Whether you’re a shopper, foodie or art lover, La Conner has something for you.
La Conner is a town of less than 900 people that many people have come to know and love.
“We keep getting voted best tiny town because we are tiny,” Marci Plank, the executive director of the La Conner Chamber of Commerce, laughed.
Getting to La Conner is easy. Cruise over to the tiny town via Highway 20 and take a right at the stoplight onto La Conner-Whitney Road, next to the Farmhouse Restaurant. Enjoy the drive through beautiful farmland until you come to the roundabout that leads into the historic waterfront town of La Conner.
THE HISTORY
For thousands of years, the Swinomish Tribe has resided on the land near the mouth of the Skagit River. In 1869, John Conner purchased the trading post on the west side of the Swinomish Channel and established a post office. The town, plus 70 acres, was then deeded to Conner for $500. The town’s original name was Swinomish, but, in 1870, John Conner changed the name to La Conner to honor his wife, Louisa A. Conner.
La Conner is the oldest town in Skagit County and was the county seat prior to moving the seat to Mount Vernon. La Conner’s Civic Garden Club, which is still standing today, was the first courthouse north of Seattle.
The town itself and one of La Conner’s most prominent features, Rainbow Bridge, are listed on state and national historic registries. Today, you’ll find La Conner as picturesque as it was in the early days because many original buildings have been restored and now house retail shops, restaurants and museums.
“La Conner itself is just a very, very charming piece of America that is being lost in much of the country,” Ramon Hayes, the mayor of La Conner, said.
La Conner has a Walking Tour of Historic Landmarks and is home to four museums: the Skagit County Historical Museum, La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, Volunteer Fireman Museum and the Museum of Northwest Art.
AN ARTISTS’ HAVEN
Artists settled in La Conner in the 1940s. Renowned artists including Morris Graves, Guy Anderson, Richard Gilkey and Clayton James found inspiration in the area’s unique light and landscape. Many of the leaders of the Northwest School of Art are from La Conner and highly acclaimed artists continue to call the tiny town home.
“Some of the most famous, most recognized Northwest artists started in La Conner,” Hayes said.
The town hosts a Final Friday Art Walk on the last Friday of each month. The Art’s Alive! event is the first weekend in November and the three-day celebration includes exhibits, demonstrations, a concert, artist reception, yoga and poetry.
“We really try to build upon the history of being an art community,” Plank said.
FARMING, FOOD & FLOWERS
La Conner is home to some of the best farmland in the world. Farming in Skagit County began in La Conner, according to Hayes.
“Farming has always been vital to our community,” he said.
La Conner also is home to many restaurants and bars. Seed’s Bistro and Bar opened in 2004 in the historical Tillinghast Seed Company building. Owner Linda Freed also owns the Calico Cupboard Cafe, which started in La Conner in 1981, then branched out to Mount Vernon and Anacortes.
Brenda Schmidt, general manager of Seed’s Bistro, said they use local produce, seafood and free-range chicken. Most of their food is grown in La Conner’s own Hedlin Farms.
“It’s how we all survive in our community,” Schmidt said. “We’re very proud of the produce and vegetables grown in the valley.”
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival takes place every April in nearby Mount Vernon, but the festival actually began in La Conner, according to Plank.
The tulip festival brings huge crowds to La Conner and, with only 120 rooms available in the town’s inns and hotels, they fill up quickly.
“We can’t handle huge crowds, but the Swinomish Casino just built a hotel and that’ll help,” Plank said.
SHOPPING
Whether you’re looking for clothing, artwork or home decor, there is a shop in La Conner for you. There are no big chain stores in the town, so folks will find plenty of unique items for sale.
La Conner’s speciality shops are a huge draw to the town. Antiques, pottery, woodwork and jewelry are just a small sampling of the items that are available for purchase.
Many businesses, such as Wynam Park and Earth Works, have been in La Conner for many years.
“It’s funny how many stores have been here for 20 years or more,” Plank said.
Plank also said many businesses in La Conner offer a military discount.
“We certainly appreciate and support our military personnel,” she said.
THE FUTURE
La Conner will always be a tiny town because it is locked in between farmland, the Swinomish Channel and the Port of Skagit.
“We are going to remain this small town and that’s part of our appeal,” Hayes said. “This is as big as we’re going to get.”
Despite those boundaries, there are new things on the horizon for La Conner. Construction begins this fall on a boardwalk, which Hayes is confident will be another big draw to the town.
“People have been talking about a seaside boardwalk project for 35 years,” he said. “There’s a huge economic component to a boardwalk.”
The town also will build a tourist and resident center on the north end of town, which will feature large bus parking, stroller rentals, boat tie-ups and other features to make visiting La Conner even easier.
With small towns fading away throughout the country, La Conner remains a must-visit historic community.
“We want to remain that unique, identifiable community people have come to know and love,” Hayes said. “When you’re looking for an experience you just won’t find anywhere else, come to La Conner.”
