| Most people rave about Seattle and its beauty, | | | | located throughout the residential areas. With just |
| but venture a little further north and the picture | | | | 900 residents, the town is small and visitors can |
| postcard settings get even better. Northwest | | | | walk the neighborhoods and, because of the |
| Washington has to be one of the prettiest places | | | | town's hills, get some good exercise doing it. At |
| on earth. | | | | the top of one hill is the Skagit County Historical |
| In Northwest Washington, the mountains, the sea, | | | | Museum, which has many reminders of the city's |
| the farmlands, the islands all come together in a | | | | past including American baskets, Shirley Temple |
| breathtaking mosaic of colors and terrain, a feast | | | | dolls and a rich collection of historical documents |
| for the senses that is evident in every direction | | | | and photographs. |
| you look. It's no wonder that many people who | | | | One of La Conner's most historic buildings is the |
| live up here are actually part of the Puget Sound | | | | Gaches Mansion, which was constructed in 1891 |
| workforce, shuttling back and forth from their | | | | by George and Louisa Gaches as their residence. |
| Seattle-area jobs but figuring it's well worth the | | | | Over the years, the mansion changed hands |
| hours spent in the car each day if they can live | | | | several times until it was opened to the public as |
| where every time they look out their window or | | | | the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum in 1997. |
| walk down the street, the scenery is as | | | | The first floor of the museum is decorated in |
| spectacular as a painting. | | | | Victorian era furnishings, while you'll find the main |
| About half way between Seattle and Vancouver, | | | | exhibition space on the second and third floors. |
| B.C. is the tiny village of La Conner, a short drive | | | | The museum offers new exhibits about every |
| from the interstate and lightyears way from city | | | | eight weeks, and features quilts and quilters from |
| hustle and bustle. If you're driving straight through | | | | around the world - in fact this is one of only 12 |
| to Seattle or Vancouver, this is one of those | | | | such museums in the world. |
| gems you will miss unless you know it's there. | | | | La Conner also is a good base of operations for |
| La Conner is just a small town, an enclave built on | | | | short drives to many scenic locations in the |
| the banks of the Swinomish Channel. The channel | | | | general area. For example, about 15 miles to the |
| gives La Conner much of its color and | | | | west is Deception Pass State Park, a 4,134-acre |
| atmosphere, a distinct seaside ambiance that | | | | marine and camping park with considerable |
| comes from watching the fishing boats and | | | | shoreline, both freshwater and saltwater. With its |
| pleasure craft navigating the channel toward | | | | rugged cliffs and famous bridge, Deception Pass is |
| Anacortes and then out to the world-famous San | | | | a favorite destination for locals. The old-growth |
| Juan Islands. The Rainbow Bridge is the Golden | | | | forest and shoreline offer spectacular views. |
| Gate of La Conner, standing like a sentinel over | | | | Just to the southeast of La Conner is the |
| the town and a must-inclusion in any respectable | | | | 13,000-acre Skagit Wildlife Area, which is primarily |
| photograph of the city. | | | | tidelands and intertidal marsh habitat. Visitors can |
| With its historic buildings, a colorful downtown | | | | view 180 species of birds, including bald eagles, |
| assortment of channel-front restaurants and | | | | golden eagles, and osprey. Also seen in the area |
| intriguing shops, La Conner is a prime destination | | | | are coyote, raccoon, opossum, skunk, beaver and |
| for the stroller - i.e. the person who just likes to | | | | muskrat in addition to many other species. Local |
| stroll casually through town, soaking up the | | | | residents use the Wildlife area for hiking, |
| saltwater scents and sounds as seabirds sweep | | | | birdwatching, photography and canoeing. There |
| overhead or visitors enjoy good conversation and | | | | are six developed access sites and 12 footbridges |
| a drink out by the channel. It also will come as no | | | | in this low-lying area. |
| surprise that the local aesthetics are a big | | | | Larrabee State Park, in the Bellingham area, is an |
| attraction for artists of every type including | | | | easy drive north from La Conner and features |
| famous residents such as author Tom Robbins. | | | | 2,683 acres with a scenice saltwater shoreline on |
| The best way to savor the town is to spend a | | | | Samish Bay. The park features two freshwater |
| little time in La Conner - day trips are nice, but an | | | | lakes as well as tidelands and coves. |
| overnight lets you unwind and start doing things | | | | La Conner is a fun and picturesque destination any |
| on "La Conner time." Things just seem to move a | | | | time of year, but perhaps the most beautiful time |
| little slower in the village, and we found the La | | | | to visit is in April when the area comes alive with |
| Conner Channel Lodge to be tailor-made for this | | | | the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Acres and acres |
| kind of outing. As the name implies, the lodge is | | | | of daffodils, tulips, irises, and lilies are on display at |
| right on the channel and offers great views of | | | | this special time of the year. All the action begins |
| the Rainbow Bridge and the frequent boat traffic | | | | in mid-March or so when the daffodils are in full |
| on the channel. | | | | bloom. It continues through mid-May. Events |
| When they designed the La Conner Channel | | | | include a big street fair, parade, quilt walk and |
| Lodge, they went with a Cape Code type of | | | | many other festivities both in La Conner and in |
| shingle exterior that fits the location perfectly. | | | | nearby Mount Vernon. |
| Inside, the units are quite unique and unusual in the | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| way that they are not just rectangular but of | | | | WHERE: La Conner is about 65 miles north of |
| varying lengths and widths with distinct rooms and | | | | Seattle and is easily reached by taking the |
| angles. In our room a fireplace with two stuffed | | | | Conway exit off Interstate 5 and following the |
| chairs and a table were positioned at an angle, | | | | signs for La Conner. |
| while across the room a bench seat was built into | | | | WHAT: La Conner is a charming historical village |
| the wall. There was plenty of room for a king bed | | | | with a population of only about 900 people, but |
| and a window nearby that looked out onto the | | | | with an excellent selection of shops and |
| channel. A small lanai allowed us to sit outside and | | | | restaurants as well as some good choices for |
| watch the slow-cruising boats that seemed only a | | | | quality lodging. It has the feel of a fishing village |
| few yards away. | | | | and features picture-postcard scenery. WHEN: |
| Another big plus at the La Conner Channel Lodge | | | | This is a year-round destination, but will be much |
| was the bathroom area which offered a Jacuzzi | | | | quieter mid-week and in the winter months. |
| style tub stylishly situated in a room that used | | | | Conversely, it may be harder to get lodging in |
| dark and gray marble and tiles, as well as dark | | | | summer and on peak summer weekends, |
| wood accents to give the room a luxurious look | | | | especially around the time of the Tulip Festival in |
| and feel that helped make this getaway seem | | | | April. |
| extra-special. | | | | WHY: La Conner offers just the right combination |
| La Conner's history is evident in the buildings | | | | of ambience and solitude with sights and sounds |
| downtown and the historic homes that are | | | | that are bound to stir your passions. |