Explore, and Discover all the things to do in Anacortes

There are so many things to do in Anacortes! Surrounded by water, but accessible by bridges, Anacortes is the Home Port of the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Located on beautiful Fidalgo Island, Anacortes is conveniently situated between Seattle and Vancouver BC and is the favored departure point for the San Juan Islands. No ferry hassles are necessary, just drive off of the mainland and discover how many things to do there are in Anacortes and the rest of this beautiful island!

Get to know our vibrant Old Town. With great restaurants, fun little shops, antique stores, and art galleries, you won't run out of things to do in Anacortes. After browsing for local artwork or visiting the Farmer's Market grab a handmade sandwich at Gere-A-Deli and head for the forest! You won't want to miss out on what truly sets Fidalgo island apart from the other San Juan Islands.

The beating heart of Fidalgo Island is the 2800 acre Anacortes Community Forest Lands. Within this protected forest lies over 50 miles of trails, 4 beautiful lakes, and lush groves of old-growth trees. You will have a hard time running out of things to do in the Anacortes forest lands. Visitors can obtain maps of the trails within the ACFL to guide them to some beautiful vistas and quiet shorelines. Make sure to ask us when you check in for your tour and we will give you our own local knowledge of the best places to go and the best things to do while exploring the Anacortes forest.

In addition to the Anacortes Community Forest Lands we also have the 4134 acre Deception Pass State Park, the most popular park in Washington State. Outstanding shorelines (77,000 feet bordering the sea; 33,900 feet of freshwater) can be accessed by miles of well-maintained trails.

Of course, visitors to Washington State come here to the San Juan Islands for the seaside activities, and Anacortes has plenty of things to do! In addition to our award winning sea kayak adventures, visitors can rent their own stand up paddleboards or recreational kayaks and explore quiet bays and coves. There are quiet pocket beaches, perfect for picnicking or watching the Sun setting over the San Juan Islands. Look for whales from the rocky shorelines of Washington Park or hop on our world-class whale-watching boat, the Island Explorer 5. Take the short ferry ride to Guemes Island and enjoy a drive through a pastoral landscape with a marine backdrop.

With no San Juan ferry hassles, affordable lodging, delicious dining, and enough wild nature to satisfy the most enthusiastic explorers for days there is no need to travel any further than Anacortes to find things to do on your visit to the islands. Whether you are planning a day trip or a longer vacation, there are plenty of fun things to do in Anacortes. Come and see for yourself why savvy travelers choose Anacortes for their San Juan Islands vacation!