A Weekend in Stanwood
Small town charm and the easy island.
Stanwood, Washington – located an hour and a half north of Seattle – is a getaway, a gateway to Camano Island. The Stanwood-Camano coastal area is home to wandering coastlines and tranquil farmland.
Spend a long weekend unplugging here. Treat yourself to a slow meal and views that blend rolling hills and bays with distant snowcapped mountains and farmsteads.
It’s time to explore Stanwood, Washington.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Kayak-Point-2-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=53256139a44eb7921c5345eee1b996f7 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Kayak-Point-2-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=cc072e16e2c7b674fc6c7f4da5af9333 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Kayak-Point-2-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=681774bfa928e301022de7bd51a10e2c 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Kayak-Point-2-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=44cd6e05062d92e01c5ae1af782a1777 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Kayak-Point-2-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=df5a1932bb76c0944a68c8930b8c78ac 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Kayak-Point-2-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=c9f775ea4084684c64cc20facd64ee57 1229w)
Day 1
Getting here is half the fun! Visitors can take the Amtrak train to the tiny station in downtown Stanwood. Arriving by rail, you can step off the train onto the platform and be within a ridesharing radius of your lodging accommodations.
But first, you’ll want to refuel after your journey. Check out Mammoth Burger for a solid comfort food option after your long journey. Mammoth Burger lives up to its name by dishing up 1.5-lb. local beef patties topped with a quarter pound of cheddar next to a small mountain of hand-cut French fries. Wow! Enjoy the gastropub vibes, complete with a chalkboard menu and a knife ceremoniously driven vertically through each burger served.
Where to stay? Nearby lodging options include seaside and farmland AirBnBs and a charming yurt village at nearby Kayak Point County Park. The yurts at Kayak Point are equipped with futons, outdoor fire rings, indoor electrical outlets (crucial for charging your phone), ventilated windows, and access to hot water. They’re also only a short walk from the photogenic shores of Post Susan of the Salish Sea.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Stanwood-Kayak-Point-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=02063cd2a5be52d8a0d87fde8bbc720d 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Stanwood-Kayak-Point-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d1b5f66abb28c30085479123f41d5b75 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Stanwood-Kayak-Point-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=2100bc07138501be2574464e4fcc3de2 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Stanwood-Kayak-Point-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=4619c6cfcbc962b4ed48cbb0fc565b26 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Stanwood-Kayak-Point-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=f69ad6a159e0634985cb4434d7238d45 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Stanwood-Kayak-Point-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=7b08c16ca1f15c0bff55a995b1d3cbf8 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Stanwood-Kayak-Point-Screen-Shot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=a5bf9b465a1ece0c3ee0f73db92937e0 1488w)
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_06122018_8869_outdoor-rec-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=3479fe37c04d016ce268e51ab8223ff3 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_06122018_8869_outdoor-rec-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=140ec290afdb106c3083a7608655ca6e 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_06122018_8869_outdoor-rec-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d7a9eb9cf751cb51ed17cead78c844c7 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_06122018_8869_outdoor-rec-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=ead9637d35a5a300988b06ffa7a7de57 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_06122018_8869_outdoor-rec-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=26831ea9fcb2ed7495f80a77317158af 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_06122018_8869_outdoor-rec-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=e680f428efa5831c544248b0fdf99c66 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_06122018_8869_outdoor-rec-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=d3f15f41d9d2a8f15bdac2210244d104 1920w)
Day 2
Enjoy breakfast at the Farmer’s Café for a traditional eggs, bacon, hash-and-toast type of All American diner breakfast. If you’re a food-loving locavore, you’ll want to coordinate and book a reservation for farm-to-table dining on Camano.
Stanwood is a small town that yields big surprises. You can easily spend a few hours leisurely perusing downtown shops in Stanwood. Art galleries, cupcake shops, boutiques, and antique shops are worth a stretch of the legs and a flight of fancy.
Then it’s time to savor Stanwood’s own SAAL Brewing Co. for dinner and drinks. SAAL stands for Stanwood Artisan Ales and Lagers. It’s located in a vintage stucco firefighter’s building. Besides all the delicious beer you’re sure to sip the food is a top local secret – try $3 mahi mahi fish tacos any time of the day. Happy hour prices are baked into the menu so that you can get your fill of quality eats without emptying your wallet.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=70f2895d71e53ce8957410feeac2ac1b 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=dd1b54a6380fea916f74193622cee5a2 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=ee343401c04fee541264e3d58fc6ab44 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=449be050b10f093c127c58f3410e62d3 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=fc65f74a85b7e98cc9e7d5682df74a74 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=114879aa6ba2ae5910fca29d8248e61c 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=0f8e0eb0afadbf60c42525d1dc760d32 1920w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=84b73ad5e3016c1130bb0d755132d28e 2560w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_SAALBrewing-22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=bc72d79cfc2fef8a60361c65fd8ae2d3 3840w)
Headed back to deon-van-zyl-YRRa8G_i_is-unsplash-large.jpg? You owe yourself a visit. Explore hiking trails, kayaking, fishing, and crabbing. The shallow, pebbly coastline allows for a quick and easy put-in for watercraft. The 3,000 feet of shoreline here are scattered with well-worn driftwood that acts as nature’s own benches for sitting and admiring the sunset over Puget Sound. If you’re lucky, you may see a migratory grey whale surface during its seasonal migrations – Port Susan is a regular stopping point for the aquatic giants en route to Alaska.
Day 3
The seasonal Stanwood Farmers Market is open from roughly June through October on Fridays. The market is a gathering of farmers, local producers, makers, and more. The Stanwood Farmers Market makes fresh local food accessible to all and cultivates long-term economic vitality for the Stanwood and Camano Island communities. Feel good about the delicious in-season Saturn peaches that you snatch from the market. Yum!
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_07262019_0152_shopping-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=9faab7ffaacf86e9c9d381bea2117d94 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_07262019_0152_shopping-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=8f07aa0c1692196321835dce92bdce42 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_07262019_0152_shopping-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=441341fa144db2031552e9f8f0aa94cb 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_07262019_0152_shopping-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=0b3e92b0ebfd5be33e7338575f12f8b2 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_07262019_0152_shopping-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=d7fa33dbeae311f74f023ce2b4bcb115 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_07262019_0152_shopping-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=878aeee0c27f5a69d1eb74f45ae352b5 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/SAL_STW_JC_07262019_0152_shopping-large-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=67f72d25c04078635834cdfb448d5adf 1920w)
Then, a final jaunt to Camano for a visit to Matzke Fine Art and Design and Camano Island Coffee. The Matzke Sculpture Park is a remarkable work of interactive outdoor art. The graceful site embodies a geometry of playfulness where trees, walls, lawns, and flowers come together to form a brilliant frame for outdoor sculptures. The park is open to the public Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11 to 5, or weekdays by appointment.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_CamanoIsland_SculptureGarden-21-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b0f38ee925d9374e6189e833231fe2a0 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_CamanoIsland_SculptureGarden-21-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c63ce1b76e9707e8033fd24afdb3957d 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_CamanoIsland_SculptureGarden-21-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=99aae6a540dab6a41499f62ee93ef01d 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_CamanoIsland_SculptureGarden-21-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=2e58230e7ddd227ea7df9907f1f383d5 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_CamanoIsland_SculptureGarden-21-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=6af06383f3eb9f2ec143763a0525b308 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_CamanoIsland_SculptureGarden-21-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=5c2ea2e32609ef3119e5f0c9abed722a 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/EliseGiordano_DAY3_CamanoIsland_SculptureGarden-21-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=fad42157d9bfb9059a5c8b50d41cb214 1920w)
Camano Island Coffee crafts delicious, fresh-roasted beans. Locals love it for the flavor and freshness of their roasts. When you visit the island you owe it to yourself to pick up a few bags of coffee to take back home. So good!
Finally, take a stroll along any of the waterfront trails of Stanwood. It’s good to take it slow here. There’s much to see if you take the time to reflect and relax.