Through Anacortes and La Conner, the Long Way Home

After four days exploring Whidbey Island, it was time to go home. However, we didn’t want to just drive straight home. This was an opportunity to spend a little more time exploring some of the towns in this region. We would take the long way home. If you remember, we took the ferry coming over to Whidbey Island. For our return trip we would go around the north end to catch the freeway going south.

People leave Whidbey Island when they cross Deception Pass Bridge. What they don’t always realize is that they are crossing over to another island, Fidalgo Island. The Swinomish Channel separates Fidalgo Island from the mainland. An arching bridge passes over the channel on Highway 20, but it’s easy to think it’s just a river below and not realize one is crossing from an island to the mainland.

The main city on Fidalgo Island is Anacortes. We headed there to check out the town. It had been some time since we had visited there. People probably know Anacortes best as the location of the ferry terminals to Washington’s San Juan Islands and to Vancouver Island, Canada. (At the time of this post, August 2022, Washington Ferries were not offering service to Canada.) The terminal is just west of Anacortes and is a busy terminal, especially in the summer months. Visitors wanting to take the ferry to these places need to make reservations to secure a spot on the ferry. Information about the ferry system is located at the Washington State Ferries website.

We arrived in Anacortes late in the morning and walked around the downtown area. The town was fairly busy. There are a number of interesting shops around, but it seems that the main type of business is restaurants. The restaurants along the main street seemed to generally be busy. Some were housed in one of the various old brick buildings which graced the downtown streets.

  • Entrance and departure sign over the main street in Anacortes, Washington
  • Old brick building with large windowed storefront on the bottom in Anacortes, Washington
  • Two story brick building with arched windows on the second floor in Anacortes, Washington
  • The Anacortes Cinema front with cut outs of well know movie characters on the wall
  • Three story Wilson Hotel brick building in Anacortes, Washington
  • Old Eagles brick building with a large arched entrance in Anacortes, Washington

One of the interesting things Anacortes has done is to create an ode to its history and people. Throughout the town artists have painted cutouts of historical figures of the town and put them onto bland walls. A few are in view from the main drag, but most are seen on the side streets where there are blank walls. Signs indicate the names of some. The cutouts even represent children. A few have QR codes so you can get further information on your phone. It’s a fun and interesting way to add something different to the town and create some interest in its history.

  • Cutout figures of two men in aprons in front of an old car along with a soldier and a priest on a wall in Anacortes, Washington
  • A couple with a dog at their feet are featured cutouts on a wall in Anacortes, Washington
  • Woman in a blue dress, Eliza Shwarz is depicted in a painted cutout on a wall in Anacortes, Washington
  • Nine family members fill a car in a painted cutout on a wall in Anacortes, Washington
  • In front of a door a man in a white shirt and bow tie stands cross armed depicted in a cutout in Anacortes, Washington
  • Yvonne Bessner is pictured as a child in a toy car on a painted cutout on a building wall in Anacortes, Washington

On Saturdays the town accommodates a Farmer’s Market a few blocks to the east of the main street. I think the term Farmer’s Market is rather loosely applied here. We went over to see what was going on. There were a few food trucks, a few stands with produce, and lots of places selling everything else. In many ways it seemed more like an art show than a Farmer’s Market. The place was quite busy with a large crowd milling around so it seems to be a successful way to bring people into the town.

People shopping among the canopy covered booths at the Farmers Market in Anacortes, Washington
Looking down the rows of booths at the Farmers Market in Anacortes, Washington

The market was near the marina so we walked along its edge. Anacortes has done a nice job with this waterfront. There were some restaurants and a few shops here which would attract people to this part of town. For history and maritime buffs there is the Maritime Heritage Center along with an historical boat on display called the W. T. Preston Snagboat, a steam powered sternwheeler boat. I had never heard of a snagboat before. Apparently they are a specialized boat that travels rivers and channels removing debris that would hinder navigation. Built in 1939, The Preston is the only remaining snagboat on the west coast. We did not go into the Maritime Center, but it is free. However there is a charge to go on the boat.

  • The paddlewheel end of the W. T. Preston, a snagboat on display in Anacortes, Washington
  • A view of the front end of the W. T. Preston, a snagboat on display near the marina in Anacortes, Washington
  • Near the waterfront in Anacortes, Washington where a memorial stands to honor men who died at sea
  • A mother and baby giraffe made of wood stand next to a tree near the waterfront in Anacortes, Washington
  • Looking east over the marina and its many boats in Anacortes, Washington
  • Three small buildings with food service and places to sit near the waterfront of Anacortes, Washington

After visiting Anacortes, we continued our journey home the long way by stopping in La Conner. La Conner is another popular weekend spot for Seattlites who want to get out of the city. La Conner lies on the eastern side of the Swinomish Channel so one can look across to see Fidalgo island on the other side. On the south side of La Conner, tourists can see the Rainbow Bridge which crosses over the Swinomish Channel. It is somewhat of an iconic symbol for the town.

  • Boats docked in the Swinomish Channel along the edge of La Conner, Washington
  • Looking across the Swinomish Channel to a park on the other shore in Washington
  • A few small boats tied to a small dock in the Swinomish Channel in La Conner, Washington
  • A lot of traps on the other side of the Swinomish Channel on Fidalgo Island, Washington
  • A boat docked next to La Conner, Washington which is loaded with traps to put out in the water.
  • The rainbow bridge which crosses the Swinomish Channel from La Conner, Washington

We used to come to La Conner at least once a year, but it has been a while since we have walked the sidewalks around town. This time, there was something new to walk on, a boardwalk. The boardwalk was opened in 2015 and runs along the Swinomish Channel giving visitors a chance to be near the water. Before the boardwalk visitors could only reach the water’s edge in a few places between buildings. The boardwalk also seemed to have opened up dining opportunities as well. As we walked along the boardwalk, we passed a lot of restaurant tables along the edge of the boardwalk where diners could view the water.

The boardwalk is made of kind of a grid pattern but is easy to walk on. There are also benches here and there for visitors to sit and look out over the water. It is really a huge addition to the town and makes it a much more scenic place to visit.

  • A sign over the end of the boardwalk saying Channel Passage in La Conner, Washington
  • Looking north along the boardwalk and the Swinomish Channel in La Conner, Washington
  • Boats and the Rainbow Bridge are viewed from the boardwalk along the Swinomish Channel in La Conner, Washington

The town has a number of interesting shops. Those selling art of various forms were quite common as well as businesses selling beauty products. However, again, the main energy seemed to come from the various restaurants, which all seemed quite busy on an early Saturday afternoon. People seemed happy to be out and about in this waterfront town.

  • An old brick building with a sign indicating the Puget Sound Museum along the main street in La Conner, Washington
  • Above a clothing boutique in La Conner, Washington an old sign says Palace Meat Market
  • Pier 7 sign indicating a shopping area in La Conner, Washington
  • Nasy Jack's Antique Store with a large eagle painted at the top sits on the corner in La Conner, Washington

From La Conner we drove through the Skagit County farms to the freeway. I think many people thing of the area as just selling tulips and daffodils in the spring. However, driving through the valley in July, it is apparent that there are many other crops being grown here. It is definitely agriculture country.

I mentioned in my first post regarding this trip that my son said there was nothing on Whidbey Island. I think we proved him wrong. Our walk on the bluff at Ebey’s Landing is one of the most beautiful hikes that we have done. The other parks we visited offered a nice variety of sights and experiences. If one includes Deception Pass State Park in the mix, one would have to conclude that Whidbey Island really does have a lot to offer and is a great example of the diversity of activities and landscapes that exist in the Northwest. Check it out. The views are awaiting.

Thanks to all who have read through the blog posts regarding Whidbey Island. It really was a good experience. If you have any final comments or questions, be sure to put them in the comment section below. Next week my daughter Andrea is going to take over the blog for a few weeks as she shares about her latest adventure without her dear old dad. Don’t miss it. Subscribe if you haven’t yet done so.

  2. Jerry and Eva
    – Reply

    Eva and I were in MV high school together and I worked in the fields of the “flats” in high school and also the cannery in MV. Before tulips, peas were the main crop in the 1940s, but it has shifted to corn and tulips, so to speak. You gave a very nice description of the Valley.

    Deception Pass State Park is probably one of the best parks in the country for plain beauty.

    In Anacortes I hope you went out on 12th St. past the ferry dock and into the park at the end of the street. Plus you should take the 3-mile drive and see the views there as well.

    We lived at 19th and M in Anacortes for a dozen years before moving to Shoreline

Share Your Travel Thoughts or Sign Up To Receive Blog Notices