When I'm in the mood for some gorgeous views over Anacortes, Cap Sante Park is one of my go-to…read morespots. Perched high on a point across the harbor from downtown, it's the perfect spot to take it all in. And with its northerly views, you can not only watch the boats arrive at the marina far below, but peer across the mountains for breathtaking sunny day views of Mount Baker, too. It also has a "lover's lane" vibe, so I'll give it an extra star for romance potential. There are a view benches, as well as rocky outperches, to sit and ponder all the beauty. Fall potential is high, so I wouldn't let little ones wander around on their own here. Parking can be a hassle on sunny days.

Went during a sunset and it was spectacular. Even saw a rainbow. There were parking spots when we…read moregot there though it was also a lot of people concerning it was already past 9PM. Wonderful views of the marina and the islands! And beautiful Mountain views.

The summit view is obscured with tall trees so it can be difficult to get a good view unless you…read morewant to do a little more hiking beyond the summit parking lot. On clear days you can see Mount Baker. There's a neat statue on top called, Mountain Guardian, with a small information placard explaining the significance of the work. It really meshes into the surrounding forest. Nice hiking overall, pretty peaceful. The road to the top is well maintained, although it's a little twisty at times so definitely do not speed or else you might wipe out, or wipe out the oncoming traffic!

Some great views with good hiking trails…read more Can get windy so you might want to bring a coat

Deception Pass State Park is a top tier gem of a state park. There's so much to see! This park…read morespans multiple islands, and of course is connected by a bunch of bridges that traverse sheer ocean cliffs with rocky beaches at the base. More inland, there are quiet old growth forests, lakes, and bluffs. I visited the tide pools at Rosario Head during one of the lowest tides of the year. From the parking lot, it's about a 10 minute walk to the tide pools, crossing a conveniently located washroom as well. Since it's so heavily trafficked, there are ropes strung about to keep visitors from trampling on recovering habitats, and also ropes that guide the way to see some tide pool critters. Some staff members were also there to answer any questions and give more information. I did a hike around Rosario Head after my tidepool visit-you get to stand on top of the bluffs and admire the bluest water and the most fluffy clouds for miles. Of course, it's among one of the most trafficked state parks in Washington, so come early if you want to easily snag a parking spot.

First, don't let the name scare you. This was our first thought when planning to come here. It was…read moregiven since there are a ton of waterways which was deceiving to visitors. Those waterways are what make this place so amazing though. Beautiful state park. Lots of scenic trails. Hike down to the water or stay high and explore the views. You can go in through the whidbey island side or the fidalgo island side. We came in through the whidbey island side and it was pretty easy. Recommend checking out the bays too. It's a nice relaxing beach day with actual sand! We camped at bowman bay. During low tide, explore the rocks and you'll find a ton of crabs. Kids loved it! Pet friendly as well. We brought our huge bernedoodle and she loved it too. Dogs must be on leash but the trails were doable with her. Mostly dirt trails without many rocks or obstacles. Weather is always hit or miss in the PNW. It did rain on us the first night but it was actually very relaxing. Remember, no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear. So gear up, come prepared, and get ready to enjoy some beautiful exploration.

Causland Park in Anacortes is a worthy little gem to visit. After so many years of visiting…read moreAnacortes, I spotted it on Google maps and dropped by. Intriguing. John Baptiste LePage (1857-1939) is the French-Canadian artist and architect who designed this unique memorial park, built from 1919 to 1921. It is now a registered national historic place. The plaque at the front of the gazebo/stage centerpiece dedicates the park in honor of Harry Leon Causland and the "brave sons of Fidalgo Guemes Decatur and Cypress Islands... who gave their lives in the Great War... 1917-1919." A second war memorial has been added with places to honor those who lost their lives in subsequent wars - World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War. Ominously, a spot sits empty on this memorial, as if to await the names from the Afghanistan 20 years war that just ended (or did it?). While the park has clearly been updated, it's quite clear what is original vs. what is new. The original portions feature different colors of stone mosaics forming 3-dimensional designs with an architectural style that favor non-angular, non-edged designs. At certain angles, they resemble Park Güell in Barcelona, i.e., the work of Antoni Gaudi. This park is lovingly well maintained. While I do not suggest driving to Anacortes just to visit this small park, I highly recommend stopping by if you are in the area.

Nice park ..lots of character, beautiful trees. Fun for…read moredogs on a leash. This is a memorial park.. Very spiritual.

This is a lovely little waterfront park and a great place to spend an hour or two if you're…read morevisiting Anacortes. The weather was absolutely gorgeous when we were here so we ended up staying longer than we expected and enjoying the views and all that this park has to offer. There is a beautiful monument you can visit, if I remember correctly it is the Seafarers' Memorial and it is what the park is named for. It's dedicated to the people of the community who have lost their lives at sea. This community has deep ties to the water and the fishing industry and I found the memorial beautifully crafted and very moving. The park had a great atmosphere and we walked around as much as we could. There were children playing in the sand on the little beach area and dipping their toes into the water. There were families picnicking and lots of gorgeous green grass to enjoy. We sat in the grass with our dog for a while. Just enjoying the sunshine and the breeze. We also found a statue called the Lady of the Sea, which really spoke to me. Between the sculptures, memorials and boats in the water. There was plenty to see and enjoy. This is the kind of place you would find me most days if I lived in this area and it was a great place to learn about the community and experience for ourselves.

Seafarers Memorial Park has the quintessential marina, industry and ocean views that PNW folk tend…read moreto love. Clean single use bathrooms, water fill up, recycling and garbage. Perfect spot to stretch before the ferry!

This was my first camping trip to Bay View in years, and my very first in the winter months. We're…read moreworking hard on our goal to camp at least once a month in 2023, so this not-too-far spot seemed like a great spot to check out on a blustery January weekend. We were lucky to snag a partial hookup (power/water) site in the first loop (sites 1-9), which features views of the bay. The campground host was kind enough to help guide us as we backed in our new trailer, which is a LOT bigger than our old one! Soon enough we were snug in our site and all hooked up. The loop eventually filled up for the weekend and was very quiet. While our site didn't have a sewer hookup, there's a dump station at the park which is free for overnight campers. There's not a lot to do at this park, it's pretty small. But the beach is gorgeous, with nighttime views across the bay to the eerily gorgeous refineries to the west. We didn't do much exploring, except for a day trip to nearby Edison for some beers and lunch.

Pretty nice place it's kind of secluded. It's very quiet and clean…read more Every one of the people there are extremely nice , The park, Rangers are excellent, very helpful and friendly , The prices are very reasonable , And the scenery is excellent .

We spent the morning at this beach and had a lovely time. The beach itself is sort of a pebble…read morebeach and although low tide was around 7:00 this morning, when we arrived just before 9 the tide was still quite low. It was perfect for viewing the tide pools. We saw lots of crabs, tadpoles, shrimp, fish and even a little sea urchin. I had forgotten how much fun it was to do things like this and it made me super nostalgic for my childhood. There were lots of people with dogs, walking along the beach and the pathways. I also really loved the Maiden of Deception Pass; both the statue and the story. On the walk from the parking area, we saw lots of birds and rabbits and it is just a really beautiful place to visit. If we lived in the area I would come here often and I recommend a stop to anyone who hasn't yet had the pleasure.

Absolutely stunning views from the bluff at this beach. A short trail that leads above the beach…read moreand gives you the opportunity to see up and down the coast. All the way towards the bridge at deception pass. And there are clean restrooms here too. Always a must when I take a drive here. Discovery Pass required. Do it! Get outside and enjoy the wonderful experience of the PNW. SYOY!

This is a great dog park with a doggy pool, water fountains for dogs, multiple poo bag dispensers…read moreand trash cans, benches in several areas, shade, lots of space for dogs to run, some slight hills, great fencing, and a smaller area for the small dogs. The dogs and owners were very polite. We had a great time. There's ample parking. Also, lots of trails around, if you fancy a hike (on leash) before or after your dog's play time. We could be regulars if we weren't on vacation.

The grass is overgrown and needs to be mowed. Otherwise, it's a nice big park and most of the folks…read morewho visit clean up after their dogs.