The 5th Annual Anacortes Trawler Fest!

Anacortes is excited to host the Trawler Fest for the fifth year in a row!

Tuesday, May 15th  - Saturday, May 19th

Cap Sante Marina Anacortes

Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes is hosting Trawler Fest, a premier boat show, educational experience, and rendezvous. The Trawler Fest is expected to draw thousands of trawler enthusiasts from across the United States, and  all over the world!

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, May 15th

7:45   a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Trawler Fest University.  Check-in opens at NWESD Building
8:30   a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
First day of Trawler Fest University courses

Wednesday, May 16th

8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Second Day of Trawler Fest University courses
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration open at Cap Sante Boat Haven
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Trawler Fest University Graduation Reception, Cap Sante Boat Haven
Hospitality Tent

Thursday, May 17th

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
General Admission Registration open at Cap Sante Boat Haven
7:45 a.m.– 1 p.m.
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Seminar and Three-Day Attendee Registration at NWESD Building
First seminar session – NWESD Building
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Show boats and exhibitor booths open
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Second seminar session – NWESD Building
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Lunch at the Cap Sante Boat Haven Hospitality Tent
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Afternoon demonstrations at Cap Sante Boat Haven
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Trawler Fest Launch Party at Cap Sante Exhibitor Tent

5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, trivia, and raffles at the Port Building

Friday, May 18th

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
General Admission Registration open at Cap Sante Boat Haven
7:45 a.m.– 1 p.m.8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Seminar and Three-Day Attendee Registration at NWESD BuildingFirst seminar session – NWESD Building
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Show boats and exhibitor booths open
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Second seminar session – NWESD Building
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Lunch at the Cap Sante Boat Haven Hospitality Tent
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Afternoon demonstrations at Cap Sante Boat Haven
5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and Speakeasy Party, and Magic Show at the Port Building

Saturday, May 19th

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
General Admission Registration open at Cap Sante Boat Haven
7:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Seminar and Three-Day Attendee Registration at NWESD Building
First seminar session – NWESD Building
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Show boats and exhibitor booths open
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Second seminar session – NWESD Building
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Lunch at the Cap Sante Boat Haven Hospitality Tent
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Afternoon demonstrations at Cap Sante Boat Haven
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and awards at Cap Sante Boat Haven Hospitality Tent

The Cap Sante Boat Haven will feature the daily show boats, exhibitor booths, and activities.  Visit the Hospitality Tent for lunch and awards cocktails / hor d’oeuvers.

If you are interested in boat moorage or homes  for sale with a dock in Anacortes, call Jean Groesbeck at (360) 941-3734 or email Jean@JeanGroesbeck.com

Anacortes Farmers Market – Open May 12th!

The Anacortes Farmers Market – Opening day is finally here!

Saturday, May 12, 9am-2pm

The Anacortes Farmers Market will be held at the new plaza next to the Depot Community & Arts Center – 7th Street & R Avenue in Anacortes every Saturday until October !

Also, new and exciting this year, from June 20 – September 5,  The Anacortes Farmers Market will be  open an extra day, from 4-7pm every Wednesday!

In addition to the different food & produce vendors from Anacortes, La Conner and throughout all of Skagit County, there will be community workshops & live music each week! Stop by and enjoy the fresh food and all that the Farmers Market has to offer!

Skyline Real Estate Market Update – Anacortes, WA

This is a re-print of our April Skyline Real Estate Newsletter.

Skyline Community Anacortes

We  are constantly asked, “How is the real estate market?”, and we gladly answer as we love real estate, and therefore love talking about it.  We are thrilled to say now our answers are full of lots of positive news nationally, regionally, and here in Anacortes and Skyline.  Invariably the next question is, “Should I sell now?”  The real question to ask is one to ask yourself.  “Do you want to move?”

We can quote lots of statistics on why this is a great time to make a real estate transition.  If you are a buyer, then the most important driving factor in your house payment is the interest rate, and rates are moving upwards.  Slowly, yes, but they are moving up, and are expected to continue to gradually rise.  It would be difficult to find a NW real estate article that does not point out that low interest rates coupled with great prices make this an excellent time to buy in our area.

What about selling.  Should you wait for higher prices to sell?  Well, if interest rates go up it will be more difficult for a buyer to qualify for a loan on your property.  And since we are actually low on   inventory right now, there is not much competition and supply and demand is helping homes sell.  That factored with almost no spec homes on the market give pre-owned homes a competitive advantage over past or future housing markets.  Another financial consideration is what is happening to the market where you plan to buy your next home.  Some of the most depressed real estate markets such as Arizona and the California Desert are coming back strong, prices starting to inch up.  There still lots of great bargains, but the bottom of many markets was last year.

We can analyze economic forecasts, real estate trends, and micro market reviews and create dozens of pages of charts and graphs.  But in the end, for most people, it is not a financial decision alone.  Your home is your haven, your safe place, the place that you build the memories that you will cherish forever.  Being with family and friends is what makes the great memories and it is the  little things like the growth chart on the door jam that makes the building your home.

We most often see a lifestyle change precipitate a move.  The kids leave home making the house seem big and empty, or a grandchild is born in a different state and the grandparents don’t want to be so far away.  

If you are considering moving, please call  (360) 941-3734  or email Jean@JeanGroesbeck.com for a complimentary no obligation  market analysis.  We can provide the stats by area, size, & floor plan; we help with staging; we handle every detail of the transaction and provide 5 Star Real Estate Services. It is your lifestyle, or desired lifestyle, that should provide the  motivation.

The Anacortes Island Chicks!

The Anacortes Island Chicks

On April 28th, from 9 AM to 3 PM, The Island Chicks will be hosting a spring shopping event at the Port of Anacortes.

This exciting Anacortes event will feature plenty of antiques, vintage, repurposed/refreshed, and handmade treasures for your home and garden, and over 25 different vendors from Skagit Valley for you to shop!

There will be lots of great items to choose from to get your Anacortes home and garden looking  beautiful just in time for summer, so be sure to stop by with your family and friends!

Admission is $5.00 per person, and will be reduced to $3.00 if you bring a non-perishable food item.  All food items are donated to the Anacortes 100 Food Bank.

Washington Park in Anacortes

Here is a great video Uploaded to YouTube by sanjibdutta on Apr 4, 2012
Beautiful views of Guemes Channel and Burrows Bay as seen from Washington Park and also the park’s famous leaning tree (one of Washington state’s most photographed tree) in the historic town of Anacortes on Fidalgo Island in Skagit County, Washington, USA during our trip on Sep. 3, 2011.

Washington Park is located on a peninsula at the western tip of Fidalgo Island. The 220-acre city park features camping, a boat launch, and day use picnic sites. The park juts into Rosario Strait on the western edge of Anacortes, offering territorial views. A scenic 2.3-mile one-way loop road winds through the park’s forested hills and meadows with views of the San Juan Islands and Olympic Mountains. The park offers sweeping views of Guemes Channel on one side and Burrows Bay on the other.

At Sunset Beach, on the north shore, there is a boat launch, restrooms, reservable picnic shelter, playground and open play area. There are 75 campsites, restrooms, showers and laundry services in the overnight area. Picnic sites and car pullouts provide beach access along Green Point, the west shoreline. The loop road is used by cars, joggers, bicyclists and walkers.

Anacortes is the gateway to the San Juan and Vancouver Islands. Downtown Anacortes has over 125 life-sized murals painted by local resident Bill Mitchell. He painted the murals over the last 25 years from historical photographs. His art is on display all over Downtown buildings with depictions of historic scenes. Pick up a free mural map at the Visitor Center located at 819 Commercial Avenue as it is a wonderful way to discover Anacortes.

Anacortes is located 18 miles west of Mount Vernon and about one hour drive from Bellingham to the north and Seattle to the south.

Driving directions to the park: From I-5 take Highway 20 West. Enter Anacortes on Spur 20 and take Commercial Avenue to 12th Street. Turn left on 12th and follow the signs (about 3 miles) to Washington Park.

Address:
6300 Sunset Avenue
Anacortes, WA 98221
USA

For campsite and boat launch parking availability information call: +1-360-293-1927.

For more information on the park, visit http://www.cityofanacortes.org/Parks/WaPark/wa_park.htm
Park map: http://www.cityofanacortes.org/Parks/Documents/WAPark/WashingtonPark.pdf

Other top destinations in Anacortes:

The Anacortes Mural Project

Cap Sante Marina ( http://www.capsante.com/ )

Anacortes Kayak Tours ( http://www.anacorteskayaktours.com/ )

Heart Lake

Rosario Beach

Tug Boat Park

Anacortes Museum ( http://museum.cityofanacortes.org/ )

W.T. Preston Boat National Historic Landmark (Snagboat Heritage Center)

Guemes Island ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guemes_Island )

Waterfront Festival ( http://www.anacortes.org/wff/waterfront-festival.cfm?CFID=10393091&CFTOKE… )

Causland Memorial Park ( http://www.cityofanacortes.org/parks/parks.htm )

Deception Pass Bridge ( http://www.stateparks.com/deception_pass_state_park_in_washington.html )

For more information visit the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce website @ http://www.anacortes.org

Visitor Center
819 Commercial Avenue Anacortes
Phone: +1-360-293-3832

The Anacortes Wine Festival!

Spring has arrived and so has the 4th Annual Spring Wine Festival!

Anacortes Wine Tasting

Come enjoy the Anacortes Wine Festival@

On April 14th at the Port of Anacortes historical warehouse, over 30 wineries and 6 restaurants will gather to give people a chance to experience the local food and wine.

Enjoy The Anacortes Wine Festival from 12pm-4:30pm!  Tickets will be $45 at the door and $25 for designated drivers.  The price of tickets include wine tastings, a keepsake glass, food tastings, live entertainment amd lots of fun!  Designated driver tickets include food and entertainment.

Tickets will also be available for advance purchase directly through the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce or through http://anacortesspringwinefest.eventbrite.com/.

Price of tickets purchased in advance will be discounted to $40 and $20 for designated driver tickets.

SKAGIT VALLEY PROOF

It’s for real.  The daffodil fields are in full bloom.  Next come the tulips.

Daffodils are blooming in Skagit Valley

The entire month of April celebrates the SKAGIT VALLEY TULIP FESTIVAL.  For details, call 360-428-5959.


Take time to visit the neighboring communities of Anacortes, La Conner, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Samish Island, and  Bow/Edison when you come for added fun.

If you need any real estate information, call Linda Harris, 360-202-8888, Real Estate Broker, Coldwell Banker Bain.

LindaHarris@CBBain.com


Anacortes Old Town Charming Craftsman!

Welcome to 809 7th Street in Anacortes!

A great opportunity to live in this great Anacortes home just across from the Depot location of the weekly Anacortes Farmer’s Market & year round highly advertised community events!

Play VisualTour

Wake up on Saturday morning to the smell of fresh pastries at the market and stroll across the street to purchase vegetables straight from the farm.  Watch the sun glisten off of the boat masts from the deck of your new home, spend the afternoon in your detached yoga/art studio, and entertain yourself with the Anacortes restaurants, shopping, & art galleries just down the street.  Enjoy a rare opportunity to live in the heart of Anacortes in a single family 2 bedroom/1.5 bath home in a well maintained charming original 1,200± SF Craftsman.  Commercial Business District  zoning so here is your chance to have you business in your home.  Great visibility and location!

Directions: Commercial Avenue North to 7th Street, take a right on 7th!

For more information on this Anacortes home, or other Skagit County properties, please contact Jean Groesbeck at (360) 941-3734 or email Jean@JeanGroesbeck.com.

Easter Time Fun in Anacortes

Everyone grab your favorite Easter basket and get ready for some spring time fun !

Hundreds of eggs will be placed at Storvik Park in Anacortes this Friday April 6th!

The eggs will go quickly, so be sure to be on time! The event will be held on Friday the 6th, at 7 PM under the lights of Storvik Park. 12 and under only please! The event will be hosted by the Anacortes Parks and Recreation Department.

And if you can’t make it to Storvik Park on Friday, don’t worry… You can still enjoy some Easter fun in Anacortes the next day!

The Skyline community‘s Beach Club in Anacortes is holding another Egg Hunt on Saturday the 7th at 1 to 2 PM! Over 3 ,000 eggs  filled with prizes will be hidden on the Skyline Beach Club Park behind the Clubhouse! The event will be held rain or shine, so be sure to dress according to the weather. Refreshments will be provided afterwards inside the Clubhouse.

Happy Easter everyone!!!!!!

Easter time fun in Anacortes!

Attention Anacortes Quilt Lovers!

Quilt lovers throughout Skagit County, this is an event you will not want to miss!

Fidalgo Island Quilters of Anacortes

The Fidalgo Island Quilters guild of Anacortes will host its biennial Quilt Show April 6 and 7, 2012, at the Anacortes Middle School located at  2200 M Avenue. On Friday, April 6 show hours will be from 10 am to 6 pm and on Saturday, April 7 from 10am to 5pm. Admission is for adults is $5 and children 12 and under are free. The 2012 event will display between 350 and 400 different types of quilts!

Another great Anacortes event to take part of  this month is The Fidalgo Island Quilt Walk which will be held  April 1 through April 30. There will be quilts displayed in 37 downtown Anacortes businesses. Maps of the Quilt Walk will be available at the show and at all the participating businesses and the Anacortes Visitors Center.

The Quilt Walk attracts many quilt lovers and tourists participating in Tulip Festival events.  Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to see the quilts crafted by members of Fidalgo Island Quilters!