8 minute read
Fidalgo Island
Written and Photographed by Alyse Messmer and Illustration by Kia Harlan
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Hidden away and a 20 hour drive from California Baptist University is an island in the Pacific Northwest, about an hour and a half north of Seattle, called Fidalgo Island. Home of the small town of Anacortes, this humble island has stunning sightseeing around its coasts, great coffee and food stops, and even views of the neighboring islands, the San Juans. As this island offers visitors and locals “small town feels,” the historic town of Anacortes has many great locally-owned restaurants, shops, coffee shops and more.
Washington Park
Washington Park is on the west side of Fidalgo Island, and offers camping, beaches, a boat dock, playgrounds, covered picnic areas and a loop road through the forest around the edges of the island. Only 20 minutes from historic downtown Anacortes, the drive follows the curves of the island, showing the north side of the island.
Bob Vaux, assistant director of Parks and Recreation of Anacortes, believes the park is a must-see and holds much value.
“To coin an old phrase, we are good at making more people, but we have not come up with a way to make more land,” Vaux says. “Any open space that can be preserved, should be, and benefits all of us. Washington Park is a unique 220-acre marvel, surrounded by water on 3 sides.”
In addition to being a popular camping and boat launch site, it also provides solace to those looking for a quiet forest/shoreline hike, as well as the communal joy of sharing the Loop Road with others. The park has a rich 100 year history that includes Havekost, a German immigrant who settled on Fidalgo Island in 1871, uttering the phrase, “Make my tomb a park,” as well as the Ladies Auxiliary selling lemon pies to secure the purchase of Sunset Beach. Weddings, funerals, reunions — every kind of get-together has happened for generations at the park. It is a cornerstone for locals and an unbelievable surprise for first time guests,” Vaux says.
The beaches of Washington Park offer stunning views of the sunset and the golden light reflecting on the tall trees surrounding the beach. Caitlyn Rice, junior graphic design major and California resident, had the chance to visit Washington Park.
“Washington Park was one of my favorite places that I visited on the island,” Rice says. “The sun was setting over another island in the distance and it was breathtaking. The sun cast a beautiful orange glow over the water and the surrounding trees and it was absolutely mesmerizing. It was a very different experience from a California sunset, because there was a lot less smog in the air, the colors were bolder and more vivid. It was truly unforgettable.”
Washington Park is perfect for an evening sunset drive, barbeque on the beach or a fun park date.
Deception Pass State Park
Deception Pass State Park is a must-see for visitors and is already popular as it is the most visited park in Washington State. It is home to the Deception Pass bridge, a large green steel bridge built in 1935 that connects Fidalgo Island, Pass Island and Whidbey Island.
Cailtyn Rice, junior graphic design major, looks out at the ocean while crossing over the Deception Pass bridge.
More than 20,000 cars cross the bridge each day, and it allows locals to be connected to the mainland of Washington. Visitors can park their cars and walk the bridge, crossing underneath it to see the teal ocean passing between the islands below. Local photographers are also known for capturing views of comets and the Milky Way above the bridge’s vast arch. Only 22 minutes from downtown Anacortes, Deception Pass State Park also offers visitors both a north and west beach, camp sites, canopy tree tours, lakes for swimming and fishing, scuba diving, kayaking, crabbing, 38 miles of hiking trails and much more.
Deception Pass bridge consists of a pair of two-lane bridges connecting Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island.
Mount Erie
At 1,273 feet tall, Mount Erie is the highest point on Fidalgo Island and offers visitors extraordinary views of the surrounding nearby islands, lakes on Fidalgo Island, Skagit Valley, and a far view of the Olympic Mountains across the ocean. Only 15 minutes from downtown Anacortes, driving to the Mount Erie trailhead and road offers scenic forest views and lakeside drives. There is a paved road up to the summit of Mount Erie, but for those looking for more adventure, there are plenty of scenic trails to climb the elevation on a 5.0 mile day hike.
Guemes Channel Trail
This trail is the perfect seaside walk right next to the ferry terminal that provides ferry rides from Fidalgo Island to all four San Juan Islands: Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw, as well as to Canada. This trail is an easy, no-elevation walk on a wooden boardwalk that opens up to the beach and forest alongside the island’s north edge.
When the aurora borealis is also visible in the Pacific Northwest, this trail has been known to offer great views of the green and gray lights. Guemes Channel trail also offers views of the neighboring island, Guemes Island, that has a population of less than 1,000 people. Guemes Channel trail is located 10 minutes away from downtown Anacortes and on the way to Washington Park.
Guemes Trail offers a boardwalk trail along the coast of the north side of the island.
FOOD STOPS
Dad’s Diner
Dad’s Diner is a favorite local stop for a great breakfast. Dad’s Diner started as a barbeque trailer in 2011, and a year later became a brick-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Anacortes. Owners Fletcher Mclean and Neil Stuchal have strived since then to offer their customers more than just great food.
“We believe in the community of the table,” Mclean says. “No matter who you are or where you may hail from — you are certain to have a favorite dish and a happy memory of sharing that meal with a loved one. That act of making food for us is the same as making music. It’s all about conceiving, creating and sharing. Combining traditional concepts and comfort foods and adding our spin is what inspires us.
“The concept has always been everything from scratch. We do everything we can to not open a can. At Dad’s we make the bacon, the mayo, the hot sauce, grind the beef for the burgers. We are also blessed to be able to share the bounty of other kitchens and gardens of the valley through the relationships we have developed over the years.”
Mclean says Dad’s Diner is also thankful for its small town community in Anacortes for supporting them throughout the years, and especially in this unpredictable time of COVID-19.
“We have been blessed with not only business through these uncertain times but also with the kind of genuine concern and support that makes money seem worthless. These kinds of gestures are an affirmation that we live in a community filled with strength and compassion. The kind of place you can be happy and proud to call home. Anacortes is a destination for people from all over the world. Dad’s is proud to host this diverse community and share our passions for the table and community with them. We still believe that one of the best compliments we have received was that the experience we provide was more like being invited into someone’s home, not merely going out to eat,” Mclean says.
Caitlyn Rice also had the chance to visit Dad’s Diner on her trip to Fidalgo Island.
“I was really impressed by the breakfast we had at Dad’s Diner,” Rice says. “Everything I ate was awesome, but there were a few items that stood out above the rest. The homemade biscuits and fresh raspberry jam was unlike anything I’ve had in California. The biscuit was soft on the inside but had a nice crust on the outside. And the homemade jam was from a local farmer and it was the perfect pair for Dad’s biscuit. They also had a great roast from Fidalgo coffee, which I really enjoyed, as well.”
Dad’s Diner is located in downtown Anacortes at 906 Commercial Ave., and is open Wednesday-Sunday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Dad’s Diner Restaurant on Commercial Avenue, Anacortes, serves up locally owned breakfast and lunch, such as homemade biscuits, bacon, potatoes and eggs.
Penguin Coffee
For the coff ee lover, Penguin Coff ee off ers great local roasts, teas, pastries and more. Located at 2119 Commercial Ave., Penguin Coff ee is a local favorite. It’s open seven days a week from 5:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Anthony’s
If you’re looking for a fancy dinner spot on the island, Anthony’s Restaurant at Cap Sante Marina is a local favorite. Anthony’s restaurants are located throughout the Pacifi c Northwest, usually right on the ocean side and serves the freshly caught seafood of the day. Known for its seafood, steaks, burnt creme dessert and breathtaking views of the marina and Cap Sante vista point of the island, Anthony’s is a great spot for a fancy island dinner.
Anthony’s is located in Anacortes at 1207 Q Anthony’s is located in Anacortes at 1207 Q Ave. and is open Sunday–Thursday from noon–8 Ave. and is open Sunday–Thursday from noon–8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon–9 p.m. p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon–9 p.m.
Fidalgo Drive-In
Fidalgo Drive-In brings all the deliciousness of a drive in with a small town feel. Locally owned and operated, Fidalgo Drive-In is loved by locals for its root beer fl oats, burgers, fi sh and chips, milkshakes and more. Located at 2908 Commercial Ave. in Anacortes, this staple restaurant is a great stop for a quick lunch or dinner.
Whether visiting Fidalgo Island for a weekend or a summer, this Pacifi c Northwest treasure off ers breathtaking scenery, local shops, festivals, fairs and more. As fog sometimes covers the neighboring islands or rain and snow make the local coff ee shops even cozier, this island is home to a great community of people as well as great stops and sights.
“When you travel anywhere spend time opening yourself up to the experience before you go,” Vaux says. “Talk with people in the know, read about the place, start pointing your senses in the direction of your destination. When you arrive, do so with respect and a healthy curiosity. No matter where you go, it is important to somebody. Focus less on the inevitable selfi es and more on the moment.” ◆
An evening fog covers the ocean dividing the few islands from one another.
