Anacortes & the San Juans
Slow down to island time

Getting There: Take Exit 230 off I-5 and travel west. Ferries from Anacortes to and from the San Juan islands and Victoria, B.C. run on a regular basis.

The perfect place to begin your readjustment to vacation time. Often rushed through on the way to the ferries, Anacortes has plenty to offer travelers with time on their hands and the sense to use it wisely.

To get the lay of the land, drive or bike to the 1,300 foot summit of Mt. Erie towering over Anacortes. From here, you can survey the four points of the compass and congratulate yourself for picking a Northwest paradise to visit. Notice all the new homes going up on your drive? Software gazzillionaires from Seattle and points south have discovered the area.

The historic downtown is painted with murals capturing moments of the past. Further north on Commercial Avenue, the dock area is a bustling mecca of fishing vessels, boatyards and shipbuilding enterprises. Take a gander through the historic Anacortes Marine Supply Hardware store (1913) – it’s the best store of its kind, bar none.

Restaurants and friendly inns are plentiful so don’t be in a rush to get to other places. Recreational activities abound – whalewatching tours, hiking, biking, scuba diving, fishing, beachcombing, boating, kayaking – you’re limited only by your imagination.

Ready for something new? The San Juan islands are part of an archipelago extending into Canadian waters. In all, including the Canadian Gulf Islands, there are over 450 islands at high tide. Each of the San Juans has its own atmosphere and attractions. San Juan Island, for instance, has the yacht mecca Roche Harbor as well as the British and American Camps where the Pig War took place way back in 1859. It’s a little bit of history all the more beguiling for its inherent silliness. Make bacon, not war after all.

Don’t miss:
• A drive or bike ride up Mt. Erie for a 360 degree view of the area.
• A drive out to the dramatic narrows that Captain George Vancouver named Deception Pass.
•Renting a bike for a leisurely ride through town.

Events in Anacortes & the San Juans

Anacortes

May – October 11:Farmer’s Market 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., 7th St. & R Ave
June 7: 16th Annual Kids All American Fishing Derby
July 4: Anacortes July 4th Celebration. Parade 11 a.m. 3rd & Commercial; fireworks over Fidalgo Bay at dusk
July 12: Anacortes Kids-R-Best Fest
July 19 & 20: 28th Annual Anacortes Shipwreck Day Flea Market
July 25 – 27: An-O-Chords 52nd Annual Barbershop Show & Salmon BBQ
August 1 – 3: Anacortes Arts Festival
August 30 – September 1: Jazz Festival
September 6: 10th Annual Sk8 Fest. Three levels of skate boarding competition

San Juan Islands
June 7 & 8: 17th Annual San Juan Island Artists Open Studio Tour
July 19 & 20: Friday Harbor Summer Arts Fair

La Conner
August 7: 104th Annual Pioneer Picnic