One of the major boating meccas of the Pacific Northwest, Anacortes, Washington, about half-way between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, is both a great place to start a cruise as well as a destination in its own right. On the northern tip of Fidalgo Island, Anacortes provides a straight shot over to the San Juan Islands to the west, and is a favorite spot for cruising people, whale watching and kayaking. Its huge (950 slip), newly refreshed Cap Sante Marina, operated by the port, has at least 150 transient slips, and is only a two-block walk from the colorful downtown area, filled with large murals, coffee shops, art galleries and a variety of restaurants.
Anacortes also has weather in its favor. It’s in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, so it gets only 21 inches of rain a year, half as much as Seattle. And it celebrates the outdoors, with a 220-acre park with views of the San Juans, and year-round festivals. The Spring Wine Festival is on Saturday, April 7, with offerings from 30 wineries; there’s the Bark in the Park with a pet parade in June, a parade and fireworks on the Fourth of July, and Bier on the Pier in October.
For a great story about what to do in Anacortes, see this feature from Sea magazine below:
