stay a while
PLANNING YOUR RETREAT
An Artist Retreat is an exciting opportunity to travel and connect with the extraordinary, while you explore inner and outer worlds. Here’s useful information to help you plan your adventure with us.
ABOUT ANACORTES
Located on Fidalgo Island, 60 miles north of Seattle and 92 miles south of Vancouver B.C., Anacortes is the Washington State Ferries gateway to Guemes Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island, and San Juan Island, as well as Victoria, B.C. (via Sidney, B.C.) on Vancouver Island. Northwest culture, the great outdoors, and a laid-back lifestyle to delight - get to know what makes our area so great, and why you'll want to visit often and stay longer.
OUR LODGINGS
From budget to indulgent suite accommodations, find something for every style, taste, and budget. Planning to stay a while? Our Panorama wing offers all the comforts of home away from home, with luxury rooms, full eat-in kitchen and breakfast bar, laundry room, private entrance and more - available for "whole house" rental by groups and longer term guests.
EXPECTATIONS FOR STAY
We care about our guests and their experience at Heartful Retreats so we have implemented 4 firm house rules, to maintain cleanliness, public safety, peace and quiet :
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No children under 12
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No pets of any kind
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No shoes inside; socks/slippers ok
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Guests must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and be able to provide proof of vaccination
GETTING HERE
Trains, planes, automobiles, and shuttles - plenty of convenient ways to get here. Airporter Shuttle offers frequent round-trip service from Anacortes to Sea-Tac Airport and downtown Seattle, and if you're coming from Vancouver Island, daily ferries into Anacortes make for a delightful experience.
LOCAL WEATHER
WHAT TO EXPECT
Anacortes has a Mediterranean climate with dry warm summers and mild winters – perfect for year round Artist Retreats. Just 98 driving miles south of the Canadian border, it may surprise you to know that the climate is mild enough, with infrequent frosts, to make Anacortes a true gardener's paradise. Surrounded by some of the most productive farmland in the country, daffodils and tulips make a big splash in Spring; summer brings strawberries, blueberries, and cascades of roses; in autumn, apple, pear, and plum trees are weighed down by bushels of fruit. Winter can turn cold, but lowland snow is rare - and yes: rain is a regular thing, from soft drizzle to hardy downpours. However weather facts usually surprise visitors to our area in that Anacortes averages 4 inches of snow per year; the US average is 28 inches of snow per year. As Equally unexpected, Anacortes gets 26 inches of rain, on average, per year; the US average is 38 inches of rain per year. Who knew Washington State actually gets less annual rainfall than Oklahoma?
TEMPERATURE TRENDS
The warm season lasts from mid June to late September, with an average daily high temperature above 66°F. Summer highs average 72°F, with lows around 56°F. The cold season lasts from mid-November to the end of February, with an average daily high temperature below 50°F.
SUGGESTED PACK LIST
Most Northwest natives can survive with a good pair of Teva’s, some Carhart’s and a t-shirt, but you may need more. Depending on when you’re coming, you will need to adjust our recommendations below. However we suggest you pack a little of everything as a general rule.
WHAT TO BRING
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Sandals or comfortable walking shoes;
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light-weight hiking shoes if you plan to hike
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Layered clothing, including hat, gloves, and tights for cold weather months
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Sun hat, sun glasses, lip balm, and sun block for high intensity sun months
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Sweater or polar fleece cover-up; warm jacket, windbreaker and/or raincoat for cooler weather
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A small carry pack
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Camera
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Peace of mind is priceless and you’d like to believe that your trip will go as planned. But if something happens, you want to be prepared. Travel Insurance helps you plan for the unpredictable, and we highly recommend you obtain policy coverage when booking with us.
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Squaremouth is a professional travel insurance brokerage firm, providing competitive quotes among many of the leading travel insurance carriers. They have an excellent reputation in the travel industry, and their site includes helpful comparison tools when choosing a travel insurance policy to fit your needs. Please refer to our Policies/Limitations page for terms and conditions concerning your workshop retreat booking with us.