This Washington Town Has The Most Walkable Downtown

For many reasons, Anacortes has been labeled as the most walkable downtown in Washington. In just a handful of blocks stemming from Commercial Avenue, pedestrians can find the Majestic Inn, operating since the early 20th century, live music at Rockfish Grill, and Pelican Bay Books, a coffee-and-book mainstay since the 1990s. This Skagit County gem concentrates its best eateries and shops into an easy-to-navigate core. A short stroll leads to the Cap Sante Waterfront and marina on Fidalgo Bay, while murals and salmon can sculptures reflect the town’s historic canning roots.

Walking the Streets of Anacortes

The primary thoroughfare of this walkable downtown center in Anacortes surrounds Commercial Avenue. In fact, all of the side streets from Third to Ninth branch off from this primary artery, cutting through. Along the carefully maintained sidewalks ideal for strolling, you can see a pleasant array of murals and public art, including colorful can sculptures modeled after salmon to pay homage to the town’s history of canning. At the eastern end of historic downtown, a walking path guides pedestrians to the marina and the Cap Sante Waterfront.

Given the walkable downtown, it is advisable to consider accommodations that keep guests right in the middle of the offerings. For those in Anacortes, that means the locally owned and popular Majestic Inn and Spa, positioned at 419 Commercial Avenue. This hotel is so renowned that it is widely considered one of the few anchors of the entire city. The historic building dates to 1890, and the inn has operated in its current form since the early 1900s. While there is highly praised on-site eating at the Majestic Bistro and Bar serving meals and drinks from early morning to late at night, the biggest amenity of this beloved hotel is its proximity to the action on Commercial Avenue.

Dining Made Simple on One Street

Commercial Avenue is the heart of downtown, so this is where visitors to the city are likely to find the community’s most popular and most unique dining and quick-bite eateries. At 320 Commercial Ave, explorers will come across Rockfish Grill. For more than 25 years, this establishment has been operating and claims to be one of the longest-running music venues in the western half of Washington. While music might seem to be the centerpiece, people keep coming back for the food here. American fare is the focus, with everything from greasy burgers and creative vegetarian entrees to fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas.

Just on the edge of the downtown district, you will find Dad’s Diner, whose thin layout might be easy to pass if you are not looking for the bright white, black, and red sign out front. Some of the items on the menu are changing with the seasons, so you have to check the chalkboard when you come in to see what’s on the grill that particular visit, though some staples for the AM remain constant, like the sizable Dad’s Plate dish. Later in the day, guests can enjoy comforting mains like a Texas Philly or Dad’s BLT.

Shopping by the Waterfront

For over a decade, the Anacortes Oil and Vinegar Bar has occupied 704 Commercial Avenue. This small shop specializes in high-grade extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy. Beyond the multiple varieties of fused and infused oils, shoppers also delight in the stock of pasta, sauces, bread dips, olives, salts, and ceramic tableware. With both a tasting bar and a reasonable price point for high-end, imported products, the Anacortes Oil and Vinegar Bar is a popular stop for shoppers walking Commercial Avenue.

Pelican Bay Books has been a consistent shop serving downtown since the mid-1990s. Its shelves sort rare and secondhand titles by topic; nautical history sits alongside works on Cascadia, science, literary fiction, verse, and obscure subjects. What sets the spot apart is how easily it balances two purposes at once: offering carefully selected novels and publications while serving coffee from Olympia Coffee Roasting Company, baked items made in-house, and simple meals. Beginning each day at eight o’clock, six days per week, it becomes an early point of interest during strolls through town; caffeine seekers arrive first, then lingerers browse pages into the afternoon hours.

Exploring Nearby Towns

While Anacortes has plenty to keep someone busy on foot, when you are ready to take a drive through the scenic routes of the Pacific Northwest once more, there are a couple of destinations nearby worth checking out.

La Conner

Head about 15 miles to the southeast, and you can find La Conner sitting along the Swinomish Channel. Much like Commercial Avenue, La Conner has First Street, a main thoroughfare that runs right by the water. Locals in the region have literally voted it the Best Tiny Town in Washington in a poll run by Seattle news outlet King 5. With its small footprint, exploring is easy, whether someone wants to dive into fine art at The Museum of Northwest Art on First Street or seek a warm, inviting place to eat and drink, like La Conner Brewing Company, which has been serving wood-fired pizzas since 1995.

Oak Harbor

Island communities are not uncommon around the channels and bays connecting the waterways to the Pacific Ocean, and about 20 miles below Anacortes, you can find one called Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. The town is quaint and quiet, with an active pedestrian corridor, Pioneer Way, anchored by a sizable steel-and-copper kraken sculpture. Nature plays a significant role in the small town’s draw, particularly for those who access Deception Pass State Park just to the south of the community to explore its 4,000 acres of hiking trails and tidal pools.

Friday Harbor

Unlike heading to La Conner or Oak Harbor on a highway out of town, getting to the popular destination of Friday Harbor means taking the Washington State Ferry from the Anacortes terminal and a one-hour boat trip. The town once thrived on exports like fruit and salmon, though it now does pretty well through tourism. The few blocks right around the ferry landing are loaded with shops, dining options, and art galleries, making this almost an extension of the walkable Anacortes offerings. When taking a break from the bustle of the initial few blocks, take a minute to check out The Whale Museum, which has been operational since 1979, with multiple exhibits ranging from orca biology to an explanation of Pacific Northwest marine life.

Taking an Easy Stroll Through Anacortes

For many reasons, Anacortes has been labeled as the most walkable downtown in Washington. In just a matter of a handful of blocks stemming from Commercial Avenue, pedestrians can find quality accommodations at the Majestic Inn, which has been up and running since 1904, one of the longest continually running music venues in western Washington, at Rockfish Grill, and Pelican Bay Books, which has been a hotspot for morning coffee enthusiasts and readers alike since the 1990s. Places here set up shop and stay rooted, and are easily found on foot by those who take the time to explore Commercial Avenue and its wide selection of one-of-a-kind destinations.