Anacortes
Anacortes is a short hour to hour and a half drive north of Seattle. It's a beautiful place for a relaxing weekend of strolling along its many beaches and waterfront; exploring tidepools; chartering a boat for guided tours of the straits and inland passages, islands and whale watching; enjoying fine dining; camping or picnicking near the shore; bicycling or hiking its many miles of wooded areas and groomed trails; and touring the town to view the many outdoor murals depicting historic scenes of Anacortes. For added flavor, there are festivals throughout the year, among them:
Skagit County Tulip Festival (April)
Anacortes Waterfront Festival and Boat Show (May)
Salmon Barbecue (August)
Skagit County Fair in Mount Vernon (Fall)
Community Boat Parade and Bonfire (December)
Anacortes itself is known as a "City of Parks". Some of the most beautiful of Anacortes' parks are the 220-acre Washington Park and its acres and acres of undeveloped woods through which wind scenic foot trails, and Cap Sante Park on Fidalgo Island's northern tip, where you can catch beautiful vistas of Anacortes, the marina, the distant snow-capped mountains and the many islands of the San Juans. Climb atop Mt. Erie at Mt. Erie Park, Anacortes' highest peak at 1300 feet. Surrounding this park are 1400 acres of forest, numerous trails, and at the top a fantastic 360-degree vista of some of the spectacular and unique scenery that Anacortes has to offer.
Anacortes is surrounded by beautiful, glistening water, and is thereby a seafaring town. There are five major marinas at Anacortes, some offering boat charters and kayak rentals. Besides ferrying to the San Juan Islands, enjoy a brief ferry ride on the "Guemes Ghost" to beautiful Guemes Island (pronounced GWEE-mess).
How to get to Anacortes
Anacortes has five marinas to accommodate visitors arriving by private boat.
Anacortes has a small airport located 2 miles west of the city cent. Pilots can obtain information by calling 1-800-874-4434.
By car, Anacortes is easily accessible from I-5. Take Exit 230 at Burlington and drive west on Highway 20, following signs to Anacortes.
Always know, however, no matter what your plans are or how confusing the ferry schedule to the islands can be, you're always welcome to kick back and enjoy the sights, sounds and relaxing atmosphere of Anacortes.
Northwest Region of Washington State
accommodations
Anacortes, on Fidalgo Island, is a quiet but beautifully scenic port town. It has long been renowned as a gateway to the San Juan Islands, but there is so much to see and do in Anacortes and the surrounding area that it seems a shame to dismiss the place as merely a way to get somewhere else.
This festival features 1,500 acres of spring flowers and several fun, family-oriented events such as music, art and tours. Anacortes in an excellent place to stay to enjoy this festival, located just a short ¾ hour drive east of La Conner.
A free family-oriented festival located at the Port of Anacortes' Cap Sante Boat Haven. The festival usually features live entertainment, nautical exhibits, food booths, activities for children, a car show and regatta.
Fresh salmon, chicken and ribs cooking over an open-pit alder fire is a delicious and fun annual community event.
Exhibits, animals, carnival rides and sideshows, vendors – all the lively fun of a traditional county fair located just 30 minutes east of Anacortes.
Each December brings the lovely Community Boat Parade. After the lighted parade of festively decorated boats, enjoy the evening bonfire with caroling and hot cider at Guemes Ferry Dock.
Average temperature in Anacortes
winter
spring
summer
fall
38-54 °F
42-63 °F
52-73 °F
47-74 °F
A Brief History
Fidalgo Island was first settled in the 1850s by Native Americans who were drawn by its beauty and practicality as a land for fishing and agriculture. Swinomish (pronounced "SWINN-oh-mish") Indian Reservation was established soon after in 1873. The town of Anacortes was established by Amos Bowman, a geologist and cartographer. He arrived in the area in 1876 and a year later set up the first post office. He named the post office after his wife, Anna Curtis. There is some speculation that the name of this small settlement, formerly Ship Harbor, was later changed to Anacortes, or Ana Cortez, to correspond to the other Spanish names in the area, including San Juan and Fidalgo Island itself. By 1891, Anacortes was a fully established community with its own thriving businesses and services. Today, Anacortes is the second largest city in Skagit County and is still a safe harbor for modern sailors and yachtsmen.
Getting to Anacortes is easy. Most people visiting here come by passenger vehicle via Highway 20 or one of three ferry routes. Take Highway 20 from I-5 at Burlington (about one hour north of Seattle) or drive up from Whidbey Island across beautiful Deception Pass. The Washington State Ferries accommodate cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, bicycles and foot traffic. Ferries arrive directly at Anacortes from Sidney B.C. through the San Juan Islands. Ferries arrive on Whidbey Island from Port Townsend (on the Olympic Peninsula) and from Mukilteo (15 minutes north of Seattle). The ferry port at Anacortes is located just a few miles from the city center.
Distances to Anacortes
80 miles from Seattle
360 miles from Spokane
255 miles from Portland, Or
90 miles from Vancouver, BC
Sailing off to the San Juan Islands from Anacortes
If by chance your plans do include the San Juan Islands, there are several things you should know to make your trip a pleasant and comfortable one. First, know that overnight accommodations on the San Juan Islands is limited. Advance reservations are highly recommended, otherwise you'll find yourself back in the long ferry line for an unexpected trip back to the "mainland". Space on the ferries is apportioned to the various San Juan island destinations. The Washington State Ferries Assoc. recommends that you arrive one hour in advance during weekdays and two hours in advance on Fridays and Saturdays. Peak departure times to the San Juans are between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. weekdays. Ferry reservations are recommended when sailing from Anacortes to the San Juans or Sidney B.C. (In fact, reservations are required when traveling from the San Juans to Sidney.) Ferry reservations can be made in advance by calling (206) 464-6400 from Seattle or 1-888-808-7977 from other parts of Washington State.
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