When I'm in the mood for some gorgeous views over Anacortes, Cap Sante Park is one of my go-to…read morespots. Perched high on a point across the harbor from downtown, it's the perfect spot to take it all in. And with its northerly views, you can not only watch the boats arrive at the marina far below, but peer across the mountains for breathtaking sunny day views of Mount Baker, too. It also has a "lover's lane" vibe, so I'll give it an extra star for romance potential. There are a view benches, as well as rocky outperches, to sit and ponder all the beauty. Fall potential is high, so I wouldn't let little ones wander around on their own here. Parking can be a hassle on sunny days.

Went during a sunset and it was spectacular. Even saw a rainbow. There were parking spots when we…read moregot there though it was also a lot of people concerning it was already past 9PM. Wonderful views of the marina and the islands! And beautiful Mountain views.

I could walk here from my home. Lovely community and a must…read moreto visit if you're in the area.

I highly recommend this. Not just for kids but adults too. They have a very interactive museum, a…read morehands-On room and an aquarium. Everything is so interesting. Well laid out and highly interactive so this is a super engaging space for all ages.

I don't know whether to rave about the phenomenal food or the exceptional service first. We drive…read moreover an hour just to eat here. We're originally from NY but let me tell you, Nonna Luisa Ristorante beats "the best," most well known Italian restaurants in and around NYC. Hands down. There's no way anyone could possibly leave this place feeling anything other than full, happy, and excited to come back. Like a true Italian family, Nonna's won't let anyone go hungry. We were planning on having dinner here one night but the ferry was late. By the time we pulled up it was already 30 minutes after they closed so we sat in our car parked across the street looking up what other places might still be open. The owner happened to be outside and shouts "Are you hungry?!" They had already cleared out for the night, there weren't people still sitting down eating. But he invited us in anyway. I would've expected our server Carmen to be annoyed because I'm sure she wanted to go home but instead she welcomed us in just like the owner did. We thanked her and apologized but she said "that's what we do here, we take care of people." They even gave us a free desert since we were celebrating a birthday. Come here because you're hungry, come here to celebrate, come here because you don't feel like cooking, come here because it's a random Wednesday... just come here.

Friendly owner greeted every guest. Super attentive staff made sure we always had water, extra…read moreplates for sharing, bread, and everything else we needed. I loved everything we ordered. Calamari appetizer was cooked perfectly. The four of us shared three pasta dishes, and all were delicious. Everything is made fresh. Desserts were heavenly. I would consider driving 2.5 hours to Nonnna Luisa Ristorante for a special occasion. Restaurant was packed but we didn't have to wait long for anything. Great overall experience!

The og Bier ON the Pier festival was seriously one of my favorite PNW beer events for over a…read moredecade. Sadly, last year the Port of Anacortes decided to close down the iconic Transit Shed pier location for this event (and for all events, of which there were many); so the festival was forced to move to the only other available facility in town: the Depot Arts Center. I have to say, it was NOT an improvement. First off, the Depot is broken up into several different rooms. I've been to a few art shows here, and it works for that. But for a beer festival, there just wasn't any energy since the breweries were all cordoned off from each other, and the music was outside in a completely separate tent area. At the original festival (on the pier), the stage was right in the middle of the action - not a separate destination entirely. Speaking of music, this was a highlight as Skagit Valley favorite Mama Dirty Skirt rocked the stage on Friday night. And on Saturday afternoon we chose the early entry option just to see one of our all-time Bellingham favorite musicians, Michael Dayvid, perform. There also seemed like fewer beer and cider options than years past. Several local breweries weren't represented, including favorites like Stemma, Wander, Aslan, and Boundary Bay from Bellingham, and North Sound from Mount Vernon. We missed seeing other PNW brewery kingpins, too. Fremont Brewing was there (thanks Fremont!) but it would have been lovely to see Georgetown, Elysian, Pike, Deschutes or any number of other local legend breweries. This could have been a space issue, though, as the breweries/cideries present were all stuffed into very tiny spaces. The breweries who were present definitely brought the enthusiasm and great brews. Some of my faves were Farmstrong's Oktoberfest vienna lager, Temperate Habits' ESB, and tasty sips from Beach Cat, Anacortes Brewing, Fringe, and Garden Path (to name just a few). The food options were also a bit disappointing compared to previous years. On Friday, we chose the dumpling operation, which was pretty much highway robbery. We paid over $15 for literally the tiniest, saddest little dish of dumplings ever. It was barely enough to be considered an appetizer for one person; definitely not a meal. Needless to say, after that we just walked downtown to the Brown and got a decent meal for not much more! On Saturday, we grabbed a hot dog from one of the on-site vendors and it was quite delish. I feel like the festival organizers did the best with what they could. But, personally, I probably won't return to this festival again unless some major changes are made. It wasn't really worth the time and expense to spend a whole weekend in Anacortes.

It was yet another glorious sunny weekend in the PNW, so we grabbed our buckets and headed to…read moreWhidbey Island for some beachcombing - discovering this beautiful beach along the way. It's a small, but mighty, little strip of land that's bordered on three sides by private property, so while it might not be a great place to hang out with 1000 of your closest friends, you can't beat the vibe here for a small romantic picnic or playtime with the kid. The beach is pretty typical PNW: driftwood, rocks, mud, and lots of stinky seaweed to give the place atmosphere. We were there at low tide, so it definitely had wading potential (if you're into cold, Puget Sound water). The thing I liked most, besides the stunning views out to the Olympics, was that there were only two other people on the beach. This would also be a great place for some sea kayaking on a calm day. There is a port-a-potty in the small parking lot, but other than that there are few amenities here, so bring along your own water, shade, and seating. But if you're looking to cross yet another gorgeous PNW beach off your list, this one is definitely worth a visit.

Wow! I didn't expect to be as impressed by this airshow as I was. But it was really fun and…read moreamazing! It was my first time at an airshow in probably about 20 years, so I was excited to check it out. Lucky for me, there's a brewery immediately across from the airfield where the planes were doing their stuff, so I kicked back with a couple of cold ones and watched aerobatic stunt planes, US Coast Guard helicopters, and Army parachutists do their thing. Just in time for the grand finale (the fighter jet team from NAS Whidbey) I ambled over to the main showgrounds to wander the tarmac before those big, loud jets rolled in. The tarmac featured several static airplane and airplane-adjacent displays, representatives from different flight-related organizations, and plenty of booths from different branches of our military. There were some food trucks, too - they were quite scattered about but I did see the Dick's burger truck had come up all the way from Seattle, which was pretty cool. Soon enough, the duo from the NAS blasted in and gave a show that left most people exhilarated (but scared a few little kids, too). I would highly recommend earplugs for the little ones if you attend this show - and for yourself, too, if you have sensitive hearing. With the scent of jet fuel lingering in the air, I walked back to my car (get there EARLY if you want to park close) and headed home. Can't wait to go back next year!

If you find yourself anywhere near the Tulip Festival, make sure this spot is on your list…read more During our weekend of tulip sightseeing, Stella Sopra ended up stealing the show. We came for the flowers, but this little food truck parked at Tulip Valley Winery delivered the kind of meal that sticks with you. There's something magical about pairing genuine, well-crafted Italian food with a flight of local wines. Chef Alberto runs the whole operation himself cooking, serving, sharing stories, and making you feel like you've been invited to Sunday lunch at his family's table in Italy. His passion shows in every bite. I've had plenty of eggplant parm over the years, but this one? Best I've ever eaten. Served in a simple plastic container yet unforgettable perfectly balanced sauce pasta cooked just right, and eggplant that was tender and full of flavor. My husband ordered the chicken mushroom ravioli, and I was tempted to sample half of it. Big, pillowy pasta filled with rich, savory goodness an absolute win! We also split a Caesar salad (because veggie balance is important) and ended on a high note with tiramisu. It was airy, creamy, and just espresso kissed enough to keep you going back for another spoonful. We lingered on the patio glass of wine in hand, soaking up the scenery and wondering how a food truck in the middle of tulip country had turned into one of our favorite dining experiences in ages. The Stella Sopra truck travels between Bellingham and Mount Vernon. If you see it parked anywhere don't overthink it. Order whatever catches your eye. You'll definitely leave happy.

Wonderful, friendly, family operation. And the food, oh my goodness! This is some of the BEST…read moreauthentic Italian food in Bellingham. The gnocchi is delicious, as is the lasagna but the eggplant parmigiana is the best I've ever had! I always stop when I see them parked outside of Menace brewing. Check their FB page for hours and locations.

Very beautiful island! The marine has amazing sunsets and this place is a worthwhile sightseeing…read morelocation. Many of the land is privately owned.