Anacortes Visitors Guide 2018

ANACORTES Visitors and Newcomers Guide to a Special City and Island in Northwest Washington

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SKAGIT PUBLISHING

anacortesvisitor.com

A supplement to the Anacortes American

Welcome to Anacortes W

elcome to Anacortes, a city with a certain small-town coastal charm nestled on beautiful Fidalgo Island, surrounded by water the shade of sparkling sapphires on sunny days and featuring some of the most stunning sunsets seen anywhere.

This town has so much to offer it’s no wonder visitors often come back to stay.

Anacortes residents are proud of the island’s natural beauty, protected community forest, abundant recreation, quaint and walkable downtown, large art and music scene and stillactive working waterfront.

The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce says “Experience Anacortes, your island getaway,” because Anacortes is a destination to many for a weekend or an afternoon of fun. Some people find it on their way to visit other islands, but Anacortes and all of Fidalgo Island stand as more than just a gateway to the other San Juan Islands.

The water is central to life on the island, offering much of the work, play and other opportunities that people 2

here experience. There is whale watching, kayaking, boating, fishing and more; just steps from a comfortably busy downtown retail district.

With almost 3,000 acres preserved as forest lands, there is plenty of room right in the middle of town for hiking, biking and horseback riding. More than 50 miles of trails stretch throughout the island, with easy-to-access trailheads scattered throughout.

Anacortes is known for its arts community, and its annual arts festival brings in about 100,000 people every August. The town also features several galleries and various types of public art, including murals and sculptures, in numerous places.

An art walk on the first Friday evening of each month gives exposure to local artists and businesses, as downtown stores open their doors late as hosts to art lovers.

Though probably the largest, the Anacortes Arts Festival is only one of several that draw residents and guests each year.

Festivals begin in spring with the Waterfront Festival and continue with

celebrations of children, pets, wine and beer and ultimately motorcycles and oysters to mark the end of summer.

Residents always turn out in force for the Fourth of July and Christmas festivities, both of which include parades through downtown that require no invitation to join. The July 4th celebration starts with a town photo in the morning, a parade, a program to honor Independence Day, an evening outdoor concert and finally fireworks to finish the night.

The Christmas season features a “Coastal Christmas” theme including a crab pot Christmas tree, a parade, breakfast with Santa, a gingerbread house contest, horse-and-buggy rides, decorations in the park and more.

The historic downtown area of Anacortes has restaurants, lots of shops and places to check out antiques or get a cup of coffee, as well as murals of colorful people from Anacortes’ past.

The museum, library, marina esplanade and a historic snagboat are all within easy walking distance.

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Table of contents While you’re here ............................................................................................. 4 Recreation ....................................................................................................... 5 Viewpoints ....................................................................................................... 9 Arts ................................................................................................................ 10 Murals ............................................................................................................ 12 Museums ........................................................................................................ 13 Weather ......................................................................................................... 14 Farmers market .............................................................................................. 15 Anacortes map ............................................................................................... 16 Fidalgo Island map ......................................................................................... 18 Calendar of events .......................................................................................... 19 History ........................................................................................................... 22 Tribes ............................................................................................................. 23 Guemes Island ................................................................................................ 24 Did you know? ................................................................................................ 25 Anacortes today ............................................................................................. 26

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While you’re here T

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here is plenty to do, see and experience in Anacortes and the rest of Fidalgo Island.

Stroll the docks at Cap Sante Marina, walk the Tommy Thompson Trail, check out the boats and pick up some fresh seafood in season.

In spring and summer, the Anacortes Farmers Market offers fresh produce, tasty cooked food and artisan crafts of all kinds. During the late fall and winter months, the market is only open once a month.

The summer season (featuring markets every Saturday) starts May 5 and ends Oct. 27.

Next to the market is the W.T. Preston snagboat and the adjacent Maritime Heritage Center, both part of the Anacortes Museum, a treat in itself. You can tour the snagboat during summer, and the museum is open year-round.

Anacortes is known for its shops selling specialty, vintage, upcycled

and thrift items. There are bookstores, music stores and locally owned boutiques. Lining the streets are also a wide range of taverns and dining options, more than might be seen in most small towns.

Cap Sante, just a short drive from the heart of downtown Anacortes, offers breathtaking views and a place to see the city. On the way, you’ll catch sight of Dakota Creek Industries on the Guemes Channel, where workers are typically building or repairing ships or ferries.

Some 2,800 acres of Anacortes Community Forest Lands offer numerous trails to walk and hike through as those going through enjoy the nature that Fidalgo Island has to offer.

This is an island, after all. So make sure to check out the water via fishing, whale watching or a ferry ride to the San Juan Islands or a 3-minute ride to nearby Guemes Island just across the channel.

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Recreation A

nacortes has more than the average city’s share of forests and parks, a point of pride to the city’s residents.

Take a quiet drive around the loop at Washington Park, enjoy a picnic in the sun by the Guemes Channel or at Fidalgo Bay, ride a bicycle or walk a dog on the Tommy Thompson Parkway or take the children to play on the large play structures that community members built with their own hands at Storvik Park.

Forest lands T

he Anacortes Community Forest Lands encompass 2,800 acres preserved forever from development under a conservation easement program overseen by the city, Skagit Land Trust and the nonprofit Friends of the Forest.

Those acres include forest lands, meadows, wetlands, Mount Erie, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Cranberry, Whistle and Heart lakes. The 50 miles of trails in the Forest Lands accommodate hikers, bicyclists and horse riders. A limited number of trails are open to two-wheeled motorcycles during the warmer months. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.

Color trail maps on water-resistant paper are available at City Hall, 904 Sixth St., and at the Visitor Information Center, 819 Commercial Ave. Suite A. Electronic versions are on the city’s website, www.anacorteswa.gov.

ce of Hearts Rotary Park, 38th Street and H Avenue.

This combination Little League field and off-leash dog park has a watering station, wash-off hose and a separate fenced area for smaller dogs.

Ben Root Skate Park, 2313 R Ave. in the Alice Parchman Newland Park.

This 7,500-square-foot concrete skate area has lights, seating and nearby restrooms.

Cap Sante Park, 1000 W Ave. A 37-acre forested area at the top of Cap Sante makes up this park on the north-

east corner of Fidalgo Island. The park offers views of Anacortes, Fidalgo Bay, March Point and the surrounding area.

Causland Memorial Park, 710 N Ave. This historic 2-acre park is dedicated to Anacortes veterans and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The nearly century-old park has decorative rock and black-and-white mosaic walls and structures, including a bandstand, amphitheater and terraces.

Clearridge Park, in the 1900 block of Blakely Drive. This small neighborhood park has two tennis courts and a basketball court.

Guemes Channel Trail, starts at the Edwards Way cul-de-sac. The walking/ biking path runs along the shoreline of Guemes Channel toward downtown Anacortes. It is approximately 1 mile long. The community’s goal is to eventually continue construction of the trail from Washington Park to the Tommy

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2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

Parks A

Thompson Parkway.

John and Doris Tursi Park, 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. This small neighborhood park is just east of the Anacortes Airport. It includes a playground, picnic tables, nature trail overseeing wetlands and a pavilion made of raw cedar logs.

Kiwanis Waterfront Park, 1708 Sixth St. The park is 2 acres overlooking Guemes Channel and the Guemes Island ferry landing area with benches, picnic tables, pathways, an overlook and beach access.

N Avenue Park, Second Street and N Avenue. This .4-acre park is at a street end and has views of Guemes Channel.

Roadside Park, Kansas and Oakes Avenues. This .3-acre park is at a street end and has picnic tables and views of Guemes Channel. Stairs from the park lead down to the Guemes Channel Trail.

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Rotary Park, 701 T Ave. The 1.5acre park runs along the shoreline of a Fidalgo Bay inlet at the base of Cap Sante and next to Cap Sante Marina.

The park has a disc golf course, walking trails, a gazebo, picnic tables and beach access.

Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve, between the Washington State Ferries terminal and Edwards Way culde-sac. The preserve has 25 acres of freshwater wetlands, 5 acres of upland habitat and 2,000 feet of sandy beach and subtidal eelgrass beds. A walking trail/boardwalk is protective of sensitive areas and provides environmental

education through interpretive signs.

Shugarts Playground, 10th Street and N Avenue. This half-acre park is next to the Anacortes Public Library and has a small playground and benches.

Storvik Park, 1110 32nd St. The 8.7acre park is home to the communitybuilt Our Town Our Park playground.

It also has a Little League field, two basketball courts, picnic shelter, picnic tables and barbecues. A new spray pad with water features opened last year.

To reserve the picnic shelter, call 360293-1918.

Tommy Thompson Parkway is 3.3

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miles of paved trail for pedestrians and bicyclists that runs along the west side of Fidalgo Bay, leading to a walkway over the bay on a former train trestle connecting to March Point.

Trail heads are at 22nd Street and R Avenue, 30th Street and U Avenue, and in the Fidalgo Bay Resort at 4701 Fidalgo Bay Road.

28th Street Playground, 28th Street and Q Avenue. This half-acre children’s playground is next to a community garden.

Volunteer Park, 1915 13th St. The city’s sports center has a fastpitch/ Little League field, two regulation baseball fields, a field house, Kiwanis Meadows soccer field, basketball court and Doug Colglazier Playground. The park also has walking paths and a covered picnic shelter.

Washington Park, 6300 Sunset Ave. The park encompasses 220 acres on the west side of Fidalgo Island. It has day-use and overnight camping facilities for tents and RVs, a boat launch, picnic shelters, playground and showers.

A scenic 2.3-mile loop road around the park can be walked or driven. Call 360-293-1918 to make camping reservations.

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Kayaking T

he water around Anacortes and several lakes on Fidalgo Island are great for a quick paddle or a daylong adventure.

Whether launching a kayak on a lake, checking out the bridge at Deception Pass State Park or heading out into the wider waters of the Salish Sea, finding things to see from new and interesting vantage points is easy.

Anacortes Kayak Tours gives newcomers a chance to check try the sport out. It offers tours and guides when it comes to getting out on the water, as well, including everything from an hour or two to multiple days. Visit www.anacorteskayaktours.com.

The Deception Pass Dash each December brings together about 200 kayaks and other non-motorized water craft to race from Bowman Bay through the Pass. Participants travel about 6 miles total for the special race.

The Hole in the Wall Paddling Club also holds classes and meetings to get people out on the water. Visit holeinthewallpaddlingclub.org.

getting too close to the whales because of safety, so binoculars are encouraged.

The Southern Resident orcas have been on the Endangered Species list since 2005 and are still struggling to recover, according to the Center for Whale Research. Learn more at www. whaleresearch.com. s Island Adventures: www.islandadventures.com s Deception Pass Tours: www.deceptionpasstours.com s Mystic Sea Charters: www.mysticseacharters.com s Outer Island Excursions: www. outerislandx.com

Marinas

Anacortes Marina

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2415 T Ave. www.anacortesmarina.com 360-293-4543

nacortes Marina is a privately owned condominium marina with 466 covered and open rental slips from 32 feet to 60 feet in length. Amenities include power, water, Wi-Fi, laundry facility, restrooms and showers.

Nearby facilities include a 55-ton lift, repair yard, fuel dock and pump-out station.

No transient moorage available.

Annual leases only.

Whale watching T

he Southern Resident orcas come through this area each year, delighting residents and visitors who come to see them.

Island Adventures, Mystic Sea Charters and Outer Island Excursions all run whale-watching tours. The main season generally runs from April to October, when the three pods of the Southern Resident orcas (Pods J, K and L) return to this area, following the salmon upon which they feed. Tour rates range from about $50 to $150.

While the area is best known for the resident orcas, also seen at various times of year in the Puget Sound around the San Juan Islands are gray whales, humpbacks and minke whales.

Of course, whales aren’t the only wildlife in this area. Residents can expect to see bald eagles, hawks, otters, fish and more.

Everyone is encouraged to wear layers and bring a camera as well as binoculars. Regulations prohibit boats from goanacortes.com

AnacortesArtsFestival.com 2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Cap Sante Marina

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1019 Q Ave. www.portofanacortes.com/marina 360-293-0694

ap Sante Marina is owned and operated by the Port of Anacortes. It is a Customs port of entry on the west side of Fidalgo Bay within walking distance to downtown stores and restaurants. The public marina provides permanent and transient moorage with 150 to 200 berths for guest moorage. Floats have power and water. Other accommodations include restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a paved trail that leads to the tresfuel dock, pump-out stations, boat tle that crosses Fidalgo Bay to March launch and Wi-Fi. Point. Add more cycling miles by following the road around the point and Skyline Marine Center 2011 Skyline Way then back to the trestle. skylinemarinecenter.com The Guemes Channel Trail fol360-293-5134 lows a former railway on the north kyline Marine Center at Floun- side of the island. It provides scenic der Bay on the west end of Fidal- views of the channel, Guemes Island go Island is a full-service marina with and Mount Baker on clear days. Trail slips up to 100 feet. The marina pro- connections are off Edwards Way in vides guest moorage, a travel lift, fuel, the San Juan Passage subdivision and pump-out services, shower and laundry down the wooden stairs at Oakes and facilities. Old Salt’s Deli & Market is Kansas avenues just west of Lovric’s nearby.

Sea-Craft.

The trail is being extended as time and resources are available with plans to eventually link the Tommy Thompson Parkway on the east side of Fidalountain bikers can enjoy easy go Island with Washington Park on to moderate trails through the the west. nearly 2,800 acres in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. Color trail maps on water-resistant paper are available at City Hall, 904 Sixth St., Anacortes Middle School, 22nd and at the Visitor Information Center, 819 Commercial Ave. Suite A, or Street near J Avenue, six tennis courts. download at www.cityofanacortes.org.

Clearidge Park , 1900 block of The Tommy Thompson Parkway is a scenic, flat ride from downtown Blakely Drive next to the Anacortes along the east side of the island on Airport, two tennis courts.

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Cycling M

Tennis

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Golf

Swinomish Golf Links

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12518 Christianson Road swinomishgolflinks.com 360-293-3444

winomish Golf Links is an 18-hole, par-72 public course on the west side of Fidalgo Island between Fidalgo and Similk bays. The course is rated 67.8 for men and 65.2 for women. It has a slope rating of 110 for men and 106 for women.

The links-style course offers open tree-lined fairways, approachable greens and many elevation changes as well as some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Baker and Fidalgo Bay. Golf instruction is available. Operated by the Swinomish Casino & Lodge, amenities include golf packages and a performance center.

Pool

Fidalgo Pool & Fitness Center

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1603 22nd St. www.fidalgopool.com 360-293-0673

he Fidalgo Pool has a water slide, 1-meter diving board, inner tubes and more. The average water temperature is 83 degrees. The water is treated with an ultraviolet system so chlorine is minimal.

Th e p o o l ’s r e g u l a r s c h e d u l e includes family/open swims, lap swims, water aerobics, swim lessons and more. The pool, which can be rented, is home to the Thunderbird Aquatic Club and the Anacortes Hgh School swim teams.

A 1,900-square-foot fitness center has PRECOR cardio and weightlifting equipment, and the upstairs group fitness area offers SilverSneakers, yoga and other exercise classes.

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Viewpoints V

isitors can take in much of the beauty that Anacortes and Fidalgo Island have to offer simply by taking a leisurely drive.

Cap Sante, just minutes from downtown, provides the most scenic overlook of the city itself as well as Mount Baker, March Point, Guemes Island and the waters of the San Juans. The Cap Sante Marina, right below the vista, is one of the most photographed scenes in the city. The park at the top is also a great place to watch vessels from yachts to oil tankers coming to and from the area.

From downtown, take Fourth Street east and take a right on V Avenue, which leads right to the park at the top.

Sunset Beach at Washington Park on the northwest end of the island has an open beach looking out on Rosario Strait with the occasional ferry going by. Nearby is Loop Road, which wraps around the park’s peninsula and offers breathtaking views of Rosario Strait, Burrows Bay and Island, and the south end of Fidalgo Island. The loop has parking spots along the way with picnic tables at Green Point and a landmark madrona tree and views of the Skyline neighborhood at Fidalgo Head. Take the 15-minute journey to get to the city-owned park by following 12th Street west. The name of the road changes a couple times along the way, from Oakes Avenue to Sunset Avenue, but leads right to the park. Take the goanacortes.com

right fork to park near the beach area Deception Pass bridges. To get there, and left to go on Loop Road. follow the highway south at Sharpes Corner or take Anaco Beach Road Deception Pass State Park extends from Sunset Avenue on the west side across both Fidalgo and Whidbey of the island to Marine Drive and islands. Scenic spots inside the state Rosario Road to connect with the park include at Pass Lake, Rosario highway at the intersection at Pass Beach and Bowman Bay. But the icon- Lake. A paid state Discover Pass is ic photo spots are at pullouts along needed to park on the Whidbey side of Highway 20 just before and at the two the bridge.

LOOK FOR OUR CLOCK (The 1906 Howard/Mayer Street Clock)

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Mount Erie provides views from the center of Fidalgo Island. On a clear day, most of the island can be seen along with parts of Whidbey Island to the south, North Cascades to the east and San Juans to the west. Mount Erie is part of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands and includes several trails to the top and surrounding area.

To get there, head south on Commercial Avenue, turn right on 32nd Street and left on H Avenue. The road turns into Heart Lake Road. Past the lake, turn left onto Ray Auld Drive to Erie Mountain Drive. A steep drive or long hike rises about 1,000 feet to the top.

The best viewpoint is just beyond the access to the huge cell tower at the top.

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Arts A

nacortes has a thriving, colorful arts scene.

This town may not have a piece of art on every corner, but it comes pretty close. Galleries, public art displayed around town, and an outdoor sculpture exhibit are just a few of the ways that visitors and residents can take in the art that fills the community.

Several art-related events take place throughout the year, in addition to regular performances and monthly art walks through the business district.

At the end of 2016, the city put in several large murals created by Anacortes residents to help liven up the entrance to town.

The “Aerie” giant bird nest sculpture greets all who enter at the roundabout where Commercial Avenue meets Highway 20.

On the south side of the Wilson Hotel on Eighth Street, there is Anne Curtis Bowman (the city’s namesake and wife of city founder Amos Bowman) painted by Swedish artist Lisa Liedgren in 2007.

The “Lady of the Sea” statue stands watch over Cap Sante Marina, and a striking bronze orca fin juts above the waterfront in the marina.

Along the Tommy Thompson Trail, there are several murals and art pieces funded by the Anacortes Arts Festival annual Art Dash, including two stainless steel joggers created by Ken Turner of Seattle.

The sculpture “Annie Curtis” was crafted by artist Gerard Tsutakawa.

Other popular public pieces include “Windsong,” a Leo Osborne bronze at Kiwanis Park near the Guemes Ferry Terminal, and “The Bird Family,” a Philip McCracken bronze at the post office downtown.

Even the garbage cans play a role.

In 1915, with 11 salmon canneries operating here, Anacortes proudly called itself the salmon-packing capital of Puget Sound. Today, the downtown street cans look like salmon cans, featuring the early labels that helped keep the town’s economy afloat.

Visit anacortesartscommission.com to see the location of permanent pieces and what’s new. The Arts on the Ave exhibit features more than a dozen 10

sculptures along Commercial and Q avenues. Maps are at each sculpture and at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

The Anacortes Arts Festival each August brings in about 100,000 people to see the work of 250 traveling art vendors, a fine art show and musical acts. In April, the festival spring event has a 5K color run event and a weeklong art show. Visit anacortesartsfestival.com.

In October, the Arts Commission hosts a 98221 Studio Tour, which allows visitors to stop by the studios of dozens of local artists, see demonstrations and enter to win prizes.

From 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, the First Friday Gallery Walk features some of the best new art around Anacortes. Different galleries and businesses host shows of the work, with special hours, artist receptions and refreshments.

A summer series of family-friendly rock and blues concerts are held Friday nights at Seafarers’ Memorial Park in Cap Sante Marina. During the same time period, a Wednesday jazz series brings even more live music to the 2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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area. Learn more at portofanacortes.com.

Brewgrass! comes in early to mid-November, when several pubs and restaurants host performances of bluegrass, while microbrewers bring kegs of more than 50 small-batch beers to town for tasting. Tickets sell out fast.

Music can be found at Jazz at the Library events throughout the year. The library hosts free jazz concerts the second Sunday of each month and has a Manieri Jazz & Swing collection, specially chosen books, CDs and DVDs on the uniquely American art of jazz and swing music.

The Fidalgo Island Quilters feature their stunning fabric art each April during the annual Quilt Walk. Businesses and shops downtown feature pieces from the quilters in their stores. This year, the guild will host the show Quilts in Bloom April 20 and 21 in Mount Vernon. Visit fidalgoislandquilters.com.

Anacortes Community Theatre (ACT) is in its 54nd season and will present six main stage shows in 2018: “Enchanted April,” “9 to 5,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” “The Hounds of the Baskervilles,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Noel Noir.” The theater also offers several fringe productions throughout the year. Visit acttheatre.com.

Fidalgo DanceWorks offers education in the art of dance for all levels, ages and abilities — more than 40 classes each week along with elaborate seasonal performances. Visit fidalgodanceworks.org. The school hosts shows in June and December, in addition to the annual holiday ballet “The Nutcracker” each December.

The Anacortes Arts Commission is an advisory board to the city pertaining to public arts and culture. Visit anacortesartscommission.com.

The An-O-Chords Men’s Barbershop Chorus meets Thursday evenings for open rehearsals at the Northwest Education Service District 189. Men of all ages are welcome. goanacortes.com

Visit anochords.org.

The Anacortes Harmonaires is a group of women barbershop singers. Rehearsals are 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, and singers of all levels are welcome. Email anacortesharmonaires@outlook.com.

Fidalgo Youth Symphony offers orchestral training and experience for talented young musicians through the sinfonette, junior and youth symphonies. Visit fysmusic.org.

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Murals T

hroughout the streets of Anacortes, figures peer at passersby from the sides of buildings. The people looking out are rich with color and history, but appear in only two dimensions.

There are murals scattered through the downtown area and beyond featuring more the 150 of Anacortes’ (and possibly the world’s) most colorful historical figures, including the city’s namesake Annie Curtis, smuggler Lawrence Kelly and longtime newspaper man Wallie Funk with his camera.

Each mural was painted by Anacortes artist Bill Mitchell, who repainted and rehung a mural of the boat Yankee Doodle just last year.

Most of the murals feature Anacortes residents of varied backgrounds — fishermen, mayors, dancers, storekeepers, bar patrons, children, musicians, boaters, church leaders, editors and even pets.

One features the first car accident to occur in Anacortes, and the ones outside the Anacortes Cinemas feature movie stars like John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe.

Mitchell started the Anacortes Mural Project more than 30 years ago with a painting of Fred White and his safety bike.

It was sponsored by the Anacortes’ Women’s Club for $50 and put into place in 1984.

Visitors can find a mural of Mitchell himself in his trademark three-wheeled 1954 Autoette, which doubles 12

as a wheelchair, near the corner of Fifth Street and O Avenue.

Murals are sometimes faded by the passing of time and exposure to the elements, so Mitchell tries to keep up with restoration work.

All of the murals are funded through community giving, and Mitchell relies on donations or pays for supplies himself.

A mural map is available at the Anacortes Visitors Center at Commercial Avenue and Ninth Street.

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Museums W

ith rotating exhibits and permanent displays, the Anacortes Museum and its Maritime Heritage Center offer a window into the past to help connect people with information about this maritime city’s history.

Anacortes Museum

Maritime Heritage Center and W.T. Preston Snagboat The Maritime Heritage Center and W.T. Preston Snagboat are located at 703 R Avenue. The heritage center is focused on Anacortes’ traditions of fishing and history of boatbuilding and marine transportation.

The center is open on weekends in April, May, September and October and daily (excluding Mondays) from June to August.

Even when the location is not open, displays on the outside of the building help highlight some of the city’s maritime history.

The W.T. Preston is a history sternwheeler (the last one to work in the Puget Sound and one of only two snagboats remaining in the United States). The W.T. Preston was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and retired from duty in 1981. The snagboat came to Anacortes in 1983 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

The museum at 1305 Eighth Street is home to several permanent exhibits on the history of Fidalgo and Guemes islands as well as revolving displays throughout the year.

It was once a Carnegie Library.

Visitors to the website (www.cityofanacortes.org/museum_department. php) can search through a database of more than 20,000 museum records, including the photos of the Wallie Funk Collection. Funk was a longtime editor, owner and contributor to the Anacortes American and a local history buff who took his own photos and collected those of other area residents.

The museum is open each day except Mondays and is free to visit.

Tours Anyone interested in doing research Several self-guided tours are availis welcome, but appointments are preable to see the beautiful sights of Anaferred. goanacortes.com

cortes.

The Cap Sante esplanade is located behind the W.T. Preston snagboat. The waterfront walk offers views of Fidalgo Bay and several interpretive displays featuring the area’s history. Stop in at the marina office with questions.

Visitors will notice murals and portraits displayed on the outside of buildings throughout town. They are there to honor historic characters, most of them from Anacortes, as part of a lifelong project by local artist Bill Mitchell. A list of murals and locations is available at the Anacortes Visitors Center (819 Commercial Ave.).

A walking tour of historic downtown Anacortes offers a chance to see the city’s old, beautiful homes.

Brochures are available at the Visitors Center, at City Hall and online at www.cityofanacortes.org/museum_ department.php.

Along the Tommy Thompson Trail, which starts at the intersection of 11th Avenue and Q Street and continues south through town and out onto the water toward March Point, there are Discovery Points filled with stories and fun facts about Fidalgo Bay’s history and diverse ecology.

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Weather T

he Pacific Northwest is known for its rainy weather, but Anacortes, just at the eastern edge of the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains gets less rain than many nearby areas.

The city averages about 28 inches of rainfall a year and sees roughly

230 days a year with either mostly or partly sunny skies for at least part of the day.

In comparison, towns near Anacortes see roughly 6 to 10 more inches of rainfall per year.

The mild climate creates opportuni-

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Serving the Northwest Since 1951 2517 Commercial Ave

Liberty Mutual MetLife Progressive Safeco Travelers Nationwide 360-293-5158 Scottrichards.com

insurance to meet your needs 14

i n c .

1544870

i n s u r A n c e

ties for recreational activities across Fidalgo Island.

Springtime in Anacortes can start as early as February, when the daffodils and tulips that this area is so famous for first start pushing their way up through the soil.

Spring can continue for several more months into July. Weather during this time is mostly unpredictable, with beautiful sunshine one day, wind and rain the next.

Summers tend to be dry and warm but not too hot. From July to September, expect to see some of the best weather Washington has to offer, with temperatures in the 70s and low humidity. July and August each generally see less than one inch of rain.

Autumn is the shortest season in Anacortes, with some joking that it lasts about 10 minutes. It’s technically closer to two months with winter blowing in sometime in November.

(Snow fell on Nov. 2 last year.)

Anacortes winters are fairly mild, except for the occasional windstorm.

There’s typically little to no snow, and temperatures rarely drop much below freezing.

Fidalgo Island seems small, but the weather can vary pretty drastically from one side to the other. The downtown corridor is generally the warmest, and the west side of the island is cooler with more fog and wind and incredible sunsets.

The southeast portion of the island is the driest, with an inch or two less rainfall than the downtown area.

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

goanacortes.com

Farmers Market Anacortes Farmers Market

D

Depot Arts and Community Center, Seventh Street and R Avenue www.anacortesfarmersmarket.org

uring the spring, summer and early fall, the plaza outside the Depot Arts & Community Center is full of people every Saturday morning.

Vendors are selling cut flowers, crafts, soap, food, cheese, bread, vegetables and more at the Anacortes Farmers Market.

People enjoy live music each week, too, as they gather to eat some of their purchases at tables filling the center of the plaza.

Kids run in the nearby madrona trees as people browse the jewelry, homemade art pieces, organic produce and baked goods.

Community programs and self-help workshops are available throughout the summer there on topics like bicycle small appliances. maintenance, backyard chickens and The market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. alternative energy. There are fix-it days every Saturday from May to October. for people who need help repairing The winter market is the second Sat-

urday of each month from October to May. A special holiday market is held in November, as well as a pie festival each September.

A collection of whimsical and romantic women’s contemporary clothing and accessories all designed with a vintage flair. Ž

V I N T A G E

S T Y L E

Feel beautiful and young at heart, and enjoy our exquisite boutique in beautiful,oldtown anacortes.

Let us pamper you with our brand of vintage service. 11 am to 5 pm, closed most sundays.

904 commercial ave. anacortes, wa usa 98221 360.299.9041 pearlbuttonsvintagestyle www.pearlbuttonsvintage.com

Š 2017 Suzanne Rothmeyer Photography

goanacortes.com

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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goanacortes.com

Calendar of Events B

eer, bikes and boats are just a few of the themes of the many festivals that are celebrated each year in Anacortes. The town is full of fun activities for every family member (furry ones included) throughout the year. Art and antiques are plentiful, and so are a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues. A lot is happening in this little island city, but the small-town charm remains.

April Anacortes Spring Wine Festival, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed Event Center at the north end of Commercial Avenue. About 30 wineries from around the region and state participate and local restaurants offer food.

This event put on by the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, with tickets ranging from $55 to $80. Visit ana-

cortes.org.

Do the Bloom Color Run, April 14.

The Anacortes Arts Festival hosts the annual color run 5k. Runners become artwork as powdered paint is thrown on them as they pass various locations downtown.

The day will also feature a Jimmy Buffet concert event featuring Garratt Wilkin & the Parrotheads out of Northern California. Proceeds from both events will benefit the Cultured Arts Program for the Anacortes School District. Visit anacortesartsfestival.com.

Anacortes Vintage Market, April 27-28. Friday night features a limited number of tickets and is 6 to 9 p.m.

Saturday is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 40 vendors featuring antique, vintage and repurposed treasures for home and garden at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed Event Center on the Guemes Channel at the north end of Commercial Avenue. Visit anacortesvintagemarket.com.

Organics • Vegetables Baked Goods • Honey Fresh Meat • Dairy • Eggs Art • Live Music • Community

Saturday, 9am-2pm January 13 February 10 March 10 April 14

Every Saturday 9am-2pm May 5 - October 27

September 29 (During the Market) Pie Contest & More

Do the Bloom Color Run goanacortes.com

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

6th St. & “R” Ave.

1703220

November 17 & 18 At The Port 100 Commercial Ave., Anacortes

anacortesfarmersmarket.org

For Information Call: (360) 293-1915 or Check our Website:

museum.cityofanacortes.org Anacortes Museum 1305 8th Street • Anacortes, WA

Exploring the history of Fidalgo and Guemes Islands through:

• Educational Programs • Exhibits • Research Library • Special Events

Anacortes Waterfront Festival

May Pull and Be Damned Messabout, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 12. See all sorts of small craft including rowing skiffs, dories, kayaks and longboats at this family-friendly event at Seafarers’ Memorial Park.

8th Street & M Avenue

The Carnegie Gallery Gallery Open Year-Round Tues. - Sat., 10-4 Sunday 1-4, Closed Monday

June

at 10 a.m. in downtown Anacortes at Commercial Avenue. A parade starts at 11 a.m.

Later in the day, enjoy music at the Rock the Dock community concert at Seafarers’ Memorial Park followed by fireworks over Fidalgo Bay at dusk. A patriotic celebration begins the evening of July 3.

Shipwreck Day, July 21, on Commercial Avenue. The street is closed to traffic and filled with old furniture, clothes, lamps, boat gear, tools, collectibles and much more.

This massive swap meet and sale starts at 8 a.m. downtown. The Fidalgo Rotary Club-sponsored event funds worthy causes. Free to attend. Visit shipwreckfest.org.

Anacortes Waterfront Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2-3, near Cap Sante Marina. Family-friendly free event features boat building, free boat rides, a children’s area, a car show, vendors, food, entertainment and more. Visit anacortes.org.

Bark in the Park, June 16. Canines and their humans will gather in Storvik Anacortes Arts Festival, Aug. 3-5, Park for a pet parade, costume contest, on Commercial Avenue. This threedemonstrations, games and more. Visit day celebration of art will feature 250 cityofanacortes.org. booth artisans downtown. Arts at the Port will showcase 30 more artists in three exhibitions, and there will be art demonstrations, live music, kids’ activities, food vendors and beer and Fourth of July Celebration. The wine gardens. Visit anacortesartsfestiJuly 4 event begins with a town portrait val.com.

August

The W.T. PresTon & Maritime Heritage Center

July

Open weekends: April - October Open Daily: June, July, August Closed Monday

1703738

9th Street & R Avenue

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

goanacortes.com

Open Streets and Anacortes Buskerfest, Aug. 26, on Commercial Avenue. Leave the cars behind and take to the streets by foot, bike or skates. Any human-powered vehicle is welcome, and buskers entertain at each street corner.

September Oyster Run, Sept. 23. On the fourth Sunday in September, Anacortes welcomes about 10,000 leather-clad bikers who ride into town from various points as part of the largest motorcycle run in the Pacific Northwest.

It’s part touring, with stops for oysters on the way here, and part gathering. The free downtown event includes motorcycle vendors, musical entertainment and plenty of oysters. Downtown’s main street is blocked off as thousands of bikes are parked down the middle of Commercial Avenue.

Visit oysterrun.org.

Bier on the Pier, Oct. 5-6, at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed. A celebration featuring more than 30 breweries and 10 cideries. The event also features food vendors and music.

Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. Visit anacortes.org.

Anacortes Vintage Market, Oct. 19-20, at the Anacortes Transit Shed at the north end of Commercial Avenue.

Friday night features a limited number of tickets and is 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 40 vendors featuring antique, vintage and repurposed treasures for home and garden at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed Event Center on the Guemes Channel at the north end of Commercial Avenue.

Visit anacortesvintagemarket.com.

November

Brewgrass!, Nov. 2-3, at several restaurants in town. Different locations host bluegrass bands over the course of the two days. Six acts will perform alongside a celebration of beer in Anacortes. Visit anacortes.org.

goanacortes.com

December Anacortes Tree Lighting, holiday parade and more, Dec. 7-8. This holiday weekend in Anacortes includes the tree lighting, pictures with Santa, music performances, hot cocoa, a holiday artwalk, a parade, a gift show and fundraisers. Visit anacortes.org.

Celebrate the Season, Dec. 8 and 9, is a Anacortes Schools Foundation event at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed. It features a gingerbread house contest, visits with Santa, crafts, a gift shop and more.

Wonderland Walk at Washington Park, 5-8 p.m., Dec. 14-15. Community groups, businesses and other organizations decorate campsites with lights and holiday fun. Visitors are encouraged to carpool and bring flashlights.

Visit anacortes.wa.gov.

Birds of Winter is a Skagit County-wide celebration running December to February throughout the area.

The event celebrates the abundance of bird life in the area and includes birding lectures, workshops, tours and a cruise. For more information and a calendar of events. go to birdsofwinter.org.

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October

Oyster Run

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History A

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nacortes was officially incorporated in May 1891, but long before that, two tribal communities called this area home. Later came a bustling fishing, canning, logging and mill community.

The population of the island grew and dwindled depending on the times, but through everything, the little island community survived and grew into what it is today.

Coast Salish peoples thrived on the rich natural resources of Fidalgo Island for 10,000 years before Spanish explorers started mapping the area in 1790 and 1791. The area remains home to both the Samish and Swinomish tribes.

European settlers staked claims at Fern Prairie, now March Point, in the 1850s. They raised fruit, hops, cabbage, cauliflower seed and cattle.

In 1876, Amos Bowman and his wife moved to the Ship Harbor area.

The next year, Bowman established a post office and gave it the Spanish-sounding name Anacortes. It was actually a version of his wife’s maiden name — Annie Curtis.

In the boom year 1890, the population jumped from 200 to 2,000, fueled by speculation the town would become a transcontinental railroad terminus. Land prices jumped from $50 an acre to as much as $3,000 for a corner lot.

But the bubble burst the same year when the railroad selected Seattle instead. Hundreds departed, leaving behind many beautiful buildings that even today give downtown its charm.

Despite the downturn, the town of Anacortes was incorporated in 1891 and began its recovery as salmon and codfish industries grew. Near the turn of the century, hundreds of people worked at a dozen fish-processing plants, and Anacortes called itself

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804 Commercial Ave, Anacortes | 360-873-8785 | tidesofanacortes.com 22

the salmon-packing capital of Puget Sound. Dances were held whenever the fishing fleets came home.

Today, the fish industry is still present, though smaller than it once was.

Trident Seafoods, Sugiyo and SeaBear still process fish here.

In 1911, Fidalgo Bay had 13 shingle and lumber mills, and the lumber industry thrived until resources grew scarce in the 1950s, and the last mill closed in 1992.

The mid-1950s brought a new industrial era when Texaco and Shell built oil refineries on March Point. Today the facilities are operated by Shell and Andeavor (formerly Tesoro), and they still fuel the regional economy, particularly Anacortes.

Even as the waterfront mills and canneries began to fade, tourism began to grow here in the late 1960s, with marinas and pleasure boats. Anacortes, with its identity tied firmly to its working waterfront, became inviting to ship builders. Dakota Creek Industries is one such busy shipyard on the Guemes Channel that both builds new ships and repairs older ones.

In recent years, the city’s quality of life, amenities and natural beauty have expanded the population to include more affluent retirees and others looking for island living with easy access to the mainland.

More than 16,000 people now live here, and many thousands more pass through in the summer months, some heading to visit other San Juan islands or catch a ferry to Victoria, British Columbia.

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Tribes Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

T

he rich history of the Anacortes area started long before the town was founded. Two tribes have been a part of Fidalgo Island and its surrounding areas for decades and continue to help shape its economy, culture and environment.

The Samish and Swinomish tribes have both called the Anacortes area home for centuries.

The 900-member Swinomish tribe has its headquarters in the historic Swinomish Village across the Swinomish Channel from La Conner.

The tribe’s reservation is about 15 square miles on the southeastern end of Fidalgo Island.

The Swinomish Casino & Lodge is located on Highway 20, just east of Anacortes, and an expansion is ongoing. Views from the building take in the land that the Coast Salish people have called home for thousands of years.

Their culture was centered on saltwater resources, and salmon and shellfish remain a key part of their economy to this day.

Tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby has led the tribe for 20 years, along with a Senate made of 11 elected members.

The Swinomish native language was Lushootseed, a variant of the wider Salish language. The tribe still offers language and cultural classes to its people and works to pass its traditions on to new generations with annual events like the Tribal Canoe Journey and the Blessing of the Fleet and First Salmon Ceremony.

In 2010, the Swinomish entered a partnership with Washington State Parks that resulted in pristine Kiket Island becoming a protected site, now known as the Kukutali Preserve, within Deception Pass State Park.

The tribe also operates the Swinomish Chevron Gas Station, which includes a tobacco, liquor and convenience store; the Swinomish Fish Co., which processes salmon and shellfish for a global market; an RV park, Swinomish Links Golf Course and a Ramada Hotel in Ocean Shores.

At the end of 2017, it opened the didgwalic Wellness Center, which offers support like medication-assisted treatment, primary care and mental health care and counseling to those dealing with addiction issues, whether they are members of the tribe or not.

Information: www.swinomish-nsn. gov.

European disease and raids from neighboring tribes struck the Samish Indian Nation in the mid-1800s, reducing its population by more than 90 percent. What was a group of about 2,000 that stretched over a sevencounty region was cut down to less than 200, but 113 members of the tribe were present at the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty in 1855.

But a clerical error proved costly for the tribe for a quarter of the last century.

In 1969, a clerk at the Bureau of Indian Affairs left the Samish tribe off the revised internal list of tribes.

The title was lost, forcing the tribe to seek recognition through petitions and court cases. It took more than 25 years before the tribe regained federal recognition in April 1996.

The tribe itself has grown, with population now at about 1,500.

The tribe currently operates in Anacortes the Samish Longhouse Preschool, the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, a Health Services building and an administrative building. It leads classes on tribal crafts and arts like woodcarving, hat weaving and more.

Occasionally, the Samish Canoe Family hosts large Coast Salish canoe journeys, usually at its resort, where they greet visiting paddlers with drums, prayers, songs and a feast. Each summer, the tribe takes part in the annual Salish Sea Native American Culture Celebration at Deception Pass State Park.

On special occasions, Samish blessing ceremonies honor events such as creation of a new story pole, the naming of a baby orca or the christening of a new canoe. These inspiring events are always followed by the hospitality of a potlatch.

A few years ago, the Washington State Ferries recently named a ferry “Samish” after the tribe. The ferry navigates the water between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, where the tribe has navigated for decades.

Information: www.samishtribe.nsn. us.

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2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

Samish Indian Nation

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he world slows down just a fiveminute ferry ride from Anacortes on nearby Guemes Island.

The island, home to many families who have lived there for generations, as well as newcomers, is accessible only by water.

For those lucky enough to visit, Guemes Island holds its own treasures, and it’s a great place for a bike ride or picnic.

The casual and funky Guemes Island Resort, with its variety of accommodations including homes, cabins and yurts offers a place to stay for those who want to experience the charm of this island.

The resort features a boat launch, kayaks, rowboats, a sauna and massage therapy.

Young’s Park, 13 acres next to the resort, has picnicking amenities and water access for day use. There is excellent crabbing during the open season.

Head east for a great view of nearby islands from Guemes Mountain.

The mountain was purchased through donations from islanders and others to protect it through the Skagit Land Trust and San Juan Preservation Trust.

Volunteers built a 1.2-mile hiking trail that climbs steeply 550 feet to the summit.

After exploring, visit the Guemes Island General Store, just steps away from the ferry dock.

The ferry runs every half-hour or so. Find the schedule at www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/PublicWorksFerry/ferry.htm.

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Did you know?

• The Anacortes Sister Cities Association maintains strong ties with four sister cities: Lomonosov, Russia; Nikaho, Japan; Sidney, British Columbia; and Vela Luka, Croatia. You’ll see the flags when you arrive by Highway 20 or Washington State Ferries. Travel and cultural exchanges are common.

Learn more at anacortessistercities. com.

• Anacortes supplies water beyond the city limits to the March Point oil refineries, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, La Conner and Shelter Bay. • La Merced, a ship that has been turned into a breakwater at Lovric’s Sea-Craft, is filled with dirt and can be seen growing a variety of trees and other living things, turned 100 years old in 2017.

• Anacortes has been served continuously by the Anacortes American newspaper for more than 125 years.

The paper celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2015 and has resided in its current building at 901 Sixth St. for a century.

• The Port of Anacortes’ main ware-

house at the marine terminal on the Guemes Channel isn’t just a marine workplace. The Transit Shed Event Center at the north end of Commercial Avenue is a go-to venue in town for wine and beer festivals, weddings, dances, concerts and fundraising galas.

• Seafarers’ Memorial Park just south of Cap Sante Marina was revi-

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2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

talized recently through a two-year, $34 million environmental cleanup and restoration project. The property was once occupied by the Scott Paper Mill.

• Anacortes has a widely successful Senior College offering low-cost classes to those 50 and older in afternoon and evening sessions.

25

Anacortes today A

nacortes is a highly livable waterfront city in Skagit County with solid infrastructure and a wide range of health and social services.

Over the years, residents and public servants have worked hard to create a community that supports industry, while also guarding the island’s peerless natural resources.

The quality of life has been a magnet, particularly for the well-educated retirees who make up a large part of the population.

Government information City of Anacortes

904 Sixth St. Anacortes, WA 98221 360-293-1900 www.anacorteswa.gov

ordinances. Mayor Laurie Gere, in her Monday through Friday. second term, is the city’s chief execuThere are 32 employees, 25 of them tive and city manager. commissioned officers.

She presides over council meetings, Auxiliary Patrol: Click Auxiliary makes sure public policy is enforced Patrol on the department website. and runs the city’s regional water utility.

Anacortes Fire Department

Demographics and city facts

• Population: 16,681 (2016 estimate) • Persons under 5: 5.4 percent (2010) • Under 18: 19.6 percent (2010) • Over 65: 22.9 percent (2010) (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

Public safety

Anacortes Police Department

1218 24th St. 360-293-4684 Emergencies: 911 Animal Control: Call 911 www.anacorteswa.gov/270/Police

1016 13th St. 360-293-1925 Emergencies: 911 www.anacorteswa.gov/200/Fire-Department

The Fire Department office in the main station is open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays except holidays.

The department staffs two other stations: 5209 Sunset Drive near the ferry terminal, staffed 24 hours, and 9029 Molly Lane, staffed 12 hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

New resident phone numbers Anacortes has a mayor-city coun• Water, sewer, and solid waste: The department provides 24/7 cil system of government. The City Council meets Mondays, except for patrol and emergency response ser- City of Anacortes, 360-293-1921 • Organics and recycling: Waste fifth Mondays. The council sets policy, vice.

The office is staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Management, 800-592-9995 determines building codes and enacts

AMBER FOWLER, MD • LAURIE JACOBSON, MD LYNDSEY SWITZER, PA-C • CaSONDRA WEBB, PA-C RANDY BANKS, PA-C 5 NE 4th Street, Suite B, Coupeville, WA 3110 Commercial Ave., Suite #105, Anacortes, WA 1600 Continental Place, Suite #101, Mt. Vernon, WA 3614 Meridian St., Suite #200, Bellingham, WA

360-336-3026 • www.RosarioSkinClinic.com 26

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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• Gas: Cascade Natural Gas, 888522-1130 • Electricity: Puget Sound Energy, 888-225-5773 • Voter Registration: Skagit County, 360-416-1702 • Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, 360-293-7911 (anacortes.org)

Transportation

Guemes Island Ferry

360-419-7618 skagitcounty.net/Departments/PublicWorksFerry/ main.htm

Skagit County provides ferry service for passengers and vehicles from Skagit Transit, based in Burling- Anacortes across the Guemes Chanton, provides bus service in Anacortes nel to Guemes Island. The dock is located at Sixth Street and I Avenue.

Monday through Saturday.

Route 410 includes stops at the Crossing takes about five minutes.

Guemes Ferry terminal, the WashingAnacortes Airport ton State Ferries terminal and March 4000 Airport Road Point. Route 409 runs from 10th Street 360-299-1828 www.portofanacortes.com/airport and Q Avenue downtown to Island Hospital, with other stops including at The Port of Anacortes operates the Guemes Island ferry, the Fidalgo the airport on Airport Road in the Pool and local senior center.

West End. The airport hosts corporate Skagit Transit runs buses through- and private aircraft and offers space out Skagit County and offers connec- for business tenants. San Juan Airtor service to Bellingham, Everett and lines operates several flights a day to Whidbey Island. The main transfer the San Juan Islands, Bellingham and location for most routes is in down- more. Charters and scenic flights are town Mount Vernon at Skagit Station. available.

Skagit Transit also offers Dial-A-Ride For reservations, call San Juan service for people whose conditions Airlines at 800-874-4434. Other airprevent them from traveling on fixed port services include fuel, hangars, tie routes. There is a Park & Ride lot east downs, aircraft service, flight instrucof Anacortes at March Point. tion and maintenance and modification.

Washington State Ferries 360-757-4433 skagittransit.org

888-808-7977 wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

Washington State Ferries provides passenger and car service from its Anacortes terminal to Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, and Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. The goanacortes.com

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Industry

Major industries include two large oil refineries on March Point, several boat-building and repair businesses and two seafood processing plants.

Shell Puget Sound Refinery and the Anacortes Andeavor Refinery employ

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

Spinning Fibers, Weaving Yarns, Patterns, Tools, Classes & more…

Let’s get creative! fidalgoyarns.com

BOTH SHOPS AT: 711 COMMERCIAL AVENUE ANACORTES

1708655

Skagit Transit

terminal is at the end of Highway 20, about four miles west of downtown Anacortes. Citizens of the U.S. and Canada need either a passport or an enhanced driver’s license to enter or depart the U.S. by sea.

Featuring beautiful clothing & accessories with an artistic flair.

close to 800 people, from maintenance workers to engineers. Both plants, which were built and opened in the 1950s, convert crude petroleum into fuels.

Dakota Creek Industries, the largest boat-building and repair businesses in Anacortes, leases land at the Port of Anacortes’ marine terminal.

Established in 1975, Dakota Creek at times employs about 200 workers.

Cortland Puget Sound Rope develops and produces ropes that are engineered for difficult applications and harsh environments, often offshore, in a 70,000-square-foot facility at the port.

Two major seafood processing businesses are Trident Seafoods and Sugiyo USA Inc. Together they employ about 300 workers. Trident opened in 1973 and is part of a corporation that harvests, processes and markets seafood. Sugiyo introduced surimi-based seafood products to Americans. Surimi is fish paste that with snow crab meat and other ingredients is turned into imitation crab. Anacortes is also home to SeaBear, a company that ships a full line of seafood to customers in all 50 states and has a store in the city.

The Port of Anacortes

360-293-3134 www.portofanacortes.com

The Port of Anacortes operates the 950-slip Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes Airport and a 30-acre marine terminal.

Major tenants include Dakota Creek Industries, Cortland Puget Sound Rope, Northwest Marine Technology, and Micro Aerodynamics. There are five port commissioners who serve four-year terms.

Median home price

Skagit County: $310,000 Anacortes: $425,000 (Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service)

Library

Anacortes Public Library

1220 10th St. 360-293-1910 www.anacorteswa.gov/220/Library

The Anacortes Public Library offers more than books — it is also a thriving community center, a showcase for art, a computer lab and a venue for films, music, lectures and events.

The 1910 Carnegie Library building 28

Shopping

Most stores are along Commercial Avenue, from just past the roundabout at the entrance to town to near the Guemes Channel.

The arch at 10th Street welcomes you to Historic Downtown Anacortes, which is filled with locally owned shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Anacortes has a wide range of service and retail businesses, including two major grocery stores, several drug stores, two large hardware stores, a lumberyard and a furniture store.

Auto dealerships are in the commercial area along Highway 20 entering town.

The nearest shopping mall is Cascade Mall in Burlington, less than 30 minutes away.

Movies served Anacortes readers and researchers more than 50 years, until the library moved into the old hospital building at Ninth Street and M Avenue in 1968.

That facility served the community 35 years.

The community passed a bond in 2000 and the spacious new $6.9 million facility opened in January 2003.

Since then, the community has lavished the facility with resources, such as artwork, a bequest from the Manieri family for a jazz collection and an anonymous gift for a maritime collection.

Volunteers help with library tasks, raise money, put on programs and sell books in the FriendShop.

Friends of the Library: Call the library Anacortes Public Library Foundation: Email aplfmember@gmail.com

Media

Newspapers Anacortes American, weekly

901 Sixth St., Anacortes 360-293-3122 goanacortes.com

Skagit Valley Herald, daily

1215 Anderson Road, Mount Vernon 360-424-3251 goskagit.com

Television/Public Access Channel 10, Anacortes City’s government access channel broadcasting City Council meetings, public notices, community events and related programming.

Anacortes Cinemas (Three screens)

415 O Ave. 360-293-6620 farawayentertainment.com

Social services

The Salvation Army

3001 R Ave. 360-293-6682

Assists people with food boxes from its food bank, rental assistance, energy assistance and gas for transport in a medical emergency.

Anacortes 100 Food Bank

512 Fourth St. 360-293-6445

Anacortes Family Center

1011 27th St. 360-293-2993 anacortesfamily.org

The emergency shelter provides nine temporary housing units for homeless single women and families.

During a limited stay, residents receive support from a case manager as they build skills they need to transition out of homelessness.

Transitional housing with an additional nine units opened in 2017.

Gentry House Adult Day Care

1208 Seventh St. 360-755-1235 www.skagitadultdayprogram.org

Gentry House offers a safe, nurturing and fun place where people with Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions can stay for a few hours while their family members get a respite.

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Health care

Island Hospital

1211 24th St. 360-299-1300 islandhospital.org

Publicly owned Island Hospital offers big-hospital services at its small acute-care facility. With 43 beds, it is the smallest hospital in Washington with Level III Trauma care accreditation (Level II for stroke).

The Emergency Department’s entrance on 26th Street is best reached from Commercial Avenue.

A certified ER physician and trained emergency nurses are on duty 24 hours a day.

Also known as Skagit County Public Hospital District No. 2, Island Hospital serves western Skagit County, north Whidbey Island and the San Juan Islands.

The main hospital campus and family care clinics are in Anacortes. Island Hospital has more than 190 boardcertified physicians. T he Walk-In Clinic at Island Hospital is open every day.

Since it was built in 1962, Island Hospital has grown with the community. A major renovation and expansion was completed in 2008, funded largely by a $30.5 million voterapproved bond. A Medical Arts Pavilion housing cancer care, wound care and physical therapy services opened in 2012.

The hospital’s spectrum of services includes inpatient and outpatient surgery, a birth center, acute and critical care, respiratory care, pain management, onsite lab services, cancer care, rehabilitation services and wound care including hyperbaric.

Diagnostic imaging includes MRI and CT scanning, Dual Energy X-ray, mammography and nuclear medicine.

Other Services Walk-In Clinic, 2511 M Ave., Suite B, 360-299-4211, offers care for common health concerns. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on holidays (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).

Health Resource Center, 1211 24th St., 360-299-1397, offers support and education such as free SHIBA insurance counseling, support groups, health classes and free/low-cost screenings. goanacortes.com

WHERE THE ADVENTURE BEGINS! Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center, Medical Arts Pavilion, 1015 25th St., 360-899-4600, offers wound healing services.

The Merle Cancer Care Center, in the upper level of the Medical Arts Pavilion, 1015 25th St., 360-299-4200, is accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Physicians and nurses have specialized cancer care training and certification.

The center offers chemotherapy, medication administration and blood product transfusion.

Island Hospital Sleep Wellness Center, 1110 22nd St., 360-299-8676, has a board-certified sleep disorders physician.

Island Hospital Foundation 360299-4201 islandhospitalfoundation.org Island Hospital Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy, in the Medical Arts Pavilion, 1015 25th St., 360293-1328, is a comprehensive center helping patients manage pain, restore function and prevent further injury.

Island Hospital Auxiliary: Meets 11:30 a.m. for lunch followed by speakers at noon and a regular meeting at 12:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month from October through June in the hospital’s Fidalgo/Burrows rooms. 360-299-4201

Senior center

Anacortes Senior Activity Center

1701 22nd St. 360-293-7473 www.anacorteswa.gov/556/Senior-Activity-Center

The center offers a variety of activities for the senior population, including exercise classes, billiards and bridge, art lessons, information sessions and wellness activities.

It also serves lunch on weekdays.

(Donation encouraged)

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Education and schools Anacortes School District

2200 M Ave. (upstairs) 360-293-1200 www.asd103.org

The Anacortes School District has an early childhood education center (for birth to kindergarten), three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. It offers an alternative program at Cap Sante High School and a community college partnership through Running Start. The district’s enrollment is around 2,700 students, and its budget is about $36 million. The district is overseen by an elected five-member board.

Unlike many other districts that place students in schools based on where they live, the Anacortes School District has open enrollment. Families can request which school they want their child to attend. Test scores are consistently above the state’s average.

Cap Sante High School is an alternative program offering different options for students in grades 9-12.

Running Start is a partnership between Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon and area high schools. It allows eligible high school juniors and seniors to take college level courses tuition-free.

Students get high school and college credit for completed classes.

• Whitney Early Childhood Education Center, 1200 M Ave. 360-293-9536 • Fidalgo Elementary School, 13590 Gibralter Road 360-293-9545 • Island View Elementary School, 2501 J Ave. 360-293-3149 • Mount Erie Elementary School, 1313 41st St. 360-293-9541 • Anacortes Middle School, 2202 M Ave. 360-293-1230 • Anacortes High School, 1600 20th St. 360-293-2166

• Cap Sante High School, 1717 J Ave. 360-293-1225 Salish Sea Deaf School www.salishseadeafschool.org

The private school teaches grades K-12.

Northwest Career and Technical Academy

nwtech.k12.wa.us

The Northwest Career and Technical Academy has a satellite campus in Anacortes that focuses on marine skills technology, construction and aerospace.

It is a partnership between Skagit Valley College and county high schools. The center is a place where students can gain marine and aerospace skills needed to enter the work force and have livingwage jobs. The facility includes four primary labs with adjoining teacher offices and physical and visual connections to a central project area that links to a covered outside work area.

Higher education Skagit Valley College

skagit.edu

Offers two-year degrees in nearby Mount Vernon, about 20 miles from Anacortes.

Western Washington University

wwu.edu

The nearest four-year college, about 40 miles north in Bellingham.

Anacortes Senior College

seniorcollege.org

The Anacortes Senior College, which offers low-cost classes in fall, winter and spring terms to adults 50 years and older, works to provide enjoyable learning experiences and social networking for seniors.

2018 Anacortes Visitors & Newcomers Guide

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Get Involved In Your Community & Have FUN Doing It!

1544872

or email us at FIR.theFunClub@gmail.com

DOING GOOD IN THE

For more information visit FidalgoRotary.org

NEIGHBORHOOD

Meet up for laughs, coffee & breakfast on Tuesday mornings 7:00 am Anacortes Yacht Club 504 7th Street