JudyADenver

We're returning from a few days in Vancouver on Sept 16 and spending several days in Kirkland. Should we stop in all 3 of these cities -- Lynden, Bellingham (Fairhaven) and La conner?

voyager61

Lynden is tiny...not sure why you would want to stop there. Bellingham is pretty, but you will have already been in Vancouver and headed to Kirkland, so I wouldn't consider it a must-see unless you have something particular there you want to do...like go on a whale watching excursion, for example.

LaConner is a cute little tourist town and probably the most logical stop of the three. It's about mid-way and it offers shopping, some restaurants and a generally nice setting in the Skagit Valley. It's not right on the freeway, so you do have to make a detour for it, but a lot of people do just that.

I am making these recommendations with no real knowledge of what your travel interests are...but that's what I would do.

JudyADenver

The other couple traveling with us is crazy about antique shopping. My husband and I would prefer checking out art galleries. (My husband can walk around with the dog while my friend and I go in and out of shops!) My husband and the other man are both sailors and any little town with an interesting port will get them excited. We will need a stopping point for lunch too on our drive from Vancouver to Kirkland (presuming we will have a delay at the border crossing) With 5 of us in a car plus large dog, we will want to get out occasionaly for a car break. All 3 cities does sound like too much and I wasn't sure if any were a "must see". I suppose if it were tulip time it would be obvious.

Fodorite018

Not sure about how much time you have, but the drive along Chuckanut Bay from Bellingham down south is very nice. Then for antique shopping, Snohomish would be a must. The downtown area where the stores are is very compact, with a few good restaurants and you can walk along the river. From there you can take some of the highways instead of I-405 to Kirkland.

voyager61

There are more art galleries in LaConner than in Snohomish, but Snohomish is the place for antiques (although you're only about 35 minutes from Kirkland in Snohomish). Bellingham has a port, and the Fairhaven area is attractive with several restaurants, but I'm not that familiar with the shopping. LaConner is on the water, but more on a channel and small bay of the sound, so no port there, but there are boats. Depending on when you hit Bellingham, it might make the most sense for a stop for lunch, then detour to Snohomish briefly for antiques if that's a priority.

JudyADenver

Too much to see and not enough time! Must skip the Chuckanut drive because my friend will her motion sickness will turn green in the back seat.

Please review this itinerary:
Leave Vancouver 8:30 am
(skip Bellingham/Fairhaven)
arrive La conner 11:30 (adding 1 extra hour for lines at border)
lunch--leave by 1
arrive Snohomish 2, stay 1 hour
arrive hotel in Kikrland 3;30

Or should we have an early lunch in Bellingham/Fairhaven, leave by 12:30, drive to Snohomish then proceed on to Kirkland and skip Laconner?

voyager61

I think your plan is fine as is...unless you want to have "brunch" in Bellingham. LaConner is small enough to stroll the downtown quickly and still grab a bite within 1.5 to 2 hours. As noted earlier, LaConner is a detour off the freeway, so if you're feeling tired or pressed for time, you could also have lunch in Mt. Vernon, which is easy on and off. Nothing great about the downtown, but it's quaint and has a few restaurants.