10 Things To Do In Anacortes, Washington (My Hometown!)

[@TheLo500]

You missed Mt Erie- you have to do Mt. Erie- but you hit it! Thanks.

[@jimrebr]

I was waiting for Mt. Erie too, Bowman Bay & Whistle Lake are a must visit also!!

[@discotequilasunset]

microphones reference

[@Yooyangs]

The trees have grown up and are blocking the view of the refineries etc on Erie

[@TheRylum]

I've been in the Army the past 13 years and haven't been home in years! It was so good to see this video and show my daughters all the amazing sights.

[@lewisnostredame5605]

amazing!

[@textingqueenforever]

I just moved to Anacortes on Friday and I'm so excited to start going to these new places

[@spoonie4yoursoup]

textingqueenforever I’m very late but I hope you’re enjoying it here! :D It’s a very lovely area and has an amazing community!

[@lazylola4645]

I live in Anacortes!

[@AnthonyPieroni]

Me too!!! Just moved here last week.... 🤣

[@ToddJumper]

I am from the east coast but have been living here in Anacortes going on 2 years now. Its beautiful and amazing. So many people here take it for granted.. Ive talked to locals who rarely visit some of the areas. I am used to Pennsylvania farmland. The energy here is so grounding. I just hiked the full loop for the first time today.

[@darken69]

Anacortes has gotten worse over the years with the traffic and has become overpopulated. It's sad really. I still love it here, don't get me wrong, I just wish it wasn't so crowded.

[@Yooyangs]

Yeah, I'm from there, graduated HS, and it has gotten too big for my liking and what's up with all the round-a-bouts?

[@smashapickles]

This was such a helpful video (and the comment section as well). My boyfriend and I ended up going whale watching with Island Adventures and we saw so many orcas. Such a blast! Thank you!

[@MJack2255]

I'll be in Anacortes in a few weeks for vacation. Going to the wolf encounter but plan on spending the day in Anacortes/Deceptions Pass.

[@shilohpacheco9447]

The bowling alley was the spot back n the day.

[@soggyolly]

OML I AM IN ANACORTES

[@leannhansen687]

Loved this! Makes me miss A-Town ❤️

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

Hi LeAnn! ;) Glad you enjoyed reminiscing

[@donaldtharp]

Yes! It is a hot tourist spot now. And the real estate here has gone crazy! If your parents still have their house in Anacortes you are probably a millionairess.

[@riyashussain7406]

You could probably help the anacortes magazine: ".. Get involved in Anacortes Magazine! We are currently looking for local writers, photographers and event coordinators. .."

[@Misszumicat]

thanks for the video. Can you recommend any places to stay there? I'm going on a kayaking trip on San Juan Island but will stay here for 1-2 nights too.

[@seannewhouse1549]

Grandma & grandpa lived on Carolina street at south anacortes till 1993 many good memories from the 1970s till then there

[@amyhouston8842]

I used to go to Island Video with a parent and rent Watership Down & they had a weird one called Plague Dogs. 🤷‍♀️ I was a nerd. I think the puppy is a German Shepherd mix.

[@elshaitan1057]

My Grandma & Grandma graduated high school there. It's a great town!

[@elshaitan1057]

My Grandma and Grandpa grew up and graduated from Anacortes high in the 1930s. I'm a life long resident of WA state.

[@sikandar9381]

I miss Anacortes people.lovely I live there's for 4 years.

[@ZulkSOD]

Lowkey throwing shade at Guemes lol

[@bffgaming8091]

Anacortes is my home and it makes me realize how much I take for granted

[@Coolramvishnu]

Puppy is so soo cute!!

[@juliawilson9089]

I visited Anacortes, along with the other islands and around the area over the holidays this past year and it was absolutely stunning! And yes, I can account that there were lots of tourists, especially at Deception Pass! Beautiful place. My favorite town we saw was Port Townsend, it was very quaint!

[@Sheikah_Mage25]

My best friend told me a Astronaut is from Anacortes I was like whoa and showed me photos from Anacortes - I fell in love 😍 I wanna visit Anacortes one day ❣️

[@amyhouston8842]

Burl Ives lived in Anacortes too. You might need to Google that one, but he sang classic Christmas songs.

[@j357910]

It was one of astronauts that died in the challenger launch.

[@Sheikah_Mage25]

Jonathan Ewing hmm it was a Columbia Astronaut I remember my friend saying it.

[@j357910]

Anastasiya McCool Anastasiya McCool thats right I just looked at my patch I just watch a documentary of the challenger that’s why it was in my head

[@Sheikah_Mage25]

Jonathan Ewing that’s fine brother, I get like that as well 🤙🏾😂

[@StarK1a]

Omg I think I know those kids xD because I live in Burlington but go to anacortes school district

[@I.love.chease]

Papiz M3mes howdy han ah ͠° ) ͜ʖ ( ͠°

[@chychy7559]

Rockfish is where I always went when we went to visit my granpa. He lived in Anacortes his whole life and was a welder, even did the iron fences and door handles of Rockfish.

[@KG-jt6td]

I just moved here and Washington park is peak beauty, so many spots to park with a nice view, beach, hiking trails. I also love driving to the top of the "rich" houses hill the view is INCREDIBLE can't believe I get to live here!!!

[@cheemania2157]

I am 12 and I live in anacortes!!! It is so cool they there are people who even mention this small town.

[@silasandersongraves1600]

I'm from Anacortes

[@MsJt05]

me too

[@j357910]

Same

[@angelusnielson7135]

@@j357910 ditto.

[@alangordon4186]

Nice, thank you.

[@mh0862]

Anacortes, named for Anne Curtis Bowman, wife of early settler of Fidalgo Island. Was recently virtually transferred to Skagit & Whatcom counties. After doing some street views, decided to search for some videos of these areas. Anacortes and Oak Harbor are beautiful. And to think I passed up a physical job on Whidbey Island some 20 years ago 😥

[@TheSweetcakes91]

Traveling there now! Because of my name lol

[@MrCannibalanimal]

Ana Cortes is quite beautiful.

[@bayliemcmurray4458]

I live in Anacortes

[@maggiescanyon]

Lucky

[@hannahellis6177]

😂 the pig war lmao. That was my grandpa's favorite little tidbit of PNW history

[@Golfnut_2099]

You got lucky... You were in the PNW on one of the VERY FEW days that it did not rain!!!!!

[@richardperkins3460]

Spending two nights in Anacortes on our way to San Juan island and Olympic national park. Nice video

[@kallasusort2986]

Deception Pass my favorite place on Mother Earth. I am now a senior living in Senior Housing across the street from Cap Sante - water view and of the dog park, also in the Historic section of Anacortes. Love it

[@jeffjorgensen3294]

GREAT VIDEO

[@arunachulashiva]

Thanks. Love your bubbly personality. Thinking of moving there so this was really helpful.

[@jdods8398]

My father' and my grandmother live there. My favorite place in the world! Tide pools, Stroms shrimp, Baker lake.

[@zz44ppppp]

It's so beautiful there!

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

Agreed! Glad you enjoyed watching

[@Angel268201]

I studied at Shannon Point. I love Anacortes and the people were awesome! ♥️

[@brianshearlock4332]

I'll be there in August, can't wait. Thank you for the great video!!

[@Coolramvishnu]

'Jumanji the hunted' the first one, with Robbin williams and kirstent Dunst as a child, that was the movie, I really can't count the number of times I watched, and made my elder cousins to watch too, when I watched again and again 😸😸 btw, loved this video and mount daiblo one too, I wanted to see more of California, if you could make those videos more!

[@JohnLScottAnacortes]

Bellingham is a great airport option along with Everett now too! Great video about Anacortes.

[@joelseda5803]

awesome personality sharing the hotspots in your hometown. ty

[@shilohpacheco9447]

I miss Anacortes I spent summers with my mom there growing up.

[@BethanysAnimalcrew1982]

My home town as well, beautiful footage we are so blessed to have been born in such a beautiful place 🤗☮️❤️

[@JFlip27]

Growing up I did not appreciate Anacortes as much as I do now that I live in Vegas I miss sceneries and the green, when ever I visit Anacortes I visit in April so I can go to the Tulip festival

[@steveharness9925]

Thanks for the video. It brought back a lot of memories. My family moved to Anacortes in the summer of 1955 from Texas as my Dad was transferred to the new Shell Oil refinery. We first lived at 1908 10th Street, just about across the street from the castle house is now. I was 5 years old and my brother was 7. We used to go down to Guemes Channel to watch the ships come in. Also, we played in fishing boats that were left in vacant lots. It's amazing how much freedom we were allowed! We only lived there a month before moving to Broadview Drive, where we lived until 1966, so most memories are of Mt. Erie and Heart Lake.

[@steveharness9925]

My first school field trip was in 1st grade from Mt. Erie Elementary to Washington Park. I remember the gnarled and twisted tree you show at 09:48 in the video and am surprised it is still there!

[@steveharness9925]

OOPS! We lived at 1938 10th Street. 1908 10th Street IS the "Anacortes Castle"! www.dupontcastle.com/castles/anacorte.htm

[@angelacramer644]

The Store in downtown historic Anacortes Washington is a wonderful cafe.

[@maggiescanyon]

Wow this is a really great video.

[@Coolramvishnu]

Such a beautiful place...is this somewhere near Forks? I see whole Twilight vibe going on there☀️

[@ecmcomichael1]

Lauren, I have only about 1 1/2 years to go until I retire, and out of all the places on the planet, I think this would be a marvelous place to live. The problem is convincing my wife to leave family in the local area. We live near Portland and it's just getting too big and too much traffic and too much crime. I think having the ferries at your disposal is a huge plus, plus all these wonderful San Juan Islands to explore. My wife and I have bicycled the circumference of San Juan Island, but I like the thought of bicycling Guemes, Orcas, and Lopez Islands, too, as well as Vancouver Island, and all the wonderful towns around the Olympic peninsula. Since this is your hometown, what would you say are the biggest advantages to living there, and the biggest liabilities from your point of view? I like the idea of living in Washington because it is more tax friendly than Oregon and tidier in my opinion. Neither my wife or I will need to work because I believe we've prepared properly for this retirement phase of our lives, so jobs are no issue. I look forward to your response! Clever video!

[@spoonie4yoursoup]

I hope everything is well with you and your wife, and Anacortes is a very lovely retiring community, and community in general! If you guys are into biking, Anacortes is a wonderful option! The trails up here are absolutely outstanding especially around the lakes (I’d definitely recommend the loop around Little Cranberry!), the beaches are also gorgeous, Washington park is breathtaking at sunset. While the prices for houses out here are quite high, if you are fine with something like a duplex or even condos you’ll find it’s a bit more reasonable and has outstanding views as a plus! Anyways I don’t know if this will help you all that much, but Anacortes is an outstanding retiring community, and you’d be all the welcome here. Hope you have a fantastic night! :)

[@KMVlogs]

that forest looks so calm, i can get amazing drone shots there

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

I bet you could! I would love to see drone footage of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands :)

[@jimrebr]

I was waiting for Mt. Erie, a must go visit, I always take visitors there. Bowman Bay is the best beach on Fidalgo Island, also Whistle Lake is gorgeous! Have seen Orcas while kayaking off San Juan, picnicking at Washington Park & on Island Adventures Whale Watching boat. I agree on the restaurant recommendations, the Greek Islands is awesome, Calico Kitchen & Ghere-a-Deli’s, also Frida’s & El Jinete’s! I watched that fire on back side of Little Lake Cranberry, in August 2016, all day, trying to pack for vacation.

[@duhitsjuliet]

aaayy! I live in Oakland but I grew up in Anacortes, about to move back there

[@heatherthomas6382]

Shared. 🖤🖤🖤

[@Zeebelzorb]

anacortes is fun, i live there

[@jessiehorne]

Jenna is mostly gold lab/germ Shepard ... if you spread her toes I would believe there will be webs between them. Nice scenery during the video. I watched Tom and Jerry on TV when I was young due to not having anything else ..

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

OOoo I'll have to ask my parents to report on the webbed toes! Love Tom and Jerry :) We watched a lot of that and the Coyote vs Roadrunner clips as kids!

[@restorationvacations-vacat2096]

I do videos around Blairsville GA and the East coat of Central Florida. This video was a lot of fun to watch and I picked up a few pointers too!

[@channellenarducci8211]

I’m going this summer to see my grandma and she wants to take me to Canada

[@aprilcarlson6440]

I love it here in Anacortes❤❤🤘🤘

[@CocinandoconMartha121]

Hi Lauren! Thank you for this video :) You're so relatable and fun! I am planning a trip with my family by the end of June and really want to go whale watching. What is the company/tour you recommend we take?

[@ebolian.8147]

The dog looks a dachshund mix

[@steveharness9925]

How did you manage to leave out Mount Erie? When I was a kid living on the south side of Anacortes in the 1950s and '60s one of our favorite things to do was to take a bike hike out Heart Lake Road and then climb Mount Erie. The view is incredible. You can see the "island on an island" in Lake Campbell and, on a clear day, manage to see Mount Rainier to the south and the Olympic Mountains to the southwest. Going back down Mount Erie was always a thrill with our backpedal bike brakes, which got so hot your spit would boil on the hub. Don't miss Mount Erie!

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

Such a good piece of advice! It wasn’t somewhere we went often but it’s so gorgoeus

[@qwer12345table]

... I think it should be no. 1 on the list.

[@MurdockEx]

Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook was the VHS tape that got repeat views in my childhood. Another fantastic video! Keep up the good work.

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

Haha nice!! Gotta love the muppets :)

[@maybeerainmaybeesnow]

Thanks for the info!

[@seannewhouse1549]

I picked strawberries near there in 1983 when I was 15 y.o while staying at they're place which she sure liked for her canning but not so fun for me

[@j357910]

Wild strawberry’s still grow on the back side of cap Santa

[@nickefgen9219]

Anacortes is losing is small town charm because of so many people moving there. I’ve lived here for over 40 years and miss how it use to be. It’s getting to crowded now

[@svetlanaboldin8671]

Hi, Ms. Lauren - thank you for the video! Your town looks amazing 💖 Can you, please let me know about the weather in your town in summer? Is it hot? How high are usual temperatures in July/August? Is it humid? How hight temps are tolerated in summer? And, if people have to use air conditioners in summer? This information is important for me, so I will appreciate your response a lot

[@dianal32]

Very cool... I love your style!

[@hippojuice23]

Dad's Diner!

[@shelbybecoming4984]

Frank and I are going home in July and I told him LITERALLY the one thing we have to do , if nothing else, is go to Washington Park. That place was my life - for my whole life - until I moved away. I talk about it all the time and miss it so much. And it is weird, we have some friends who "go on vacation" to Anacortes. Like... what? My hometown? Why? Haha PS: My movie jams were too many to count (literally anything musical), but the weirdest ones were The Kingdom Chums: Original Top Ten and Babes In Toyland (with Keanu Reeves and Drew Barrymore when they were kids!)

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

I love Washington Park so much!!! It's gorgeous. The ACFL trail that goes around Little Cranberry lake is that for me, but I think just because our house was down the street :) Haha really?! It's actually a vacation destination!! I'm so curious how far people travel to go to Anacortes. At least you didn't grow up on Neverending Story. That is some creepy sh**!

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

The dog breed in question is Hines 57 and that's the best breed there is.

[@dondadathedon130]

I went out there once. And for one time in my life being somewhere. I was scared. I life in the city where I be around shoot outs and all types of shit but this place was weird. And my girl didn't like it either. We both just hated it . Super weird energy on that island I would never go out there again.

[@adamsaldivar5953]

Well am on my dads phone and I lived there

[@jasperbillie3294]

I think anacortes is still like just there, I rarely go out there lol it's like aberdeen, nobody goes there but they go through it to get to ocean shores lol

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

Ok that makes way more sense than it being hottt destination 😂

[@davidskeels1511]

Hey thanks for the video. I grew up in Bothell and living in North Seattle now. Hate it. Want to live in a small town. Do you mind if I head your way? Not a Microsoft guy or Amazon exec. Just a person looking for a good life. You didn't mention the best barber shop in town😊

[@aprilcarlson6440]

U forgot Village Pizza for dinner

[@aprilcarlson6440]

U also forgot The Store Grocery

[@thelocaldumboz3091]

I’m going there next weeeek

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

How was it??

[@Azeez396]

Helloo, would you be able to kayak with killer whales off of Anacortes instead of going to San Juan Islands or do they not frequent that area?

[@elshaitan1057]

Additional. You forgot. Fort Casey Fildago drive in The many cemetaries in the area Seafarers memorial park Etc.

[@birdlynn417]

She did a nice job, thank you. I lived in Coupeville, but moved away but I loved driving through Anacortes, wish I spent more time there. Perhaps I will return. Those ferry trips I was looking to go on. Awesome opportunities. How about the oil tanks??? (scary)

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

🤷🏻‍♀️ there are a lot of people making money off the local natural resources

[@macarenavalladares2730]

My husband just arrived to anacortez he is going to work at the refineries we are from texas ,,, in case you see a white Toyota Tundra 2008 ha ha

[@laurenrenteria7197]

My fiancé and I are traveling to Seattle at the end of the month & are interested in exploring Anacortes & Friday Island. Do you know if there’s a place we can park our car in Anacortes, so that we can just island hop? Not have to worry about taking the car on the ferry. There’s not a lot of information online. 🙃

[@user-xr8rb1it4l]

Puppy is Shepherd Mix (not sure with what.) Thanks for the video. What's the name of the Sushi place and what's the name of the place where they have that gorgeous Salmon?

[@christieholland8734]

I used to watch Nemo over and over again😂

[@info84pc41]

I want to check out this Cave, what is the name and address > thx

[@grobadongguk]

Who in the heck gave this a thumbs down!!??!??!

[@rockymnthodad3047]

likely someone who lives there and doesn't want the town 'over run'.. just a thought...

[@ekinsutezel1520]

Sorry can I ask a question to you? What is the prices for ferrys going to the Friday Harbour from Anacortes?🤗🤗🤗

[@shaneshardlow8939]

Where is the cave located

[@amyhouston8842]

Cap Santa, like Santa Claus. I grew up there, graduated in '99 💕

[@MrCannibalanimal]

I'm from there too, back in 1992 I was going to Island View Elementary School. I loved hanging out at the bowling alley as an 11 year old.. drinking coffee with 6 sugar packets and eating the bowling alley French fries and dipping them in starter sauce. Also playing the arcade in the bowling ally. The 1st Mortal Combat and NBA Jam

[@MrCannibalanimal]

I've lived on each corner of the USA since I was 11 and Anacortes is my favorite. I miss it and wish I could go back. I miss mount Baker in the distance.

[@coletportz]

I’m from Anacortes!

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

When did you graduate AHS? Do I know you!

[@jme_klein9566]

The Greek islands changed owners and sucks now ;( the new owners were mean too. They even refused service to a fully covered woman/baby who was breast feeding. Anyway… they are closed officially now.

[@telosfd]

No snows to Anacortes?

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

It snows here. Last year, in the winter of 2019 -2020 we got a thirteen inch snow. Thats unusual here but not rare. We've had more than that in the past.

[@dlandis8146]

looks like a.nice place for us to retire in s few years.

[@LaurenWithoutFear]

It's definitely a good retirement spot :)

[@Yooyangs]

Bring money

[@jasonbailey60]

Hey, this might sound like an odd question but.. I'll be moving to Anacortes really soon for work and was curious as to if they're fond of people of color out there? I know it sounds like an odd question but it's honestly something I've been worried about.

[@zanym8088]

how has it been? I'm in Oakland CA .. I'm white but appreciate diversity and definitely don't want to deal with rascists.

[@adamsaldivar5953]

Live*

[@lexhughes2867]

She has belgian malinois in her