breazeale interpretive center

productive nature trail where a slow walker can find a nice variety of birds. it has a small museum in the center with excellent aquariums and interactive exhibits. Big meeting rooms offer the community an opportunity to meet on all kinds of topics. Excellent school programs for thousands of school kids. Excellent staff run the place.

My tween-age grandkids really enjoyed this. Enough science and information for me as well, and a great way to learn about the local environs.

I was surprised by how large and informative this center is about the local waterways. Good exhibits.

We will often (4-5 times a year) drive from Seattle to Padilla Bay for the walk along the dike. The northern end of the trail is about one and a half miles south of the Interpretive Center and the trail just over two miles long. We find parking and access easiest at the south end of the trail.From Seattle, driving north on I-5, we exit the freeway at the Arlington exit and head west towards Silvana. We drive through Silvana (with a stop at Silvana Meats) driving north past Stanwood on the Pioneer Highway and turn left at Conway. This route takes you across Fir Island (Snow Goose Fruit stand) and through Ritzville (they roast their own coffee at the store). Once we're in the Skagit Valley we make a jog to the next road to the west (La Conner Whitney Rd) which can be done at Highway 20. From Highway 20 La Conner Whitney changes to Bayview Edison Rd. and the southern end of the dike trail is just about a mile north of Highway 20.

The Breazeal Interpretive Center offers a hands and ears and eyes-on way to learn about Padilla Bay and the wildlife that live in and around it. The beautiful modern building that also hosts great classes and lectures, is located with a lovely view looking west over the Bay. A great place to start a day and then wander the surrounding beach and countryside looking for the wildlife you have learned about--Great Blue Herons in the nearby rookery, raptors looking for their next meal, song birds and other wild life.