Local Activities

Historic downtown area:
Port Townsend is the home of the first Main Street Program in Washington State, and remains a model for historic preservation and revitalization of downtown businesses. Many of the buildings are original and have gone through extensive renovation to preserve the historic quality of the busy seaport village of the 1890's. Museum of the Jefferson County Historical Society, located in the historic old City Hall building is definitely worth seeing.

Historic uptown area:
In the early 1890's, Port Townsend was destined to be the major seaport of the Puget Sound. Thousands of people flocked here to start businesses and built large beautiful homes, many of which can be seen as you drive through the historic district. The James House is certainly one of the most prominent, situated on the bluff overlooking Port Townsend Bay. If you love Victorian architecture, don't miss driving through the uptown historic district! Take time to tour The Rothschild House, furnished in period pieces and a wonderful example of a modest turn of the century home.

The uptown business area hosts some very fine restaurants as well as Aldrich's Market, a great local market for fresh produce, meats, deli and spirits. The uptown area hosts our local farmer's market from May through October.

Art, Artisans, and Craftsmen:
Port Townsend is a community blessed with many talented individuals who have discovered the "magic" of the area. Some say it is the clean air, others say it is the magnetic quality of the Olympic Mountains---one thing for sure, is that Port Townsend brings out the creative, artistic qualities of the people who call this home. You will witness it as you stroll along Water Street with art galleries, and see the abundance of cultural and artistic activities which are available year round in Port Townsend. October brings visitors for the Open Studio tour but many of our local artists will gladly welcome you to their studio with advance notice.

Walk to the end of Water Street and continue along Port Hudson marina and see many of the businesses which continue to make this a true seaport village. Pygmy Kayaks, The Sail Loft, Port Hudson marina, and The Wooden Boat Foundation all make significant contributions to maintaining this important link to our past. This area ia also the site of the future Northwest Maritime Center.

Farmers, Food and Spirits:
Our area is home to several organic farms producing some of the best local produce you will find anywhere! During the spring, summer, and fall you can find fresh picked produce at the local farmer's markets, but you can also buy it at our local coop year round. Port Townsend Cremery produces wonderful local cheeses, also found at the coop and Aldrich's Market.

Pan D'Amore bakes fabulous breads daily and you can often buy fish and crab right off the fishing boats in the local marina. Doesn't get any fresher than that! In addition to the tasty ales produced at Port Townsend Brewing Company, we also have two wineries which have small tasting rooms open to the public.

Fort Worden State Park:
While there are several local and state parks in our immediate area, the most significant and one which you must simply not leave town without seeing, is Fort Worden State Park. Located within city limits, this one time Army post hosts a working lighthouse, wonderful sandy beaches, miles of walking trails, and knockout views of Mt. Baker and the entire Cascade Mountain Range. On a clear day, you really can see forever! This park is also home to Centrum, the host organization to major arts events throughout the year.

Outdoor Activities:
Golf, hiking, walking, biking, boating, fishing, whale watching ......you name it, we have it! Port Townsend is just a great place to be outdoors! The weather is fairly moderate year round, with no extremes of temperature and less rain than most of Puget Sound. You can easily spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days exploring the many outdoor activities available to you.

For those interested in biking, Port Townsend is a bike friendly community. The Larry Scott Trail follows the old railway route along the water for several miles, and will eventually link up with the Discovery Olympic Trail all the way to the Pacific coast! For a printable bicycle map of Port Townsend, click here. For bicycle maps of the entire Olympic Peninsula, click here.

Sample Day Trips (There are lots of them!)

1. Ferry over to Whidbey Island:
Hop on the Whidbey Island ferry for one of the best views of Port Townsend with the backdrop of the Olympic Mountain range. Stunning! Continue along Highway 20 until you come to the main road which goes through the island. Take a right towards Langley which is about a leisurely 30 minute drive from the ferry. Stop off at the Whidbey Island Winery on your left. They make terrific loganberry wines and a wonderful liqueur, and also have a nice gift shop. Yes---they have wine tasting too!

Follow on along the road to the signs for Langley. Make a left and continue on to the town of Langley, a wonderful small town located along the eastern side of the island. A great place to stroll along the main street, ducking in the quaint shops. Head back towards the ferry, and check out the small town of Coupeville on the way. It won't take long, but is worth driving through!

The Port Townsend - Keystone ferry now accepts reservations which makes this trip much more practical during busier times than it has been in the past without reservations! We can help you with the details of making a reservation.

2. Hood Canal:
Take Highway 20 out of Port Townsend along Discovery Bay, one of our favorite drives in the area! Once you reach 101, take a left and drive along the Hood Canal. For those guests visiting June-August, Snow Creek Daylily Farm is located on Highway 101, two miles after turning off Discovery Road (on the right). Stop in to see the beautiful lilies that grow in this fertile soil at the foothills of the Olympic Mountains. Stop at the Visitor's Information Center in Quilcene for suggestions of some easy scenic walks and hikes if you have the time and are eager to stretch your legs. Stop at Whitney Gardens & Nursery in Brinnon for some of the most spectacular rhododendron and azalea gardens in the northwest (they are in bloom from February through May, with the most spectacular blooms in mid-March to early May). The Hood Canal is known for oysters, so stop in at one of the oyster farms for a taste treat and information about the area.

3. Hurricane Ridge:
Unless it is winter and roads aren't plowed at the summit, you must really make the effort to go to Hurricane Ridge! It is nothing less than spectacular and on the clearest of days, you can see all the way to Victoria. There are literally hundreds of miles of trails through the Olympics and there are some very nice hikes from Hurricane Ridge. There is a Visitor's Information Center at the bottom of the road up to the ridge, and a very informative Ranger's Station at the top, so there is plenty of help to plan an appropriate walk or hike that will fit your time frame.

4. Victoria, B.C.:
Many people don't realize that you can go to Victoria as a day trip....and in fact, is much easier (and less expensive) than taking your car. Drive to Port Angeles, park your car across from the ferry dock....and hop on as a passenger to one of the two ferries (Coho and Victoria Express) which take you right in to the Inner Harbor of Victoria. From there you can walk all along the Harbor and visit most of the visitor sites, including shopping and restaurants. You can take an excursion bus around Victoria if you would like to hear more about the history and go through some of Victoria's neighborhoods. You can also take a bus to Butchart Gardens which is located a few miles outside of the city limits.

5. Whalewatching in the San Juans:
The best time to see the Orca whales is during the spring, summer, and early fall. We have a terrific excursion PS Express, which leaves in the morning and returns late afternoon. It takes you through the San Juans to Friday Harbor where you can enjoy a nice lunch and then you are off to see the beautiful and playful Orcas! Make sure you bring a camera because it is definately a Kodak moment! PS Express also offers a midday tour which excludes the San Juan Islands and takes you directly to the whales. Either way....it is an exciting and fun trip!

Remember, these are just samples----there are a lot more things to do in Port Townsend and the surrounding area!