24-Hours in Port Townsend, WA  (Greatest Issues to Do!)

Planning a visit to Port Townsend? I truthfully suppose this charming waterfront city is considered one of Washington‘s best-kept secrets and techniques. And I’m sharing all the most effective issues to do in Port Townsend!

Sitting on the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend is barely a few two-hour drive from Seattle (plus the choice to take the ferry), but it surely feels worlds away from town’s quick tempo. As a substitute of skyscrapers and site visitors, you’ll discover superbly preserved Victorian buildings, unbiased bookstores, regionally owned eating places and waterfront strolling paths.

This one-day itinerary consists of all of my favourite stops, from unbelievable native eating places to scenic coastal walks, together with a number of hidden gems I nearly missed.

A Little Bit About Port Townsend

Again within the late 1800s, Port Townsend was anticipated to grow to be the “New York of the West,” and buyers poured cash into elegant resorts, brick storefronts, and grand Victorian properties, believing the railroad would rework it into one of many West Coast’s largest cities. As a substitute, the railroad went to Seattle, and Port Townsend’s development got here to a sudden cease. Whereas that was a devastating blow on the time, it left behind one of many nation’s best-preserved historic downtowns. Right now, Port Townsend is considered one of solely three formally designated Victorian Seaports in america, and strolling its streets appears like entering into one other period.

Tips on how to Spend the Day in Port Townsend

Get breakfast at Bishop Block Bottle Store 

Each nice day journey deserves an equally nice breakfast, and Bishop Block Bottle Store is precisely the place I’d begin. Positioned inside The Bishop Resort, this cozy café is the place the locals cease in for his or her morning espresso whereas guests linger over house-baked pastries, contemporary breakfast bites, and espresso made with Victrola Espresso.

PS: I can completely vouch for his or her inexperienced juice with kale, spinach, cucumber, and inexperienced apple—wholesome and doesn’t style such as you’re consuming lettuce!

One enjoyable bonus is that when breakfast is over, the café transforms right into a wine bottle store, which appears like a really Port Townsend sort of factor to do.

Discover Fort Worden 

When you solely have time for one main attraction in Port Townsend, make it Fort Worden Historic State Park. Perched above Admiralty Inlet the place Puget Sound meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this former army fort covers greater than 400 acres of seashores, forests, coastal bluffs, and historic buildings. Even when army historical past isn’t often your factor, don’t skip it. I got here for the surroundings, and it utterly exceeded my expectations. Between the waterfront views, driftwood-covered seashores, towering evergreens, and previous concrete bunkers tucked into the hillsides, it feels extra like an outside journey than a historical past lesson

There are many locations price stopping as you discover, together with the Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum, Alexander’s Fortress, the Port Townsend Marine Science Heart, Port Wilson Lighthouse, and Battery Kinzie, the place you may stroll by means of the previous gun batteries and picture what life was like when the fort was energetic. Earlier than you permit, head over to North Seaside County Park, higher referred to as Glass Seaside. Whereas sea glass is tougher to search out nowadays, it’s nonetheless one of many prettiest stretches of shoreline within the space and an exquisite place to take a stroll whereas watching ferries cross the water. 

Pop into Aldrich’s Market 

You most likely don’t have “go to a grocery retailer” in your Port Townsend bucket record, however belief me on this one. Aldrich’s Market has been an area establishment since 1895, and it’s a lot greater than a spot to choose up groceries. Half connoisseur market, half deli, half espresso store, and half neighborhood gathering place, it’s the place locals come for every part from contemporary produce and artisan cheeses to sushi, flowers, wine, and specialty pantry gadgets. 

Seize lunch at Inexperienced Crow Tacos 

By lunchtime, head over to Inexperienced Crow Tacos, an off-the-cuff counter-service restaurant that serves among the finest tacos I’ve ever had. All the things is made with contemporary, thoughtfully sourced elements, a lot of them native and natural, and the menu is stuffed with inventive taste combos that go effectively past your customary taco store. Since selecting only one sounded not possible, we ordered a number of to share, together with the hen taco with guacamole, cashew macha, cabbage, and apple celery pico, plus the pork birria taco served with crunchy pepitas, pickled greens, and a wealthy mustard-spiced broth that was gloriously messy in the absolute best means.

The largest shock, although, was the candy potato taco. I’ll admit I nearly skipped it, but it surely ended up being my favourite chunk of all the meal. Stuffed with roasted candy potato, black beans, chimichurri, and cheese, it someway managed to be hearty, comforting, and full of taste all on the identical time.

Store & Stroll By the Victorian downtown

After lunch, spend a number of hours wandering Port Townsend’s historic downtown as a result of that is the place the city utterly gained me over. Designated a Nationwide Historic Landmark, the waterfront is lined with superbly preserved Victorian buildings that now home unbiased bookstores, artwork galleries, boutiques, and cafés. 

Considered one of my favourite components wasn’t checking off particular retailers, however merely wandering till one thing caught my eye. I beloved searching Conservatory Coastal Dwelling for coastal-inspired décor and items, and in case you’re a guide lover, don’t miss Imprint Bookstore, probably the greatest unbiased bookstores in Washington. Simply do not forget that lots of the retailers shut round 5:00 p.m., so plan your afternoon accordingly. 

Earlier than shifting on, cease into Classic by Port Townsend Vineyards for a wine flight. When you occur to catch stay music on the patio, don’t be in a rush to go away.

Discover Uptown

Whereas most guests keep close to the waterfront, I extremely suggest heading up the hill to Port Townsend’s historic Uptown neighborhood. This quieter a part of city is house to among the most stunning Victorian properties in Washington, and it’s price slowing down for a leisurely stroll as an alternative of merely driving by means of. Two of the standouts are the Starrett Home, with its ornate structure and distinctive tower, and the Rothschild Home, one of many state’s oldest preserved household properties. 

As you wander the neighborhood, you’ll additionally cross the good-looking Jefferson County Courthouse earlier than reaching Bell Tower Park. The historic Fireplace Bell Tower solely takes a couple of minutes to go to, however the sweeping views over Port Townsend Bay make it considered one of my favourite fast stops.

Have dinner at Finistére

When you solely make one dinner reservation in Port Townsend, let it’s Finistère. And sure, I’m deliberately utilizing the phrase reservation as a result of this is without doubt one of the hottest eating places on the town and tables replenish shortly. Positioned in Uptown, Finistère celebrates the unbelievable farms, seafood, and artisan producers of the Olympic Peninsula with a menu that adjustments seasonally. 

We began with house-made sourdough and whipped butter, adopted by roasted maitake mushrooms with balsamic discount and crispy sage, plus a contemporary asparagus and arugula salad topped with hazelnuts and parmesan. Then got here the bolognese, which was truthfully probably the greatest pasta dishes I’ve ever eaten. Wealthy, comforting, and completely balanced, it was the sort of meal that makes everybody on the desk cease speaking for a couple of minutes. Pair your dinner with an area wine and luxuriate in an extended, relaxed night. 

In a single day at Palace Resort Port Townsend

Slightly than speeding again to Seattle, I extremely suggest spending the night time in Port Townsend, and the Palace Resort is stuffed with the sort of character you merely can’t recreate. In-built 1889, this superbly restored boutique lodge sits proper within the coronary heart of the historic downtown, making it simple to stroll to eating places, retailers, and the waterfront. The constructing has lived many lives over time, together with a memorable chapter as a brothel throughout the Nineteen Twenties, and as we speak every of its 19 uniquely embellished rooms is known as after one of many ladies who as soon as lived there.

We stayed within the Sara Room, full with hovering ceilings, outsized home windows, and vintage furnishings that completely matched the lodge’s historic attraction. Simply know that, as with many historic buildings, there’s no elevator, however for me, that was a small tradeoff for staying someplace with a lot persona. If the Palace Resort isn’t the best match, Port Townsend additionally has loads of charming inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and waterfront resorts to select from. See different advisable resorts in Port Townsend.

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