My latest travel piece for USA TODAY about Whidbey Island’s famous mussels came out last week, just in time for Penn Cove Mussel Festival.

“Whidbey Island, the largest island in Washington state located just an hour from Seattle by car or ferry, is famous for many reasons. Last year, 10Best.com readers voted this the No. 3 island destination in the country, due in part to its whopping six state parks, easy accessibility and incredible, 360-degree coastal views of surrounding geographic wonders like Puget Sound, Mt. Baker, and the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. It is home to spectacular Deception Pass State Park, idyllic Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve and historic sites like Fort Casey. But there is only one thing that truly puts Whidbey Island on the world stage: its mussels.” Read More