12 Unforgettable Things to do in Anacortes, WA

ferry to the islands, one of the best things to do in Anacortes WA

There are plenty of things to do in Anacortes, WA, though odds are most people just drive right through on their way to catch a ferry to the San Juan Islands. Unbeknownst to them, Anacortes has tons of hidden gems worth checking out.

Being just 1.5 hours from Seattle, Anacortes is one of my favorite day trips. It doesn’t get as much foot traffic as the islands, but it offers a lot of similar attractions, like whale watching, hiking, a fun downtown, and of course, tons of great places to eat.

If you’re curious about what to do in Anacortes, you’re in luck because I’ve come up with the perfect list of the best Anacortes activities, attractions, and must-visit restaurants!

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Things to do in Anacortes, WA

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Explore Washington Park

Washington Park, one of the best things to do in Anacortes

Washington Park is located on the westernmost point of the Anacortes peninsula, also known as Fidalgo Island. It’s a 220-acre park featuring camping, a boat launch, day-use picnic sites, and an easy 2.2-mile loop that guides you through the park’s forested hills and meadows with views of the nearby San Juan Islands and Olympic Mountains.

The park is free to enter, though there is a $34 camping fee and a $14 overnight parking fee. If you’re not in the hiking mood, there is a driving loop that offers epic sunset views.

Watch the ferries from the Guemes Channel Trail

woman watching the ferry on a trail that's one of the best things to do in Skagit County

The Guemes Channel Trail is an easy paved out-and-back path that hugs the coast of Fidalgo Island’s north shore, giving you prime access to watch the ferries travel back and forth.

There’s construction in place that will eventually connect the trail to Washington Park, allowing you to walk across the entire northern part of the island. But for now, it’s a relatively quiet, dog-friendly trail, perfect for catching sunsets or enjoying a coffee while people-watching.

Check out the Anacortes Farmers Market

website | get directions | fee: free | best for: local produce & live music

If you’re visiting on a Saturday, you can’t leave without checking out one of the best Anacortes attractions, the farmers market. It’s held every Saturday from May to October, and during the off-season, there are winter markets on the second Saturday of every January through April. You’ll find everything from live music to locally-grown produce, sauerkraut, and freshly baked bread, plus an array of handmade arts and crafts from local vendors.

Eat at Anacortes’ best restaurants

Being located close to Seattle in Skagit County, one of Washington’s prime agricultural areas, it’s unsurprising Anacortes would have a ton of great restaurants. Here are a few of my favorites.

Good Bagels NW

website | get directions | cuisine: bagels | price range: $

poppy seed bagel sandwich with lox and cream cheese

Being from the east coast, finding the best bagels in Seattle can be disheartening. But when I learned of Good Bagels NW, owned by a couple of New York natives, I knew it had to be good.

Now, I’m usually a purist when it comes to bagels, sticking to plain with cream cheese, but when I saw the array of flavors and options at Good Bagels, I opted for the lox. The balance of refreshing lemon flavor, thick cream cheese, and buttery lox is divine. Next time, I’ll be sure to stop by for lunch and try one of their impressive-looking sandwiches.

GERE-a-DELI

website | get directions | cuisine: sandwiches | price range: $$

Rueben sandwich from one of the best Skagit Valley restaurants

Located in a former 1920s bank, GERE-a-DELI is an Anacortes staple and easily one of the best restaurants in Skagit County. It’s constantly buzzing with locals and tourists alike who have learned through the grapevine of their delicious deli sandwiches.

My favorite sandwich is their Rueben, which comes with generous portions of juicy sliced meat and an addictively sweet and tangy mustard. If you’re hungry enough, their clam chowder pairs great. They also have a selection of hearty salads, and a couple of breakfast sandwiches offered all day.

Mad Hatter’s Ice Cream

website | get directions | cuisine: ice cream | price range: $

person holding soft serve vanilla ice cream, one of the best things to do in Anacortes WA

One of the best parts about visiting the farmers market is checking out Mad Hatter’s (open seasonally). They sell Washington-made Edaleen Dairy ice cream in all the classic flavors like cookies & cream, coffee, and coconut. I’m a sucker for their vanilla soft serve, which has the exact consistency of Dairy Queen but a much more natural and prominent vanilla flavor.

Taco Tecalitlan

website | get directions | cuisine: tacos | price range: $

platter of street tacos from one of the best restaurants in Skagit County

Taco Tecalitlan is a taco truck with three locations around Skagit County. They serve a variety of authentic street tacos, which you can mix and match to your heart’s content. They also have a selection of packaged Mexican snacks, which you can take with you and enjoy later.

One person can easily eat a tray of six tacos because they’re small street style tortillas. Mix and match the meats, but make sure the carne asada, birria, shrimp, and adobada are part of your order.

Calico Cupboard

website | get directions | cuisine: breakfast | price range: $$

Calico is a popular breakfast spot with multiple locations around Skagit County. They serve generous portions of American diner classics in a cozy, grandma-esque space.

Savory-wise, their corned beef hash is the way to go. The meat is perfectly seasoned and incredibly juicy, and their potatoes are one of the best things on their menu, so picking a dish with potatoes as the base is the way to go.

That said, you can’t leave without trying their cinnamon rolls. These things are massive, and during the holidays, you can order them in apple or pumpkin pie flavors. They sell out fast, so order as soon as you sit down and ask them to warm it up!

Dad’s Diner

website | get directions | cuisine: breakfast diner | price range: $$

Dad’s is another beloved breakfast/diner spot favored by locals. They serve up classic dishes like eggs benny and chorizo hash alongside more funky dishes like Korean street toast, which comes with griddled French bread, jalapeño raspberry coulis, soft egg scramble, ham, scallions, ketchup, pepper jack, and Kewpie mayo.

Keep in mind service can be a bit slow, but you can add your name to the waitlist via the QR code on the sign and kill time strolling through the shops in downtown Anacortes while you wait.

Harbin Dumplings

website | get directions | cuisine: Chinese | price range: $

person dipping a dumpling into soy sauce

Harbin is a Chinese food truck parked alongside the marina serving Chinese comfort foods like dumplings, potstickers, and noodle soup. Their dumplings are addictive and filled to the brim with juicy meat. They’re so good I forgot even to try them in the sauce.

This ended up being a good thing because I wasn’t crazy about their spicy soy sauce since it had a rather intense cayenne heat to it. That said, I’m sure the dumplings would only taste better if you tried them with regular soy sauce.

M&C BBQ

website | get directions | cuisine: BBQ | price range: $$

M&C is another can’t-miss food truck located next to Harbin Dumplings. Steve is the owner, and he’s always there, beaming smiles and offering fantastic hospitality. My favorite dish was by far the brisket ends, which had an amazing texture and rich layered flavor. The cowboy beans make the perfect side dish, though they’re honestly hearty and flavorful enough to enjoy alone.

Adrift Restaurant

website | get directions | cuisine: burgers & seafood | price range: $$

We didn’t get the chance to visit Adrift the last time we went to Anacortes, but it’s high on my list to try next. They specialize in fresh seafood with locally sourced ingredients served in a laid-back diner atmosphere. Literally everyone I know recommends this place.

While they do have a few burgers and other land fare on their menu, this is a seafood-heavy spot. That said, they have some all-day brunch offerings and a small but interesting selection of vegan and gluten-free items.

A’town bistro

website | get directions | cuisine: farm to table | price range: $$$

A’town is one of the swankier spots in Anacortes, but it’s worth the splurge if you want a unique farm-to-table experience. They have a seasonally rotating menu with an eclectic theme that’s hard to pin down, in a good way!

From wild boar ragu to paella, branzino, and made-to-order clam chowder, they manage to execute a variety of cuisines very well. They also have a curated cocktail menu that’s equally as complex and exciting.

Nonna Luisa Ristorante

website | get directions | cuisine: Italian | price range: $$

Nonna is another spot that’s high on my list to try the next time we’re in town because everyone recommends it. They serve Italian classics but emphasize the fresh seafood readily available, as evident by their lengthy specials board featuring dishes like lobster ravioli in lemon cream sauce and risotto with crab bisque.

Check out the downtown shops

I can never resist exploring the downtown of a new city, and Anacortes is no exception. Most of the cute shops and restaurants lie along Commercial Avenue. Here, you’ll find everything from bookstores to vintage shops and thrift stores. Here are some worth checking out:

Pacific Northwest Thrift Shop – Reasonably-priced vintage and lightly-used clothes
Alley Cat Antiques – Curated antiques and vintage finds.
The Business – Record store with a variety of well-known and obscure artists
Watermark Book Company – Classic independent bookstore with a huge selection
The Shabby French Market – Antique furniture store full of refurbished pieces

Pro tip: If you’re into historic buildings, the Anacortes Museum published this 1.5 hour walking tour of downtown that you can take while you shop!

Take in the views from Mt. Erie

website | get directions | fee: free | best for: viewpoint

woman enjoying view of water from a mountaintop

Mount Erie Park is a 160-acre city park featuring a variety of hikes, most notably Mt. Erie’s summit, the highest point on Fidalgo Island. The hike to the summit is challenging and involves a fair bit of coordination, as there are a lot of twists and turns. Luckily, there’s a paved road that lets you drive right to the top and offers multiple viewpoints of the surrounding islands.

If you are interested in hiking to the summit, you have a few options for how to get there. This 3.6-mile hike up the flank of Sugarloaf is one of the more straightforward paths.

Like rock climbing? You can take rock climbing lessons on Mt. Erie!

Hike to Whistle Lake from Mt. Erie

Whistler Lake and Sugarloaf are two equally popular hiking spots along Mt. Erie Park. This hike is moderately challenging but offers well-maintained paths with gorgeous views of Whistler Lake and the surrounding mountains.

Hike Sugarloaf Mountain and Mount Erie Loop Trail

Sugarloaf Mountain may not be as tall as Mt. Erie, but it’s quite a bit easier, and the summit is less confusing. There’s also no parking lot at the top, so you’ll still get a majestic view and a good workout without all the car traffic.

Explore Deception Pass State Park

website | get directions | fee: $5/day or free with Discover Pass | best for: Deception Pass viewpoint

woman sitting on rock at Deception Pass Bridge, one of the best things to do in Skagit County, Washington

Deception Pass State Park is easily on the top of everyone’s Anacortes “things to do list.” That’s because within the park is right around Deception Pass, one of the most photographed places in Washington state.

Deception Pass encompasses the straight path between Fidalgo Island, Whidbey Island, and the picturesque bridge that connects the two. There’s parking on either side of the bridge and a pedestrian bridge to walk across it. You can even follow the trail to get under the bridge, but be mindful while walking since the path can get slippery when wet.

There are a lot of easy-to-moderate trails sprinkled around the state park, like the lightly trafficked Rosario Head Trail that offers stunning coastline views for a mere 1.5-mile out-and-back hike.

If you’re up for a longer journey, this 4.8-mile hike to Lighthouse Point and Lottie Point via the Rosario Head Trail is quiet and offers up the perfect trio: picturesque blue water, lush forest, and beach views.

Have fun at the local festivals

Skagit County’s yearly Tulip Festival gets all cred as the big event in the area, but Anacortes has plenty of family-friendly festivals worth marking on your calendar. Here are a few to add to your list.

Anacortes Art Festival

website | get directions | fee: free | best for: local artists & live music

If there’s one festival Anacortes is best known for, it would be their Art Festival. It’s Anacortes’ longest-running festival, taking place the first weekend in August.

The Festival stretches down Commercial Ave from 10th Street to the Port dock on the Guemes Channel waterfront. Along the way, you’ll check out dozens of local artists, live music, and artists displaying their crafts. There are also several beer and wine gardens, food trucks, and vendors.

If you’re coming this weekend, I’d recommend staying close to town so you can walk over (parking is a nightmare) and spend the day checking out one of the biggest art festivals in Washington state.

Anacortes Waterfront Festival

website | get directions | fee: free | best for: waterfront activities

The Anacortes Waterfront Festival takes place the first weekend in June, where the best of the best waterfront activities are showcased. There’s a live boat-building contest, free boat rides provided by the Anacortes Yacht Club, hands-on children’s activities, and a pirate ship display. Oh, and of course, tons of food vendors and live music.

Go whale watching or take a boat tour

If you’re traveling to Anacortes or the San Juan Islands from April to October, whale watching is one of the top Anacortes activities. That’s because orca whales migrate through these waters during salmon season. Depending on when you go, you might even catch some gray whales, humpbacks, or minke whales.

Here’s a link to one of the most popular whale watching tours from Anacortes. If you want more adventure, here’s an Anacortes whale watching tour on a high-speed Zodiac boat!

Try your hand at kayaking

kayaks on the shore of Deception Pass beach

I absolutely love kayaking, as I find the paddling to be soothing and the views from the water unbeatable. Given the area is surrounded by water, one of the best things to do in Anacortes is to explore it from a kayak!

You can take a guided kayak tour of Deception Pass. Or if you want to go at your own pace, rent kayaks or paddle boards from Blue Otter.