Julie developed new tourism websites and content marketing programs for Skagit County and La Conner, Washington along with more than a couple dozen other tourism and craft beer related businesses and organizations. She has contributed to Sparksheet and travel-related blogs. Julie splits her time between her homes in La Conner (on the Salish Sea and north of Seattle) and White Salmon WA (on the Columbia River and east of Portland) where she also has an airbnb. She takes a break from it all in the wilderness where she lets her creativity go wild.
Kari VandenBosch started working in restaurants at a young age before working at La Conner Seafood & Prime Rib House for the founding owners, eventually buying it from them. “I have always loved the challenge of the complexity that comes from the many moving parts of owning a restaurant,” says Kari. La Conner Seafood is a family-run business with long-time staff and a focus on sourcing local seafood.
It’s time to grab those sweaters and plan a road trip to La Conner and the Skagit Valley to celebrate Harvest Time! La Conner has lots of different lodging options for you. Book a room, make some dinner reservations, and check out these great Harvest outdoor options.
La Conner is proud to welcome the Salted Grape Bistro, Waterfall Gallery, The Fork at Skagit Bay, and Sacred Cedar Co.! And all of these new businesses can’t wait to welcome you!
La Conner is full of art galleries and museums including the Museum of Northwest Art. Between the art history of La Conner and the current art community, Danielle thought that it would be a perfect addition to the town. Mystic Art Supplies provides locals and tourists the opportunity to create art after they spend all day inspired by the art throughout the town.
Join the fun and adventure at La Conner RV & Camping Resort. With 111 acres of camping space and a half-mile of saltwater beachfront, this RV campground in Washington, offers an ideal location for exploring the Pacific Northwest. Shopping, dining, and historical buildings are accessible in La Conner to the east. While the San Juan Islands are just a ferry ride away to the west.
Make La Conner your home base for the 4th of July weekend! We have you covered for celebrating the 4th of July with the La Conner Community Parade, a live concert, and fireworks over the channel!
Discover the 2021 La Conner Classic Best in Show Winners!
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR 21st ANNUAL LA CONNER CLASSIC BOAT & CAR SHOW
Our merchants could use your love and support so much right now! The La Conner Chamber of Commerce is introducing #PeoplesChoiceLaConner! Now through the end of August, send in your nominations! This is not a contest but a way to acknowledge your favorite La Conner merchants.
Please post your nominations to the LoveLaConner Facebook page or email to info@laconnerchamber.com. We will be sharing your favorites in September… #LoveLaConner
“After helping people with home sales in Skagit Valley for the past several years, it occurred to us that we should really be telling the story of Skagit Valley – not so much the history, but about the lifestyle, the culture and the people. We enjoy our many friends here, the culture, and the sense of pride in where we live. We love that there are local events and festivals going on year-round, or that we’ll run into friends and neighbors hanging out at a restaurant in La Conner. Skagit Valley is filled with such beauty.”
When you walk through the double glass doors of Hotel Planter and look up the grand staircase, the sense of history immediately envelopes you. You can almost hear the voices of the past – wealthy Seattle tourists, merchants, and mill workers mingling in the lobby, as the sounds of a bustling waterfront waft through second-floor windows open to the street-front below.
Welcome to La Conner and the 2021 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival! Surrounded by the Salish Sea and farmland filled with tulip and daffodil bulbs, La Conner is ready to welcome you safely. We know things look a lot different this year! Be sure to wear your mask, social distance, and be kind!
Here in La Conner, we understand what it’s like to roll out the red carpet for the pups and most seem to deserve a seat at the dinner table. We also know parting from them while on vacation is anything but convenient, so why not bring them with you? From shopping to restaurants, there is a place for your pet at many La Conner establishments and outdoor spaces!
The Skagit County Historical Museum is opening to the public at 25% capacity after having been closed since November 14th AND is featuring a new exhibit! “We have a wonderful new exhibit – Jesus Guillen: An artistic legacy of love and courage – that no one has seen!” says Jo Wolfe, Director, Skagit County Historical Museum.
La Conner is well-known for our art museums, art galleries, and sculpture walk. But did you know we have several businesses that offer art lessons and art workshops? And did you know you can take your own creative ideas to a local business for custom embroidery? Introducing to you our spotlight feature on services in La Conner! This month we are focusing on art!
La Conner Artists Gallery is an all-local artist cooperative with an eclectic mix of artistic mediums. They will be celebrating their nine-year anniversary on March 31st! You will find the gallery conveniently located across the street from the La Conner Post Office and open daily from 11-4.
While the tulips are our most famous blooms, there’s nothing quite as wonderful as entire fields of bright, cheery daffodils against our Mt. Baker backdrop. In these trying times, we all can use a bright field of daffodils to brighten up our spring! Follow us for the most current updates of the 7th Annual La Conner Daffodil Festival as we welcome the Golden Trumpets of Spring!
When the Tillinghast Postal & Business Center became available for sale by Lucy Kelly, Chris and Christi King jumped at the opportunity. As a child, Christi came to La Conner with her family frequently. Her father and mother, Ron & Erlene Cooper, loved antiques and would frequent Nasty Jack’s. Ron also had a love for Birds of Prey, and no better place to see Eagles, Owls, Falcons, Hawks than the Skagit Valley.
La Conner Channel Lodge would like to start off 2021 by supporting the La Conner Chamber of Commerce! The chamber’s funding has been cut tremendously this year and La Conner Channel Lodge wants to do their part. Shake off the “Covid Crud” and start your New Year right! Use this promotional code while booking directly through the La Conner Channel Lodge and the Chamber will receive 10% of the proceeds.
The Wood Merchant is open every day for the rest of the year (except for Christmas day) and filled to the brim for your holiday shopping! You will be stunned at the depth of local talent on display. The Wood Merchant is a wonderful store stocked with very reasonably priced small treasures to masterpieces.
As part of our annual La Conner Birding Showcase speaker series, please join the La Conner Chamber of Commerce as we welcome award-winning author and photographer Paul Bannick. His Zoom presentation will feature never-before-published photographs and narratives from his newly published book, Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History.
La Conner based photographer Nancy Crowell gave a presentation via Zoom to Skagit Audubon on November 10 at 7:00 PM Pacific Time. The program is a description of how she came to a bird photographer and her approach to shooting images that will engage and inspire people to care more about birds.
Thank you for supporting our merchants, community, and visitors! La Conner is open for business with the following promises.
How are you going to get into the Holiday Spirit this year? How about starting off the holidays with this Holiday Season itinerary! Start with wreath-making at Christianson’s, then the Jingle Belles shopping event in La Conner, and wrap it up with the lighted boat parade!
Since their start in 2017, Pac Nor Westy has expanded to include designs rooted in outdoor exploration and adventure while increasing a commitment to using eco-friendly and made in the USA materials in their products. “We love bringing themes of nature together in creative ways to celebrate an authentic, adventurous life”, say owner Rich Murphy. The team gets out into nature whenever they get a free moment – it’s how they continue to be inspired.
Gather up your bubble of friends and support our local community, La Conner is hosting the annual community inspired “Jingle Belles” A Ladies Night of Shopping on Friday, November 20th! Participating shops will stay open until 8 pm. Support Small businesses this holiday season! This year we will have a Gift Bag Scavenger Hunt. Different locations will be mapped out for guests to pick up a shopping bag and fun items to fill while supplies last!
The Valley around La Conner has big open spaces to enjoy the beauty of fall and the cornucopia of the harvest. Our favorite fall harvest are pumpkins! From the Giant Pumpkin Contest to our fields of pumpkins, we have the perfect pumpkin for you! We know that your trick-or-treating will be a different experience this year, but carving pumpkins at home and displaying them is a safe tradition to continue.
Anna Janke knows wine. Anna spent 12 years as a wine rep and wine steward with one goal—opening her own wine shop. “The previous owners made this possible in 2015 when they sold me the business because of my passion for wine,” says Anna. La Conner Sips customers benefit from Anna’s passion and knowledge. “The owner is pouring (literally) some love and vino into the little town of La Conner,” says Trish from San Diego, CA.
La Conner Country Inn is one of the best family and dog-friendly hotels in Skagit Valley and is located in the heart of La Conner! With over 43 years of hosting folks and their furry friends from around the world, La Conner Country Inn knows how to cater to you and your best friend! Your four-legged friend will be welcomed with a treat and will sleep well with the use of a comfy dog bed and bowl next to a cozy gas fireplace.
Our merchants could use your love and support so much right now! Thank you for sharing your favorites – Nominees will be announced by Monday, September 14th. Please continue to #ShopLocal and #EatLocal in La Conner!
Truly delightful in every way, Pleasant Ridge Bed & Breakfast is locally owned and “quaint” in the truest definition of the word. Those in search of a unique bed-and-breakfast with all the genuine comforts of the home need look no further. The Pleasant Ridge Bed & Breakfast boasts an extensive library and a variety of cozy nooks where rest, relaxation as well as peace and quiet are the order of the day.
Crabbing season is open and getting on the water makes you feel unconfined and free! Paddleboard, kayak, canoe, or boat are all great ways to enjoy the islands around La Conner! There are many islands and waterways to explore – Goat, Sugarloaf, Dot, Deadman, Little Deadman, Sandy, Kikit, and Skagit Islands to name a few!
The La Conner fuel dock is conveniently located and open all year! And for those of you who have your dogs on-board, it’s a great place for the dog to take a break and enjoy a complimentary doggie treat.
Please join us in our annual fundraiser! Since we had to cancel our in-person annual fundraising event due to Covid-19, we are trying out a silent auction on Facebook! We have posted two albums on Facebook with photos of each item up for auction. Enter your bid in the comments. Be sure to note the minimum bids and bid increase amounts.
#ShopLocal La Conner Contest – Let’s Get Out and Support our Local Businesses! For every $5.00 you spend at ANY La Conner business, you will be entered to win a La Conner Gift Basket full of goodies!
Long-time residents of La Conner renovated this beautiful home on the hill steps away from the boardwalk and downtown La Conner. Enjoy a beautiful meal, relax and unwind with your loved ones, and experience a sense of openness when you take in the expansive views. This is truly a 5-star stay.
With all state-managed public lands, including state parks, natural areas, recreation land, recreational fishing, and state-managed boat launches reopening starting on May 5th (day-use only on a rolling basis), it’s a great time to learn how to recreate safely during these unprecedented times.
We Love La Conner and know that you do too! Not only is La Conner a beautiful place to visit, but it is also a place filled with creative and beautiful people. It’s these folks you meet when you visit La Conner that help make your stay in La Conner authentic, memorable, and relaxing. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the community of La Conner has taken measures to keep everyone as safe as possible. In doing so, they’ve taken on insurmountable financial losses and many are struggling to stay afloat.
Be inspired by the timeless story “The Secret Garden” to create a quilt or fiber art piece for this annual exhibit. Get creative and experiment with a variety of fabrics, fibers, and textiles! All entries will be displayed – and voted on for favorite! – in the Landmarks Gallery during the month of May.
We are incredibly lucky to have this many restaurants, shops, and museums in our tiny town. Please support our local businesses in these unprecedented times. The list will be updated as we pass through the different phases of the SAFE START WASHINGTON plan. Now more than ever, we need your support – Love, La Conner
Welcome to La Conner and the 2020 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival! Surrounded by the Salish Sea and farmland filled with tulip and daffodil bulbs, our waterfront town is ready for your visit. La Conner’s boardwalk, waterfront hotels, farm-to-table restaurants, boutiques, and museums make it the perfect Tulip Festival vacation home base! Kids – Enter our Imagine Spring Coloring Contest!
Calico Cupboard & Bakery is very proud of the fact that the food served at Calico Cupboard is honestly made from scratch with an unusually high standard of food quality and lots of old-fashioned goodness. The bakery products are made at Calico Cupboard from freshly milled, organically-grown, whole grain and unbleached flours when ever possible.
Happy Spring! The season isn’t what we expected but we want to thank you for supporting La Conner and our flower farmers.
“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpfull; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul” – L. Burbank
An art show featuring the finalists will take place from Feb 29 – Mar 15 at The Lux Art Center. An artists reception will take place on Saturday 2/29 from 4-6pm. Voting will take place at the show and on-line through our La Conner Daffodil Fest Facebook page.
You know winter is almost here when the farm fields surrounding La Conner turn white – with Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans. The birds annually migrate southward by the tens of thousands from nesting grounds in Siberia and Alaska. The Skagit Valley is one of their major wintering grounds, with more than 50,000 birds typically stopping over between as early as October and the La Conner Daffodil Festival in March.
We love holidays in La Conner! It’s chilly out and time for warm clothes, gloves, and hats, the water is beautiful with colorful reflected lights, and our tiny little town becomes a pretty magical place. There are lots of fun things to do in La Conner during the holidays – check out our online calendar for a month’s worth of holiday fun and holiday getaway ideas! And check back often, as many events and festivities are added as we get closer to December … you might find something that is a perfect fit for your visit to La Conner.
A favorite event among locals – and Thanksgiving holiday visitors alike – is the annual La Conner Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot is a hometown run on Thanksgiving morning in the beautiful waterfront town of La Conner, Washington. What could be better than going for a run or walk first thing on Thanksgiving morning so that you can justify indulging a little bit more of the wonderful foods served for Thanksgiving dinner? We think this event is a brilliant idea – and so do our racers!
A grassroots campaign has come together in La Conner to offer a discount to Canadian visitors this fall. “We love our Canadian visitors and recognize how the fluctuation in the dollar can impact their travel plans over the border,” said the La Conner Chamber of Commerce director Heather Carter.
It’s Harvest Time in and around La Conner! Did you know that over 90 different crops grow in Skagit Valley including barley and hops!? You can meet your “beer farmer” right here in La Conner at the Hedlin’s Family Farm AND attend our very own beer festival – Brew on the Slough!
The Smithsonian’s Hometown Teams traveling exhibition examines the many roles that sports play in American society. Hometown sports are more than just games—they shape our lives and unite us and celebrate who we are as Americans. Visit this exhibit and Hometown Skagit: How Sports Shape Our Community this fall!
Brew on the Slough 2019 is now in its’ 5th year and is set for October 19th from 7-10 pm. We invite you to La Conner and the Skagit Valley to taste some awesome beer, and also to experience the beauty of the Valley where our soils are rated in the top 2% in the world and the climate here is unique to North America. Because of this, barley for many of these beers are grown right here around La Conner.
Formerly That’s Know All and founded in 2012, La Conner Artist Gallery is a cooperative art gallery of featuring many local artists. You will find original artwork with wonderful price points for the perfect gift or addition to your home. The featured artist for August is Jill West.
Coming through La Conner this month are canoes participating in “Paddle to Lummi” 2019, Sqweshenet Tse Schelangen “Honoring Our way of Life” July 24-28th.
The La Conner Visitor Information Center located at 413 Morris St. is open all year round and staffed with volunteers who live in La Conner. In fact, one of our past mayors is a volunteer! Locals and visitors, we welcome you to come in and say hello!
La Conner is blooming! Over 50 flower baskets line Morris Street and 1st Street now through Labor Day.
Continue reading for a list of this year’s winners!
Welcome to La Conner and the 2019 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival! Surrounded by the Salish Sea and farmland filled with tulip and daffodil bulbs, our waterfront town is ready for your visit. La Conner’s boardwalk, waterfront hotels, farm-to-table restaurants, boutiques and museums make it the perfect Tulip Festival vacation home base!
Get out your fishing poles and lace up your running shoes. The La Conner Rotary Club’s 54th annual Smelt Derby Family Festival and Smelt Run are coming up on Saturday, Feb. 23 with something for everyone.
Tillinghast Postal and Business Center, now located at 521 Morris Street at the 4-way stop, are ready for your holiday shipping needs! The new location allows for quick and easy parking along with plenty of space to serve you this holiday season. With several years of servicing the great folks in and around La Conner, Tillinghast Postal and Business Center has definitely hit their stride.
Join us in La Conner, among the daffodil fields of Skagit Valley, for a dashing bicycle ride with a bit of style – the 5th Annual Dandy Daffodil Tweed Ride! It’s a perfect place to be planted and a beautiful place to bloom. Tally-ho!
We have already started the #dailydaffreport with the daffodils making their first appearances! Now is a great time to book your La Conner Daffodil Festival accommodations and start planning your trip! The 2019 Festival is sponsored by the Swinomish Casino & Lodge
Take a selfie with our new ad at the Sea-Tac airport and enter to win! A winner will be drawn on Monday, April 8th. The prize is one night at the La Conner Channel Lodge, $50.00 gift card to Nell Thorn Restaurant, 2 – $25.00 gift cards to La Conner merchants (TBD), 2018 La Conner Daffodil Festival poster and more.
Escape your To-Do-List at the Wild Iris Inn: Warm, romantic and intimate, the boutique inn offers a true retreat from modern life with luxury services and features such as a complimentary breakfast, free parking, charming guest rooms and famous cookie!
Join us for the 2nd annual La Conner Birding Showcase during the Skagit Valley Birds of Winter Experience! Educational vendors and artists will be on display from 9:30am – 3pm. We are excited to announce our keynote speaker, Dr. Kaeli Swift.
The Skagit County Historical Museum serves as the official source for the understanding and enjoyment of Skagit County’s unique cultural history. In doing so, the Museum fosters community identity, understanding, and pride; offers a sense of belonging; and acts as a forum for bringing individuals and communities together.
Join the La Conner Library Foundation for the Festival of Tiny Trees 2018 on Friday November 30th from 6:30-8:30 at The Lux (603 Morris Street). Featuring savory & sweet bites, sips of sparkling wine or cider, silent auction of unique tiny trees, live auction of 4” x 4” original art and decorated wreaths for sale. […]
Historic, waterfront, tiny, and charming are all ingredients of the sugar and spice holiday recipe for fun in La Conner Washington during the 2018 Holiday Season. Galleries, boutique and restaurants all join the fun of spicing it up for the Holiday Season! Don’t miss the window displays, art shows and special holiday menus!
Maple Hall will be featuring 14 invitational artists in various mediums along with an Open Show with 60 local artists showing and selling. Live demonstrations by artist and live music performances will be at Maple Hall and throughout town in 15 different locations on Morris St. and First and Second St.
Jingle “Belles” is a Ladies Night of Shopping that will take place on November 16th, 4:30-7:30pm. This is your chance to get your girlfriends together, shop and be merry! Take advantage of special offers only for YOU.
The 12th Annual La Conner Turkey Trot is a hometown run Thanksgiving morning in the beautiful waterfront town of La Conner, Washington. The La Conner Schools Booster Club hosts Turkey Trot with proceeds benefiting the La Conner Braves Track & Field Booster Club.
Surge, an exhibition designed to draw attention to climate change and its impact on Northwest’s coastal communities, provides the forum for artists together with environmental researchers and educators to present the public with new perspectives on issues such as flooding, sea level rise and storm surge.
The story of Earthenworks Gallery is a love story of sorts – starting with two Northwest-born teenagers who fell in love with art as they fell in love with each other. This is the story of Don and Cynthia Hoskins – who today own Earthenworks, one of the Northwest’s premier destination galleries in La Conner, Washington.
La Conner is the kind of water-front town where you can walk from the old-time tavern to the cool restaurant featuring live music to top reviewed foodie spots and then to our very own brewery all in two blocks. What better place for a beer festival! The 4th Annual Brew on the Slough is scheduled for October 20th, 2018.
Meet the owner of Katy’s Inn! Kimberly Good Rubenstein is a 5th generation Skagitonian. Born and raised in Skagit County, she graduated from La Conner High School and Washington State University earning a degree in Hotel and Restaurant management.
Looking for a wonderful way to spend a Sunday in La Conner? La Conner Live is a non-profit that puts on a 15 week free outdoor summer concert series that plays every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Come and experience quality music, food, and wine all under sunny skies on the Swinomish Channel!
Today, Nell Thorn is undeniably one of the best restaurants north of Seattle or south of Vancouver, B.C. With fresh ingredients and a truly Northwest-inspired menu, Casey, Susan and their staff love finding new ways to bring foods and flavors together. They also love making sure that their customers have a terrific experience.
Beginning July 25th, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will host The Tribal Canoe Journey (TCJ). Swinomish will welcome over 100 family canoes, mostly from the Northwest, but also from as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand to the shores of its Reservation.
MoNA offers free admission and is open seven days a week to provide the most access to all members of our diverse community. MoNA enriches lives in our diverse community by fostering essential conversations and encouraging creativity through exhibitions and educational activities that explore the art of the Northwest.
Voted best seafood restaurant in Skagit County several years running. Waterfront dining featuring fresh local ingredients. Banquet and catering services available.
MoNA offers free admission and is open seven days a week to provide the most access to all members of our diverse community.
The La Conner Classic Boat and Car Show presents an opportunity to share our American heritage with you and your family August 3rd – 4th, 2018. Whether your love is classic cars, show cars, classic yachts, or work boats, you’ll be surprised and delighted at this event.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, family outing, organizational retreat or a commune with nature, as a guest at The Heron Inn & Day Spa, their inn is your inn. Visit and stay at The Heron Inn in La Conner, Washington and then — relax! They will take care of you.
Today I had the opportunity to ride along with Dave Hedlin, third generation farmer, of Hedlin’s Family Farm in La Conner, WA. Hedlin’s Family Farm is located less than 10 miles from Skagit Valley Malting where the barley will be malted when harvested in late August.
Join us on Thursday June 14th from 5-7 to support the beautiful hanging flower baskets!
The La Conner Marina is a premier destination for recreational boaters, commercial fishers and marine-related businesses and manufacturers. Located within easy walking distance of charming downtown La Conner, the marina is a clean, service-oriented facility that tourists and La Conner residents alike enjoy visiting.
Welcome to the 10th Biennial Skagit River Poetry Festival!
Come to La Conner for the La Conner Guitar Festival May 11th – 13th. It’s your opportunity to find the instrument of your dreams!
Thank you to everyone who voted! Between Facebook and Instagram we had more than 2,200 votes.
CONGRATULATIONS Mara Leite with the photo “Golden Hour” beautifully showcasing our #laconnerdaffodils and the Skagit Valley.
La Conner is located in the middle of the tulip fields which makes for an excellent destination to begin or end your La Conner tulip festival tours! We have partnered up with Road2Travel and Starline Luxury Coaches to offer you a variety of tours.
We are ready for you to take-in the tulips for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2018 and enjoy happenings and events in and around La Conner. Welcome!
Both are just steps from shops, art galleries, museums and dining and between the two offer pet-friendly rooms, wine tasting, musical entertainment and a wide variety of package options.
With dark, cozy winters behind us comes the promise of spring and cheerful backdrops in La Conner and the Skagit Valley. Here in this beautiful area, you’ll find fields of gold and rainbows of color.
Typically the first question that arises when someone mentions a Tweed Ride is what is it and what does it mean? The short answer is that a Tweed Ride is a throwback to days-gone-by in England where family members would dress in their very best clothing for an outing.
This March is a great opportunity to snap some amazing images of incredibly beautiful daffodil fields with sunsets, sunrises, winter birds, and people enjoying the view.
For the Ginger Grater, Olive Shoppe and Orange Rainbow Espresso, located in the destination community of La Conner, Washington, that ambiance is part of what makes these three stores perennial favorites with locals and visitors alike.
With daffodils blooming and spring in the air, the La Conner Daffodil Festival is a great spring destination for wine tasting! Join us on Saturday March 10th at Maple hall for the “Grapes of Daff”!
Looking for a renewing day-trip or overnight excursion? La Conner is just the ticket for a getaway! We have lots of fun things to do and see – whether you’re in need of a romantic cozy fireplace and a warm drink, a little shopping, or a walk along our boardwalk inthe fresh/crisp air, we’re just the place.
Fishing, running, pancakes and fish painting will all be part of the fun, with something for everyone at the 53rd Annual Smelt Derby Family Festival and Smelt Run!
As March approaches, the La Conner Daffodil Festival is an event that should not be missed. Imagine sprawling fields of cheerful and happy daffodils with majestic Mount Baker staged in the background.
With so many wonderful products and artwork on hand this is an ideal opportunity to explore some of the most unique fiber, quilt and textile artwork found anywhere today.