Pinwheel Bakery, Ferndale

Tucked in a small, but cheerfully yellow shop in Ferndale's downtown, this independent bakery is satisfying the locals' need for both sugar and sustenance. In the sugar category, Pinwheel Bakery takes cookie decoration to an art form with outrageous and decadent (and delicious) designs. International cookies are a specialty, but they make sugar cookies, too, and the cakes and other delights aren't so bad, either. In the sustenance area, the bakery churns out delicious sandwiches for the lunch crowd here also. Gourmet coffee drinks round out the experience. This bakery is especially kid friendly, with books and other distractions for the little ones. - Karen Hunt