Ridgeway Farm Bed & Breakfast
La Conner, Washington

The Skagit Valley produces more than half the world's tulips. Many are even shipped to Holland. The annual Tulip Festival, in April, rivals the turning of leaves (Fall) in Vermont. And in the middle of this beauty is a great B&B.

Louise Kelly greeted us at the kitchen door and ushered us inside. All the guests at Ridgeway Farm are asked to use this entrance, which is surrounded by the gardens and a circular drive......the front door is for salesmen and strangers! After taking us on a tour, she gave us choice of four rooms or the cottage. We chose Amy's room, which boasted a king-size bed with a down comforter, antique dresser and night tables, wicker chair and private bath. The entire home is beautifully decorated with antique furniture and country decor.

The separate cottage boasts a living room, kitchen, master and second bedroom, each with its own private bath. The second bedroom can be rented separately and has a private entrance from the garden. The cottage had originally been located on a nearby farm and was relocated to Ridgeway Farm and completely restored.

Mike took pictures of all the beautiful flowers and grounds. Then he watched the NBA Championship, while I downloaded the email and relaxed with a book on the balcony overlooking the gardens. We visited with Louise and talked about her life as an Air Force officer's wife and about the background of their home. Then John came home and joined us. We spent hours talking about Vietnam, the local area's history and the farm. Before we knew it the night was gone. We went out and gave Lexxus a run and then headed upstairs for a great night's sleep.

This area is famous for legendary painters Morris Graves and Guy Anderson. Tom Robbins wrote "Another Roadside Attraction" here. The town is well known for it's museums, gift shops and galleries. Also fishing, logging and farming have their influence in the area. A lot of people use this area as a lay over on their way to the San Juan Islands.

Our breakfast included coffee, tea and orange juice. The first course was fresh strawberries, followed by homemade granola (made with maple syrup) with yogurt. Then John brought in ham and waffles made with oatmeal. As we finished up our breakfast and were chatting around the dining table, Louise presented us with 2 Ridgeway B&B coffee mugs to add to our collection!

If you want a great romantic retreat with friendly folks that take great care of you, make sure you check out their Website and make your reservations....and be sure to tell them we said HI!