Local Favorites

Dining-  Samish Island is in the midst of a dynamic farm community, raising everything from beets to buffalo! Shellfish is harvested daily in Chuckanut Bay. The local creameries craft world class cheeses and the nearby bakeries turn out tempting breads, pies and pastries. A good deal of these products are featured in our local eating establishments. As a result we enjoy some of the best dining experiences in the state! To view menus and hours of operation please click on the links provided below;

Terramar Brewing
Tweets
Taylor Shellfish Farms
BreadFarm
Bow Hill Blueberries
Nell Thorn
Slough Foods

Union Block Bistro
Samish Bay Cheese

Chuckanut Manor

Cob and Cork

Walks & Hikes-  Skagit County is known for miles of scenic, well maintained trails. The county covers nearly 1,000,000 acres from the sea to the mountains with six state parks and two national parks! Scenic Chuckanut Drive and Chuckanut Mountain are part of neighboring Whatcom County which offers hundreds of miles of trails for every skill level and reaching far into North Cascades National Park. Some of our favorites in Skagit include;

  • Padilla Bay Shore Trail, Bayview
  • Deception Pass State Park, Fidalgo & Whidbey Islands
  • Tommy Thompson Trail, Anacortes
  • Washington Park, Anacortes
  • Kukatali Nature Preserve-Kiket Island, LaConner
  • Guemes Mountain, Guemes Island
  • Shadow of the Sentinels, Concrete
  • Pressentin Park, Marblemount

Please visit Hike Skagit  and Day Hiking Bellingham  for more information on these and many more!

Whale Watching-   Island Adventures,  located at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes is a 35 minute drive from the cottage and a convenient starting point for your wildlife adventure – no ferry required! The calm waters near the San Juan Islands are one of the best places in the world to view wild orcas. Humpback whales, minke whales, and gray whales also call the region home. Soak in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest aboard the finest whale-watching vessel on the entire west coast, the Island Explorer!

Relaxation & Wellness-  Surrounded by beautiful Pacific NW inspired Japanese gardens, Bow Sanctuary is located six miles from Samish Island, where the Chuckanut Mountains meet the bountiful Skagit Valley. The sanctuary offers yoga and movement classes, massage and other body treatments, sauna, meditation gardens, and nourishment to locals and visitors. Plan your visit; https://bowsanctuary.com/

Local Events-

Winter

  • Birds of winter  The farmlands and wetlands, estuaries and marine waters, prairies and forests of the Skagit Valley provide the wintertime habitat needs for hundreds of bird species, including trumpeter swans, snow geese, bald eagles and peregrine falcons, among countless others. Check out birdsofwinter.org to learn more!
  • LaConner Birding Festival: January 24-25 http://lovelaconner.com
  • Edison Chicken Parade: Last Sunday in February at noon

Spring

Summer

  • Berry Dairy Days Festival Burlington: June 19-21, 2026
  • Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival: July 12 & 13 2026  http://celticarts.org
  • Anacortes Arts Festival: July 31- August 2, 2026
  • Skagit County Fair: August 6-9, 2026

Fall