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There are plenty of things to do in Skagit Valley, from visiting local museums to having lunch on the La Conner waterfront. Photo: iStock
Skagit Valley, just about an hour north of Seattle, is known for its world-famous tulip festival and snow geese, but there is so much more to explore.
Every season brings something new. If you’re headed to the valley for some apple picking this fall, consider making a day out of it and pop by some of these fun, family-friendly spots.
Padilla Bay Reserve
The Seattle Aquarium is hard to beat, but the Padilla Bay Reserve can certainly hold its own. This small but explorable aquarium perched on the bluffs near Bay View State Park is a working study and preservation of the region’s estuaries. The Breazeale Interpretive Center and Aquarium is donation-based and encourages families to learn about the local sea life and what it means to be stewards of the environment.
The aquarium room features an eel grass archway leading to tanks displaying starfish, crab, eels and urchins. At certain times during the day, a few smaller “tide pool tanks” are open for hands-on learning. Try to spot Ruby the octopus (she is a hide-and-seek pro). Down the hall is another room perfect for hands-on play and learning, with books and interactive gadgets that will keep the younger kiddos busy.
Outside the center, you can find trails around the estuary and down to the bay. Follow a path through a tunnel and to the (super steep!) spiral staircase and make your way down to the beach for more real-life sea creature spotting.
Location: 10441 Bayview Edison Rd., Mount Vernon
Hours: Open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m–4 p.m.
Lang’s Horse and Pony Farm
Need a pony ride to go with your apple-picking? Then book a reservation at Lang’s Horse and Pony Farm. This sweet little spot has been offering guided trail rides to both kids and adults since 1975. Pony rides for ages 3–10 meander along flat paths throughout the farm, and parents can walk alongside their little riders. Kids ages 8 and older can opt for trail rides throughout the forest.
Most rides last 15–45 minutes (longer for mountain trails), and there’s an option for a lesson/trail combo for new riders. Lang’s always does a thorough job of safety training before each ride, from mounting the pony to basic commands. If you love Lang’s, check out their summer camps and riding lessons.
Location: 21463 Little Mountain Rd., Mount Vernon
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m., but reservations must be made in advance. Call 360-424-7630.
Skagit-Squatch Bigfoot Museum
As you head to downtown Burlington, keep an eye out for the quirky little Skagit-Squatch Museum. It’s a spot you probably never thought of visiting, but will always remember. The museum sits next to the home of Mike Vail, who began this labor of love post-retirement. He sums his mission up in three words: free, fun, family.
He packs the space to the brim with kitschy art, memorabilia, artifacts and impressive wood carvings. Mike is friendly and will always stop to chitchat with a guest. He is genuinely interested in hearing every detail of someone’s Bigfoot encounter — he even keeps a journal of all the accounts.
Location: 516 Avon Ave., Burlington
Children’s Museum of Skagit County
The Children’s Museum of Skagit County is the perfect place for a rainy-day pit stop after a morning of apple picking. The museum is surprisingly large, with lots of nooks and crannies that encourage pretend play. Features include a play fishing boat, a Mack truck, a sweet little grocery store, a dentist’s office and a veterinary clinic. There’s even an architectural design firm and an old-fashioned diner. A smaller, enclosed play space beckons the younger-than-5 crowd (with couches for parents!).
Location: 432 Fashion Way, Burlington
Hours: Sunday–Monday, noon–4 p.m.; Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Heritage Flight Museum
Located at the Skagit Regional Airport in Burlington, the Heritage Flight Museum is a cool little spot dedicated to honoring veterans and displaying (and flying!) historic military aircraft. The museum was founded in 1996 by Apollo 8 astronaut Major General William Anders — one of the Apollo 8 crew members. Your little pilot-in-training can get up close and personal with cool vintage war planes and memorabilia at this non-profit museum.
Location: 15053 Crosswind Dr., Burlington
Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Skagit Valley burgers and other places to eat
Day-tripping is no easy feat, and a lunch stop is always on the menu (no matter how many crackers you packed in your snackle box). Skagit Valley has tons of eats, from hometown cafes to fresh-from-the-field produce stands.
Feel like a burger? The Net Drive-In in Mount Vernon is an old-fashioned burger joint and has been slinging patties and stellar shakes since 1955.
If you’re in the Burlington area, make a trip to Railroad Pub & Pizza, renowned for its wood-fired pizzas and craft beer. Railroad celebrates all things local, from their ingredients to the wood tables built by the local high school woodshop class!
For a sit-down brunch that will leave you full until dinnertime, the Calico Cupboard is a must-try. Their made-from-scratch menu is one to remember, and the cinnamon rolls are to die for. Lucky for us, they have three locations: Anacortes, Mount Vernon, and La Conner.
Big Scoop Sundae Palace, another Mount Vernon “oldie but goodie” has everything you’d want in a 1950s diner, from the red vinyl booths and checkered floor to its old-fashioned ice cream sundaes (there are about two dozen sundae options, so come prepared!).
Breadfarm in foodie Bow serves up crazy good loaves and pastries from their pickup window, and Snow Goose Produce in the heart of Skagit Valley has you covered for ice cream. Get your “immodestly sized” scoop in a house-made cone warm off the waffle press. Pick up some berry flats and organic veggies on your way out.
More day trip destinations for Seattle-area families: |
