Kitsap Peninsula

Old growth forests made travel by land nearly impossible for early settlers so towns grew around harbors on Puget Sound to take advantage of the relatively easy water transportation. Although roads have since come to dominate the area many towns still spread out from their harbors and downtown areas are usually close to the water.

North Kitsap

Historic northern area includes the oldest lighthouse on Puget Sound.

• — beautiful beaches and a wonderful lighthouse.
• 30-minute ferry ride from Edmonds.
• — historic lumber mill town established in 1853 and still company-owned.
• — known as "Little Norway", a popular destination for boaters.
• — home of the Suquamish people and burial site of Chief Seattle.

Central Kitsap

The most urban and populated areas of the Kitsap Peninsula.

• — the Kitsap Peninsula's largest town built around a military base.
• -- a secluded and snug harbor.
• — a small residential area along the west side of Dyes Inlet with beautiful water views and views of Mt. Rainier to the South.
• — where you'll find the wonderful Elandan Gardens.
• has views of Hood Canal, the Olympic Mountains and sunsets. With an average of of rain a year, it is the greenest corner of the Kitsap Peninsula.
• — quaint waterfront community, mostly residential
• — home to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
• — known for its public boat launch and commanding views of Seattle across Puget Sound.
• — county seat for Kitsap County also a popular harbor with a convenient downtown.
• — shopping center for the Kitsap Peninsula
• — on Dyes Inlet with amazing views of Puget Sound.

South Kitsap

The least populated area of the Kitsap Peninsula and home to many state parks.

• — overlooking the shoreline of North Bay-Case Inlet on Puget Sound.
• — gateway to many wilderness areas including the Theler Wetlands.
• — the name was adopted for the creek that runs past town at Burley Lagoon.
• — this mostly residential the Hood Canal community's name comes from an Indian word meaning "home of evil spirits who make men crazy."
• — southern gateway to the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.
• — picturesque rural community with many old barns, forests and rolling hills.
• — home of the Purdy Spit with a mile-long beach access.
• — a historic mill community still has few traces remaining of its early logging years.
• — ferry terminal for the SeattleVashon Island state ferry run.
• — tiny, southern-most town on the Kitsap Peninsula.
• — at the bend of Hood Canal, with spectacular views

Key Peninsula

This remote southern region south of Purdy is a sub peninsula of the Kitsap Peninsula.

• — this quiet seaside community was once one of the more radical and socially progressive areas in the state.
• — this small town is the largest on the Key Peninsula.
• — one of the last mosquito fleet era docks still in operation.
• — home to the southern-most marina on the Kitsap Peninsula.
• — once served by the mosquito fleet, this area is home to the Key Peninsula Museum.

Islands

Several islands are accessible from bridges or ferries from the Kitsap Peninsula and are included in this entry.

• — a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle this Island of 20,000 residents is a good place to visit and/or live
• — Manchester is the closest boat launch to this popular island state park between Seattle and the Kitsap Peninsula.
• Eagle Island — off of the Key Peninsula more info in State Parks Section.
• — a 5.2-square-mile island with a lighthouse.

Just a short ferry ride from Seattle or a picturesque drive across the Tacoma Narrows or Hood Canal bridges, the Kitsap Peninsula offers a nice mix of rural and urban activities. Quaint harbor towns offer shopping, dining and regional cultural experiences while rural Kitsap Peninsula offers a wide variety of parks, beaches, golf courses and endless rural charm. With its nearly 400 miles of coastline and dozens of public marinas and boat launches the Kitsap Peninsula is a popular place to arrive and explore by boat and many harbor towns cater to boaters. For clarity we will also include Bainbridge, Blake and other nearby islands in this entry.
The region has a rich and diverse history. Giving a combination of Native American, Scandinavian, military and pioneer attractions. The Kitsap Peninsula is "almost" an island, accessible primarily by ferries or bridges with highway access from the south.
Kitsap County is the governmental body covering the majority of the Peninsula, with Pierce County lying in the SE portion of the Peninsula, and Mason County lying in the SW portion of the Peninsula. Mason County extends west beyond the Kitsap Peninsula into the Olympic Peninsula region.

Talk

Although English is the most common language spoken in the region, there is an incredible variety of languages used in the area.
The Suquamish people called Puget Sound 'WulcH, which simply means “place of clear salt water” in the Southern Lushootseed language that was originally spoken in the area. Many of the names in the area come from the Southern Lushootseed language including 'Kitsap' which was named after their chief and even 'Seattle' which was named after chief Seattle.

By ferry

• Washington State Ferries

  phone: +1 206 464-6400
  The nearest ferry terminals in the Kitsap Peninsula are:
  From downtown Seattle service is offered to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton.
  The Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal in West Seattle connects to Vashon Island and Southworth in southern Kitsap.
  The Edmonds ferry north of Seattle connects Edmonds to Kingston on the northern side of Kitsap Peninsula

By boat

With its nearly 400 miles of coastline, boating is a major tourist draw on the Kitsap Peninsula and many businesses cater specifically to boaters. Some restaurants and shops provide their own docks for easy access and some golf courses offer shuttles from major marinas. Check individual city listings for specific marina information. Larger marinas can be found in Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Brownsville, Gig Harbor, Poulsbo and Port Orchard but even some smaller towns such as Lakebay offer marinas with services and fuel and even some of the state parks such as Blake Island offer docks with restrooms and picnick shelters.

• Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

  phone: +1 360 902-8500
  Has the largest state-managed mooring system in the United States. The commission manages more than 40 marine parks in Puget Sound that provide more than 8,500 feet of public moorage space.

By plane

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), universally nicknamed "Sea-Tac", is to the east across Puget Sound. Domestically it's a major hub for Northwest and West Coast destinations, and internationally handles especially frequent trans-Pacific routes, as well as direct flights to the major European airports.
All international flights arrive at the south satellite terminal, but after immigration and customs, passengers are then funneled onto a train back to the main terminal, outside the security checkpoint. You'll need to pick up any checked bags to clear customs, then place them right back on the conveyor for transit to the main terminal. Reclaim checked bags once again from carousel 1 in the main baggage hall, to the right after leaving the train and going upstairs. Allow plenty of time for this dance! All connecting passengers will need to re-check their baggage with their airline and pass through security.

By airport shuttle

Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter

phone: +1 360-876-1737

offers shuttle service from Seatac airport into various locations on Kitsap Peninsula.

By sea plane

• Sea planes are another popular way to travel around Puget Sound with several airlines based in Seattle with chartered flights to the Kitsap area including Kenmore Air serving areas all around Puget Sound and Canada.

By car

The impressive Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the south or Hood Canal bridges to the north are the two main road access points into Kitsap. The Tacoma Narrows is a toll bridge but only for eastbound traffic leaving the area.

• Interstate 5 (I-5)From I-5 the Kitsap Peninsula can be accessed via :
  US Hwy 101 in Olympia at Exit #103. Follow Hwy 101 to WA-Hwy 3 intersection. Follow Hwy 3 through Shelton (as a local street) and up along Hwy 3 into Bremerton. Or go west on WA-Hwy 302 from Hwy 3 (21 mi/33 km north of Shelton) to get to Purdy & Gig Harbor.
  WA-Hwy 16 through Tacoma at Exit #133. Hwy 16 goes across the Narrows Bridge up to Bremerton where it merges into Hwy 3. ($6 toll to cross the Narrows Bridge from Gig Harbor to Tacoma. No toll going the other way.)
  I-90 WEST from Exit #164 south of downtown Seattle. I-90 ends into 4th Ave by Safeco Field. Follow signs to ferry terminal.
  WA-Hwy 104 in Mountlake Terrace (follow signs to 'Edmonds Ferry') at Exit #177 (going north) or #178 (going south). From the ferry terminal go on Hwy 104 which becomes Hwy 307 (past the Hwy 104 turn-off going north towards Hood Canal Bridge via Port Gamble). Continue west on Hwy 307

• US Hwy 101 completely bypasses the Kitsap Peninsula west of the Hood Canal. From Hwy 101 the Kitsap Peninsula can be accessed from:

• Hwy 3/104 turn-off 3 mi/4.8 km south of Discovery Bay (where US 101 intersects WA-Hwy 20). Hwy 3/104 crosses the floating Hood Canal Bridge into Key Peninsula.
• Hwy 3 turn-off from south of Shelton which goes through Shelton while Hwy 101 by-passes Shelton.

Just a short journey by Washington State ferry, Tacoma Narrows or Hood Canal bridges, and surrounded by nearly 371 miles of shoreline and dozens of marinas the Kitsap Peninsula is an excellent place to travel by car, boat or bike.

By foot ferry

• Kitsap Transit Foot Ferry

  phone: +1 360 373-2877
  Shuttles passengers between Port Orchard, Bremerton and Annapolis ferry terminals using two passenger only ferries, 'Admiral Jack' and the 'Carlisle II' a historic Mosquito Fleet era boat that is nearly 100 years old. Foot ferry service is a great way to tour a historic boat and get an up close and personal view of the marinas and the harbor.

By bus

• Kitsap Transit

  phone: +1 360 479-6962
  Kitsap Transit offers transit services throughout the area including pickup from all ferry terminals and connects with Mason Transit (Mason County), Pierce Transit (Pierce County), and Jefferson Transit (Jefferson County) offering connections outside of the area.

By bike

The Kitsap Peninsula is a great destination for bicycles with its rolling hills and spectacular scenery. During the summer you'll find bike rentals near the ferry dock on Bainbridge Island but be forewarned that it may be some distance between pit stops so plan accordingly.

By taxi

• A-Ward Taxi Towncar

  phone: +1 360-440-1517, +1 360-801-1235
  address: Port Orchard based

• Bainbridge Island Taxi

  phone: +1 206 842-1021
  address: Bainbridge Island based
  Locally owned and operated, serving Bainbridge, Poulsbo, Kingston. Silverdale, Bremerton and the Olympic Peninsula.

• Best Darn Taxi

  phone: +1 360-782-2378
  address: Bremerton based
  Serving Kitsap County.

• Bumblebee Taxi

  phone: +1 360 782-1966
  address: Silverdale based
  A full service taxi company serving Kitsap County and beyond. Serves all military bases and offer flat rates and military discounts.

• First Choice Taxi

  phone: +1 360 373-7903
  address: Bremerton based
  Serves Bremerton, Kitsap County and Seatac Airport. Bremerton Ferry pickups can be arranged.

• KnM Transport

  phone: +1 360 479-2273
  address: Bremerton based
  Transporting mobility challenged clients in specially equipped vans.

• Pleades Transportation

  phone: +1 206 618-9630
  address: Bainbridge Island based
  limousine service on Bainbridge Island.

• Redtop Taxi of Kitsap

  phone: +1 360 876-4949
  address: Port Orchard based

• Taxi and Tours

  phone: +1 206-842-7660 (Bainbridge Island), +1 360-698-7660 (Kingston - Silverdale - Poulsbo), +1 360-377-9393 (Bremerton), +1 360-876-9393 (Port Orchard)
  24 hour serving Bainbridge Island, Kingston, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Bremerton, Suquamish, and Port Orchard.

• White Blitz Taxi

  phone: +1 360 516-0271
  address: Bremerton based

By charter bus

• Janssen's Charter & Tours

  phone: +1 360-871-2446
  address: 1623 Woods Rd E, Port Orchard

The Kitsap Peninsula is known not only for its busy sea ports and picturesque towns but also for its rolling hills, thick forests, miles of coastline, scenic farmlands and many public parks.

Lighthouses

Lighthouse viewing on the Kitsap Peninsula is an excellent way to explore the area, while some lighthouses are accessible to the public others such as the Point No Point Lighthouse offer tours and can even be stayed at overnight.

• Fox Island Lighthouse -The southern most lighthouse in the area is on Fox Island near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
• Gig Harbor Lighthouse- at only tall this is certainly one of the smaller lighthouses in the region but nonetheless plays an important roll marking the opening to Gig Harbor. Directions: from Highway 16, exit onto Pioneer Way. When the road tees, turn right on Harborview Drive and continue to its end where you will find a small park from which you can view the lighthouse.
• Point No Point Lighthouse- since 1879 the oldest and most historically important lighthouse on Kitsap Peninsula. Located on a 60-acre park with beach access. 9009 Point No Point Rd NE, Hansville Turn North (left) at the intersection of Hansville Road and Highway 104. Travel 8 miles to the intersection of Hansville Road and Point No Point Road. Turn right onto Point No Point and travel to the road end into the park entrance.
• Skunk Bay Lighthouse- Located on Skunk Bay at the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula near Hansville.

Nature reserves

• Bloedel Reserve

  phone: +1 206 842-7631
  address: 7571 NE Dolphin Dr Bainbridge Isle, WA 98110
  an award winning garden so popular that reservations are required.

Museums

Museums offer visitors a welcome change of pace and an opportunity to learn more about the Kitsap Peninsulas maritime history.

• Harbor History Museum

  phone: +1 253 858 6722
  address: 4121 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, Washington, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
  Experience the history of the Gig Harbor Peninsula including its maritime industries and even a well preserved school house.

• Kitsap Historical Society and Museum

  phone: +1 360 479-6226
  address: 280 4th St Bremerton
  collects, preserves, and exhibits the diverse culture, heritage and history of Kitsap County

• Naval Undersea Museum

  address: 1 Garnett Way, Keyport
  learn what life is like under the sea as this museum preserves, collects and interpret naval undersea history.

• Puget Sound Navy Museum

  phone: +1 360 479-7447
  address: 251 First Street Bremerton, WA 98337
  Collects, preserves, and interprets the naval heritage of the Pacific Northwest from 1840 to the present and has more than 18,000 objects in its collection.

• Of Sea and Shore Museum

  address: Port Gamble
  Dedicated to the study of natural history, especially mollusks and other invertebrates and includes one of the largest sea shell collections in the world.

• Suquamish Museum

  phone: +1 360 394-8499
  address: 6861 NE South Street Suquamish, WA 98392
  Learn more about the first people of the Kitsap Peninsula including their wooden canoes and traditions.

• USS Turner Joy

  phone: +1 360 792-2457
  address: 300 Washington Beach Ave Bremerton
  Tour a Vietnam-era Destroyer and see how life would have been for the 17 officers and 275 enlisted men it took to run the ship.

Raceways

• Bremerton Raceway

  phone: +1 360 674-2280
  address: 7500 Old Clifton Rd. Bremerton
  NHRA Division 6 Championship drag racing

Bridges

Two bridges connect the Kitsap Peninsula to the mainland.

• Hood Canal Floating Bridge — third-longest floating bridge (the longest over tidewater)
• Tacoma Narrows Bridges- majestic side by side bridges replaced the infamous 'Galloping Gertie' bridge which famously collapsed in a 1940 wind storm.

Convention centers

• Kitsap Conference Center, Bremerton Harborside

  phone: +1 360 377 3785
  address: 100 Washington Avenue, Bremerton
  10,000 square foot venue hosts anywhere from 10 to 750 guests, and offers easy access to Bremerton hotels.

Historic military areas

• Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility

  address: 1400 Farragut Ave #850 Bremerton
  Established in 1891 as a Naval Station and was designated Navy Yard Puget Sound in 1901. During World War I, the Navy Yard constructed ships, including 25 subchasers, seven submarines, two minesweepers, seven seagoing tugs, and two ammunition ships, as well as 1,700 small boats. During World War II, the shipyard's primary effort was the repair of battle damage to ships of the U.S. fleet and those of its allies. Following World War II, Navy Yard Puget Sound was designated Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. It engaged in an extensive program of modernizing carriers, including converting conventional flight decks to angle decks. During the Korean War, the shipyard was engaged in the activation of ships. In the late 1950s, it entered an era of new construction with the building of a new class of guided missile frigates. In 1965, USS Sculpin (SSN 590) became the first nuclear-powered submarine to be maintained at PSNS. The shipyard was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992. The historic district includes 22 contributing buildings and 42 contributing structures, as well as 49 non-contributing buildings, structures, and objects.

State parks

The Kitsap Peninsula's state parks are the coveted jewels of the area. Offering miles of public access beaches and forested trails, many also offer camping and moorage opportunities and are well distributed throughout the area.

• Belfair State Park

  phone: +1 360 275-0668
  A 65-acre, year-round camping park on 3,720 feet of saltwater shoreline at the southern end of Hood Canal. It is noted for its saltwater tide flats, wetlands with wind-blown beach grasses and pleasant areas for beach walking.

• Blake Island State ParkIt's not part of Kitsap, and is accessible only by boat. Kitsap Peninsula is its closest neighbor from the boat launch in Manchester. A 475-acre marine camping park with five miles of saltwater beach shoreline providing magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. Native American style salmon dinners and demonstrations of Northwest Native American dancing are offered at Tillicum Village. The island offers 21 buoys and 1744 feet of moorage for visiting boaters.

• Calvinwood State Park

  address: 6838 Calvinwood Road SW, Port Orchard
  Known for the large lodge on Nels Johnson Lake and surround by just over 100 acres of wilderness.

• Fay Bainbridge State Park

  phone: +1 206 842-3931
  address: 15446 Sunrise Dr NE Bainbridge Island
  The park comprises 16.84 acres (68,100 m2) of land, including 1,420 feet (432 m) of saltwater shoreline along Puget Sound.

• Illahee State Park

  phone: +1 360 902-8844
  address: 3540 NE Sylvan Way, Bremerton
  A 75-acre marine camping park with 1,785 feet of saltwater frontage on Port Orchard Bay near Bremerton. "Illahee" means "earth" or "country" in the Indian tradition, and views of Puget Sound from the Illahee beach give the viewer a sense of what that word meant to native people. Offers 356 feet of dock space and 5 buoys for visiting boaters.

• Eagle Island State Park

  phone: +1 360 902-8844
  10-acre marine park with 2,600 feet of saltwater shoreline. There are 2 mooring buoys on the west side and 1 on the east side of this remote island accessible only by boat between Anderson Island and McNeal Island, there are also trails and camping spots and the area is known for the many seals that come to sunbath. The park was named after Harry Eagle, a member of the Wilkes Expedition.

• Joemma Beach State ParkOn the Key Peninsula near Gig Harbor, this 122-acre marine camping park has 3,000 feet of saltwater frontage on southeast Kitsap Peninsula. Aside from the natural beauty of park and surroundings, the area is an excellent place for fishing, boating and crabbing. Provides a boat launch and water trail campsites, 5 buoys and 500' ft dock footage.

• Kitsap Memorial State Park

  phone: +1 360 779-3205
  Kitsap Memorial State Park is a 58-acre camping park with 1,797 feet of saltwater shoreline and facilities for group and individual recreation, weddings and overnight stays. The park offers beautiful natural surroundings and sweeping views of Hood Canal.

• Kopachuck State Park

  address: 10712 56th St. NW Gig Harbor
  A 109-acre marine park with 5,600 feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. One portion of the park, Cutts Island (or "Deadman's Island") is a half mile from shore and reachable only by boat. There are 2 buoys near shore and 5 near the island for visiting boaters.

• Manchester State Park

  phone: +1 360 871-4065
  address: Port Orchard
  A 111-acre camping park with 3,400 feet of saltwater shoreline on Rich Passage in Puget Sound between Southworth and Port Orchard.

• Penrose Point State ParkA 152-acre marine and camping park on the shores of Puget Sound. The park has over two miles of saltwater frontage on Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet. Wildlife, birds and forested terrain make this a beautiful park.

• Scenic Beach State Park

  phone: +1 360 902-8844
  address: 9565 Scenic Beach Rd NW, Seabeck
  A 88-acre camping park with 1,500 feet of saltwater beachfront on Hood Canal. The park is known for its wild, native rhododendrons and stunning views of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains.

• Square Lake State Park

  address: Manchester
  Don't let the Manchester address fool you, this 7.9-acre park is actually south west of Port Orchard along Lake Flora Rd. Popular with sport fisherman with limited parking and access, best suited for hand launched boats.

• Twanoh State Park

  phone: +1 360 275-2222
  address: Belfair
  On the shoreline of Hood Canal, features one of the warmest saltwater beaches in Washington state. This is because Hood Canal is one of the warmest saltwater bodies in Puget Sound. The 182-acre marine, camping park has 3,167 feet of saltwater shoreline. The name of the park derives from the Native American Twana tribes, better known as the Skokomish, who made their home in the area. The park has 7 buoys and 192 feet of dock space for visiting boaters.

State forests

• Green Mountain State Forest-A 6,000-acre working forest a few miles west of Bremerton. 13 miles of trails and recreation opportunities for a variety of activities including horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping, and other uses. The Green Mountain Horse Camp offer 16 campsites for first-come, first-served camping.

• Tahuya State ForestA 23,000-acre working forest located on the southeastern portion of the Hood Canal west of Belfair in Mason County. This popular year-round destination area attracts more than 200,000 recreational users each year. Tahuya offers recreation opportunities for a variety of activities, including off-road vehicle riding (ORV), horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping and other uses. Tahuya is primarily a destination area for ORV riders. Each year more than 150,000 motorized recreationists and 50,000 non-motorized recreationists visit the forest.

County parks

Many county parks are outside of urban areas and many provide camping, biking, hiking, horse trails, fishing and access to lakes or Puget Sound.
A Quiet Place Park, Anderson Hill Athletic Fields, Anderson Landing Preserve, Anderson Point Park, Arness Roadside Park, Bandix Dog Park, Banner Forest Heritage Park, Bill Bloomquist Rotary Park, Billie Johnson Kingston Skate Park, Buck Lake County Park, Carpenter Lake/Nike Site/Saltmarsh, Chico Creek Estuary, Coulter Creek Heritage Park, Erlands Point Preserve, Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve, Hansville Greenway, Harper Park, Horseshoe Lake County Park, Howe Farm, Illahee Preserve Heritage Park, Island Lake County Park, J.A. & Anna F. Smith Park, Kingston Community Center, Kingston Tennis Courts, Kitsap Fairgrounds & Events Center, Kitsap Kids Playground - Fairgrounds, Kola Kole Park, Long Lake County Park, Newberry Hill Heritage Park, Nick's Lagoon, North Kitsap Heritage Park, Norwegian Point Park, Old Mill Park, Point No Point, Lighthouse and Park, Silverdale Community Center, Silverdale Rotary Gateway Skate Park, Silverdale Waterfront Park, South Kitsap Regional Park, Veteran's Memorial Park, Wicks Lake, Wildcat Lake County Park,Wynn-Jones Preserve

Birdwatching

The Kitsap Audubon Society has been actively meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders actively tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.
The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Point No Point County Park near Hansville at Kitsap County's northern tip is particularly important for birds migrating the Pacific Flyway. The Audubon Society designated it an IBA or an Important Bird Area but there are six other areas along the trail that are also important. Penrose Point State Park near Lakebay, the Sinclair Inlet north of Port Orchard, Lions Park in Bremerton, the Old Mill Park in Silverdale, Liberty Bay near Poulsbo and Fort Ward Park on Bainbridge Island.

Boating

Puget Sound offers some of the best Cruising on small craft in North America. Breath taking views of the snow capped Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges along with glimpses of Mount Rainier mingle with thick forests and clear bays and streams to create a humbling cacophony of natural sights.
Carved by ancient glaciers, Puget Sounds intricate and complex waterways provide endless opportunities for exploration while the many harbor towns built on protective bays cater to boaters and provide an wide array of services, restaurants and shops.
For visitors, the Kitsap Peninsula is uniquely situated amongst Puget Sound with its convenient proximity to Seatac airport and major urban centers, it nonetheless offers a rural boating experience with many state and county parks located right on the water and miles of forests reaching into the Puget Sound. The well distributed harbor communities on the Kitsap Peninsula were mostly built before roads and tend to be centered around the docks offering boaters easy access to amenities and historic retail areas, even small towns tend to have a country store with access to a dock.
Major ports can be found in Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Brownsville, Gig Harbor, Kingston, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Silverdale while dozens of other communities have smaller areas to rest and resupply and many State Parks offer secluded moorage closer to nature. See individual city listings for more info.

• The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has the largest state-managed mooring system in the United States. The commission manages more than 40 marine parks in Puget Sound including several in Kitsap that together provide more than 8,500 feet of public moorage space. More info HERE.

Sailing

The Puget Sound is a destination celebrated by sailors from around the world and the Kitsap Peninsula is a prime example of why it is so popular. The scenery around Puget Sound can be so amazing that it borders on the surreal and could only possibly be appreciated more from the deck of a boat under sail. From isolated moorages in such places as Blake Island State Park to historic harbor towns with fine restaurants, museums and shopping all accessible from convenient harbors.
Visitors to the area will often be treated to the sight of a flotilla of sailboats on Puget Sound as local yacht clubs organize events that sometimes attract hundreds of sailors. These ‘races’ such as the Gig Harbor Yacht Club Islands Race are often informal events that are more of an opportunity for fraternization and attract many types of sailboats and many different skill levels of sailors.

Sea kayaking

Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the Kitsap Peninsulas nearly 400 miles of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and making Kitsap one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.

Kayak trails

Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate lengths and scenic travel destinations.

• Cascadia Marine TrailThis inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to visit. People can boat to the campsites from many public and private launch sites or shoreline trailheads including Hood Canal.

• Kitsap Peninsula Water TrailsThe National Parks Service Named the this 'Trail of the Month' in the entire USA for the month of December 2012, PDF copies of the water trails map are available

• Key Peninsula Marine Trailis a forty mile Peninsular Marine Trail with fourteen legs between fifteen points of interest during a paddling journey around the Key Peninsula

Kayak rentals

There are several companies around the Kitsap Peninsula that rent kayaks and offer classes from beginner to expert.

• Olympic Outdoor Centeroffers kayak rentals, classes and basic information for paddling the area for just a few hours or week long adventures.

Beach combing

What Puget Sound beaches lack in white sand and warm water is more than made up for in the amazing scenery as the clear waters play against wild coastlines and snow peaked mountains scatter on the horizons. Kitsaps many State Parks are an excellent place to start a beach combing adventure offering miles of beaches from the rugged to the sandy smooth. Small crabs, moon snails, sea stars and sand dollars are common sites and tide pools can offer hours of exploration.
Be warned that sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed, however the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.

Crabbing

Sport crab fishing is popular in the area with most fishermen looking for the elusive and meaty Dungeness Crab, but other less popular crabs are plentiful in the area. Crab season starts with a two-day opener July 1st and 2nd and follows up with crabbing every Thursday through Monday through Labor Day weekend. A wide array of crab traps are available from a variety of area sporting goods stores and the red and white buoys marking the traps are a common site on the water during the short crabbing season. Fishing permits are required and can be purchased from a variety of local stores, more information is available from the Washington Dept of Fishing and wildlife

Shellfishing

Shellfish are prized resources of the Puget Sound, the cool, clean waters provide some of
the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Washington State is the nation’s leading producer of farmed bivalve shellfish (clams, geoduck, mussels and oysters) and with Kitsap Peninisulas dozens of Public Clam and Oyster Beaches and miles of coastline it is a popular place for individuals to find these elusive and sought after shellfish. Maps of public shellfishing areas and health warnings and updates can be found online at the States Fish and Wildlife website, as with all fishing in Puget Sound permits are required and can be purchased online or in some sporting goods stores.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving the cold waters of Puget Sound takes a bit more gear and training than other warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many areas are accessible from the Kitsap Peninsula. Many dive sites are completely covered with colorful sea creatures that defy description. Giant Pacific Octopus are common, along with friendly wolf eels. Colorful sponges, sea cucumbers, sea stars, soft corals, anemones and fish can be seen on nearly every dive. The state has offers a guide to parks with launch sites HERE

• Sound Dive Center

  phone: +1 360-373-6141
  address: 5000 Burwell Street, Bremerton, WA 98312
  Established in 1972, this 6000 sq foot diving center offers a full range of diving gear and classes and is the largest dive center in the Puget Sound region.

Conservation areas

There are many spectacular dive areas around Kitsap Peninsula ranging from wreck diving a wooden hull ship near Bainbridge Island known simply as The Boss to artificial reefs that were created with scuba divers in mind. In addition there are four Designated Conservation Areas which are easily accessed from various ports around the Peninsula.

• The Colvos Passage Marine Preserve Area located near Gig Harbor is a protected marine area and is considered one of the best shore accessible diving areas in Puget Sound. Known for its many friendly Wolf Eels and its 25 foot high rugged rock wall that runs along the shoreline for about 200 feet. There are also sightings of, for example, Giant Pacific Octopus, Ratfish, Copper, Brown, and Quillback Rockfish, Lingcod, Greenlings, many varieties of sculpins, Green Sea Urchins, scallops, Rock Sole, Starry Flounder, countless sea stars, warbonnets, gunnels, different varieties of nudibranchs.
• Orchard Rocks Conservation Area is located north east of Manchester State Park in the waters and bedlands of Rich Passage within a 400-yard radius of Orchard Rocks day marker and accessible by boat. The natural bedrock and boulders provide habitats for rock associated fish and invertebrate species. Copper rockfish and quillback rockfish once were common at this site but now are rare. Brown rockfish are common as are lingcod, red Irish lord, buffalo sculpin, striped seaperch, and pile perch . Kelp greenling, painted greenling, cabezon are consistently present in the reserve. Dominant invertebrates include red rock crab, spider crabs, red sea cucumber, and orange sea cucumber. Harbor seals frequently visit the site and are often seen hauled out on the exposed rocks at low tide. California sea lions are also commonly observed at the site and may be seen hauled out on nearby navigational buoys.
• Well-known to regional scuba divers, Sund Rock is a designated conservation area between Kitsap Peninsula and the Olympic Peninsula on Hood Canal accessible by boat from Seabeck. The area is known for abundant and diverse life, including Lingcod, Giant Pacific Octopus, Wolf Eel, nudibranch, anemone, and sea cucumber.
• Z's Reef Marine Preserve is a designated conservation area on the shores of Fox Island. A variety of fishes typically associated with rocky habitats congregate at the site and in such quantities that are unusual for southern Puget Sound. The dominant fishes include copper rockfish, brown rockfish, and quillback rockfish. Other common fishes include lingcod, kelp greenling, painted greenling, wolf eel, and striped seaperch. Pregnant rockfishes are observed at the site during the spring indicating that at least some fishes use the site for reproduction. Other marine organisms include sea stars, encrusting organisms such as giant barnacles, red sea cucumbers, shrimp, and red rock crabs. Seastars are common including sunflower seastar and gumboot chitons are also frequently observed.

Golf

The Kitsap Peninsula has several of the top rated golf courses in the state. Combined with the areas natural beauty golfing in Kitsap leaves a lasting impression. If you are arriving by boat several of courses offer transportation from popular marinas.

• Gold Mountain Golf Course

  phone: +1 360 415-5432
  address: 7263 W Belfair Valley Rd, Bremerton
  36 hole award-winning Olympic and Cascade courses.

• Kitsap Golf and Country Club

  phone: +1 360 377-0166
  address: 3885 NW Golf Club Hill Rd, Bremerton

• Madrona Links Golf Course

  phone: +1 253 851-5193
  address: 3604 22nd Ave NW, Gig Harbor
  18-hole public golf course, reasonably priced and well maintained.

• McCormick Woods

  phone: +1 360 895-0130
  address: 5155 McCormick Wods SW, Port Orchard
  The course is known for being equally beautiful and challenging.

• Meadowmeer Golf and Country Club

  phone: +1 206 842-2218
  address: 8530 Renny Ln NE, Bainbridge Island
  Public golf course with covered driving range.

• Rolling Hills Golf Course

  phone: +1 360 479-1212
  address: 2485 NE McWilliams Rd, Bremerton
  Course, pro shop and Putters Restaurant and Lounge

• Trophy Lake Golf & Casting

  phone: +1 360 874-8337
  address: 3900 SW Lake Flora Rd, Port Orchard
  Expensive and very well-maintained golf course and fishing lodge-style clubhouse.

• Village Greens Golf Course

  phone: +1 360 871-1222
  address: 2298 Fircrest Dr SE, Port Orchard
  Affordable 19-hole golf course that is well designed, Caddy shack has hotdogs, soda and coffee. There is also a small driving range.

Casinos

• Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort

  address: 15347 Suquamish Way NE, Suquamish
  Although this resort is known for gambling, it also offers a Luxury Waterfront Hotel Resort with 85 rooms offering commanding views of Puget Sound, a zero entry pool, a spa, 4 restaurants including Agate Pass Deli, all-you-can-eat Longhouse Buffet, Beach Rock Sport Lounge, and well known Cedar Steakhouse. If that is not enough to keep you busy they also have the White Horse Golf Club built on 456 acres and a long list of incoming bands and various performances.

• The Point Casino

  phone: +1 360 297-0070
  address: 7989 NE Salish Ln, Kingston
  This casino also has restaurant and bars and is between Hansville and Kingston.

Like the rest of the Puget Sound area Seafood is a specialty so look for seasonal specials and locally sourced ingredients. Dungeness crabs, clams, oysters, mussels and salmon can all be found in abundance but look also for fresh produce from local farms. Blackberry season towards the end of summer usually means these tasty local berries will find their way into local dessert menus. See city listings for particular food recommendations.

Farmers markets

With its abundance of farm land the Kitsap Peninsula offers a wide variety of fresh produce and road side vegetable and fruit stands, some farms have their own stores and offer locally grown foods and goods. Christmas tree farms are also seasonally popular and offer families the opportunity to select their own trees.

• Bainbridge Island Farmers Marketshop, eat, listen to great music, and enjoy one of Bainbridge Island's best traditions.

• Belfair Farmers Market

  address: Located in the parking lot of the community center, just off Hwy 3, across from Belfair Elementary
  offers farm-fresh produce, arts, crafts, food and other lovingly handcrafted items to suit the most discriminating taste

• Bremerton Farmers Market

  address: Bremerton Ferry Terminal
  wide selection of local produce and crafts.

• Gig Harbor Farmers Market

  address: Uptown location: 4701 Pt. Fosdick Drive F 1PM-5PM; Downtown: Skansie Brothers Park 3207 Harborview Drive, W Su noon - 5PM
  offers fresh flowers, produce, plants, baked goods, food, handmade crafts, expert advice from master gardeners, a kids' tent, free guitar lessons and live entertainment.

• Kingston Farmers MarketA lively, friendly market on a beautiful, grassy lawn at Mike Wallace Park at the Port of Kingston Marina where local farmers, producers, crafters, and artisans sell their goods.

• Olalla Valley Farmers Marketsmall farmers market in the Olalla Valley with local crafts and produce.

• Port Orchard Farmers MarketTo help preserve the agricultural identity and quality of rural life by providing a place for local farmers to market their produce & farm products.

• Poulsbo Farmers Market

  address: Poulsbo Village Medical/Dental Center, Poulsbo, Washington.
  This seasonal market pulls in farmers, bakers, chefs, and artisans from across the region. Their mission is to provide the best food, hand-crafted products, and sense of community that Kitsap has to offer.

• Silverdale Farmers Market

  address: Old Town Silverdale between the boat launch & Waterfront Park
  Market for locally grown agricultural products which provides a wide variety of fresh healthy produce and plants for all citizens

• Suquamish Farmers MarketLocally produced goods, food and crafts. With seven miles distance to any full service grocery stores, this is a walkable way to pick up great food, flowers, handmade clothing, gifts, and art.

Like the rest of the Puget Sound region, people on Kitsap Peninsula take their coffee seriously. See city listings for particular coffee and bar recommendations and don't forget to check out some of the regions award winning breweries, distilleries and wineries that make for a great stop over when exploring the area.

Breweries

• Der Blokken

  address: 1100 Perry Ave, Bremerton
  Brewery owned and operated by women with a wide selection of craft beers.

• Hood Canal Brewery

  phone: +1 360 297-8316
  address: 26499 Bond Road Northeast Kingston
  Try Dosewallips Special Ale,, Bywater Bay ESB, Dabob Bay IPA, Agate Pass Amber, Big Beef Oatmeal Stout and Breidablik Barley Wine.

• Silver City Brewery

  phone: +1 360 813 1487
  address: 206 Katy Penman Ave., Bremerton
  Many award winning beers.

• Slaughter County Brewing Company

  phone: +1 360 329-2340
  address: 1307 Bay St, Port Orchard
  Hand-crafted beers in a maritime, pirate-themed pub with views of the water. The name comes from the original name of the county before it was switched to Kitsap.

Distilleries

• Heritage Distilling Company

  address: 3207 57th St Ct NW, Gig Harbor

• Bainbridge Organic Distillers

  phone: +1 206 842-3184
  address: 9727 Coppertop Loop NE, Bainbridge Isle

Vineyards & wineries

The Kitsap Peninsula has several wineries that offer a nice change of pace when exploring the Peninsula.

• Bainbridge Island Wineries Group

  phone: +1 206 780 0905
  address: 12976 Roe Road, Bainbridge Island

• Olalla Valley Vineyard & Winery

  address: 13176 Olalla Valley Road SE, Olalla

• Trillium Creek Winery

  phone: +1 253 884-5746
  address: 17812 G Street, Lakebay
  although they purchase their grapes in Eastern Washington, they are processed in their 1500 square foot wine cellar on their 15 acres in Lakebay, Washington and have a tasting room open to the public.

The Kitsap Peninsula offers a wide variety of places to spend the night, from cozy bed and breakfasts to isolated waterfront campgrounds. More urban areas such as Gig Harbor boast a wider variety of places to stay but travelers in the know can search out more off the beaten path options like staying at the historic lighthouse in Hansville.

Animal safety

Though many of the animals in the Kitsap area are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other wild animals! Check trail head postings at parks for recent activity and be aware of rules keeping a distance from Orca Whales and other marine animals while boating. Regulations for killer whales require that boaters stay 200 yards away & keep path of the whales clear. These new U.S. regulations apply to all vessels (with some exceptions) in inland waters of Washington.
Don't disturb resting seal pups, keep children and dogs away and report to the local stranding hotline +1 253-589-7235. Seal pups 'haul out' to get much needed rest when they are young and are often alone for many hours. They are extremely vulnerable at this time and should be left alone. Only about 50% of Puget Sound seal pups make it through their first year so please help to protect their health.

10 essentials

Know your 10 essentials when going on a hike, because cell phones won't always work in many rural areas, and may not be depended on in an emergency situation.
1. Navigation
2. Hydration & Nutrition
3. Pocket Knife
4. Sun Protection
5. Insulation
6. Fire!
7. Lighting
8. First Aid
9. Shelter
10. Whistle

Petty crime

With so many people visiting Kitsap each year petty crimes are something to be vigilant against. Lock your car doors and exercise sensible precautions with valuables, especially when parking your car at a trail head or marina when you may be away from your car for a while. It would also be advisable to carry anything of value out of sight.

• Olympic Peninsula - lies to the west via the Hood Canal Bridge.
• Seattle,Vashon Island and King County - lie to the east via the Washington State Ferries from Southworth.
• Tacoma - lies to the south across the Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge.