How to Explore Chuckanut Drive in Washington
Chuckanut Drive is one of the many scenic byways in the United States, and is considered the “superhero” of byways. It is located on Route 11 in Bellingham. On this byway, you can enjoy country views, bay views, island views, coastal views, and mountain views. The Native American word “chuckanut” means “beach on a bay with a small entrance.” Chuckanut Drive was completed in the early 1920s and gave residents the opportunity to market their products in Bellingham and return home all in the same day. The drive is twenty one miles long and takes about 35 minutes. Here are some tips on how to explore Chuckanut Drive in Washington.
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Instructions
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Prepare for the road trip. Be sure to fill your gas and bring along your camera, film, extra batteries and some cash. Bring a change of clothes and a towel in case you get wet while exploring the tide pools or walking along the beaches.
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Start from the I-5. Chuckanut Drive is located on Route 11, just off the I-5 freeway and connects the Skagit Valley to Bellingham. Going north on I-5, look for exit sign #231, just north of Burlington. You’ll see signs for Chuckanut Drive.
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Start on Chuckanut Drive. You’ll begin your drive through the Samish Farmlands, with views of the countryside and century old farms whose primary crops are potatoes. Scattered throughout the farmlands are a few businesses, such as espresso shops, cafes and nurseries.
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Visit the Rhododendron Café and Jan Budden’s Place at the intersection of Bow and Edison. The Café features both ethnic and Northwest foods and has its own vegetable and herb garden in the back. Each month, the owners, Don and Carol Shank, feature a cuisine from a different part of the world. People from all over come here just to experience the well-known cuisine of the Café. Across from the Café is Jan Budden’s place, which has a thriving nursery that specializes in trees, as well as an art gallery.
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Visit Karma Place. As you return to Chuckanut Drive, you’ll see the Blanchard Mountains up ahead, as well Samish and Padilla Bays on your left. Stop at Karma Place, which is a Japanese garden, nursery, art gallery, and gift shop. Owner Deymian Le Sar was always fascinated with Japan and decided she wanted to create a garden. She dreamed about the garden and the next day she went out to her property with a can of spray paint and outlined the garden, including a footbridge, streams, a waterfall, a pond filled with Koi and a tea house. After she finished her garden, she planted a bamboo grove and opened her nursery for visitors to enjoy. Eventually, she traveled to Japan and brought back with her many Japanese things, which fill her art gallery and gift shop.
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Enjoy some of the lookouts along the drive. As you leave Karma Place, the road narrows as it winds through the mountains and hugs the waterfront. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views and will have the opportunity to take advantage of various pull-outs to enjoy the scenery.
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Visit the Taylor Shellfish Farm. Taylor Shellfish Farm is located at Mile 10 and has been around since the 1800s. They raise oysters and clams, which take about three to five years to grow. You can walk around and look at the baby oysters in their tanks as well as purchase some of the farm products. On the beach, you might notice stacks of hundreds of empty oyster shells. The farm reuses these shells, pressure washing them, and then reseeding them to grow new baby oysters.
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Visit Larrabee State Park. Larrabee State Park was established in 1915 and is Washington’s first official state park. There are 14 miles of trails where you can enjoy panoramic views of Mount Baker and the San Juan Islands. Take a walk on a path through an evergreen forest down to the beautiful waterfront and enjoy the view for a little while.
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Explore the historic Fairhaven district of Bellingham, the end point of Chuckanut Drive. Fairhaven is considered a jewel of the Northwest and in the 1890s was known as the “coming place,” boasting of becoming the next Chicago. Investors came by the boatload seeking to make their fortunes in the proposed new major railroad terminus. The Fairhaven and Southern Railway were completed, but the terminus was never realized. The town went on to become a fishing and seaport town. Now, there is an Amtrak station, Alaska Ferry and Greyhound Bus Terminal, making the town a transportation center once again. While in the Fairhaven District, be sure to visit the Colophon Café, the Northwest’s largest bookstore café set in a one hundred year old building. On your way out, stop to take a picture with the statue of the founder of Fairhaven, Daniel Jefferson Davis.
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Tips & Warnings
Take full advantage of the Chuckanut Drive and stop at various lookouts, taking in the beautiful scenery around you. There are also plenty of hiking trails to enjoy as well.
Be aware of pedestrians and sharp curves when taking the drive. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.
