View of Deception Pass Bridge from the tour boat
Our family recently experienced a unique tour of Deception Pass, a strait separating north Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island in northwest Washington. The Pass, which connects Skagit Bay, part of Puget Sound, with the Strait of Juan de Fuca, has an extremely strong tidal current. The bridge that spans the area is actually two bridges known collectively as Deception Pass Bridge, completed in 1935 and declared a National Historic Landmark in1982.
Ten members of our family boarded the Island Whaler, a jet-drive catamaran, operated by Deception Pass Tours. The boat holds thirty-three passengers, each one getting a comfortable seat on an open deck with a 360°unobstructed view.
As we sailed, the captain and his assistant pointed out interesting sights and the history behind them, such as the prison rock quarry that operated from 1910 through 1914. The quarry, located on a steep cliff, was worked by members of an honors program out of Walla Walla State Prison.
Before the Deception Pass Bridge was built, travelers had to cross on an unscheduled ferry, summoned by a mallet against a metal lumberjack saw which sounded a “boing.” The operator, Washington’s first woman ferry boat captain, would pick them up.
At times our captain brought the boat to a stop so that we could view and take pictures of the bridge, seals, porpoises and the many species of birds that reside in the area. Whales are sometimes seen in these waters, too.
If you’re in northwest Washington, the one-hour Deception Pass Tour is a delightful way to experience a unique, picturesque view of the shores, waters, rugged cliffs and evergreen forests of the area.
For more information and to book a tour:
1-888-909-8676
www.DeceptionPassTours.com