Unwind down the Drive
Head northwest from Mount Vernon and Burlington through picturesque farmland, and along the water you’ll find the tiny towns of Bow and Edison. Exit 231 off I-5 leads visitors towards a quaint sojourn from the chaos of everyday life.
Perched on the banks of a slough, Edison is all about escaping the city to embrace one’s passions. This one-intersection town with an estimated population of 240 is home to artisans and artists of all sorts. Journalist Edward R. Murrow graduated from Edison High School, and the community continues to foster and nurture creative minds today. Edison’s Smith & Vallee Gallery, housed in a restored turn-of-the-century schoolhouse, showcases artwork of emerging artists.
Edison hosts an annual Bird Festival and Chicken Parade in February where people can dress up in all manner of feathered chicken-wear and strut down Main Street.
Bow and Edison draw in food lovers from all around, with a variety of food producers and restaurants. Both Breadfarm Bakery, specializing in handcrafted small-batch breads, and Farm to Market Bakery, which bakes a variety of delicious pastries, are masters of their craft. Bow is home to artisan cheese makers, and Edison has several cafés and restaurants, most of which have an intensely local focus.
Chuckanut Drive is an experience drivers won’t want to pass up. The 21-mile stretch of road between Bow-Edison and Fairhaven allows visitors the chance to ramble along high above the shoreline. The cliffs fall to Chuckanut Bay on one side and steep rock faces climb the other side of the drive.
Road bikers be forewarned – the winding road is narrow with no passing room. It’s safest for everyone when drivers keep their eyes on the road and wait for one of the many scenic overlooks before lifting a camera to memorialize the view.
The Chuckanuts offer hiking for all ages and experience levels – Larrabee State Park on Chuckanut Drive alone has seven trails, ranging from the easy trek down to Clayton Beach to the 6.5-mile grind to the top of Oyster Dome. Though it involves a 2,000-foot gain in elevation, Oyster Dome is worth the climb for the spectacular view of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan islands waiting at the top.
Fresh oysters are plentiful on Chuckanut Drive, as they grow right in the mudflats of Samish Bay. Stop in at The Oyster Bar to try oysters from the bay or take the lane down to the renowned Taylor Shellfish Farms to visit an oyster farm and buy fresh oysters, clams, geoduck, mussels and crab right from the source.
Visit Bow, Edison and Chuckanut to connect with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest.
For more information, visit visitskagitvalley.com and bellingham.org.
