There aren't many areas on the island that are open to the public because most of the land is owned by private individuals. Almost all that are public are owned by either the state or the county, but they're all a delight to visit, because none of them are ever very crowded & have remained almost pristine. And, to be truthful, they aren't always easy to find since they're not well signed.
Some of these public areas belonged to private individuals who donated them, others were bought & donated by friends of the park system, & still others were bought directly by the county or state. The one on the right is on a spit on the east side of the island that used to be privately owned. It's quite popular since it has a lengthy sandy beach, & residents regularly bring their children to play. However, popular doesn't mean crowded.
The shoreline on the northeast side of the island consists of a number of bays & coves & the people who live on this side enjoy watching the sun rise, while those of us on the west side swear by our glorious sunsets. A lot of driftwood collects in the east side bays because they have nowhere else to go but to collect along the sides or dead end of the large bay on the north end, blown there by our winter winds which come from the south. Across the bay the Cascade Mountains frame this bucolic scene, although they are difficult to see in my photos because of the clouds.
This is a fabulous birdwatching area. Over 125 species of birds have been spotted, including eagles, hawks, shorebirds, great blue herons, chickadees, hummingbirds, & thrushes. In the fall snow geese & trumpeter swans use the area as a stopping off place on their migration route.
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