Day Trip Diaries is a new Cascadia Daily News travel series profiling communities within two hours’ travel of Bellingham. Do you have a suggestion for where to cover next? Send tips to cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com.
Bow-Edison: Quick facts
Distance from Bellingham: 30 minutes (22 miles)
Population: 357 (Bow), 316 (Edison)
Notable: Farm-to-table restaurants, thriving arts scene
Community at a glance
Bow-Edison is often referred to in a collective sense, but Edison in particular has its own identity. Bow is characterized by sprawling farmland, whereas neighboring Edison is a tiny two-block town located along the Edison Slough. Don’t be fooled by its size, though: Edison has been hailed for its food and arts scene in outlets ranging from Food & Wine to the New York Times.
Edison is also one of Skagit County’s oldest towns, established by loggers in 1869, but the community’s cultural Renaissance didn’t begin until the early 2000s. The change was sparked by the arrival of artists and entrepreneurs like Charles Atkinson and David Blakesley. The couple set a new tone by opening Shop Curator, a quirky home goods store, and Tweets Cafe, a restaurant dedicated to locally sourced ingredients. Other new businesses followed suit — and word began to spread.
Over the years, Edison transformed from a sleepy farming town to a vibrant, close-knit community of creatives. Chris Barker, who owns Terramar Brewstillery, described the town as an “oasis” where makers of all stripes can express themselves without judgment.
You don’t also have to look hard to find examples of residents’ dedication; many business owners live in or near Edison, and it’s not unheard of for folks to work at three or four shops around town. But while Edison’s charm continues to draw in new crowds, the town hasn’t undergone much physical growth. (This isn’t without reason — the town’s shoreline location makes zoning complicated.)
One more fun fact about Edison: Its quirky yet cohesive nature is entirely organic. Edison has no formal governing body or organization, with the delightful exception of the Edison Women’s Club. (It was founded in 1910 to fund street lights, and still does so today). As a result, businesses and workshops operate according to the beat of their own drum.
Edison is a popular day trip pick for Seattlites, and tourist season picks up with the Tulip Festival in April — but if you want to experience a sleepier side to this community, it makes an ideal rainy day escape during the winter months.
To-do list
Morning: To start your morning on the most relaxing note possible, head down Chuckanut Drive to catch a yoga class at Bow Sanctuary, located just outside of Edison. This holistic wellness center features Japanese-inspired gardens and offers a variety of movement classes, meditation sessions and body treatments. (Bonus tip: The Sanctuary is offering free membership for the month of January.)
If you’ve worked up an appetite, you can grab breakfast from Persimmon Bistro, located on the grounds of Bow Sanctuary. This eatery is a collaboration between Bow Sanctuary and Shannon and Christy Fox, aka the minds behind Fairhaven’s Evolve Chocolate + Cafe. Its menu makes full use of Skagit County’s agricultural bounty, with many ingredients supplied by local producers.
Speaking of local producers, as you venture down Bow Hill Road toward Edison, you’ll pass by several notable farm stands. The first, Bow Hill Blueberries, has discovered seemingly every possible use for the humble blueberry, from juice to body scrubs, ice cream, salad dressings, confiture and more. Cheese lovers also have options: Golden Glen Creamery is known for its signature double-cream river cheddar, whereas Samish Bay Cheese invented Ladysmith, which is a soft, fresh cow’s milk cheese.
Afternoon: Continue down Bow Hill Road until you reach Cains Court and Gilkey Avenue, where most of Edison’s offerings are concentrated. Each business has its own identity, but they complement each other with a surprising amount of cohesion.
The Lucky Dumpster is a quirky gift shop selling handmade pottery and art. Owner James Reisen says that its eclectic nature isn’t forced — rather than seek out artists that fit a certain style, he lets the artists find him. On the other end of the spectrum, Hedgerow is a tiny yet masterfully curated shop. Owner Christy Erickson hand-selects a wide variety of jewelry, home goods and vintage finds.
The area around Terramar Brewstillery is home to one of Edison’s newest businesses, Book Shucker, which opened in 2022. Owner Michelle Gale prioritizes selecting diverse authors (and a wide variety of cookbooks for such a small shop). She’s also the co-owner of small printing press Raspberry Bow Press, and I’ve never been let down by her book recommendations.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite again, swing into Slough Food, another Edison institution. This Italian-style delicatessen carries a charming mix of European imports and local goods, plus an impressive bottle selection. On the odd sunny winter afternoon, I love to post up on their picturesque back patio with a glass of wine and plate of charcuterie.
Slough Foods is nestled right next to Breadfarm, an iconic bakery utilizing Skagit-grown grains. (A word of advice: Your visit won’t be complete unless you pick up a Parisian baguette.) Tweets Cafe is also a local institution, boasting rustic, locally sourced dishes that rotate according to what’s in season. Check their Instagram, @tweetscafe, for the current menu.
Other options for a midday meal include Mariposa Taqueria, a family-owned Mexican eatery with some of the best tacos in the county. Longtime employees Hilda Rodriguez, Sara Jacobsen and Carmen Carillo bought it from Blakesly in 2022, transforming Mariposa from an informal, picnic-style eatery to a more traditional sit-down restaurant. One thing that hasn’t changed with the new ownership, however, is Mariposa’s stellar food.
Evening: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Edison holds an important place in regional art history. Smith & Vallee Gallery carries forth the traditions of the Northwest School, a mid-century art movement that originated in Skagit County and depicts Pacific Northwestern nature with an element of mysticism. (Side note: Owners Wesley Smith and Andrew Vallee are also cabinet makers, and their shop is located just across the street.) There’s also I.E. Gallery, which represents 28 artists from the Pacific Northwest — more than 50% of whom are women.
Evenings are quiet in Edison, but if you want to stick around in town, you’ll find several options for nightlife. Terramar Brewstillery offers hyper-local beer, cider and pizza, all of which are very worth sampling. Once the sun goes down, you’ll want to check out their “speakeasy” located just behind the taproom. Most cocktails are made using Terramar’s own spirits, and as with their beer, all ingredients are sourced as locally as possible.
The Old Edison is a throwback to Edison’s sprawling history, right down to the historic photos in the entryway. The menu consists of surf-and-turf pub fare with a Skagitonian twist — think burgers made with pan-fried oysters and house-made tartar. This is also the go-to spot for dancing and live music on the weekends.
Alternatively, you could venture back toward Bow and take the scenic route home. The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut and Taylor Shellfish are both classic stops along Chuckanut Drive. Their summertime sunset views are unparalleled, but the Oyster Bar has cozy indoor options, and Taylor Shellfish has roaring fire pits.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
