Carol and Curt's Guidebook
Food scene
Adrift Restaurant
510 Commercial AveNice spot for dinner in Old Town Anacortes.
Lunch spot for deli sandwiches, salads, great brownies and cinnamon rolls. Or grab take out and head out to a local park.
18 locals recommend
GERE-a-DELI
502 Commercial AveLunch spot for deli sandwiches, salads, great brownies and cinnamon rolls. Or grab take out and head out to a local park.
Dad's Diner
906 Commercial AveHouse smoked meats, good for breakfast or lunch.
Upscale restaurant for special occasion or a nice dinner out. Cozy fireplace. Bar seating or tables for drinks or meals.
36 locals recommend
A'Town Bistro
418 Commercial AveUpscale restaurant for special occasion or a nice dinner out. Cozy fireplace. Bar seating or tables for drinks or meals.
Great Food and interesting location in La Conner. The pub is more relaxed, restaurant more upscale.
7 locals recommend
The Oyster & Thistle Restaurant and Pub
205 Washington StGreat Food and interesting location in La Conner. The pub is more relaxed, restaurant more upscale.
Nell Thorn
116 1st StWaterfront dining upscale, bar seating is cozy. Great food.
Naung Mai Thai Kitchen
2216 Commercial AveBest Thai Food in our opinion.
Cool country bar and pub with great burgers. A 15 minutes drive through the valley.
12 locals recommend
Corner Pub
14565 Allen West RdCool country bar and pub with great burgers. A 15 minutes drive through the valley.
If you like fresh shrimp this is the place to go! Burgers are pricy but it's just up the road.
23 locals recommend
Shrimp Shack
6168 State Rte 20If you like fresh shrimp this is the place to go! Burgers are pricy but it's just up the road.
Cute country restaurant with great food at the base of Chuckanut Drive.
10 locals recommend
Rhododendron Cafe
5521 Chuckanut DrCute country restaurant with great food at the base of Chuckanut Drive.
City/town information
Very small town with art galleries and restaurants. Usually only open on weekends so check ahead.
31 locals recommend
Edison
Very small town with art galleries and restaurants. Usually only open on weekends so check ahead.
Small tourist town on the Swinomish Channel with shops, galleries, restaurants and the Museum of Northwest Art.
91 locals recommend
La Conner
Small tourist town on the Swinomish Channel with shops, galleries, restaurants and the Museum of Northwest Art.
Sightseeing
Tour an old snag boat, next to the Depot Arts Center and Saturday Farmer's Market.
6 locals recommend
Anacortes Wt Preston Museum
703 R AveTour an old snag boat, next to the Depot Arts Center and Saturday Farmer's Market.
A short ferry trip from Anacortes. Walk up to Anderson's General store for breakfast or lunch...or take a right off the ferry and walk to the Guemes Mountain trail head for spectacular views.
Check with the store for restaurant service and local music.
https://www.guemesislandgeneralstore.com/
Guemes Island
A short ferry trip from Anacortes. Walk up to Anderson's General store for breakfast or lunch...or take a right off the ferry and walk to the Guemes Mountain trail head for spectacular views.
Check with the store for restaurant service and local music.
https://www.guemesislandgeneralstore.com/
The Anacortes Waterfront Alliance has stand up paddle boards for rental. Call for more info:
1809 Commercial Ave, Suite 201
Anacortes, WA 98221
(360) 230-8112
Kiwanis Waterfront Park
The Anacortes Waterfront Alliance has stand up paddle boards for rental. Call for more info:
1809 Commercial Ave, Suite 201
Anacortes, WA 98221
(360) 230-8112
Beautiful Art Gallery in Edison with very limited hours so check the website:
https://www.smithandvalleegallery.com/
12 locals recommend
Smith & Vallee Gallery
5742 Gilkey AveBeautiful Art Gallery in Edison with very limited hours so check the website:
https://www.smithandvalleegallery.com/
Small museum featuring local artists in La Conner with a nice museum shop.
https://www.monamuseum.org/
16 locals recommend
Museum of Northwest Art
121 N 1st StSmall museum featuring local artists in La Conner with a nice museum shop.
https://www.monamuseum.org/
Whale watching is a fun way to get out on the water.
https://island-adventures.com/
29 locals recommend
Island Adventures
712 Seafarers WayWhale watching is a fun way to get out on the water.
https://island-adventures.com/
Park at Rosario Beach and visit the Maiden of Deception Pass before a short hike on the trail behind the statue. This is a favorite beach for sunset or anytime. Great tide pools at low tide.
https://deceptionpassfoundation.org/news/the-maiden-of-deception-pass/
Maiden of Deception Pass
Park at Rosario Beach and visit the Maiden of Deception Pass before a short hike on the trail behind the statue. This is a favorite beach for sunset or anytime. Great tide pools at low tide.
https://deceptionpassfoundation.org/news/the-maiden-of-deception-pass/
Point to point drive from Edison to Fairhaven, Bellingham's historic district. Amazing views.
https://www.scenicwa.com/chuckanut-drive
26 locals recommend
Chuckanut Drive
Chuckanut DrivePoint to point drive from Edison to Fairhaven, Bellingham's historic district. Amazing views.
https://www.scenicwa.com/chuckanut-drive
Great Outdoors
Deception Pass State Park has beautiful beaches, trails and an incredible view from the bridge all five minutes from the house.
For launching small boats, kayaks and SUP's go to Bowman's Bay.
For a sunset picnic try Rosario Beach. Favorite hike from Bowman's Bay is Lighthouse Point.
278 locals recommend
Deception Pass State Park
41229 State Route 20Deception Pass State Park has beautiful beaches, trails and an incredible view from the bridge all five minutes from the house.
For launching small boats, kayaks and SUP's go to Bowman's Bay.
For a sunset picnic try Rosario Beach. Favorite hike from Bowman's Bay is Lighthouse Point.
The ACFL has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. The maps can be found here:
https://www.cityofanacortes.org/588/Biking-Trail-Maps
Please download the maps or borrow the paper maps in the house, it can get confusing out there and the cell service is spotty.
Favorite hike is sugarloaf trail that takes you up to a viewpoint overlooking the San Juans.
Or you can drive to the top from the Heart Lake Road access.
14 locals recommend
Anacortes Community Forest Land
The ACFL has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. The maps can be found here:
https://www.cityofanacortes.org/588/Biking-Trail-Maps
Please download the maps or borrow the paper maps in the house, it can get confusing out there and the cell service is spotty.
Favorite hike is sugarloaf trail that takes you up to a viewpoint overlooking the San Juans.
Or you can drive to the top from the Heart Lake Road access.
Washington Park has a nice paved loop road that you can walk or drive through after 10:00am. The road is closed to vehicle traffic before 10:00 am. There is a nice beach with fire pits and picnic tables. Lot's more hiking trails. The Loop Road has a nice view of Burrows Island, sometimes you can see porpoises from there!
Washington Park Loop
Washington Park LoopWashington Park has a nice paved loop road that you can walk or drive through after 10:00am. The road is closed to vehicle traffic before 10:00 am. There is a nice beach with fire pits and picnic tables. Lot's more hiking trails. The Loop Road has a nice view of Burrows Island, sometimes you can see porpoises from there!
Kayak, SUP Rentals two locations, Bowman's Bay location is just five minutes toward Deception Pass.
https://www.blueotter.com/index.php
6 locals recommend
Blue Otter Outfitters
2009 Skyline WayKayak, SUP Rentals two locations, Bowman's Bay location is just five minutes toward Deception Pass.
https://www.blueotter.com/index.php
Farmers Markets
Beautiful nursery with a cute shop in the Valley. There is a Sunday Farmers Market next door.
7 locals recommend
Christianson's Nursery
15806 Best RdBeautiful nursery with a cute shop in the Valley. There is a Sunday Farmers Market next door.
Saturday Market until 2:00pm with lots of great produce and local crafts etc... located next to the historic Depot Arts Center and Snagboat.
20 locals recommend
Anacortes Farmer's Market
611 R AveSaturday Market until 2:00pm with lots of great produce and local crafts etc... located next to the historic Depot Arts Center and Snagboat.
Live Music
Brown Lantern
412 Commercial AveLocal pub with burgers, live music.
https://www.brownlantern.com/
Groceries
Great grocery store with local produce in Moount Vernon just off of I-5. A good stop to stock up before you arrive.
47 locals recommend
Skagit Valley Food Co-op
202 S 1st StGreat grocery store with local produce in Moount Vernon just off of I-5. A good stop to stock up before you arrive.
Gas station and convenience store with wine, beer etc just up the road for last minute items. You can also buy a crab and fishing license here.
Harold's Market
6186 State Rte 20Gas station and convenience store with wine, beer etc just up the road for last minute items. You can also buy a crab and fishing license here.