Photo by Gene Davis
Whale Watching & Cruising Island Mariner Cruises Bellingham 877/734-8866 or 360/734-8866 www.orcawatch.com Island Mariner Cruises offers nature watch and whale search cruises departing from Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor. Private charters available. See ad on page 10
Orcas Island 800/376-6566 or 360/376-6566 www.orcasislandwhales.com The Orcas Island Eclipse Charters & Whale Watch Tours boat is fast and modern with highback contour seats for 46. Other wildlife tours are also available.
Anacortes 800/308-9387 or 360/588-8000 www.mysticseacharters.com The 100-foot Mystic Sea offers 5 to 6 hour cruises with on board naturalist and underwater TV camera. Departs daily at 11 a.m. Private evening charters available for groups. See ad on page 4
Friday Harbor 800/647-4621 or 360/378-3533 www.outdoorodysseys.com For an unusually up-close view of orcas, try a kayaking tour package. Outdoor Odysseys offers single or multi-day trips that incorporate whale-watching, birding, history and gourmet food. Sea kayaking equipment included.
Orcas Island Eclipse Charters
Outdoor Odysseys
Mystic Sea Charters
360/376-3711 www.outerislandx.com Outer Island Expeditions offers unforgettable tours departing from Semiahmoo, Orcas, Lopez or Whidbey Island. Owner Beau Brandow grew up on Orcas Island and brings a wealth of local expertise to his charter business. Kayaking, crabbing, meals and other packages are available. See ad on page 15
Outer Island Expeditions
Bellingham 800/443-4552 or 360/738-8099 www.whales.com The Victoria Star Two makes daily round-trip excursions to Victoria on Vancouver Island. The three-hour cruise takes you through the San Juan Islands.
San Juan Cruises
Friday Harbor 800/450-6858 or 360/378-1323 www.sanjuansafaris.com Safaris features a 55-foot vessel with walk around deck and windowed cabin. Sunset tours and private charters are available.
San Juan Safaris
12240 2nd Ave., Steveston 604/274-9565 www.vancouverwhalewatch.com Vancouver Whale Watch offers 3 to 5 hour tours in large Zodiac inflatables with an onboard naturalist. See ad on page 27
Vancouver Whale Watch
THINGS TO DO:
• Visit the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner, the Edison Eye and Smith & Vallee galleries in Edison • Check out one of the Rexville Grocery's fun and eclectic events including wine and cheese tastings, live music and food festivals • Take an outdoor sculpture walk ing tour
DIRECTIONS:
Traveling on I-5, take exit 230. Head west then south on La Conner Whitney Road.
Take a stroll down historic First Street, lined by art galleries and unique eateries. Pause to take in the sculpture and outdoor art scattered around downtown. In nearby Edison, local is the watchword in the town of 133, especially when it comes to culinary pursuits. Slough Foods offers regional artisian
cheeses, meats and wine, Breadfarm breads are known throughout the region for the bakery’s hands-on, everythingfrom-scratch approach, and the Farm to Market Bakery features an eclectic, everchanging array of pies, pastries, sandwiches, soups and their signature limesoaked polenta cakes.
“Best Romantic Getaway” KING TV, Evening Magazine
On the LaConner waterfront Luxurious Accommodations • Complimentary Continental Breakfast Water Views & Balconies • Moorage available for our guests
www.laconnerlodging.com • 1.888.466.4113 • La Conner, WA
Waterside
www.laconnerchamber.com
When you first visit La Conner, you’ll be struck by the small-town quaintness of the former fishing town on the banks of the Swinomish Channel (referred to by locals as the “slough”). Stay a while and you’ll learn about the area’s local art scene – known as the birthplace of the Northwest style of art. Artists such as Morris Graves, Charles Krafft, Kenneth Callahan, Mark Tobey and Guy Anderson formed a colony of artists on the banks of the slough during the 1940s and 50s. The area, later known as Fishtown, became a haven for artists, writers and poets who wanted to get back to a simple way of living. The town, which also borders the Swinomish Indian reservation, still remains a culturally diverse haven for organic farmers, fishers, artists and visitors alike.
Photo by Charlie Hagan
La Conner
7