Anacortes and Orca Boat Tour
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After wrapping up our time in North Cascades, we rolled into Anacortes, WA, a relaxed coastal town that makes a perfect base for island adventures. We stayed at Washington Park, a city campground perched on a bluff at the tip of the peninsula. It’s a beautiful spot with excellent views of the surrounding islands and ferries cruising by. We walked down to a beach area in the park and, despite the breezy weather, enjoyed the view and even had a bald eagle fly right overhead!
Washington Park in Anacortes
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The next morning, we set off on a 3-hour orca tour, gliding past rugged shorelines and through island channels. We passed under the dramatic Deception Pass Bridge and later spotted another bald eagle soaring above the trees.
On one of the rocky little islands, we saw a wildlife hangout in full swing: seals lounging, seagulls squawking, and a whole flock of cormorants.
Eventually, we made it to the waters near Orcas Island and jackpot: a pod of 5 orcas, including a mom and baby, just lazily cruising and surfacing as we watched in awe from the breezy deck. Total bucket-list moment.
After the tour, we decided to see Deception Pass from land too. We drove across that iconic bridge we had just passed under by boat and stopped to view it from the shoreline below. Then we hit the Goose Rock Perimeter Trail, which loops through forest and climbs about 500 feet to the summit of Goose Rock. The panoramic views were absolutely worth the effort.
On one of the rocky little islands, we saw a wildlife hangout in full swing: seals lounging, seagulls squawking, and a whole flock of cormorants.
Eventually, we made it to the waters near Orcas Island and jackpot: a pod of 5 orcas, including a mom and baby, just lazily cruising and surfacing as we watched in awe from the breezy deck. Total bucket-list moment.
After the tour, we decided to see Deception Pass from land too. We drove across that iconic bridge we had just passed under by boat and stopped to view it from the shoreline below. Then we hit the Goose Rock Perimeter Trail, which loops through forest and climbs about 500 feet to the summit of Goose Rock. The panoramic views were absolutely worth the effort.