My son woke up Monday morning in a great mood. He hopped out of bed, bent into a wide squat, and side-stepped all the way to the bathroom. “Look dada, I’m a crab,” he shouted, and then, as I turned to get the bath ready, came after me with his pincers in a goofy fit of laughter. We’d spent the weekend on Camano Island, playing, hiking, and beach combing –turning over rocks at low tide to see what scurrying critters we could find – and it had obviously left an imprint on him. It had on me too.
When it comes to islands of the Puget Sound, Camano has never topped my list. I have more memories exploring Spencer’s Spit on Lopez and playing fetch with my dog on Whidbey’s Double Bluff. In my years of Puget Sound adventuring, I’ve biked the hills of Vashon, walked the streets of downtown Bainbridge, and learned to drive on the backroads of Marrowstone. But Camano? Other than a COVID era, spontaneous weekend retreat (before kids) to The Alpaca Farm a few years back, I’d never had a lasting connection to Camano, until now. After exploring the island with my kids this weekend, especially my 2 ½ year old son who is the perfect age to appreciate all the island has to offer, Camano definitely makes my list of essential Puget Sound Islands.
Camano throwback. (Image: Casey Funke)
Getting There
Known as The Easy Island, Camano’s accessibility makes it a good option for families with kids. Ferry lines in the summer can be daunting, and navigating the reservation system to the San Juans makes for complicated logistics. Camano is accessible by car via State Route 532, offering more flexibility to your trip. From I-5, take exit 212 onto WA-532 West. You’ll pass through Stanwood, which has numerous food, drink, gas, and grocery options. Camano is separated from the mainland by Davis Slough, which you cross via the Camano Gateway Bridge, and just like that, island life awaits.
What to Do
Soon after you cross the bridge, you come upon the Camano Commons Marketplace, and honestly, you could spend a full day here. Equipped with pastries and espresso, shopping, lunch options, ice cream, the Camano Island Library with its well-stocked kids section, a big grassy field to run off the ice cream wiggles, and Freedom Park Playground nearby, Camano Commons has it all. It also acts as a community gathering space and has some great kid-friendly events lined up for the summer.
The well-stocked children’s area at the Camano Island Library is a perfect low-key stop for little readers (and a quiet break for parents). (Image: Casey Funke)
Beachcombing
Camano offers numerous, mostly rocky, beach options, great for exploring with kids at low tide. The island is home to two State Parks – Cama Beach and Camano Island State Park. We explored the beaches at both and found Camano Island State Park to be more accessible and kid-friendly (don’t forget your Discover Pass). For more of a sandy beach experience, visit Iverson Spit Preserve, and be sure to pack your binoculars; it’s one of the premier bird-watching locations in the Puget Sound, with over 125 species of birds spotted here!
Beachcombing bliss: Camano’s rocky shores are full of tiny treasures and big discoveries for curious kids. (Image: Casey Funke)
Hiking
Camano has numerous kid-friendly hiking trails to choose from; we barely scratched the surface on our weekend retreat. We hiked through lush second-growth forest at Cama Beach State Park, where the trails were wide enough to push our double stroller.
Wide trails and lush forest make Cama Beach a great spot for stroller-friendly hikes with little explorers in tow. (Image: Casey Funke)
The Al Emerson Nature Trail in Camano Island State Park is a must-hike. This half-mile, mostly flat loop, is a perfect trail for young hikers. The loop has 18 interpretive signs identifying native plants and other forest tidbits that you will enjoy, even if your kids walk right past them. On a cool morning, we walked through an understory of sword fern and nettle, among Robins snacking on Red elderberry, and beneath enormous Douglas firs, their thick, rugged bark a quintessential feature of northwest forests. We stopped for a snack at a well-placed wooden bench and admired the fallen trees, aka “nursery logs” (thank you, interpretive signage) which play a crucial role in forest ecology. A proud dad, I was happy to have spent a morning in the woods with my son.
Standing tall on the Al Emerson Trail. (Image: Casey Funke)
Where to Eat
The Camano Commons is going to be your best bet for kid-friendly and parent-approved food options. We snagged an almond croissant and espresso from Camano Island Coffee Roasters. We had lunch at Tapped – which offers outdoor seating, a relaxed atmosphere, a solid kid menu, and an adequate beer list. Plus, proximity to the big grassy field to run around in when your kids get antsy (I’ll remember to bring a soccer ball next time). After lunch and a visit to the library, we got ice cream cones (and sprinkles) at the walk-up window in the Commons and ate them in an old-fashioned ice cream parlor booth until we’d had our fill.
For a no-frills bite on the south end of the island, there is Elger Bay Food Mart, conveniently located near the state parks for a post-adventure snack. We didn’t eat there, but the reviews are mostly good, and they had a tempting tap list.
The Cama Beach Café, located in the lodge at Cama Beach State Park, is another good option on the southern end of the island. They serve breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday, late June – Labor Day.
Cheers! Nothing wraps a Camano adventure quite like an ice cream toast at the Commons. (Image: Casey Funke)
Where To Stay
Camano Island Inn is one of few lodging options on the island, though Airbnb and VRBO offer numerous vacation rentals. There is camping at Camano Island State Park. Plan to make a reservation for summer weekends as the campsites fill up as most do during our beautiful northwest summers. Camano also makes for a great day trip, with its no-ferry-needed proximity to Seattle. However you plan to enjoy Camano, be sure to add it to your summer adventure list.
