacon Maple Bars are a best seller.

This historic property was built in 1907, serving as a haven for sailors working the Mosquito Fleet. A few years ago, it received a stylish update while retaining its funky charm, especially in the comfy lobby.

Afternoon kayaking off the Inn’s dock helped my husband and I work up an appetite for dinner on the inn’s outdoor deck. Digging into the steamy bowl of mussels and clams, we drank in the cool view of Penn Cove where those bivalves were harvested. Talk about truly eating local!

On the turf side of the menu was an outstanding dry aged, grass-fed sirloin that had been cooked sous vide style until fork tender. The accompanying red chimichurri sauce delivered that bright counterpoint to the rich steak and the mustard roasted potatoes.

If you’ve got room for dessert, it might be well worth ordering it to go and making the short walk to the roaring fire pit for the ideal late summer evening.

Captain Whidbey Inn is located on Whidbey Island, not far from Seattle.

One of the oldest towns in the state, this seaside village is home to a number of fine excuses to practice some retail therapy before deciding where to have lunch. As much as I’ve enjoyed the eclectic preparations of mussels at Front Street Grill, it’s Toby’s Tavern’s friendly local vibe that draws me back. Well, that and the exceptional chowders. Make mine a bowl of mussel chowder with an extra order of garlic bread, please.

Before or after any meal, wander out on the 1905-era wharf for stellar views. There’s a gift shop and picnic tables, as well as an outfitter that rents kayaks.

Toby's Tavern on Whidbey Island near Seattle serves seafood classics including an excellent mussel ... [+] chowder. The popular venue is located in the historic village of Coupeville.

Treehouse stays are a red hot accommodations trend, fueled by the growing desire to stay outdoors in a novel way. Treehouse Whidbey is a spectacular example of tiny living done right.

The couple who went down this path a few years ago bought a piece of property near Clinton and consulted with a renowned treehouse builder. Yes, there are architects focused on this special niche. After rejecting his grand plan, owners Max and Tatiana went a bit more DIY on the build out.

The results are stunning: A wooden stairway leads to the entry. Once inside, numerous windows take in a up-close look at the trees holding this structure sky high. If it’s windy, you’ll see the trees sway though the structure feels steady.

Treehouse Whidbey offers a novel way to experience the outdoors. It's located on Whidbey Island, ... [+] which is a short ferry ride from a Seattle suburb.

There’s a teeny, well-stocked kitchen. You could easily prepare a meal with the various utensils, pots, pans and microwave that doubles as a convection oven. A water closet is located on the main floor, with the bath house a short walk away in the main house.

Reaching the sleeping quarters of the treehouse requires climbing up a sturdy ladder, an exercise that might make you feel like a kid again. However, if you’re a scaredy cat, there’s a comfy couch that becomes a bed on the main floor.

It’s tempting to hang out up high for the entire duration of your Treehouse stay. As much as I loved sitting on the deck, looking at the water in the distance, there was a highly anticipated dinner reservation at nearby Orchard Kitchen.

Take a quick tour of the Treehouse via this Instagram Reel.

Orchard Kitchen is the best kind of farm-to-table dining, especially during summer months. The ... [+] prix-fixe menu changes weekly and could include local albacore tuna.

The whole farm-to-fork mantra has become a bit watered down as it’s been co-opted by kitchens engaged in fudging the definition but Orchard Kitchen isn’t one.

Guests are seated feet away from some of the veggies that end up on the pretty plates. Rows of pole beans, pots of herbs, a patch of just roaming cucumber vines. Chef/owner Vincent Nattress and his team change up the multi-course menu weekly, focusing on what’s freshest.

The atmosphere in the al fresco dining space was celebratory, yet casual enough for guests to feel fine about wearing shorts. What appears on the table, delivered by the hard-working front of the house crew, is straight-up fine dining, though.

Even before the amuse bouche arrived, the bar was raised sky high by a trio of coursed “bites”: chilled potato soup, a playful BLT Gougères and shishito peppers dusted in spruce-infused salt.

Baba Ganoush on grilled sourdough was plenty amusing, followed by a first course gem. Heirloom tomato panzanella with a garlic confit reminded us why summer tomatoes are so extra special. Impossibly sweet and fresh tasting with just the right bit of acidic bite.

The chef appeared between courses and walked us through the description of the fish course, explaining that albacore caught off the Washington coast is ultra-rich this time of year, a quality spotlighted by the preparation. It was lightly poached and finished on the grill, served alongside a salad of cucumber, sweet onion and pickled peppers.

Next up, a gorgeously green risotto demonstrated an excellent way to use all that zucchini that’s been piling up in the pantry. The kitchen ingeniously prepped the summer squash, turning them into tiny orbs that might convince even the most discerning Italiaophile they were eating a sublime version of Risi e Bisi, aka rice and peas.

Located on Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington state, Orchard Kitchen serves prix-fixe ... [+] seasonal menus. A summer squash risotto was among the highlights of a recent dinner.

Lamb might be most often associated with spring feasting, but a grilled leg from Bell’s Farm made a strong case for enjoying that flavorful meat with fall harvest season just around the corner.

Before the sweet finales, there’s an optional cheese course, which includes three selections and house-made preserves with walnut toast points. The aim is to showcase a variety of styles, contrasting creamy (Big Sur — a triple cream cow and goat’s milk blend from Stepladder in Cambria, Calif.) to a nutty firm cheese called Cloud Cap from Cascadia Creamery in Trout Lake, Wash.

A summer berry fool marked a welcome return to the juicy bites of the season, an array that included mulberries, blackberries and blueberries arranged artfully next to that velvety mousse.

Paired wine flights for the evening were selected by the chef’s wife, Tyla Nattress, who also puts together a fine list of glass pours and bottles from the world’s most beloved growing regions.

As evening-long tasting menus go, this dinner was well-paced and the portion sizes hit the sweet spot between not enough and way too much. We’re already looking ahead to next summer’s calendar to book a table for an encore.

Seabiscuit Bakery and Cafe is located at Mukilteo Coffee Roasters on Whidbey Island, a short ferry ... [+] ride from a Seattle suburb.

Start the day on Whidbey with a trip down a country lane to Mukilteo Coffee Roasters, where founder Gary Smith has been in search of the perfect cup since the 1980s. His journey, alongside his wife and fellow coffee pioneer Beth Korvin-Smith, has led the company to forge relationships with farmers across the globe.

Sweets and savories from Seabiscuit Bakery and Cafe — located onsite — are the best kind of partner for the excellent espresso drinks.

Just know that if you hit this hot spot during prime time, you’re probably going to find a long line. Chill, it moves along pretty smoothly.