The Bluff on Whidbey Bed & Breakfast resides on three acres of land in the northwestern area of the state of Washington. Two rooms are available to guests, each including a kitchenette, private deck, and a view of the mountains and ocean. Breakfast is additionally available to guests for purchase and is served between 8:30 to 10:00 AM. Many visitors come for the generally rural atmosphere of the property. From June to September, The Bluff typically receives the most amount of guests, due to the festivals and outdoor activities in close proximity to the property. Jim and Robin, the current owners of The Bluff, have owned the B&B since 2016. They previously owned a winery but they both decided to move to Washington from Santa Cruz, California to run the B&B.
The Bluff on Whidbey Bed & Breakfast is located on three acres of land in the northwestern corner of Washington state. The property overlooks a bluff that is about 200 feet, and is situated by Mount Baker, which provides a view of the mountains and the ocean. Deception Pass State Park is a ten minute drive from The Bluff on Whidbey B&B. Additionally, the property is in close proximity to Seattle, which is an hour and a half drive away. One of the area's most unique attractions is Predators of the Heart, a sanctuary for various animals. Visitors could have the chance to pet live wolves and see other large predatorial mammals at the sanctuary.
The Bluff B&B is a self check-in rental, so guests can go straight to their rooms upon arrival. The bed and breakfast includes two rooms available to guests. The two rooms are the Cicero Suite, which can accommodate up to three people, and the Lynden Room. Each rental contains a private entrance, free Wi-Fi, a kitchenette, a microwave, miniature fridge, sinks, teapots, coffee makers, and snacks. The Cicero Suite, in particular, features a private balcony on the second story, inclusively with a private bath, queen and twin beds, a gas fireplace, wireless internet, TV, and DVD. The style of the B&B has a generally modern appearance with some old-fashioned characteristics in each room. Wooden planks line the frames of the windows and doors, with tile flooring throughout the B&B, and lamps to provide light in each room. The Lynden Room also includes a deck, as well as a private bath, queen bed, gas fireplace, TV, and wireless internet, similar to Cicero. A view of the mountains and ocean can be seen from both rooms. Outside the property, there are games such as corn hole or Jenga, in addition to hammocks and a hot tub for guests who want to relax.
Robin, who is one of the current owners of the establishment, bakes scones, tea bread, croissants, and other similar foods and delivers them either the evening before or in the morning. A full breakfast can be purchased with a menu including whole wheat waffles with pecans and sausage, a breakfast sandwich, eggs benedict, frittatas, mini German pancakes with caramel syrup, plus other breakfast food options. Robin does cater towards food diets such as keto, gluten-free, soy, dairy-free, or vegan. Breakfast is served between 8:30 and 10:00 AM. The owners also provide a sample of their red wine to guests who might be interested in purchasing a bottle from their wine shop. Guests could also visit a few of the nearby restaurants. Some restaurants recommended by the owner include A'Town Bistro, Frasers in Oak Harbor, and Oyster Catcher.
The overall atmosphere of the surrounding area is generally peaceful and rural. In the future, Jim and Robin hope to build a greenhouse for guests to enjoy during harsh weather. The majority of visitors come to The Bluff on Whidbey Bed & Breakfast to get away from the city and relax. The owners respectfully keep the B&B as a getaway for older guests with the policy that children under the age of 12 are not allowed.
The busiest season of operation for The Bluff is from June to September. Typically guests come during this time for nearby outdoor activities such as hiking. The area hosts several trail races and marathons around the property, and the owner mentions people will stay at The Bluff to use the hot tub to relax after one of the marathons. Some hiking trails located by The Bluff B&B include Deception Pass, Mt. Eirie, Padilla Bay, Chuckanut Drive, Ebey's Landing, and South Whidbey State Park, to name a few. Another notable activity that visitors come for is the Tulip Festival. During the spring, the Skagit Valley's tulips blossom, and guests could have the opportunity to view the tulip gardens. The Oak Harbor Music Festival is another attended event that takes place on Labor Day. In addition to the attractions in the area, the owner said that since The Bluff is in close proximity to Woodby Island Airstation, some guests come to visit family or to reunite with a son or daughter who is in the military.
Robin explains that one of the most unique aspects of The Bluff is the view of Mount Baker with the snow-capped top and the ocean. She explains that the previous owners would call it a "million-dollar view". Additionally, several past visitors have commented on the view from their rooms, in addition to the atmosphere of the area. One guest, in particular, remarked, "Nice and quiet to get away from the kids for a bit. The view was amazing and the Cicero room was a great size. The hosts were very friendly and welcoming."
Jim and Robin, the current owners of the business, have owned and operated the B&B since 2016. The original owners of The Bluff were locals who got into the lodging industry. It was a B&B ten years prior to when the owner acquired the property. Before moving to Washington to own The Bluff on Whidbey Bed & Breakfast, Jim and Robin lived in Santa Cruz, California, and owned a winery. Eventually, they decided to quit their jobs, sell the winery, and move to Washington to own their own property in the lodging industry.
Tilly Graft was one of the founding members of the Oak Harbor Garden Club. She had a reputation for her gardening skills and was renowned in the community for her talent. The Bluff's plants that fill the gardens on the property were all planted by Tilly Graft, in addition to most of the landscaping, which was also done by Tilly. All of the previous owners of the B&B have worked to maintain the garden and keep it thriving.
One of Robin's favorite things about owning The Bluff on Whidbey Bed & Breakfast is seeing guests relax and enjoy the property. Some of the details Jim and Robin have added in hopes of making guests feel more comfortable are chocolates on the nightstand upon arrival, the construction of fireplaces, and robes provided for guests.
4808 Jones Road
Oak Harbor, Washington 98277
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Jim and Robin
