This summer, the Downtown Anacortes Alliance is once again promoting Downtown Anacortes in the Deception Pass Park Press, a free newspaper distributed throughout Deception Pass State Park.
The publication reaches approximately 25,000 visitors during the busy summer season and is available at key visitor locations throughout the park, including the Welcome Center, Lake Store, Bridge Kiosk, interpretive programs, public restrooms, and park offices.
Advertising in the Park Press helps connect some of the Pacific Northwest’s most popular outdoor recreation visitors with the shops, restaurants, galleries, museums, events, and experiences waiting just a short drive away in Downtown Anacortes. The Alliance’s advertisement highlights summer festivals, local dining, shopping, and the Anacortes Creative District, while also providing a QR code that links visitors directly to information about upcoming events and activities.
The partnership makes sense given the scale of visitation at Deception Pass State Park. As Washington’s most visited state park, Deception Pass welcomes millions of visitors each year, many of whom are camping, hiking, boating, sightseeing, or traveling through the region. By reaching visitors while they are actively exploring Fidalgo Island, the Downtown Anacortes Alliance can introduce them to opportunities to extend their stay, enjoy a meal, attend an event, discover local art, or support locally owned businesses.
This year’s advertisement was made possible through the quick support and partnership of three downtown businesses: A’Town Bistro, Adrift Restaurant, and Fidalgo Fudge Company. Their participation helped showcase the variety of locally owned dining and culinary experiences available in Downtown Anacortes while helping offset the cost of reaching thousands of potential customers.
The Downtown Anacortes Alliance extends its thanks to these businesses for helping launch this year’s campaign. The ad serves as a pilot effort to evaluate how effectively the publication drives visitor awareness and engagement. If the promotion proves successful, the Alliance hopes to expand the program in future years, creating opportunities for additional downtown businesses to participate and reach Deception Pass visitors.
Targeted destination marketing like this is an important part of the Alliance’s mission to strengthen Downtown Anacortes by bringing more customers through the doors of local businesses while helping visitors discover the unique character and experiences that make our downtown a special place to visit.
