La Conner, Washington

DH & I decided to go to La Conner for our anniversary. We have been there before but only as a daytrip from Vancouver, B.C. So, it was fun to stay overnight & enjoy La Conner's charm!

We stayed at the Wild Iris Inn. The innkeeper's personal touch was evident everywhere: in the lovely decor & in the warm welcome we received! Our room (Deluxe King Suite) was gorgeous! But it was the small details that went so far to make our stay special ... from the fresh flower arrangement with its signature iris to the wonderfully decadent cookies that were waiting for us in the room! Also, the pastoral setting & the view from our room added to the peaceful atmosphere. In the morning, we enjoyed a delicious two-course breakfast which was served in the lovely breakfast room.

www.wildiris.com

We had lunch at the Calico Cupboard & spent the afternoon wandering through the shops & galleries along First Street. The Wood Merchant, Olive Shoppe/Ginger Grater & Jennings Yarn & Needlecrafts were of particular interest to us! We also saw Red Hat ladies in the village wearing green --- a reminder that we were married on St. Patrick's Day!

www.LaConnerChamber.com

That evening we had a superb dinner at Nell Thorn Restaurant & Pub! DH had potato/leek soup; duck with tangerine sauce, shitake mushrooms, spinach while I had pot stickers stuffed with winter squash; blau oysters with glazed vegetables, buttermilk potatoes. We shared a California Zinfindel; and for dessert, semi-freddo with sliced apples drizzled with a carmel sauce. The room was simple with its stained-glass windows; paintings done by a local artist decorated the walls; and beautiful cut flowers in vases were placed on each candlelit table. The service was very good! Nell Thorn was a wonderful restaurant for our special evening!

www.nellthorn.com

We were too early for the Skagit County Tulip Festival which takes place in April. Instead, we were treated to fields of yellow daffodils! The wind was chilly but the sun shone brilliantly down on us as we drove to Anacortes, across the bridge at Deception Pass to Whidbey Island. On our way home, we took the slow route along scenic Chuckanut Drive, through Bellingham & Birch Bay - a little adventure in itself!