“You know you’re in a good place when you see ice cream everywhere.” Those were the wise words of a passerby, noticing the delicious ice cream scoops we were enjoying.
A beautiful sunny day had brought us to La Conner, Washington, about an hour-and-a-half drive from Langley, up through Oak Harbor, and to the mainland. A picturesque town on the banks of the Swinomish Channel, the red brick buildings and old storefronts are a step back in time. The main street waterfront was bustling that day, as the warm weather brought many visitors hoping to experience this historic town.
Rolling fields beginning to sprout and century-old barns and Victorian houses greeted us as we turned off the highway towards this quaint destination. Poplars elegantly swayed in the breeze as distant thunder clouds threatened rain.
The day remained warm and slightly humid. After a delicious lunch overlooking the channel, and Fidalgo Island only yards from where we sat, we marveled at the iconic engineering of the town’s Rainbow Bridge and began to explore our destination.
Brilliant purple lilac flowers and golden poppies were everywhere in La Conner, which bustled with excitement and energy. Antique stores and storefronts selling local wares made for enjoyable window shopping.
As the meandering continued, talk of ice cream ensued. It felt like a beautiful day, so why not? After discovering the dairy decadence in a windmill-turned-ice cream storefront, we made our way to a shady bench, people watching and enjoying our treat.
We’d caught a glimpse of a one-of-a-kind Pacific Northwest day and had loved it. Sunny skies, warm air, and a breeze off of the nearby saltwater channel created the beautiful day we had just experienced.
The passerby was right, it was a “good place.” We’d definitely be back.
