Like most places Samish Island and the greater Skagit Valley are home to a linguistic feast of "local lingo." Here are a few choice selections to help you get around without a local translator!

"the valley" - the entire Skagit Valley from snow capped mountain peaks to the sea."

"the skagit" - normally this refers to "The Skagit River."
This may also refer to "The Skagit" a local casino in northern Skagit County.

"the north fork" - this refers to the north fork of the Skagit river.

"the south fork" - this refers to the south fork of the Skagit river.

"the samish" - normally this refers to the Samish River which winds it's way through the farmlands just outside the town of Edison.

"the flats" - the skagit river delta, a broad swath of rich alluvial soil dotted with small family farms.

"sack" - the "sack" you put your groceries, clothes, car parts or anything else in at the store. If you are from the eastern USA this is a "bag."

"up river" - this refers to geographic areas east of Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County.

"up river folks" or "down river folks"- this refers to the perceived demographic and social distinctions between up river and down river populations.

"east side" as in "over on the east side" or "on the east side."
This refers to everything east of the north-south Cascade Mountain crest in Washington State.

"concrete" - the name of a delightful "up river" town that hosts the annual Upriver Bald Eagle Festival and is home to a very good Cajun restaurant.

"woolley" - local linguistic shorthand for the town of Sedro-Woolley

"sedro woolley" - a great little town east of Samish Island and the "gateway" to the north cascades" Historically, three adjacent small towns Sedro, Woolley and Bug merged to form Sedro-Woolley (note the hyphen!). Bug was left out of the name.