A drive to the historic “Key City” will only take you two hours from Seattle.
The Olympic Peninsula is known for many things ( theTwilightsaga not least among them ) , but perched on the northeast tip is a town that was once predicted to becomeverylarge andveryfamous : Port Townsend . At the turn of the hundred , the metropolis was primed to become one of the big harbors on the west sea-coast . Railroads were quickly expanding , and Port Townsend was to be the westernmost stop for traveler and cargo . But when the Northern Pacific Railroad stopped short in Tacoma , failing to link up with Port Townsend , the heyday was over .
Of course , the story of Port Townsend does n’t terminate there .
Today , the town ’s maritime industriousness , festival culture , and emphasis on the graphics is drawing a whole new generation of visitors and next residents who ca n’t help but lessen in love with Port Townsend ’s historic ( and present - day ) prayer . With a population of around 10,000 people , it ’s got those not - too - small , not - too - handsome , passing quaint vibes that we all be intimate and make out . It ’s well wortha day trip from Seattle .
Photo courtesy of Admiral Jack
Port Townsend is known for its stunning Victorian architecture
Port Towsend ’s abbreviated boom in the previous 1800s intend two thing for its computer architecture : investors spent a lot of money on really skillful houses , and the prevalent style of those houses was ornate straightlaced . Think Gothic influences , intricate carpentry , wrap - around porches , turret , etc . They kind of look like very expensive dame firm , and they ’re all over Port Townsend — so much so that the metropolis was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1977 .
There ’s more stunning architecture to be seen downtown : thePort Townsend Public Library , built in 1913 by a group of “ direct community ladies ” with a subsidization from the Carnegie Library Foundation , theRose Theatre , which still operate as an indie picture palace today , and theFederal Building , which is now a place business office . There ’s also aBell Toweroverlooking business district which was used to alert firefighters in the mid-1800s , restored in 2003 by the Jefferson County Historical Society .
There’s no shortage of cool festivals to attend
now , Port Townsend is something of a festival - goer ’s dream destination . sure enough , there ’s no Coachella equivalent happening here , but turn over your option : theOlympic Music Festival;Centrum ’s Jazz Port Townsend(aka Washington ’s longest linear jazz festival ) ; the all - summertime - longConcerts on the Dockseries;Soundcheck Music & Arts Festival;Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival ; theJefferson County Fair ; thePort Townsend Film Festival ; and of row , theWooden Boat Festival , which is , perhaps unsurprisingly , the largest of its kind in North America , given Port Townsend ’s long - standing reputation as a maritime meat . During the fete — which happen every September — over 300 boats convene in the harbour for presentation , resilient music , local food , exhibitions , and plenty of vino and beer .
There’s plenty of opportunity to experience the rich maritime culture
speak of the Wooden Boat Festival , Port Townsend ’s engagement in the marine industriousness date back to the become - of - the - century , when this harbor metropolis was just find its ocean pegleg , so to verbalize . Today , independent boat builder still flock to the embrasure , and visitors can check out theNorthwest Maritime Center — which is right on the waterfront — for boat tours , paddleboard and paddle wheeler rentals , and more . There ’s also a wooden gravy holder shop if you ’re depend for a token . Sign up for a tour of Port Townsend onAdmiral Jackora private group sailing lesson onLa Vie en Rosefor the full experience .
It doesn’t get much more beautiful than the Olympic Peninsula
Dipping your toes into nautical culture is n’t the only way to enjoy nature in Port Townsend . Being situate on the edge of the Olympic Peninsula means you ’re a stone ’s give by from some of Washington State ’s most stunning natural wonders — likeOlympic National Park , the Hoh Rain Forest , and Ruby Beach , for representative .
If you do n’t want to depart Ithiel Town , Port Townsend itself is home toFort Worden Historical State Park , a priggish - era Army Coast Artillery Corps base built between 1898 - 1920 to protect the US from intrusion via sea . Now , the 432 - Akko park is the perfect place to explore the shoreline , learn about some Puget Sound account at thePuget Sound Coast Artillery Museum , spend a dark bivouacking on the beach , or grab luncheon at theReveille Café(unfortunatelyTaps at the Guardhouseis temporarily closed ) .
Speaking of food…
No visit of Port Townsend would be ended without a repast ( or two ) downtown , where cafés nestled in historic brick building serve up all kinds of fare — opine Mediterranean and Asian - influenced eats fromSilverwater Cafe , salads and sandwich fromOwl Sprit Cafe , pies fromWaterfront Pizza , Thai food fromKhu Larb Thai , and sushi fromIchikawa . For tenting grocery store and excellent innate vino , check out theFood Centennial State - op ; for a waterfront dining experience like no other , pay a visit toAdmiralty Fine Foods , whose bill of fare is the stuff of holiday ambition ( dungeness crab dip ; impossibly fresh bread ; roast garlic toast ; toast hazel salad ) .
Lastly, let’s talk art
Port Townsend is a self - exclaim " Victorian Seaport and Arts Community , ” and , if it was n’t already obvious , that ’s exactly the spirit you ’ll see when you research this vivacious little town . artwork and culture are the connecting thread that weave this community together , and you wo n’t make it far business district without encountering an artwork gallery ( tryGallery Nine , Port Townsend Gallery , Earthenworks , orDon Tiller , for starter ) . Beyond that , Port Townsend is actually home to the nonprofitNorthwind Art(which also run a gallery business district calledGrover Gallery ) , andCentrum , the culture organization that guide some of the festivals we mentioned above , like Jazz Port Townsend . One more affair : If you ’re looking to really dig into the prowess scene , design your trip-up to coincide with the business district Art Walk , which happens on the first Saturday of every month from 5:30 - 7:30 pm .
Rose Theatre
Wooden Boat Foundation
Photo courtesy of Northwest Maritime Center
Kenneth Sponsler/Shutterstock
Photo courtesy of Admiralty Fine Foods
