Anacortes is a beautiful city in the Pacific Northwest in Washington. It is the homeport to the San Juan Islands, a unique and beautiful assortment of islands along the Washington and Canadian coast. It is considered part of Skagit County, and sits nestled on Fidalgo Island. It is surrounded by water, but is easily accessible by bridge, and is a popular destination for people of all walks of life. Whether you are just visiting, vacationing, or finding your forever home, Anacortes has a little something for everyone.

Anacortes has a huge Ferry Terminal that serves as the gateway for islands such as San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Guemes Island, and also has a ferry to Victoria in British Columbia. It is just a short drive north to Vancouver, B.C., and just a short drive south to Seattle, though you may not want to leave at all. With its unique waterfront communities and huge variety of activities, you may never want to leave. Because of the wide range of terrain available in Anacortes, visitors and residents have the option to play in the ocean, by fishing, swimming, whale watching, sailing, or kayaking, or they can explore the lush forests surrounding them by hiking, running, biking, camping, skiing or birding.

If the landscape doesn’t awe you, then maybe the actual town will. Anacortes is bustling with life, and people have the opportunity to experience everything from quirky to elegant. For example, Old Town is a popular destination for visitors because of its charm. Located just adjacent of downtown Anacortes, it is a gorgeous tree-lined neighborhood full of historic homes, and is just on the south bank of the Guemes Channel. This area is full of cute coffee shops and libraries, and is ideal for a stroll along the ocean with a cup of coffee. Old Town is known for its vintage homes, and is full of old Victorian houses and Craftsman bungalows.

Anacortes is sunnier than most of its Pacific Northwest neighbors, and offers stunning panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding islands almost anywhere you go. In April, Anacortes hosts the famous Skagit Tulip and Anacortes Art festival, which is a vibrant and popular festival based around the beauty and variety of these flowers, and celebrates the areas Dutch heritage. On the first Friday of each month, Anacortes also hosts a very popular “Art Walk.” The Art Walk is a monthly display of local artists, where anyone can stroll into a gallery or shop and admire the art with a glass of wine and a group of friends. Anacortes is proud of their reputation for particularly talented artists that focus on themes of the Northwest.

Anacortes boasts a huge variety of different restaurants. Because of its proximity to the fertile Skagit Valley, Anacortes often has the freshest fruits and vegetables available. Its waterfront location also means that local seafood is in great supply. If you are looking for variety, the city also offers a range of other cuisines, including Italian, French, Japanese, Mexican, Thai Greek and Japanese. For dessert, just stop into one of the many specialty shops for a slice of homemade fudge.

Whether you’re camping at the fully furnished campground across from the beach, staying at the historic Majestic Inn, or finding your forever home, Anacortes is a unique and beautiful place to be. With its unsurpassed views of the ocean, fertile and varied terrain, huge range of activities, and beautiful shops and dining, Anacortes is the perfect place to stay. Be warned: once you’ve been there, you won’t want to leave.

Author Bio: This article was produced by Eric Badgley; specializing in Anacortes Real Estate and Clear Lake Real Estate.http://www.bellingham-realestate.net

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: anacortes real estate, pacific northwest real estate, wasington, anacortes washington.