r/PacificNorthwest • u/CoachWildo • 3d ago

Homebase for a weeklong family trip

I'm looking to plan a family vacation somewhwere in the PNW in summer 2026 -- access to both Seattle and Vancouver is preferred as some of us hope to attend one or two World Cup games

Our crew is seven adults (mid-30s to mid-60s) and four kids (ages 3-5) and I'm looking to find a good mix of hiking, water/boat activities (e.g. whale watching, kayaking), culture (food, music, art), and access to urban places -- we'll have a mix of folks that lean outdoorsy and those that do not

Anacortes is the leading candidate -- any thoughts on a week based in Anacortes and having a good mix of things for a variety of interests? Bellingham is one that has been considered as well.

4 Upvotes

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u/MayIServeYouWell 3d ago

Bellingham over anacortes… you might consider a smaller town like La Conner or Lynden as well. Just look them up. 

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u/johnbro27 3d ago

Bellinghamer here--much better choice than Anacortes. 2 hrs to Seattle by car or (better) bus. Hour to downtown VCR. Hour to Mt Baker. Anacortes has refineries and a bunch of marinas for yachts. Not a heck of a lot else. Bham has hiking, world-class mountain biking, good restaurants, great beer, waterfront, and a funky downtown with lots of little shops and restaurants. Cheers.

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u/SpoatieOpie 3d ago edited 3d ago

Anacortes is 30 minutes from anything “metro” related and at least an hr from Bellingham. The ferries do not run to Vancouver Island anymore. The kayaking/boating/hiking is wonderful, however you are far from Seattle(>2hr in the summertime).

Also, ferries to San Juan Islands will be packed for peak summer time and will break down be generally inconsistent. Be prepared for hours long, ferry wait/ride time.

Bellingham has a historic downtown that’s highly walkable with food, art, etc. and plenty of water activities(Lake Whatcom), close to the Cascades and Mt, Baker and is the closest metro to Vancouver. I think that would be your best choice. Also, far more housing options.

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u/CoachWildo 3d ago

very helpful — thanks! 

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u/SpoatieOpie 3d ago

Anacortes does have great food and cafes for a small town though. It’s worth a stop for sure