Langley

WHERE THE WHALES ARE

The best places to see marine mammals in Langley are at the overlook on Main Street as you enter the town and at Whale Bell park – or anywhere along the beach!

• Each spring, a group of up to 20 gray whales return to the waters around Whidbey Island. They sometimes come right up to the seawall at Langley, feeding along bottom of the shore.
• River otters can be seen year round near the marina.
• Seals, sea lions are commonly seen.
• Look for Harbor porpoise and Dall’s porpoise in Saratoga Passage.
•  Orcas, too, are occasionally seen in Saratoga Passage.

WHALE BELL PARK

When the whales are near Langley, the whole town knows it! When someone spots a whale, they ring the brass bell at Seawall Park.

The beautiful bell was a community project. The bell itself was donated to Langley by Susan Berta of Orca Network. An Eagle Scout, Michael Scullin, worked with sculptor Tim Leonard to design and install the bell frame and nearby signs.

Be sure to see the bell when you visit Langley. With luck, it will be ringing!

WELCOME THE WHALES

Each spring, the City of Langley co-hosts an event with Orca Network to celebrate the return of the gray whales to Whidbey.  The event features kid’s activities, environmental displays, whale-themed talks, and our favorite, a parade!

People come from all over to dress up as their favorite whale or dolphin, and parade through the streets of Langley. The center of the parade is Gary the Gray Whale, a 20-foot fabric gray whale carried aloft by dozens of people, sometimes including the Mayor. The parade ends at Seawall Park, where Gary’s real-life counterparts may be spouting.