The Bow-Edison area is nestled in the foothills of Blanchard Mountain near scenic Chuckanut Drive and is centrally located between Bellingham and Anacortes. Being only 2.5 miles apart, Bow and Edison together are often referred to as a single location as they share a post office and other services and facilities.
You can’t help but unwind and relax when you live in such a peaceful area where you have the sea, the mountains, lakes, trails, and fields to enjoy as part of your daily life. With the big city conveniences right up the road, you can enjoy your piece of paradise where you have more space for your animals, toys, and even a veggie garden or a tulip field.
Population
The homes in Bow-Edison include small farms, view homes, historic homes, horse farms, vacation properties, and grand estates. There is something for everyone.
Edison (population 300) is located on the Samish delta and enjoys one of the most pleasant locations in the valley, out of the shadow of the mountains and situated along Samish Bay with views of Mt. Baker, and the San Juan Islands. The town has become a magnet for individuals that like the idea of living in a place like this, like artists, artisans, bakers, urbanites-turned-farmers. The result is a unique combination of retail shops, art galleries, and eating establishments.
Bow (population 3,700) is located 2.5 miles inland from Edison. The city of Bow is an unincorporated community in Skagit County, Washington that overlooks the Samish Bay and is located near the towns of Bay View, Edison, Burlington, and Mount Vernon. Similarly, to Edison, it has attracted many artisans and small family farmers.
Restaurants, Cafes, and Bakeries
In 2017, Food and Wine Magazine said, “So how does a place like Edison become one of the best places to eat in the Pacific Northwest?”. We are not sure what the answer is, but you cannot help but be impressed by the variety and quality of the food at the local establishments.
- Breadfarm Bakery and Cafe – A popular artisan bakery focusing on naturally leavened bread and rustic pastries. All items are handcrafted, with no additives or preservatives.
- Farm to Market Bakery – Everything is homemade and most of it from local ingredients. While all their offerings are delicious, the Pecan Sticky Rolls will make a true believer out of you. Voted the Best of Skagit 2016.
The restaurants in the Bow-Edison area include a wonderful mix of casual to fine dining. Here are just a few of our favorites:
• Chuckanut Manor Restaurant
• Longhorn Saloon
• Mariposa Taqueria
• Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive
• Rhododendron Café
• Slough Food
• The Edison Café
• The Old Edison
• Tweets
Retail
- Bow Hill Blueberries – the oldest blueberry farm in Skagit Valley. The fields of organic blueberries are you-pick or we-pick. The farm store is open year-round and offers Organic Blueberries, Organic Blueberry Jam, Organic Blueberry Sauce, Dried Organic Blueberries, Organic Pickled Blueberries, and Organic Blueberry Marinade.
- Hedgerow – a tiny shop with a dreamy collection of current and vintage pieces. They carry art, candles, clothing, pillows, rugs, shoes, and more. The inventory changes often so there is always something new.
- Samish Bay Cheese Retail Shop – Award-winning cheese producers offering a large selection of specialty cheeses produced locally using products from their dairy. Not only do they have a retail store, but you will see them at the local farmer’s markets.
- Smith and Vallee Cabinet Makers – designs, builds and installs quality cabinetry and distinct furniture from sustainably harvested materials in and around Seattle, the Skagit Valley, Mount Vernon, Anacortes, and Bellingham. Their design studio is on Edison.
- Taylor Shellfish – specialize in the freshest tide-to-table shellfish from the infamous geoduck their exclusive Shigoku oyster.
- W.D. Foods – a small country neighborhood store with the conveniences of a convenience store but offering more: fresh produce and seasonal produce from local farms.
Activities and Places to Explore
- Bay View – a small community situated on Padilla Bay. Bay View boasts not only a beautiful view but a quiet rural atmosphere and proximity to Bay View State Park, the Breazeale Interpretive Center, and the Padilla Bay Shore Trail.
- Bay View State Park – a 25-acre camping park with 1,285 feet of saltwater shoreline on Padilla Bay. Bird watching, beachcombing, clamming, crabbing, and much more are popular activities at the park.
- Breazeale Interpretive Center – the Center manages the Padilla Bay Reserve, which provides research and stewardship opportunities as well as educational classes and training events on a variety of environmental topics. The Breazeale Interpretive Center includes an aquarium with exhibits and is open to the public, free of charge.
- Chuckanut Drive – What started as a 20-mile long rutted dirt logging road linking Bow, north to Bellingham is now one of Washington States most popular drives, offering not only world-class vistas, but everything from fine-dining establishments to terrific hiking, biking, camping, and beachcombing spots, plus excellent seafood gathering and even a cool place to see roadside fossils.
- Oyster Dome Trail – is a delightfully challenging 5-mile hike on Blanchard Mountain, located in the Chuckanut area. The hike includes lots of switchbacks, roots, and rocks but once you reach Oyster Dome, you will have unobstructed views of Lummi and Orcas Island as well as the Skagit River flats and Anacortes.
- Padilla Bay Shore Trail – is a 2.25-mile dike-top bicycle and pedestrian trail. This area supports one of the largest known wintering populations of peregrine falcons in North America. Other raptors winter in the western portion of the County including peregrine falcons, merlin’s (pigeon hawk), and snowy owls.
Neighboring Towns
Anacortes, WA – a wonderful seaside community ideal for those who enjoy the outdoors, great restaurants, boating, hiking, fishing, and fantastic scenery. There are several marinas, 2200 acres of forestlands with 50 miles of trails, 1/3 less rain than Seattle, stunning views, lots of wildlife, golfing, and community events every week. Anacortes is the port for ferries to Canada and the San Juan Islands.
Bellingham, WA – a coastal city in western Washington, that offers easy access to all outdoor recreation enthusiasts with Mount Baker thirty miles away and the San Juan Islands across Bellingham Bay. The city of 100,000 captures the energy of a great college town while providing a stable economy with all the goods and services a larger city offers. Bellingham is the port for ferries to Alaska.
Burlington, WA– a city of 9,000 people today, began as a logging camp and has grown into a hub for commerce and industry in northwest Washington. In addition to sponsoring numerous festivals, concerts, and community activities it offers dozens of parks and trails. Burlington is home to several major retailers including Costco.
La Conner, WA – a small, charming waterfront town offering museums, culinary dining, wine tastings, boutique shops, art galleries, and a full-service marina all in a historical setting.
Mount Vernon, WA – the largest commercial center in the Skagit Valley. Here you will find all the chain and big box stores. In 2019, Forbes rated Mount Vernon #11 for Best Small Places for Business and Careers.
Ready to Explore the Real Estate Market in Bow-Edison?
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