Fort Ebey State Park, Coupeville

Took the kids here in the late summer and early fall last year. I'd definitely recommend timing your visit so that you get the most sun exposure at this time and avoid after sunset because it gets pretty cold. The views were beautiful and the fort is so neat. I love how the state has left it open for the people to enjoy! No since in preserving history if we can't touch it and learn from it. Makes you feel more a part of it. My kids loved the "spooky tunnel". You'll know what I mean if you visit. There's doors and rooms without lighting- it's awesome. Hide and seek would be amazing here. You can find agates and sand dollars here and weird beetles on the banks. Great place for a kite. There's a little lake with a bench that was in dedication to someone and I recall it being very sweet.

Lots of bird activity, just in the parking lot! The parking lot was nice, the bathrooms were open, and clean. The trail we went on was really nice and well marked. With any state park, dogs are required to be on leash, and with any state park, people constantly and consistently break this rule. We have a well behaved, reactive dog. A blue-heeler was running in front of it's owner, spotted our dog, and I have never-NEVER- seen a dog run so fast. I tried to verbally intervene, by saying, 'no' and 'back' but it kept charging at us, I tried to bodily block it by sticking my leg out (not to kick it, just to slow it down at this point) and it hit my leg so hard I had bruises, and it knocked my hip (I'm only 30 and it HURTS). The owner heard me, and finally called it back, and then ran past us like nothing happened, immediately taking it off leash. It's also important to note, that this state park is 5 minutes away from a HUGE off leash dog park. State Parks should be a safe haven for dogs, and people. Dogs should remain leashed to not only save other dogs, but also people, and wildlife, both flora and fauna. This experience is not unique to this state park, and I don't blame the state park(s) at all. I do however blame every single human that allows dogs off leash, and it is something that everyone has to think about when going to a state park.