A Picture Perfect Day Uncaptured

A Dash of Luck, Sunshine, and Skagit Charm

When your husband's unpredictable work schedule grants a rare day off, spontaneity becomes second nature. That's how Dennis and I found ourselves on a whim, chasing tulips, birds, and good food through Skagit County's brightest gems this St. Patrick's Day.

The weather was on our side, which in northern Western Washington is equivalent to not precipitating, partially cloudy, with a constant light wind. From Interstate 5, we traveled through the little town of Conway and wound our way along State Route 534 headed toward the backside of Mount Vernon.

Known as an agricultural hub, Mount Vernon hosts the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, in April. Regular visitors from nearby Canada and the Pacific Northwest return year after year to admire the vast and seemingly never ending rows of colorful tulips. The city also has a terrific historic downtown district that holds a farmers' market and art walks amongst its flavorful restaurants and unique shops.

Chasing Blooms in Mount Vernon

Dennis and I knew we may be too early to see the wavy lofts of color, and while we were right, the bright yellow daffodils gave us a cheerful preview as we followed along the driving tour. The tour is about a fifteen-mile triangle bordered by Highway 20, the Skagit River, and Swinomish River Channel that boasts five stunning gardens. During the Festival, each offers the unique experience of walking amongst the vibrant blooms.

As we came to the end of the tour we headed southwest into one of our favorite towns, La Conner. While the town is a close community of under 1,000 it is big on its arts and historic downtown charm with galleries, museums, and handmade and small business shops. It is also home to the La Conner Brewing Company which is where we immediately headed for lunch.

Lunch with a View: La Conner Brewing Company

Although Dennis and I opted to sit up at the bar, if you haven't been to this restaurant before you must enjoy their main dining room which is decorated with work of local artists for sale.  Also, if you're of legal drinking age, I encourage you to order a beer flight so you can sample a variety. La Conner Brewing's beers (and food) never disappoint. On this particular day I went with the Black & Blue burger, aptly named for its perfect amount of gorgonzola and peppered bacon accompanied by a refreshing Citra IPA. For Dennis, the Bison burger topped with smoked gouda and the right touch of balsamic reduction, paired with their Wheat ale.

As we traditionally do, after lunch we strolled downtown to one end then made our way back via the boardwalk that runs along the Swinomish River Channel. We spotted a couple of seals poking their heads up and down in the water. Although we could have stayed longer, we had one last stop to make.

Sweet Discoveries at Snow Goose Produce

Driving out of La Conner on Fir Island Road we stopped somewhere I've driven by many times through never stopped - Snow Goose Produce. So why the stop now? Well, our youngest son Alex became a fan after his girlfriend begged him to take her there for ice cream last summer. They then started making frequent trips for the treat. Alex even brought home flowers and other locally made treats one day. So, I knew one day I needed to check it out for myself. For research, of course...

The warm, sugary scent of fresh waffle cone greeted us at Snow Goose, tempting us to forget we'd just devoured hearty burgers. We were not disappointed when we spotted the cases holding the huge bulk containers of Lopez Island Creamery ice cream. The only thing I may have done differently was had lunch first, then the drive, then the ice cream because a single scoop is not one stingy side! Being the dedicated researcher I am, I did manage to enjoy each bite of Chocolate Chip Mint. Dennis did his own research with a scoop of .

No Photos...or Jam

All in all it was a perfect day, even if we don't have the photos to show it. The only thing that was regretful, according to Alex, is that we didn't bring home any Snow Goose jam - apparently it's the best. Maybe some more research for another day. Until then I let AI capture the essence of the day...

As you can see, AI has a WAYS to go before replacing any of us!

This post is not sponsored, and all recommendations are based on my personal experiences.