Tranquil Island Living Has Found Its Home in Anacortes

The small town of Anacortes has just over 16,000 residents and sits on Fidalgo Island, on the western edge of Washington state, connected to the mainland by a bridge and to the San Juan Islands and Vancouver by the Washington State Ferry system.

The gentle climate of Fidalgo Island is mild year-round and has about a-third less rain than Seattle. Anacortes attracts retirees, lovers of the outdoors, sailors and tele-commuters, the latter able to be in an "office" in their homes with a phone and an internet connection, yet in reality, enjoying island living overlooking views of Mount Baker, Guemes Island, or the Strait of San Juan de Fuca.

At ninety minutes from both Seattle and Vancouver, Fidalgo Island is in easy reach of big city life but most Anacortes residents find there's enough going on right under their noses. Anacortes has 2,200 acres of forestland, wetlands, lakes, waterfront, benches and hiking trails so outdoor enthusiasts will never be left with a dull weekend.

For those who prefer the arts, there's the ACT Community Theater, regular Skagit Symphony performances, a museum, a monthly art walk,  jazz and arts festivals, and a new multi-million-dollar library.

Whale watching, kayaking, sailing, power boating, bird watching and camping are easy to do from Anacortes, but the slower pace of life also awaits. Restaurants in town serve local fare, Thai, all-American, Mexican and Italian, and independent coffee shops and the country's leading brand are all represented. Boutiques and small stores sell everything from wool to antiques, books and cookware.

And in terms of getting away, the San Juan Islands offer a change of pace, just a 45-minute ferry ride away, or Vancouver Island is two hours to the west.

Amos Bowman founded Anacortes in 1876 and named it after his wife, Anna Curtis. For many years it was a fishing town as men headed up to the seas of Alaska for crab and other seafood. There's still an active industry in boat building and fish canning - as well as jobs in the two local oil refineries. Now, the town's history is told through a series of almost life-size figures dotted through downtown, painted by a local artist.

Anacortes has grown considerably since Anna Curtis' day, and in fact the population of Anacortes has doubled in the past 20 years, with still more room to grow. Homes are being constantly built, many overlooking the Guemes Channel, which leads to the nearest island neighbor, Guemes Island, where real estate is at a premium and high-end homes are the norm.

Within town, there are 100-year-old homes stretching beyond downtown, brand new buildings and everything in between - something, in short, to suit the needs of anyone wanting to call Anacortes home.

Anacortes is island living at its best:  Secluded yet with bridges for easy access to the world of big box stores and three-lane freeways, yet it's a small, self-sufficient town surrounded by water, mountains and a big blue sky.