Mount Vernon is an incredible place to live, work, play and visit! Halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, Mount Vernon is a great stopping place on your road trip, or a wonderful place to spend a day. Downtown Mount Vernon is an accredited Main Street America Community, meaning they are focused on preservation-based development: keeping the small town feel while encouraging economic growth. If you haven’t done so recently, you may be surprised at all the fun things to do in Mount Vernon, Washington! Here is a list to help you plan your visit.
Go Antiquing
Downtown Mount Vernon is a great place to find vintage jewelry, authentic furniture and other treasures. If you love to go antiquing, this is definitely a good place to spend the day. You can find a lot of antique and vintage stores, including Lost in the Groove, a record store that carries vinyl, 8-track, jukeboxes and more, along 1st Street. Park your car and mosey down the blocks to get a good look at each store, each with their own unique treasures. From the Stamp & Coin Place, for those into rare and unique stamps and coins, to Babe Rainbow Antiques that has been accumulating items for over 40 years, you are sure to find something for your collection.
A bit off the main drag, past W Division Street, you won’t want to miss the Red Door Antique Mall. They have all kinds of things from vintage clothing and decor to kitchenware and furniture. With over 4,000-square-feet of antiques from over 20 vendors, It’s definitely worth a visit.
Play at an Indoor Amusement Park
Sometimes you may be visiting when the weather is not the best, either too cold or too hot. If that’s the case, and you want to escape indoors for some fun for the kids, check out Jungle Playland. This unique indoor amusement park in Mount Vernon is actually a nonprofit. They are part of the First Baptist Church Family and Children’s Ministry Vision. The park includes a triple waterfall slide, Tarzan swing, climbing rock walls, and a ball pit, as well as three stories of soft play equipment. You can drive a jungle jeep, play arcade games or ride a lion!
Stroll the Two-Mile Skagit Riverwalk
The two-mile Skagit Riverwalk is located in the heart of downtown Mount Vernon between Gates Street, First Street, Myrtle Street and the Skagit River. The 24-foot wide paved walk way is perfect for you to stroll down while admiring the beauty of the river and the quaintness of Mount Vernon. There are picnic tables around the park, so you can bring a meal with you and sit awhile. Be sure to check out the Tulip Dance Sculpture while there.
Ride a Horse
If you are looking for an exciting memory and a way to really take in nature, horseback riding in Mount Vernon is a great choice. Lang’s Horse and Pony Farm has been hitting the trails since 1975, so they know how to make it a good ride, for any level of rider. Take a guided ride out on over 300 acres of forestland. Choose from a short pony ride for the kids to a longer mountain or sunset and fire ride. No experience is necessary and anyone over the age of 3-years-old can ride. Choose from group rides or, have a romantic outing on a private guided ride. Always call 360-424-7630 in advanced to make reservations and rides are weather permitting.
Visit the Lincoln Theatre
The historic Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon is a great place to go on any visit. It’s fun to check out the Wurlitzer organ, vintage signage and history of this landmark, which is almost 100 years old. Time your visit with one of their events and have a truly special memory to take home with you. Visit the Lincoln Theatre website to learn about upcoming events, including showings of classic movies as well as modern releases.
Find Something to Eat
When you get hungry from all your activities, you don’t have to go far to find a great meal. Downtown Mount Vernon has over 20 restaurants, which means you are sure to find something your entire group will love. If you are in the mood for award-winning from-scratch dishes, try the Calico Cupboard. If authentic Mexican food that is handcrafted is more your flavor, than Catrina Tacos & Tequila may be a good place to stop. Those looking to wash down their meal with local beer should check out the Skagit River Brewery, Trumpeter Public House (which has a world renown gluten free menu as well), Empire Ale House or Valley Shine Distillery. May you would like to sit back and relax with a cup of tea, the Olde Town Grainery Tea Room is happy to welcome you in that case. And those looking for healthy, fresh vegetarian options should check Shmabala Bakery and Bistro. With so many restaurants in Mount Vernon—from Italian to Thai—you are sure to find a tasty dish that will fill your belly.
