Outdoor Activities & Attractions in Anacortes
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From whale watching and kayaking to boating, fishing and wildlife viewing, Anacortes offers plenty of ways to experience the outdoors. Explore the waters surrounding Fidalgo Island, discover local marine life, take in the scenery from above, or spend time exploring historic Old Town Anacortes during your stay at Salish Inn.
Attractions & Activities Around Anacortes
Kayaking is a great way to get in touch with nature. There are many salt and freshwater kayak locations in the area, offering a chance to witness dolphins, whales, sea lions, and a vast variety of fish and birds. Visit some of the scenic island locations for a few hours or even a multi-day adventure.
Anacortes is a prime destination for boating enthusiasts. Whether you charter a sailboat or a power yacht, you have a great opportunity get up close and personal with the vast amount of wildlife thriving in the San Juan Islands. Plan an excursion with one of the many different companies operating in the area.
Whale watching in Anacortes is an extremely popular activity. Many different tour companies offer guaranteed whale sightings, and you have a great chance of seeing one of three pods of Orca whales. The water is well protected from the open ocean, so seasickness isn’t usually a problem.
Charter a flight from our local airport and enjoy an adventure with a bird’s-eye view. Most flights last around 30—45 minutes and include Fidalgo Island, the San Juan Islands, and Deception Pass, the most popular park in Washington. The airport is only five miles from downtown Anacortes.
Enjoy crabbing for delicious Dungeness crab or fishing for salmon, halibut, rockfish, lingcod, and many other varieties. Contact a local sport fishing company to find out what time of the year is best for the type of catch you’re seeking.
The area has an impressive variety of species to entertain even the most advanced bird watcher – from the thousands of snow geese that arrive in late fall to osprey, heron, swans, and even bald eagles. Every year from November to March, over 400 individual bald eagles put on a show for everyone to see.
Visit nearby Rosario Beach State Park, home to tide pools filled with sea stars, octopus, otters, seals, and many different types of fish and sea birds.
The Anacortes area is home to 2,700 acres of public forestlands. Catch a glimpse of deer, otters, raccoons, beaver, and coyote. Bring a camera and get some great shots of the local wildlife.
Old Town Anacortes boasts unique shopping, galleries, boutiques, antiques, bookstores, coffee shops, and restaurants. There is a full calendar of festivals and events, as well as a great farmer’s market that is very popular with tourists and locals.