The Seattle Traveler

Veer Off Onto Route 11, Chuckanut Drive

by Mary Jo on September 19th, 2007

Every once in awhile, you need to get off the beaten path, slow things down a bit, and just take life as it comes.  When you’re in that kind of mood, get off of I-5 and try taking Route 11, also known as Chuckanut Drive

To get to Chuckanut Drive, head north on I-5, getting off the freeway just north of Burlington at exit #231.  Follow signs to Route 11, a traditional two-lane highway that connect the Skagit Valley to Bellingham.  As you continue north through the fields and farms, you’ll see spectacular views of both water (in photo) and mountains.

We would take this drive frequently when I was a kid, and I was pleased to learn that some of the places we’d stop are still around.  I’m sure they’ve been spruced up a bit, but I remember stopping at Larrabee State Park, the oyster farm, and the Oyster Bar Restaurant.  I seem to have a distant memory of going to the oyster farm as a school field trip.

Along the way you’ll also find some restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, and some charming bed and breakfasts.  Just a few minutes off the highway you’ll find great viewpoints for photos of Samish Bay, the Chuckanut Mountains, the beaches of Larrabee Park, and some small towns, or you can continue driving until your reach Fairhaven, just outside of Bellingham.

It’s a great drive in the summer, and the warm weather makes it a perfect time to stop at the beach, but it’s also quite pretty in the fall.  There’s something about the change of season that gives it a special charm.

NOTE:  If you are making the trip south, exit I-5 at exit #250 (Fairhaven Parkway), just south of Bellingham.

Photo credit:  flickr

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POSTED IN: Family Fun, Scenic & Short Trips