Northern Washington

After our failed attempt to reach Astoria, Oregon, Z and I spent a little time in and around Anacortes, our home away from home. No matter what time of year, the Pacific Northwest is one of the most scenically spectacular parts of our country. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn't rain there ALL of the time. Winter brings a variety of skies, though: clear, cloudy, foggy, and stormy - perfect for skywatchers like me. Weather-wise we had a little bit of everything on this brief trip, but thankfully we didn't get any snowfall. Here are a few scenes from our outings.

One of my favorite spots: Mt. Erie...

A cabin at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park...

Birdwatching at Bowman Bay...

Storm clouds above the San Juan Islands...

Snoqualmie Falls...

The historic downtown of Snoqualmie...

The old railway station...

Walking along the Snoqualmie River...

Ferns are in abundance even in wintertime...

A distant waterfall...

Pathway through the forest...

The stone bridge at Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham...

Our time in Anacortes was short but enjoyable. As we headed south toward our home in the SF Bay Area, we decided to make a detour and complete that particular stretch of the Oregon Coastal Highway that we missed out on on our way up - hopefully this time without any snow.

Next Stop: Oregon. 

Tulip Town, Mt. Vernon, WA

Springtime in the Pacific Northwest mean tulips, and there's no better place to view tulips than in the Skagit Valley near Mt. Vernon. This year I made a visit to Tulip Town. It was a bit dreary and overcast  on the day of my tour, but the tulips - which were just starting to open up - brightened the landscape immensely. Click on the images to see the tulips better!

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs through the month of April and can be very crowded on weekends, so try to visit on a weekday if possible. Click HERE and HERE to view last year's tulips.

Guemes Island, WA

Lovely Guemes Island is a short, five-minute ferry ride from Anacortes; the only way to get there is by ferry or private boat. I think the residents like it that way, too. The island is rural in character and has very limited resources. Many of the houses there are second homes, but there is a small group of citizens who call Guemes Island their permanent home. 

I've been eying this pretty island's shoreline for years, but I've never set foot on it. During my visit to the PNW for spring break, I finally decided to hop on the little ferry for a quick ride across the channel and take a driving tour of the island. I was very pleased with what I found, and now I understand why the residents fight so hard to retain their island's rural charm.

The ferry terminal on Guemes...

The community playground and park...

The one and only fire station...

The main highway...

The cemetery...

Guemes Island Resort - you can stay here or rent a private vacation home...

Water views looking east toward the mainland...

View of Cypress Island...

Farming is pretty big on Guemes...

Another typical roadside view...

Anderson's Store - the only store, restaurant, and bar on the island...

Views from Anderson's Store...

The shoreline below Anderson's Store...

Waiting patiently for the ferry - with a view of Anacortes on the other side of the channel...

What a charming place! Because of its rustic nature, Guemes has a totally different feel from Fidalgo Island. I don't know if I could live there, but I will travel across the Guemes Channel again to enjoy the relaxing pace of this quaint island getaway.