Anacortes, Washington: Overgrown Ship Hulk

We didn't see it from the road. Drive down a dirt side road and you'll see it. We drove to the left of the boatyard when entering and found a small trail leading straight to it.

This was amazing and so worth the trip from Seattle. The natives of Anacortes don't even seem to acknowledge it any more. Driving on the road, you probably wouldn't know it was ship, since it's so overgrown -- but knowing it is really makes it spectacular. I walked down the gang plank right to the ship and no one stopped me.

A very old merchant ship that was scuttled so long ago (1966) that a small forest has taken up residence. The La Merced was a four masted schooner, commissioned in 1917. In the end it was turned into a breakwater by filling it with dredge; the woodlands are a natural byproduct. It's so big that it's visible from the road, and there's access to good photo-op from the marina parking lot. But the business is a working boat yard, so closer views may require permission. There is a No Trespassing sign on the ship itself. The best view is at low tide.