Nestled among the majestic evergreens of the Pacific Northwest, Captain Whidbey is a historic inn on the shores of Penn Cove outside of Seattle, and deeply connected to the local rhythms of Puget Sound’s Whidbey Island. With scene-stealing old fireplaces built from local stones, to log-paneled rooms that capture the essence of a different time, stepping into the Captain Whidbey, with all its creaky, imperfect, crooked charm, is like an ode to wabi-sabi. It does feel like a return to the slower days of summer camp. The flow of locals who continue to come onto the property to eat at the restaurant or sit on the swings by the lagoon are a testament to how Captain Whidbey remains a familiar fixture with a comforting lack of pretension. Whidbey Island is the largest island in the state of Washington, and it’s where one of my favorite movies, Practical Magic, was filmed back in the 90s. With a nautical soul and agricultural heart, this 45-mile-long island in Puget Sound feels like the West Coast’s version of Nantucket. Unlike the San Juans, you can drive directly to Whidbey over the breathtaking Deception Pass Bridge or hop a 20-minute ferry in Mukilteo, located 20 miles from Seattle.