SKAGIT COUNTY
bow, edison and chuckanut.
22 WATERSIDE 2012
NO ONE SHOULD MISS beautiful Chuckanut Drive. The 21-mile stretch of two-lane road between Burlington and Fairhaven takes travelers high above the shoreline with dramatic cliffs and rock faces on either side. The trip is popular both with motorcyclists and road bikers but be forewarned: the road is narrow with no passing room. Keep your eyes on the road until you reach one of the viewpoint pullouts. Stop by the Oyster Bar for some fresh oysters as well as other culinary choices. See where those tasty mollusks come from and visit the Taylor Shellfish Farm, where you’ll find fresh oysters, clams, geoduck, mussels, crab and more. The Chuckanut Mountains are home to some of the finest hiking in the region, ranging from the easy trek to Clayton Beach in Larrabee State Park to the 6.5-mile grind to the top of Oyster Dome – a 2,000-foot gain in elevation. Once you reach the flats of Chuckanut, don’t miss the towns of Edison and Bow. Here, local is the watchword, especially when it comes to culinary pursuits. First up is the Rhododendron Café, with its made from scratch food that is locally sourced. In addition to its regular menu, the Rhody Café explores a new region or country every month, providing patrons with a delightful “ethnic odyssey.” Edison, population 133, is known as the town where journalist Edward R. Murrow graduated from high school. Look for Slough Foods, which offers regional artisan cheeses, meats and wine. Next door, Breadfarm Bakery is known throughout the region for its handson, everything-from-scratch approach.
photograph by tim Chandonet
Miles of scenic vistas and windy roads, with world-class food along the way.