EARTH...

Nestled in emerald forests of cedar and fir, La Conner looks out toward majestic Mount Baker and Skagit Valley's fertile fields that announce the seasons. Spring bursts with color - sunny yellow, brilliant red, soft pink, sparkling white and deep blue. Visitors from around the world marvel at the fields of daffodils, tulips and iris; purchase cut flowers; and order bulbs for fall delivery. Summer is lush with berries and crops of cucumbers, peas, carrots and potatoes. Autumn's harvest produces a major portion of the world's cabbage, spinach and beet seeds. Migrating tundra and trumpeter swans and snow geese winter over in fields of grain. Their departure heralds the beginning of a new cycle. Located equidistant between the metropolitan centers of Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, La Conner is a gateway to the San Juan Islands and the spectacular North Cascades Highway. La Conner invites you to remember a slower pace and gentler time - to discover the elements of a perfect gateway.

WATER...

Tumbling and rushing down from the Cascade Mountain range, the Skagit River forms deltas, marshes and sloughs as it meets Puget Sound and merges with the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The native Swinomish Indian's lives reflected the temperate climate. They were fishermen and hunters, canoe makers, basket weavers, and carvers. The nearby waters teemed with salmon shellfish which produced the saying that when the tide was out, the table was set. Today, this ebb and flow reveals harbor seals, sea lions, cormorants, herons and eagles as they scout the waters for food. The Swinomish Channel reflects its history of fishing, logging and boat building. Available, too, is a full range of modern marine services. Gone are the flat bottomed steamers that once transported the valley's bounty to Seattle. Instead, whale watching tour boats set forth in summer while kayakers paddle by. Boats and yachts of all sizes and vintages ply the waters or seek harbor at the town docks or La Conner Marina.

In 1869, John Conner purchased the Swinomish trading post; moved it across the channel; and renamed it L.A. Conner for his wife, Louisa Ann. Briefly, it was the county seat. Progress and freeways passed it by but preserved its quaint buildings. Today, La Conner is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; hosts the count's Pioneer Picnic; and is home to the Skagit County Historical Museum. Victorian era buildings available to rent include the Civic Garden Club (1875) and the Gaches Mansion (1891). Visitors discover a town brimming with diverse shops filled with timeless treasures and new necessities; galleries featuring artists from near and far; restaurants to tempt the palate and showcase regional treats; and inns and bed and breakfasts that nourish and replenish body and soul. La Conner's civic pride shows in the American flags lining the streets on holidays; in well-maintained historic buildings; and in a walkway that invites a leisurely stroll along the Swinomish Channel.