Anacortes

Laid-back, friendly and hard-working, Anacortes consistently finds itself on national “Best of” lists. Yet this historic port town of 16,400, with its down-home ambience, uptown amenities and mild climate, remains one of the best-kept secrets in the Pacific Northwest. An easy drive from Interstate-5, the city covers the north shore of Fidalgo Island, a drive-on island that links to the fertile Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island by bridge, and to the San Juan Islands and Victoria, B.C., by ferry. Thanks to a neat trick of geography, Anacortes is often sunny and dry when Seattle, 80 miles to the south, is gray and wet.

Nature lovers call the island city Nirvana. It has more than 3,200 acres of city-owned forestland and parks for hiking, 12 ½ miles of saltwater shoreline, a fly-fishing freshwater lake and six boat marinas that serve more than 2,000 sail and cruising boats. The breathtaking 360-degree views atop Mount Erie take in Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountain range and the snow-capped peaks of Canada’s Coast Mountain Range.

Ferry Schedule (Anacortes to the San Juan Islands)

Calendar of Events

Getting to Anacortes and San Juan Passage.