Sunday, August 9, 2020
Anacortes? Those of you readers who aren’t from western Washington State might be asking … what’s “Anacortes”? Anna-Cortez? What’s that? Well, let me tell you, it’s a very nice town on a very beautiful island (Fidalgo) here in Washington State. I will tell you where it is, but first let me tell you how to pronounce those two names … Anacortes and Fidalgo.
Anacortes, for the first two syllables of the name, is pronounced like the name Anna. But the third and fourth syllables (cor tes) are not pronounced like Cortez. They are pronounced like “cor tuss” … with the accent on “cor”. So, the name sounds like Anna Cor-tuss (or maybe Anna Cor-tess) with the accent on Cor. Of course, we locals say the name so fast that a visitor might not hear all of that, but you get the idea.
Anacortes is a lovely town on Fidalgo Island in Washington State. The name Fidalgo is pronounced like this … “Fi” rhymes with “fi” as in “fiddle”, as in “fit as a fiddle” … “dal” sounds like the word “doll” as in baby doll … and “go” is, well, it’s just “go”. So “fi” as in “fiddle”, then “doll” then “go” … fi-doll-go. With the accent on “doll”, it becomes Fi-DOLL-go. See? It’s easy and you folks are great. 🙂
Ok, where is this place where I’ve gone camping? Here’s a map below. The RED diamond down near Olympia is where I live. The RED circle is Fidalgo Island, immediately to the north of very long and curvaceous Whidbey Island. There’s a bridge from the mainland over to Fidalgo, so it’s very easy to get to. And yes, we call it “Fidalgo”; we do not call it “Fidalgo Island”. That’s true of most islands in Washington State.
So how did I get to Fidalgo? When I left home on Sunday, August 9, with trailer in tow, I drove from my home near Olympia, WA, then up I-5 through Tacoma and Seattle and Everett, to Burlington. I then turned left onto State Route 20 which took me over the bridge and onto Fidalgo.
The map above gives a bit more local detail. Burlington is on I-5 on the right side of the map above. I took State Route 20 west over to Fidalgo. Then 20 splits on Fidalgo … you can go south eventually to Whidbey (Island) … or you can turn north and stay on Fidalgo and head into the town of Anacortes. I turned north and headed into Anacortes. The RED star on the map above is where the campground is, to the west of Anacortes. The best route to the campground is right through the town of Anacortes … don’t worry, plenty of great signs help and there’s plenty of room on the road/streets for an RV rig.
You might have noticed that State Route 20 curves just before it gets to the RED star. It curves because it leads most of the traffic to the Washington State ferry that takes cars and trucks and buses and RV-ers and library bookmobiles to several of the islands in the San Juan Islands, and then to Canada. Now THAT will be a blog post all in itself one of these days. I didn’t take that ferry trip through the San Juans on this camping expendition, but rest assured I will, and you will hear all about it.
So! On with my camping trip.
I arrived at the campground “Washington Park” just west of the town of Anacortes in good order. “Washington Park” is a very large park and campground that is owned and very well managed by the City of Anacortes.
I backed into my spot, got plugged in and leveled, all set up, unhitched the truck, and then took a look around as I usually do before I go for a walk through the campground to get my bearings.
Oh my word … when I looked around my new campsite, here’s what I saw … (click to enlarge the photo)
How pretty is that. 🙂
Here’s another photo (below) of the rig and the campsite a bit later when the late afternoon sun had moved to the west enough that those magical rays of light through the trees were no more.
It’s still a beautiful spot with gorgeous tall trees and plenty of space around my campsite.
Here’s another view below from a different angle. Towhee the Trailer and the big white truck are on the right side of the photo below.
For those of you who would like more information and history about Anacortes and Fidalgo Island, here are some links: https://anacortes.org/media-room/fidalgo-island-history/ … https://www.anacorteswa.gov/415/Fidalgo-Island-Before-the-Boom … https://anacortes.org/visit-anacortes/.
How did Anacortes get its name? Take a look HERE:
Where did the name “Fidalgo” come from? Take a look HERE:
Ok, that’s enough for one day. 🙂 Time for dinner and a good book and a good night’s sleep. More adventures to come here on Fidalgo.
Oh good, a new destination! What fun. I’m struck that there is no undergrowth around those trees. Is that natural in the pacific northwest? Or has the area been cleared for some reason?
I wondered about the lack of undergrowth too, Judy Bee, and so I asked the park manager. He said the undergrowth was cleared when the campground was “built” many years ago and it has never grown back. Just past the trees that you see in the photos above, the forest does have the usual thick undergrowth that is common in the pacific northwest.
I was thinking the same thing about the lack of understory around the trees. Seems to me that pacific northwest forests have TONS of understory or undergrowth, but this campground doesn’t. Do you know why Ann?
Thanks for the info/history links. I read every word on every one of them. I love that stuff. 🙂
Same good question! See my answer to Judy Bee, Nevada. Not everyone likes to read lots of info and history and details, but you’ve mentioned that you do, and I’d bet some others do too so I try to include some links when I go to a new place. Glad you enjoyed reading. 🙂
Just noticed that the date of this camping trip is August 9. That’s good because I suspect it’s pretty cold where you are right now. In fact, it’s pretty cold where I am right now! It’s predicted to get down to below 20 degrees tonight. Please keep posting your trips from this past summer. They’ll help me think I’m warm, ha! 🙂
Ah yes, you were good about spotting that date! And yes I’m a bit behind in posting my camping trips. But, like you, I’m finding that I’m enjoying going back over my summer (warm!) camping trips. It has been close to freezing here at night, but it sure isn’t as cold here as it is where you are, brrrr! Stay warm, Nebraska.
Looks like another beautiful spot. You sure know how to find ’em!
By the way, we are taking note of your camping destinations. We have done lots of camping in the US but we haven’t been to most of the places you’ve been to. As soon as the Canada/US border opens, we’ll be heading south with notes in hand. Thank you!
Jim
I have been blessed by wonderful campsites in wonderful campgrounds, haven’t I? On the other hand, most Washington State campgrounds and the national/federal campgrounds here are pretty much all stupendous, so I can’t go too far wrong. 🙂
I’m like you folks, Jim, except in reverse … as soon as the border opens, I’m heading north, hopefully this coming spring when it warms up a bit. But if you get south first, and you see me out camping somewhere, please come say hello.
I love that picture with the sunlight coming through the trees. That’s so beautiful and peaceful.
🙂 Exactly how I felt too. Thanks Ruth.