Fine décor, authentic Asian dinner cuisine and uncompromised
hospitality... these are the qualities of Camano Blossom Bed and
Breakfast.
Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway, an ideal place to
reward that special employee, the out of the ordinary location for your
small wedding, or a special and unique place to put out-of-town family
and guests - our goal is to pamper you and allow you to experience the
beauty and comfort that attracted us to this island property.
For the Interstate or International traveler we offer safe and comfy
accommodations only seven miles from Interstate 5 - which is a quick
diversion from the ordinary motel or hotel stay - without losing
precious travel time. Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. are just 60 miles from
our doorstep. No ferry stresses, missed connections, or scheduling
challenges. Unlike Whidbey and the San Juan Islands, we are connected to
the mainland by a state highway and bridge. Easily accessible from I-5
and State Route 532, Camano Blossom Bed & Breakfast is the first bed
and breakfast located on Camano Island.
Innkeepers "Melissa" Mei Hsu and Michael Handley are
delighted that you are considering staying as our guests. We have worked
hard to ensure that the more than 20 years of combined experience in
hospitality and human services is reflected as a genuine warmth and
subtle ambiance of our Asian - American décor.
We sincerely hope that you find our company warm and friendly and we
promise that we will help make your stay memorable and relaxing.
Rooms:
Elegance and intimacy right in your room...
Each of our tastefully appointed rooms is individually decorated, but
all are designed to provide both an intimate setting and a homelike
atmosphere in which to enjoy these precious moments of relaxation.
Special touches in our guest rooms include fine toilet soaps, fresh cut
seasonal flowers, additional pillows, plush bath towels and relaxing
views of our country-side location. Four distinctive guestrooms each
have a queen feather bed with luxury linens, and all have a private
bath. Two look into northeast views of Skagit Bay and Mt. Baker, one
looks west towards the sunset, and another looks southeast towards the
sunrise.
Asiana:
This luxurious, garden side room features views to the east, an
adjoining private bath with tub, and large wrap around windows. The
queen size feather bed is decorated in red and gold tones.
Country Rose:
Serene and warm, this garden view room features an in-room private
bath. The room is decorated in green and mint tones. This room is the
best choice should we need to set-up a child's sleeping area for the
family of three.
Lavender:
With a light lavender and floral tone, we have decorated using
distressed white simplicity. This room features an in-room private
bath and wonderful views of the yard and pasture.
Sage:
Country views, warm earth tones, views of the setting sun, and an
in-room private bath help to make this a favorite for single
travelers.
Camano Blossom Bed and Breakfast Is Noted For:
- Asian décor
- Excellent views
- Economical rates
- Queen-sized beds and luxurious linen
- Overnight parking for trailer able boats
- Fabulous hospitality and gourmet Chinese meals
- Peaceful getaways, romantic escapes, restful sleep
- Licensed massage therapy and European body-wraps available
- Natural splendor and colorful gardens - fresh cut seasonal flowers
with hundreds of flowering bulbs on property
Breakfast:
Delicious gourmet food to delight your taste buds...
Wake up to warm hospitality and a full gourmet hot breakfast that is
included with your stay. Breakfast is served at 9 AM every day in the
main dining area. There will be fresh baked muffins, scrambled eggs,
fruit, juice, and Pacific Northwest coffees and teas. For a special
treat arrangements can be made for Melissa to prepare one of her famous
Szechuan Mandarin or Hunan Chinese dinner meals. The meal will be served
as an "intimate couples" dinner in a private dining room.
Meals and Dinner Offerings:
Each stay includes a full hot breakfast featuring fresh baked goods,
fruit, juices, Pacific Northwest specialty coffees and teas, and a
special entrée.
There is also another very special reason for using Camano Blossom
Bed and Breakfast. For the past eight years Melissa Hsu has owned a
Chinese restaurant in Mukilteo. One of the goals of our Camano project
is to introduce her gourmet cuisine to our bed and breakfast guests.
Imagine, what a special touch we can provide when we prepare authentic
Chinese dinners in Hunan, Szechwan, Mandarin, or Cantonese style!
About Camano Island:
Camano Blossom Bed and Breakfast is a perfect "base camp"
for daily sojourns. We are an ideal jumping-off point for art galleries,
state parks, bicycling, boating, lunch in La Conner, island drives,
antique searches, or the joy of the magnificent Skagit tulips.
Our rural landscape is blessed with all that the unspoiled Northwest
offers. The island has 52 miles of picturesque shoreline, views of Mt.
Baker to the north, the Olympic Mountains to the west, and vistas of the
Cascade mountain ranges to the east. Camano Island is ideal for those
who desire relaxed visits. Many visitors find the island’s appeal to
be its unspoiled natural scenery coupled with unusual accessibility for
an island. There is no waiting in line for expensive ferries, you just
drive across a bridge to access the island.
Situated about 60 miles north of Seattle and about 60 miles south of
Canada our close proximity to all points northwest make Camano Island an
ideal jump off point for both Stateside and Canadian travelers. Within 1½
to 2 hours drive are Deception Pass, Chuckanut Drive, Skagit Valley’s
Tulip festival, Vancouver, B.C., the North Cascades Highway, and Mount
Baker.
What To Do:
Boating:
We welcome boating enthusiasts who will be using Camano Island as a
launching spot while they tour the beautiful waters of Puget Sound.
Several launch areas can be found on Camano Island. Favorite day trips
include, motoring to Mukilteo or Langley, taking a run to the Hood
Canal, or adventuring to LaConner and Deception Pass (watch your
tides!).
Nature, Birding and Trails:
Camano Island's rolling green pastures and moderate weather
encourage abundant wildlife habitats. Many species of animals -
particularly birds - nest on the island. Eagles, hawks, shorebirds,
snow geese, heron, and trumpeter swans choose migratory paths to
include stops on Camano Island and the Skagit Valley farmlands.
Iverson Spit has recently been added to the WA Audubon map as one
of the best places in WA to bird watch. In addition Camano Island has
a Blue Heronry. Sizable Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swan migrations occur
in Skagit and Island Counties from February through April.
The island also is home to nesting eagles and is a stop over point
for eagle migrations.
There are several miles of gorgeous hiking trails on Camano Island.
We can provide you with detailed maps when you arrive. Most trails are
marked and represent the diverse nature of Camano Island. Examples
include: the Al Emerson Nature Trail which has Interpretive stations,
the Beach Trail which is an easy walk at only one mile long, and the
Park Perimeter Loop Trail which has numerous view areas. The Cross
Island Trail goes through the Dry Lake Wetland Preserve. The Cama
Beach trail system has three separate trails, an overlook, and an
interpretive area. The Elger Bay Preserve trail is 2.5 miles long and
features several forest loops.
Camano Island's Arts Community and Antiques
There are scores of opportunities to enjoy Camano Island's fine art
and studios. Camano Island is home to David Maritz whose bronze and
silver sculptures often focus on wildlife and birds. We also have the
Pilchuck Glass School Staff Exhibit & Sale, Jack Gunter's
paintings, Vicki Dodge's wearable fiber art clothing, and several
destination galleries.
Another favorite is the Mother's Day Studio Tour during which the
Camano Arts Association opens 22 studios, galleries and gardens in the
Stanwood and Camano Island area to guests who wish to see artists
actually creating their works. In nearby LaConner there are
"Gallery Art Walks" the second Saturday of every month from
5 - 8 PM for after dinner art, conversation, dessert and
entertainment.
A favorite activity of ours is taking a day trip to LaConner to see
the Museum of Northwest Art and to visit other fine art galleries and
woodcrafters. Ask us for the latest guides to art shows and
presentations. There are great restaurants, craftsman shops,
boutiques, and coffee shops as well.
Special Drives & Day Trips:
Tulalip Casino:
Just 20 minutes away is one of the Northwest's newest and largest
gaming casinos. Without a doubt the New Tulalip Casino is "gi-huge-ic".
There are 124,000 square feet of gaming areas, 12,600 square feet of
restaurant space, a 7,000 square foot Cabaret lounge, and a 10,000
square foot mezzanine.
Chuckanut Drive:
This 2 hour (each way) drive along a coastal winding road actually
runs parallel to Interstate 5. The drive starts in the agriculture
valley and connects the Skagit Bay area to eclectic and fun Fairhaven.
Along the way there are a few cafes, two high-end restaurants, a
shellfish farm, and one or two shops selling local art and
"bobbles and beads". Our favorite is a small bamboo nursery
in the town of Bow, which is just before the road begins to climb out
of the flatlands. There are spots to stop and enjoy a picnic or
compose a prize winning picture. Take your time to enjoy the views of
Skagit Bay, North Puget Sound, parts of the San Juan Islands and the
thick woods that border the eastern shoulder. About 6 miles south of
Bellingham, be sure to explore Larrabee State Park (Washington's
oldest marine park), and take an excursion down Cove Road. Fairhaven
(South Bellingham) is the end of the line for driving beautiful
Chuckanut Drive. This area is the "southern terminus" of the
Alaska State Ferry system. The village of Fairhaven is a unique
waterfront community with many of the original red brick buildings
from the late 19th century. Fairhaven also has several good cafes and
eateries. If it's really late when you decide to head home, and you
don't want to take the coastal road at night, you can just hop on I-5
and drive the 45 miles or so to the Stanwood Camano exit.
Deception Pass:
An absolutely grand opportunity to see nature at its finest. The
Deception Pass span is several hundred feet tall and is a spectacular
bridge that joins Whidbey Island to the mainland. The waters of the
pass are known to have rapid currents, weird eddies, and frothing
swirling waters during tide changes. The State Park is a gem and in
good weather a picnic lunch on the beach is a real treat.
LaConner:
Artistic, clean, and festival oriented. From Camano Island,
LaConner is accessed by driving through the world famous Skagit Flats,
which by the way are home of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The
trip will only take about 30 - 40 minutes. LaConner is full of art
galleries, boating, and fine eateries. This little town is a great
breath of fresh air. On you way to LaConner look for the Roozengaarde
Display Garden with its windmill and fresh flowers. Another treat is
Christianson's Nursery and Display Garden.
Mount Baker:
A full day is in store and it is every bit worth the trip. In the
spring and summer the mountain sprouts some of the most delicate and
colorful wildflowers. Many times there is still a hint of snow on the
very crest of the peak, even in July. There are hiking trails, picnic
areas, and beautiful vistas.
Winter drivers should be prepared. In 2001 the very top of Mt Baker
held the world's record for snowfall with something like 213 feet in
one season.
North Cascade Highway (Cascade Loop):
The North Cascade mountains are a staggering sight. With majestic
evergreens, waterfalls, snow "up the kazoo" and nature at it
splendor, this segment of the loop is a wondrous trip during any
season. From Camano Island the section of the loop that is closest is
Stevens Pass segment. You will see incredible scenery, quaint towns a
National Park, and cross over a 4100 foot mountain pass. There are
many places to stop and enjoy a picnic or boxed lunch. The entire trip
is under 3 hours and if you are adventurous and have several days you
can drive the entire 400 mile loop!
A Quick Hop to Vancouver, B.C. or Seattle:
Many visitors are surprised to see that Vancouver, BC and Seattle
are just 60 miles away. A stay at Camano Blossom Bed and Breakfast puts you in
just the right place to travel to either of these jeweled cities.
Our Fabulous Camano Island State Park:
Camano Island State Park is a very popular destination on the
island. With over 134 acres the park offers year round saltwater
fishing for salmon and bottom fish, excellent seasonal clamming, and
88 wooded campsites. A 3 mile, self guided nature trail and a series
of loop trails for hiking and beachcombing also complement the park.
Additional features include an underwater park for scuba diving, a
kitchen, excellent sandy bottomed boat launching, and picnic shelters.
Chinese Cooking Classes:
Melissa has owned the Lotus Chinese Restaurant in Mukilteo Washington
for the last decade. She supervises the preparation of all main dishes
which include Hunan, Szechwan, and southern Chinese styles. She also
packages a line of cooking sauces under the name Melissa Mei’s Lotus
Kitchen.
After years of working in the kitchen and catering for private
parties, executive retreats, and company activities, Melissa decided to
offer fun and informative classes at her Camano Blossom Bed &
Breakfast on Camano Island. The classes are taught in the bed and breakfast
kitchen although there are plans to build a demonstration kitchen at a
later date.
Melissa's cooking classes will satisfy every Chinese culinary
curiosity. The focus is on showing you the "true spirit of love in
cooking" so that you can cook authentic tasting Chinese food
without needing to follow a specific recipe. A key philosophy in all
Asian style cooking is to use your senses and your heart when preparing
meals for the family. Melissa teaches a wide spectrum of no hassle,
easily prepared Chinese cooking. The emphasis is on healthy eating,
authenticity using only fresh ingredients, and ease of preparation.
Our hands-on classes are best enjoyed when combined with a stay at
the bed & breakfast. Every class features roll up your sleeves
preparation, working alongside Melissa, and then dining on your newly
learned skills. Don’t worry, we do the dishes.
Occasionally we offer a demonstration style class where you watch and
then enjoy samplings of the featured dishes.
Your Hosts:
Your innkeeper / owners enjoy pampering and feeding their guests.
Melissa has owned a Chinese restaurant in Mukilteo for the past 8
years and loves to cook and grow fresh herbs and vegetables.
Michael is a healthcare and education consultant, a history buff,
gardener, and avid boater.
