Stay, eat, and be entertained downtown Anacortes on the bride's personal favorite weekend of the year! The arts & crafts festival engulfs all of downtown Anacortes, with vendors selling everything from jewelry to fine art to delicious food! Listen to live music for free, and enjoy local beer and wine as well! Note that most restaurants will not take reservations on this weekend; most operate on a first-come, first-served basis. All parking downtown is free. As with COVID-19, conditions and plans are ever-changing, so check our website or the event website for updates!
Visit Deception Pass State Park, where both the bride and groom grew up hiking and camping with friends and family! Park at the famous Deception Pass Bridge to check out the view and hike down to North Beach, or drive into the park to explore the trails, beaches, Cranberry Lake, and more! Note that if driving into the park, you will need a Discover Pass or you can purchase a day pass at the booth!
Anacortes features two ferry terminals: the Guemes Island Ferry Terminal (travelling only to Guemes Island) and the Anacortes Ferry Terminal (with ferries that travel throughout the San Juan Islands)! Visit their respective websites for more info, things to do, and car/bike reservations! Note that summer is the busiest season for ferry travel, so you may want to plan your trip and book ferry reservations ahead of time!
Looking for a beautiful place to walk, run, or bike? Visit one of the many trails that Anacortes has to offer! A quick Google search for the Tommy Thompson Trail, Washington Park Loop, or the Guemes Channel Trail, and you will find yourself a paved trail, anywhere from 1.2 to 3.3 miles-long, with gorgeous views of the coast along the way! Park for free at any of these locations!
Anacortes features four companies that provide excellent whale watching experiences! Visit their websites for more information and reservations: Island Adventures, Anacortes Whale Watching Tours, Blackfish Tours by Outer Island Expeditions, and Spirit of Orca Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours!
Visit Mount Erie, a gorgeous mountain in the center of Anacortes! You can hike or drive to see the beautiful views from the top! There are many more beautiful hiking trails around Anacortes; a Google search for the Anacortes Community Forest Lands will lead you to the city website with various detailed trail maps. Parking at all ACFL trail heads is free!