Over the years, La Conner Washington has become one of our favorite Washington towns. Located in the 'Up & Over' and in the Skagit Valley, it's just over an hour northwest of Seattle. It's got good beer, cute shops, comfy B&Bs, galleries and museums, great restaurants, and you can even park a sailboat here - the town sits along the salty Swinomish Channel.

  We're gonna point out a few of our favorite La Conner hotspots - some new, some more established, all great and ETC approved. Most of them we visited last summer & Fall, although, we drove through a few weeks ago to see what's new (and 'cause we love the place!).

Seeds Bistro serves great local food at all meals -  breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We stopped by for a quick burger and loved it. Not to mention they built their entranceway around the oldest beech tree in Washington. They care about food and serving good food to you - it shows!

What tiny town has 3 museums? Make sure to check out at least one while you're there - The Quilt & Textile Museum, the Skagit County Historical Museum, or the Museum of Northwest Art.

   That's just the start of things to do in and around La Conner. There's the book store, the antique store, the newly located Nell Thorn restaurant…and more! Definitely worth a visit and easy to spend the day exploring rain or shine.
   ~Paul & Amber   ETC

Links:
*More info about La Conner here
*When we paddled the Skagit River to La Conner…without much planning;)
*Paddling the Swinomish to Hole in the Wall
*B&B Review in La Conner
*South Fork Skagit River kayaking near La Conner

   We had to do it. Every Northwesterner feels the urge…the urge to drive out to the most northwest point in the contiguous US - Cape Flattery.

   Located in Washington state, Cape Flattery is part of the Makah Indian Reservation and although it's in Western Washington like Seattle, it's still a whopping 4 hours and 24 minutes away. If you live in the state, the drive and experience is a ritual you must participate in...eventually. It took us 10 years of living in the state before we made the trip!

   As you get close you'll enter the Makah Indian Reservation. This was one of the big reasons we wanted to make the trip out here - to check out the Makah Museum - we heard it was great (it is). It's probably a good idea to read the giant "Recreational Use Permit" sign on the side of the road as you enter the Res. The permit is kind of a toll for visiting. A few local businesses sell it for anyone who wants to park a car on the reservation (which is you if you're visiting). If you plan to check out Cape Flattery, you'll need one (I carelessly drove past the giant sign, parked at the Cape, hiked, and returned without getting a ticket…but I think I just got lucky).

   The hike out to the Cape viewpoint is mostly boardwalk and pretty easy. There's lots of smaller side-lookouts to enjoy as you make your way to the point.

   The view from the final viewing platform (picture below) is of Tatoosh Island and the Cape Flattery Light - the northernmost lighthouse on the West Coast of the US.

   As far a views go, well, that's about it. Far more stunning were the views to Canada and the north on the drive out. Other than that, Cape Flattery, to be honest, isn't that grand…but we had to do it, we had to! 
   Way cooler is the Makah Museum - so far the best Native American Museum we've ever been to, and worth the adventure out here in the first place. Sadly they don't allow photography inside the museum so I don't have any pics from the inside:( 
   The museum is large and has lots of exhibit space, a cool gift shop, and great interactive stuff for the kiddos. They've done a great job and I can't wait to go back. Because of the 4 1/2 hours it takes to get here from Seattle, you might want to venture out as part of a bigger trip. Whether staying a night in a nearby cabin, camping on the coast, or hitting up a nearby Northwest Inn, it's a nice addition to the agenda. We finally made it and you will too…eventually!

   ~Paul & Amber   ETC

Links:
Makah Museum
(P.S. Don't let this museum website scare you - it's old - the museum is 10 times more modern than this site…seriously!)

   Another quaint Lopez Island locale is the Fisherman Bay Preserve, located just a few clicks from Lopez village. It's a 29 acre spit/preserve/park with hiking trails, shoreline, and beautiful sights to explore. There's an outhouse and a small parking lot at the entrance. Bringing your dog for a run along the designated paths seems like a good way to spend the afternoon!

  On the way there you'll also pass by Otis Perkins day park with even more shoreline/beach to check out. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Lopez is the best!
   ~Paul & Amber   ETC

Links:
Nice map & info about the park

   I'll just go ahead and quote myself when I say that Lopez Island, Washington has a "tri-force of awesomeness". Iceberg point, Watmough Bay, and now finally Shark Reef Sanctuary make Lopez the BEST San Juan Island (No? debate in our comment section!).

   After parking at Shark Reef you'll head down a forest-y trail to the rocky shore.

   From there, short trails head down the shoreline, weaving through trees and over rocks. You'll probably notice the tidal rapids roaring through Cattle Pass. It's like a saltwater river - you might want to plan ahead if your coming through this pass by boat!

   All & all, a great park. Lopez Island is a beautiful place. A stop to the San Juans without checking out these sights is big mistake! Check it out!
   ~Paul, Amber, Mom, Sis   ETC

P.S. The map below gets you pretty close - the actual park/parking lot is a touch south from Shark Reef Rd & Burt Rd.