When we are in Bellingham we often drive to Whidbey Island to visit the Naval Base. And as it happens on most road trips, we get hungry. After conducting our business we head north on State Highway 20. Between the Deception Pass State Park and Campbell Lake on Fidalgo Island there's the small but mighty Shrimp Shack.
The full name is Sweet D's Shrimp Shack. It's owned and operated by Dieter and Laurel Drews and has been serving up seafood to hungry locals and visitors since 1973. You can purchase your seafood fresh to take home or have it prepared to order from their takeout window. No longer a seasonal eatery, you can now enjoy their seafood delights all year long.
Fresh seafood choices include shrimp, prawns, crab, lobster, oysters, clams and fish. They also have alligator and elk as unique options. Their takeout menu includes burgers, oyster burgers, seafood baskets and ice cream for dessert. Wayne and I picked the oyster dinner basket with four large fried oysters and fries. We shared one order with a pop to hold us over for the rest of the trip home.
After you place your order at the window, they prepare your food as requested. A loud speaker lets you know when its ready to pick up. Dining is outdoors on picnic tables or inside your vehicle in inclement weather. Either way it's a taste treat you shouldn't miss. -- Margy
Sweet D's Shrimp Shack
6168 Highway 20
Anacortes, WA
360-293-2531
www.shrimpshack.us
Yesterday was my mom's 94th birthday, so we all bundled up and went on a road trip up the Mount Baker Highway.
Mom rode shotgun and our good friend Jeanne drove. We started at the junction of I-5 and Sunset Drive then headed east. In a few miles we left busy Bellingham behind and entered lush green fields dotted with farmhouses. Along the way there were lots of Christmas tree farms and u-pick berry fields. We'll have to come back this summer for sure. At about the 25 mile mark we entered the small village of Maple Falls.
We pulled into the Frosty Inn. It was just what we were looking for. Inside were two locals drinking coffee and talking about "the old days" and a cheery fire was burning in the dining room. Just the place to get a leisurely late breakfast fit for hungry travelers. The friendly waitress took our order and made us feel right at home. If you are headed up to Mt. Baker for skiing or sightseeing, I highly recommend stopping at the Frosty Inn for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It also appears to be a night spot, too.
After a hearty breakfast we continued up the road towards the ski area. In Glacier, there were several ski and snowboard rental shops, more restaurants and a few places for lodging. Just before the road started the final climb to the Mount Baker Ski Area we decided to turn around. The snow along the side of the road was building up and we didn't have chains with us today.
We reversed course and followed the Nooksack River back down to the coastal plain. It was a gorgeous day for a drive in the mountains. Puffy white clouds stood out against the clear blue sky. Before we returned to town we stopped briefly at the Deming Homestead Eagle Park. It's a great place to view Bald Eagles in winter months, but today the robins were heralding spring instead.
To plan our trip, we used an excellent guidebook, the Insiders' Guide to Bellingham and Mount Baker by Mike McQuaid. He is a Bellingham local that really knows the area. It is available at Amazon.com by clicking here. If you are coming to Bellingham it's a must.
If you take Chuckanut Drive either north from I-5 or south from Bellingham, an interesting side trip is to Edison, Washington. From Chuckanut Drive take Bow Hill Road west. Where it makes a bend to the south, you will find the small town of Edison situated near the mouth of the Samish River and along the Edison slough.
Edison’s main street has some interesting turn of the century buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores and bakeries. Edison was first settled in 1869. By 1876, there were 46 residents and a post office. In 2000, there were 133 people living in Edison. Call it small but mighty. And yes, the town was named for Thomas Edison, the famous inventor.
Edison is about a mile from the Padilla Bay, but at high tide it is accessible by medium draft boats. This was a great benefit for the growing community. You can still see some small boats moored along the channel. The area is well known for seafood, especially oysters that are available at the local restaurants at very reasonable prices.
Last week Wayne, Jeanne and I went to The Edison for lunch. The atmosphere is casual and friendly. When the weather is nice, they have outdoor dining. Each night there's a different special. We recommend coming on Fridays for their steak and rib BBQ. There are pool tables, shuffleboard, TVs and evening entertainment - great for adults, but no minors are allowed.
Down the street is the Breadfarm bakery. Go in the afternoon and watch them make bread. We got the Chuckanut Multigrain, but they have several flavors and styles to choose from. If you go to the Bellingham Farmer’s Market, stop by their booth for a quick and easy bread fix.
After a good meal and a tour of the town, you can retrace your route to Chuckanut Drive or go south on Farm to Market Road. This will take you through lush farmland reclaimed from the delta on your way to Highway 20. Left on 20 takes you back to I-5. Right takes you to Anacortes and other adventures. An alternative is angle right off Farm to Market Road on Bayview-Edison Road. In the community of Bay View you will find Bay View State Park strategically located along the wide tidal mudflats. This route will lead you to Highway 20 as well. So, take a side trip to Edison for a great meal and a beautiful drive. -- Margy
What to do to celebrate our friend Jeanne's new job? Go to lunch, of course. Mom, my sister MaryLee, Jeanne and I decided to meet in Birch Bay for lunch.
We headed north on I-5 to Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Just a straight shot due west until you reach the ocean. Turn left and in a few short blocks you will see the Shores Restaurant in the Sandcastle at Birch Bay Resort.
The Shores is at 7854 Birch Bay Drive. We opted for an indoor ocean view window booth. The outside deck was a little too breezy even though it was a lovely sunny day. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Lunch has lots of northwest theme entrées, sandwiches, soups and salads to choose from. We had the homemade clam chowder, special prime rib sandwich, fish and chips, and fried oysters. The fries were great, with a thin crisp batter coating and piping hot. A cool dip of blue cheese dressing, yum. Warm comfort food for a cool Saturday afternoon.
Looking for a good place for a girls day out, a nice meal with an ocean view or local brew while watching your favorite game or Olympic event? Head for Birch Bay and the Shores Restaurant.
I'm always looking for good suggestions for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Bellingham area. Got any? -- Margy
If you asked me, "What's your favourite movie?" my answer would instantly be American Graffiti. "Why American Graffiti," you ask? The "short" answer is I learned to drive in the early 60's, I did my share of cruising and I spent my summers near Modesto, California, the location for the movie. Every time I see it I think of swimming in canals, cruising 10th Street, dragging on country roads and parking in peach orchards. Several movie scenes were at Mel's Drive-In, the quintessential 1950's fast food restaurant and teenage hangout. The real Mel's was in San Francisco, but almost every town had a similar drive-in with car service (with or without roller skates).
This brings me to Boomer's Drive-In in Bellingham, Washington. It truly is a step back in time. You can still pull up to covered parking, read the carside menu, turn on your lights and the waitress comes to take your order. She returns with a window tray of delights that will really take you back. Boomer's signature dish is the Boomer Burger (really big and juicy) in a combo with one of their scrumptious hard ice cream shakes (try peanut butter) and crisp waffle fries. It's enough for even the hungriest guy. They have other items, but I haven't made it past the Boomer Burger. When the weather's too cold for car dining, Boomer's has indoor seating next to a roaring fire. Maybe not like Mel's, but a good addition for the Pacific Northwest.
You'll find Boomer's at 310 N. Samish Way (360-647-2666). Heading south, take the Samish Way exit from I-5 and turn right. Boomer's is about half a mile on the right. It's a little hard to see until you are right on top of it, so go slow. Want to make it a date? Take in a movie at the Sehome Regal Theater. It's at 3300 Fielding Avenue. At the same Samish Way exit go straight on 36th Street past the Sehome Village shopping center. When 36th turns to the right (left is an I-5 onramp) it becomes Fielding. Make an immediate left and you're in the theater parking lot. Make it a real date, we did. -- Margy
If you're ever in Powell River, you must eat at the Shinglemill Pub and Bistro. The restaurant is named for the Powell Lake Shingle Mill that once stood on this site. The shingle mill was first built by Brooks Bidlake in 1913 and sold to "Doc" Jameson from Vancouver in the 1920's. It was a big part of Powell River's logging history until it burned down in 1951.
Wayne and I love to eat in the pub that overlooks the boat launch and marina. On warm sunny days you can sit on the deck to watch the boats going up and down the lake. This week I took my mom there for lunch. Rather than the eager cabin owners and recreational boaters you see in summer, this time we saw only hardy loggers returning from a long, cold, wet day in the woods.
Inside it was warm and cozy. There are lots of window seats with great views up Powell Lake. Mom got a bowl of homemade creamy chicken vegetable soup. I opted for the lunch special of spicy calamari with a Greek salad. Each day has lunch and specials. My favourite is Wednesday wing night. The Thai wings are to die for, especially with a Sleeman's Honey Brown on the side.
To get to the Shinglemill, cross the bridge over Powell River (the world's second shortest) and make an immediate right. The address is 6233 Powell Hts or you can reach them by phone at (604) 483-2001. Need a ride? Give Powell River Taxi a call at (604) 483-3666. You know, their other name is the Shinglemill Express. -- Margy
Last week my friend Margaret and her husband Art opened a new restaurant here in Powell River. It's called Magpie's Diner and is located at C 7053 Glacier Street, north of Joyce Avenue on the left. Parking is right in front or up the street. It opens at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast and closes at 2:00 p.m. after lunch. Head on over except on Mondays when they get a much needed rest.
Today Mom and I made our first visit to Magpie's. They serve homemade breakfasts and lunches made with healthy local ingredients. Breakfasts include large eggs cooked the way you like them and lots of meat choices. Of course there are pancakes, home baked muffins and breads, and mugs of hot coffee or tea from Art's coffee bar.
Lunch platters include hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. There are salads and soups and sweets for dessert. Mom and I had Margaret's signature carrot cake. It got our vote as the perfect way to end a meal or as a snack with coffee like we had.
Margaret is the chef (and sometimes chief bottle washer). She's an amazing woman. I've enjoyed following her blog Thistle Garden where she shares recipes and natural ways of living. Now I'll be able to sample her goodies as well.
The turn out for Magpie's Diner's grand opening has been excellent. I wish Margaret and Art all the success in the world. -- Margy
Wayne and I have a favourite breakfast stop when we travel to Eugene, Oregon for USC sporting events. Typically, we head down on a Friday for Saturday games. In the morning, we get up late and want a hearty breakfast to hold us over through the game until dinner. Within easy walking distance from the downtown Hilton is the Keystone Cafe on the corner of Fifth and Lawrence.
The Keystone is a small cafe that serves breakfast and lunch (7:00-3:00) daily. Sit at the counter, at an inside table or out on the covered patio. The menu includes homemade dishes of the kind you remember from "way back when." On the menu you'll also find eggless and Vegan selections. I opted for the daily special with biscuits and gravy. Wayne's "Monster" omelet (appropriate since it was Halloween) was huge and filled with ham, cheese and veggies.
There was a short line when we arrived at 10:30 in the morning. As we waited, we were invited to help ourselves to coffee from the self-serve bar. It didn't take long and we were seated at a table overlooking Fifth Avenue. The service was great considering how busy it was. And of course, it was filled with Oregon fans priming themselves for the USC football game that afternoon. -- Margy
Today I met my good friend Betty for a day of shopping (mostly window style) and camaraderie. Betty and I met through my blog. In fact, she is my most faithful reader! We discovered we lived in the same town, so decided to get together in real life. It has been great fun. If you want to meet Betty too, she is known as Mud Creek Mama here on Blogger.
One of our favourite places to meet is Historic Fairhaven. In 1889, the railroad was coming, and Fairhaven grew rapidly, hoping to become the west coast terminus. The railroad connection never worked out, so the new town turned to the sea and fishing for its economic base. In its heyday, Fairhaven was a bustling town of hotels, shops, saloons and brothels. Today, the brothels are gone, but the rich heritage of hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife remains. And Fairhaven has achieved its original goal of becoming a tranportation center with its Alaska Ferry, Amtrak and bus terminal.
One stop in Fairhaven that we love to make is the Eclipse Bookstore at 1104 11th Street. The Eclipse Bookstore is amazing with its vast variety of books covering the two floors of the establishment. Because it's a used book store, the prices are also amazingly low. Today, I got three books by R.D. Lawrence, a renowned Canadian author.
To fortify ourselves before wandering the shelves, we stopped in at Avenue Bread at 1135 11th Street. Avenue Bread is across the street and within easy walking distance. In addition to their wonderful fresh breads (I chose the sourdough with rosemary - YUM), they have a small cafe. We could have chosen soup, salad or sandwiches to go with our coffee, but opted for some of the fresh baked treats. Betty had the ham and cheese croissant and I got the cinnamon twist (double YUM).
A trip to Fairhaven wouldn't be complete without a visit to Village Books at 1200 11th Street. They have mostly new books, but you will also find good used books among the collection. They even handle books on consignment. If you are looking for a place to purchase books from Wayne's Coastal BC Stories series you can find them at Village Books. They currently carry Up the Lake, Up the Strait, Up the Airway and Up the Winter Trail. Stop by and check them out while you are shopping in Historic Fairhaven. -- Margy
My mom is visiting me in Powell River this month. When the weather is nice, she comes up to the cabin, along with her (our) cat Stick Tail. They both enjoy getting out in the fresh air and sunshine. But when the weather is a bit cool or rainy, she and the cat enjoy the pleasures of our condo in town. I come down the lake every few days to check on how things are going and to have a girls day out.
We usually go shopping for groceries or just browse through the Economy Shop thrift store. Mom loves a bargain as much as I do. After we've "saved" lots of money by making our purchases there, we splurge on going out to lunch. Last week we went to the Savoury Bight Seaside Restaurant at the Beach Gardens Hotel just south of town.
Mom isn't a big eater, so we usually share a sandwich. They were very gracious about it, and even served our meal on separate plates (at no extra charge). The Savoury Bight is on the ocean side of the hotel with a view of the marina and the Malaspina Strait beyond. It's a great place to come on a sunny day so you can sit outdoors on their patio. If you come at sunset, you get a wonderful view with Texada and Harwood Islands in the foreground and the colourful sky reflected in the sea. The pub side also serves meals and drinks in an informal atmosphere.
It never ceases to amaze me how many great restaurants there are in Powell River. Maybe having a joint high school/college culinary arts program in town helps. Whatever the case, come have a taste of Powell River. It's a savoury place to live. -- Margy
The runway is 2900 feet in length, plenty of room even for our cityfolk Piper Arrow. There's a small terminal, but it's only open when a commercial flight is scheduled. If you go around to the front of the building there's a pilot's conference room that may be open. Inside you will find pilot information and space for flight planning. Transient parking is available on the tarmac (easily identified by the blue cones) or in a large grass area.
If you are just coming for a day trip, park at the southeast corner. This is the closest location to the exit gate and trail towards town. If you want to camp, go the large grass tiedown area midfield on the east side. It is well maintained with clearly marked parking spots, some with hooks to attach your own ropes. There's a portable toilet next to the self-serve fuel building. Overnight parking is just $6.
Last time we flew to Orcas we walked the well marked trail to the village of Eastsound. That time we ate a The Sunflower Cafe. This time we decided to try Vern's Bayside Restaurant. It's right on the water with a quaint atmosphere and fabulous view up the u-shaped sound to the north. Since we were spending the night I could enjoy a Mac & Jacks with my leisurely meal.
We walked back to the airport and put up our tent for a quiet night. All was well until the Airport Crow decided to give us a wakeup call at 6:30 am. Fortunately, he departed allowing us to sneak in a few more winks before we packed up. Rather than walking back to town for breakfast, we flew south to Port Townsend to eat at the Spruce Goose Cafe. It was a great outing for 997 and her owners alike. -- Margy
Last night Wayne and I went to the Mt. Baker Theater to see the St. Petersburg String Quartet. Before the concert, we went to dinner at the nearby Best Chopsticks Chinese restaurant. Best Chopsticks is located at 121 Unity Street in downtown Bellingham.
Best Chopsticks serves lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm and dinner Sundays from 5:00 to 9:30. Lunch is until 3:30. That's important because that's when their lunch special is available. For $5.95 you get soup, rice, a fried wonton and one of 26 entree choices. It's hard to get a fast food burger for that. At dinner, specials start at $7.95. And they allow you to make substitutions for the entree. How good is that? Wayne got the Sweet and Sour Pork and I had the spicy Kung Pao Chicken. They also have an extensive menu of entrees and sides.
After a few cups of tea and fortune cookies we made our way over to the theater is a light drizzle. Good food and good music, a nice way to end the day. -- Margy
This weekend Wayne and I had a great road trip in Bertha, Mom's big Buick, down to Oregon to watch The Women of Troy play basketball. While we were in Eugene, we had two nights to enjoy the town and some good eats.
The first night we returned to a Japanese restaurant we discovered last trip, but it has a new name, Sushi-Ya. The reviews are mixed, but we had a good experience. I had sushi and vegetable tempura. Wayne had a California roll and the pork cutlet. Of course, I started with my favourite, an octopus hand roll. When the waiter discovered my tempura wasn't ready, it was provided for free. In our case, the service was prompt and friendly. Sushi-Ya is bright and open with a modern feel.
Hope you enjoyed my gustatory tour of Eugene. If you have any favourite Eugene hangouts, I'd love to hear about them for our next trip to town. - Margy
I'm spending some time in Bellingham this month, so I've been exploring new lunch spots. Today I went to one of my favourite used book stores, Cozy Corner Books & Coffee on Cedarwood Avenue. After finding a few books to keep me busy, I went across the street to Morrie's to get a bite to eat.
The menu is simple: burgers (several kinds), fries, rings and a few other fast food items. They also have nine flavours of thick shakes. I had the black raspberry and it was really tasty. Morrie's is a drive-in, but there's also indoor seating for rainy days, or if you want to relax and read a few pages of your new book.
The proprietors are really friendly. It's a family business with multi-generations taking part. So if you want a good burger and a tasty shake for a reasonable price, head on over to Morrie's. - Margy