Port Townsend: Paris of the Pacific Northwest
Located on the northeastern tip of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, is the quaint town of Port Townsend. With a unique maritime heritage as a shipbuilding and port town, it had successfully preserved numerous grand Victorian buildings. Port Townsend’s proximity to Olympic National Park and Forest makes it a magnet for nature lovers and artists. Visit Port Townsend by flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, around 1.5 hours away by car and ferry.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit Port Townsend is during June to August, when weather is warm for outdoor activities; but being peak season, tourists, locals, and cruise ship travelers go out en-masse, so make reservations well in advance. The best time to visit is during the shoulder season, when lower travel prices and lesser crowds make May and September a great time to visit, if your plans do not require a guarantee of dry weather. Winter can be doable for skiers and museum lovers, but sadly is not for everyone else.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Experience the renowned Victorian charm of Port Townsend Historic District located downtown—check out the rows of old houses, museums, and the waterfront. The former military base of Fort Worden State Park is a favorite vacation and picnic destination overlooking Puget Sound, with a famous lighthouse and marine science center. Go down the docks to the daily boat tours of Puget Sound Express to catch sight of orcas and sea lions, and then go up to the deep rainforests and glacier-capped peaks of Olympic National Park. Have a well-deserved rest at the many hotel selections, like the castle-like century-old Manresa Castle Hotel. If you are in a tight budget, you can opt to stay at Tides Inn & Suites or the Fort Warden for a comfortable night.