Discovering Skagit Valley

Weekend excursions are a must during the summer months. And the best part about living in Washington State, is you don't have to go far to feel like you've left the hustle and bustle of the city for a little R&R. One of our favorite places to visit and only about 2 hours north of Seattle is Skagit Valley. With its rolling hills, lush landscapes, seafront shores and fresh markets, Skagit Valley brings a sense of quiet peace to us city dwellers.

If you haven't visited Skagit Valley lately, here are a few of the highlights we recommend you check out.

For Food:

BreadFarm
Breadfarm is a hand-formed, artisan bakery located in the small village of Edison, Washington. Just off of Chuckanut Drive, you can find them nestled at the bottom of Blanchard Mountain in Skagit Valley. Each loaf is hand formed and carefully tended through each stage of the baking process. Breadfarm delivers fresh baked bread to their customers daily.




The Oyster Bar On Chuckanut Drive
For fresh seafood, there is nothing better than the Oyster Bar On Chuckanut Drive. The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive had it's earliest beginnings in the 1920's when E. N. Steele and J.C. Barnes formed the Rockpoint Oyster Company on Samish Bay. Their slogan coined in 1946 still rings true today: "The oysters that we serve today slept last night in Samish Bay."

Rhododendron Cafe
Stop by the Rhody Cafe for the best brunch in town. Taste the Smoked Salmon Benedict or the Wild Mushroom, Spinach & Provolone Scramble served with Homemade Crepes paired with Fresh Berries and Orange-Almond Syrup. The Rhody Cafe blends Northwest recipes with extra ethnic flairs.

For Scenery:

Visit the oyster shell-encrusted lighthouse (left) at Taylor Shellfish Farms. Located on the Samish Bay, the lighthouse can be found just outside the store where you can also pick up fresh Dungeness crab, mussels, clams and Pacific oysters.

Places to Stay:

Benson Farmstead B&B
Benson Farmstead B&B is a 1914 Scandinavian farmhouse that was restored in 1981 and has been operated as a B&B by Jerry & Sharon Benson since 1991. The 3 acres of grounds include a granary now used as a family cottage, a well house which is used as a guest suite, a water garden, farm machinary garden, orchard, playground and many flowers.

Katy's Inn
Katy's Inn is one of the oldest homes in La Conner, and when opened in 1984 was the first bed-and-breakfast in town. The Inn sits high on a hill only two blocks from the beautiful artistic town of La Conner with easy access to sightseeing, shopping and dining.

Queen of the Valley & Spa
Located just 1/2 mile from the beautiful waterfront hamlet of La Conner, with four luxurious rooms with en-suite baths, as well as a huge two-bedroom suite perfect for families, girlfriend getaways, or couples traveling together, the Queen offers all the amenities of a luxury hotel along with the personal attention and care of a bed and breakfast.

Interested in hosting an event in Skagit Valley? Check out the following wonderful event facilities.

LaConner Channel Lodge
LaConner Country Inn