Aside from the spectacular setting, outdoor recreation may be the top reason retirees come to Anacortes and Fidalgo Island.  There are twelve miles of saltwater shoreline, four freshwater lakes, nearly 3,300 acres of city-owned forests and parks and jaw-dropping water and mountain views all around.  Wildlife romp and play in this natural beauty, and residents also find plenty to do, from sailing, whale watching, scuba diving, water skiing and salmon fishing to snow skiing, hiking, yachting, kayaking, horseback riding and bicycling (along twenty miles of trails).  And because of its location, Anacortes is the jumping off point for those retirees seeking to explore the vast and diverse Pacific Northwest region.  

Anacortes exudes a casual, laid-back ambiance where the living is easy, the air tastes salty and ships' horns bellow in the distance.   There is a thriving boating community (five marinas and two ferry landings), and boat builders working on everything from custom yachts to tugboats, rope manufacturers and other marine craftsmen stay busy plying their trade throughout town.  Home to a major terminal for the Washington State Ferries, many large ships use the town's dry dock for repairs and maintenance. 

As a nice supplement to the maritime culture, the arts community is starting to flourish, with dozens of writers, artists, quilters, musicians and craftsmen living in and around Anacortes.  There are exhibits, festivals and galleries, and local artwork is displayed about town.  Annual events include the Arts Festival (which attracts 100,000 people the first weekend of August), the Quilt Show and Walk, Shipwreck Days and the Waterfront Festival (May).  

The downtown is alive and well with coffee shops, bookstores, theaters and restaurants.  Nearly fifty antique stores are scattered about, and there is a new police station, a new library and a new community center.  Most necessities can be found in Anacortes, although many of the stores are specialty shops.  Bellingham, Washington, population 70,000, is 20 miles northeast and provides more venues for shopping.

The downtown is alive and well with coffee shops, bookstores, theaters and restaurants.  Nearly fifty antique stores are scattered about, and there is a new police station, a new library and a new community center.  Most necessities can be found in Anacortes, although many of the stores are specialty shops.  Bellingham, Washington, population 70,000, is 20 miles northeast and provides more venues for shopping.

The Anacortes Senior Center (360-293-7473) operates from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and offers $3.00 daily lunches at the Center as well as Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors.  Activities and events include parties, potlucks, wellness classes, blood pressure checks, referral services, tax assistance, mortgage workshops and much more.  Skagit Transit makes a stop here, too.

Island Hospital (360-299-1300) is the primary medical facility and operates under the auspices of Skagit County Public Hospital District No. 2.   It is a 43-bed medical-surgical facility and a Level III Trauma Center, which is unusual for a hospital this size.  Island Hospital has also been honored as one of "100 Top Hospitals" for performance improvement.  Further medical care is available in Seattle.

The climate is on the cool side and there are not a lot of temperature fluctuations.  The average July high temperature is 71 degrees F, and the average January low temperature is 34 degrees F.   Summer temperatures rarely top 80 degrees F, and winter daytime temperatures average in the mid-40s F.  Morning humidity is roughly 90% year-round but dips to between 60% to 80% during the afternoons.  The sun shines 20% to 40% of the time; winters are often gray, rainy and overcast.

The weather and the high cost-of-living will be considered by many as drawbacks to retirement in Anacortes, but for those whom high-priced real estate is not an issue and whom prefer a cooler, damper climate, this a wonderful town with lots of seaside character, a mellow way of life and a strong sense of community pride.   Often referred to as the "Magic City," Anacortes more than meets the needs of many a retiree.

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