From shopping and music to beaches and forests, Fidalgo Island has all you need
Anacortes is a small town full of art and vitality. Breathe in the salty air on the busy waterfront and enjoy the rocky beaches, a bustling downtown shopping district, lively annual festivals and 50 miles of multi-use trails.
Surrounded by water, this destination has been historically a maritime city. Located on Fidalgo Island, Anacortes is connected to the mainland by a bridge over the Swinomish Channel. It is the gateway to the San Juan islands via the Washington state ferry system. Amid the revolving cast of ferry goers, Anacortes maintains a population of around 18,000.
Opportunities for boating, camping and hiking are plentiful and visitors seeking to connect with nature will have no shortage of activity choices. Seafarers’ Memorial Park is a favorite launch spot amongst locals. The peninsula on the western edge of the island is home to Washington Park, a 220-acre city park with beaches, a boat launch, campsites and a playground.
Whale watching tour companies, fishing charters, and boat rentals are readily available should visitors find themselves called to the sea. The Cap Sante Marina has over 100 berths for guest moorage along with repair facilities, fuel docks and complimentary bicycles (seasonally), all just blocks from downtown.
While the town’s water access is breathtaking, the forests surrounding Anacortes are just as notable. Anacortes Community Forest Lands is comprised of 2,950 acres of woods, wetlands, lakes and meadows, all within city limits. The rocky dome of Mt. Erie and idyllic Heart Lake are some extraordinary woodland gems. Mt. Erie’s summit offers a spectacular view of the San Juan Islands, and the 1,273-foot peak is accessible by both car and by foot. For hikers, a map is a must, as the trails tend to intertwine. Maps are available online and at nearby businesses.
Downtown, visitors will find murals from the Anacortes Mural Project lining the red brick buildings, antique shops, restaurants, marine supply stores and bookshops up and down Commercial Street. Life-sized murals of characters from Anacortes’ past add splashes of color to the city center. Stroll past paintings of turn-of-the-century luminaries such as Anne and Tommy Thompson, who founded the Anacortes Railway. Muralist, Bill Mitchell, who passed away in 2019, is depicted on O Avenue. Mitchell gave back to the city in many ways, from his ambitious mural project to collecting town history and working to save historic buildings.
Local music and nightlife energize the downtown area as the sun sets over the water. Dining options range from delis and pizzerias to upscale seafood restaurants.
Anacortes hosts a varied menu of festivals throughout the year. The Anacortes Arts Festival, held in downtown Anacortes from August 1-3, 2025, has celebrated art in Anacortes since 1962. The festival features nearly nonstop music performances, beer gardens, as well as artists and craftspeople displaying sculptures, textile art, jewelry, photography, paintings and more. The Anacortes Waterfront Festival takes place June 7-8, 2025 is free and family-friendly with children’s toy boat building, free boat rides, a quick and dirty team boat-building competition, a car show and much more.
Whether Anacortes is the destination, or a waypoint on the way to catching a ferry into the great beyond, the fresh air, bold murals, charming shops and natural beauty promise to relax and refresh all who pass through.
For more information, visit anacortes.org.
