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Summer
Destinations
& Beyond July 2022 A Special Supplement to the
utlook
Real People. Real Life.
Road Trip: Chuckanut Drive to Bellingham
&
Easy hikes abound around Snohomish County Skagit Valley offers tasty tour of farm-fresh food
Culinary delights abound in downtown Snohomish
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Summer Destinations
July 20 - July 26, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK
Spectacular views, parks and shopping highlight Chuckanut Drive adventure
By Nathan Whalen christopher@northcountyoutlook.com
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ith spectacular views viewed from a winding road up from the shoreline, Chuckanut Drive in Skagit and Whatcom counties also provides a getaway to the outdoors as well as shopping and culture in a historic district. “Every time I drive it, I think it’s kind of amazing,” said Scott Ward, Fairhaven Association executive director. “I can’t believe I live here.” Starting in Burlington from exit 231 off Interstate 5, take WA-11. The drive starts at sea level and visitors pass through Edison and the elevation increases after crossing the Colony Creek Bridge. Motorists will enjoy views of the San Juan Islands and the bays below as they drive on a windy, two-lane road, according to myscenicdrives.com. “The nice thing about this drive is that it is good yearround,” said Any Guerra, marketing director for Visit Bellingham | Whatcom County. Chuckanut Drive is the state’s
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Every time I drive it, I think it’s kind of amazing. I can’t believe I live here.
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Scott Ward
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first scenic byway and provides access to Larrabee State Park, which is Washington’s first state park, Guerra said. One of the popular and surprising features of Larrabee State Park is the sandstone cliff formations at Clayton Beach, said Meryl Lassen, with Washington State Parks communications. Clayton Beach also has rock climbing. If timed right, the beach is home to tide pools. She noted the crossing to Clayton Beach goes over a busy railroad line that runs 24/7 and people should be cautious when crossing the tracks. Another popular feature of the park are hikes to Lost and Fragrance lakes, which is an 11-
Fall is an incredibly beautiful time to travel on Chuckanut Drive. mile loop with a 1,750 elevation gain to Lost Lake or a 5.5-mile, 950-foot elevation gain to Fragrance, and are stupendous in the fall, Lassen said. She said Chuckanut Drive is best explored in the fall when the trees change color. Visitors
should expect traffic during the fall. “But, hey, the whole point of a scenic drive is taking it slow, right,” Lassen said in an email. Lassen said the park can get crowded so people should arrive early and have a “Plan-B.” Other
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parks in the area are Birch Bay and Bay View, which have great beaches too. On the north end of the drive is home to Fairhaven, which is a neighborhood that was orig-
See CHUCKANUT on page 6
Summer Destinations
July 20 - July 26, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK
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Easy hikes abound around Snohomish County By Nathan Whalen christopher@northcountyoutlook.com
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everal places throughout the Arlington and Marysville areas provide easy access to nature for people of various physical abilities. Rose Intveld, communications specialist with Snohomish County Parks, provided a few suggestions for easier hikes in the area. The Centennial Trail is a 30mile paved trail that stretches from the city of Snohomish to the Skagit County line. Trailheads can be accessed at Armar Road, Bryant Road, Westlund Road, Lake Cassidy (which has disabled parking only), 54th Place in Lake Stevens, and Haller and Legion parks in Arlington. The trail is popular with hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. The trail follows the original route of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern railways, according to information from the Washington Trails Association. The trail passes through forests, farmland, creeks and rivers. It also connects with the Whitehorse Trail in Arlington. The trail climbs gradually through Lake Stevens through to Lake Cassidy. Views of the Olympic
Mountains peak through the trees near Arlington. The paved trail also has a six-foot-wide, natural-surface equestrian trail. More than 400,000 people use the trail every year, according to information from Snohomish County. The Washington Trails Association notes no horses are permitted between Armar Road and Bryant, and between the Snohomish and Pilchuck trailheads, because of congestion concerns. Another easier hike would be exploring parts of the Whitehorse Trail. Intveld recommended accessing the Miller Shingle trailhead on SR 530. The Whitehorse Trail is a 27-mile trail between Arlington and Darrington that, like the Centennial Trail, follows the path of a former railroad. Two portions of the Whitehorse Trail remain closed. The first is between the Centennial Trail connection and the Trafton Trailhead in Arlington. The second is west of 435th Avenue near Darrington, according to information from Snohomish County. Intveld also suggested visiting River Meadow Park, which is located on Jordan Road near
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The Centennial Trail at Lake Cassidy. Arlington. The 150-acre park is a large, peaceful park with opportunities to relax and enjoy nature, according to information from Snohomish County Parks. She also recommended checking out the “Trail to Success” at Kayak Point. The 1.1-mile loop trail, constructed through the Trails to Success program aimed at developing
job skills for disadvantaged youth. Teenagers aged 15 to 18 spent five months designing and building the trail, which traverses a beautiful stream gully surrounded by giant ferns and provides access to some of the park’s lesser visited areas. There are also trails around Gissberg Twin Lakes Park. In Marysville is the Ebey Waterfront Trail, which is paved
for ADA accessibility and can be accessed from the Ebey Waterfront Park. The trail provides access to the Qwuloolt Estuary. Snohomish County, Arlington and Marysville have information about parks and the hiking that is available in the area. The Washington Trails Association, at www.wta.org, also maintains a list of trails throughout the state.
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July 20 - July 26, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK
Summer Destinations
Snohomish’s riverfront attracts people looking for a relaxing place to picnic.
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mid the antique shops, live entertainment and historic character, downtown Snohomish provides a great place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy a drink. “You get a really eclectic experience,” said Maygen Harrington, executive director of the Historic Downtown Association. She encourages visitors to walk
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People explore Front Street in historic downtown Snohomish. Walking is a great way to explore downtown Snohomish.
through Snohomish’s downtown where many of the businesses are family owned. Snohomish Bakery provides housemade baked goods and provides a great breakfast, Harrington said, while Roger’s Riverfront Bistro is a farm-to-table restaurant that has a deck overlooking the Snohomish River. Nancy Keith, manager of the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce, noted the SnoTown Brewery has a section of in-house brewed beers and an outdoor beer garden that features live music on the weekends. Harrington said Randolf Cellars added charcuterie food while Todo Mexico has a great view where diners can sometimes see skydivers. The REPP offers great house-made cocktails. Brava’s Pizza and Pasta is a great family restaurant for the slice, delicious pasta or a salad, Keith said. She added Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse features a vast selection of bourbon and whiskey. “The lobster bisque and the Asian nachos are perennial favorites,” Keith said. See SNOHOMISH on page 6
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Summer Destinations
July 20 - July 26, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK
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Skagit Valley offers tasty tour of farm-fresh food ____ “
By Nathan Whalen christopher@northcountyoutlook.com
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fter the Tulip Festival in the spring and the harvest season in the fall, Skagit Valley remains a bountiful place where visitors can enjoy farm-grown food harvested throughout the summer. “It’s a very welcoming community and very passionate about local foods,” said Audrey Matheson, who co-owns Bow Hill Blueberries along with her husband, Andrew, brother, Ezra and sister-in-law, Emma. The county is dotted with farm stands from Mount Vernon to Sedro-Woolley to Burlington-Edison to La Conner, said Blake Vanfield, director of Genuine Skagit Valley, which works to increase the visibility of agriculture in the county. “There is so much to do, so much to see, and so much to eat,” Vanfield said. It takes a bit of planning to enjoy the farms in the Skagit Valley. Fortunately, www.genuineskagitvalley.com has a list of farms and farm stands that have sprouted throughout Skagit County. Heading into late-July and August, farms in the area have plenty to offer. Matheson said blueberries will be ready to pick during the first
It’s a very welcoming community and very passionate about local foods.
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Audrey Matheson
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week of August and will have U-Pick available on the weekends. Bow Hill Blueberries also has a farm stand open. Fresh blueberries, as well as produced items such as blueberry juice, blueberry confiture, and pickled blueberries are for sale too. The farm has been growing blueberries since 1947 and earned its organic certification in 2011, Matheson said. “Some of the plants are turning 75 years old this year,” Matheson said. Schuh Farms, located near Mount Vernon, also has a U-pick field. Blanchard Mountain Farm is a small farm located near Bow that grows vegetables that are part of owner Linda Versage’s Italian heritage. The farm features eggplant, tomatoes, and basil as well as zucchini, summer squash and several types of greens – lettuces, collards, chicory, escarole, cabbage and dandelion See SKAGIT on page 6
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An aerial view of Skagit County shows its rural character.
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Flowers and herbs are just some of the items for sale at farm stands throughout Skagit County.
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Summer Destinations
July 20 - July 26, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK
SNOHOMISH Continued from page 4
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Spada Farmhouse Brewery provides great classic and updated American food. Keith recommended the chicken caprese sandwich. Thai and Taps provides a different selection of beers and a place to grab a quick lunch, Harrington said. She added that Crista Sandwichboard “is a deli with amazing sandwiches.” Walking through downtown Snohomish also allows for visitors to explore the historic homes along
the lettered streets in Snohomish. The Centennial Trail, which stretches north to Skagit County, can be accessed in Snohomish and is a quintessential feature for bicyclists, Harrington said. Visiting on the weekends gives epicureans a chance to see skydivers and the hot-air balloons that are active during the summers, Harrington said. There are several live music venues in downtown Snohomish. She mentioned checking out Looking Glass Coffee when they host an open-mic night.
Taking place in late August is the Snohomish Block Party, which is a New Orleans-style celebration on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27. The two-day event features live music and a street fair. Visitors may want to plan for their visit to downtown Snohomish. The Historic Downtown Snohomish Association maintains a directory and map of the current businesses that are thriving in downtown Snohomish. Harrington said the directory was recently updated. For more information, go to www.historicdowntownsnohomish. org.
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CHUCKANUT Continued from page 2
inally one of the four communities that comprise Bellingham. Fairhaven is a historic area that feels like stepping back into a simpler time, Ward said. He added that most of the businesses in neighborhood are locally owned and operated. “So, it’s all unique.” The neighborhood is also known for
SKAGIT Continued from page 5
greens. The farm will occasionally have cut flowers for sale too.
artists. Morgan Block Studios and Galleries, and Whatcom Art Market are two thriving organizations operating out of Fairhaven. “It’s really a fun little area,” Guerra said. She recommended people park their car and walk. Enjoy a meal in Fairhaven or explore some of the 90 miles worth of walking trails in Bellingham. “It’s such a beautifully walkable, accessible place.”
Located off Chuckanut Drive near Bow, Blanchard Mountain Farm offers a picturesque landscape for visitors. “Our farm is drop-dead
gorgeous,” Versage said of the farm. When people park and get out of their car they enjoy a great view of the farm with the nearby mountain as a backdrop. Vanfield noted Mesman Farm, which is an organic dairy farm located near La Conner, offers weekly meal boxes for its customers in addition to selling its cuts of beef, lamb and pork. “We have farm stands that are focused on stocking the entire pantry,” Vanfield said. In addition to the eggs, meat, berries produce and more that are produced in Skagit County, Samish Gold Seafood is a shellfish business operating in Bow that sells oysters, crabs, and mussels. With just a bit of preparation, visitors can explore, buy and enjoy the fruit, vegetables, meat, and seafood the area has to offer. “Bring a cooler and fill it with the bounty of Skagit County,” Vanfield said.