Natural Beauty

A few years ago, we were in the mood to go somewhere. We didn't have the time to get far away so we decided to visit the quaint 8-mile long Anderson Island. It's the southernmost island in the sound. It is only accessible by boat or a 20 minute ferry ride. To get there, you exit I-5 near Fort Lewis and head west to the historic charming town of Steilacoom located on the shore of Puget Sound. You catch a ferry on the local dock. From the ferry, there is a panoramic view of Mt. Rainier, Cascades, and Olympics. Anderson Island has one general store, one restaurant, a clubhouse, a few churches, freshwater lake, and a golf course that serves all 1000 residents. There is one school serving kindergarten through 5th grade. The older students must attend on the mainland. The island has one tiny museum and a dozen historic buildings. The island offers experiences for outdoor enthusiasts (kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, whale watching). While there, we hiked and explored serpentine nature trails and beachcombed the driftwood coast. We drove all around the island through park-like settings, climbing rolling hills, winding through mature trees and foliage. There is a great deal of wildlife near the saltwater marina (cranes, eagles, geese, ducks, heron, seals, otters, seagulls, deer, raccoon). We ate dinner at a lake-front restaurant. We enjoyed the small town atmosphere, both clean and safe. It's like a journey back in time. The quiet secluded island is a dose of tranquility, perfect for a summer day.