7-8-19 Whidbey has been discovered!!

I have been on the island for 15 years, and I am noticing (what all of us locals are noticing) that each year there are more visitors discovering Whidbey.

Over this past holiday weekend, I noticed how hard it was to find a parking space in Langley. I noticed how many more people were shopping at Payess (and I am sure at the Star Store and the Red Apples). I noticed how busy it was at The Clyde. The increased people energy was definitely noticeable.

It really is a mixed bag.  We all want the business on Whidbey to thrive, and visitors certainly make a difference to the success of the many retail stores.

I have only been here 15 years, but I am guessing that for those who have been here much longer, the impact of all the people coming to visit the island must be difficult, even though we do understand it really helps our local businesses thrive.

Change is always a challenge, and our challenge here is to find ways to preserve what makes Whidbey a unique world, while accepting the new faces coming to visit and live here.