When Ed Young retired, his wife Stephanie had an idea to keep the kayaking enthusiast busy and herself out of the water.

“She likes kayaking, but not like me,” Ed Young, owner of the Whidbey Island Kayaking Company, said with a smile.

After his wife floated the idea, her husband got on board and they formed the Whidbey Island Kayaking Company.

Young has been leading kayaking excursions from beaches around the island ever since, and it’s a big hit with tourists. And with local families, too.

Small groups depart from the Langley Marina, Possession Point, Double Bluff or other popular areas on two-hour tours.

Sea kayaking is a quintessential Northwest adventure. Seeing Whidbey Island from the water is a unique perspective not available by any other means. Lucky paddlers get to observe wildlife like bald eagles, blue herons and harbor seals.

“You really see Whidbey Island from a perspective nobody else has,” Young said.

The truly lucky ones may see a gray whale or two in Saratoga Passage.

“In the early spring, we concentrate our tours in Saratoga Passage, where gray whales cruise through and feed on the local ghost shrimp,” he said. “Sometimes they approach us as close as 40 feet.”

Being a total beginner is no problem.

“I cater to first-time kayakers,” Young said. He uses mainly tandem kayaks that are more stable than singles.

“This is my sixth season and in five years, nobody capsized,” he said. “I keep it pretty conservative and tame.”

The weather on Whidbey Island can be feisty, but Young tells his customers to dress for the weather of the day.

“Dress like you’ll take a walk on the beach,” he said.

Gear is provided. The kayaking adventure begins with a brief safety lesson on the beach where people learn paddling and important kayak rescue techniques.

From April through October, Young leads about two tours a day. In the summertime, he conducts up to three.

The trip costs $49; the price is cut in half for children under 13. Kids need to weigh at least 40 pounds to take the tour, however.

For more information, call 321-4683 or go to www.whidbeyislandkayaking.com.

For reservation, call a day ahead. During the summer, especially when planning a weekend tour, people should call at least one week ahead.