When people visit Seattle, they often think of adventures on the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan islands and Mount Rainier National Park, but there are an incredible amount of counties that are unique in their own way with lots to explore. Kitsap county is one of them. Just a short ferry ride right from downtown Seattle will bring you to the heart of Kitsap county.
Rent a bike or a car and head down to the ferry terminal to check out these top things to do just outside of Seattle.
Visit Bainbridge Island
Getting off the ferry this is a great place to check out as your first stop and is extremely easy access from Seattle. You can explore places like Blakely Lake, Gazzam lake preserve, and Grand Forest West. All with great hiking options and a variety of views and wildlife viewing.
One unique thing to do is to find the troll, Sakai. This is part of a bigger installation of Northwest Trolls: Way of the bird king, a project meant to improve Danish-American relations with a focus on environmental sustainability. Six giant hand-built troll sculptures created by Danish environmental artist Thomas Danbo are doted around the Pacific Northwest with 5 of them being located around the Seattle area and one in Portland, Oregon. Sakai, is located on Bainbridge Island. To find them all check out the Way of the Bird King website (trust me they are worth it).
The Pacific Northwest is also known for its coffee and craft beer, so check out Pegasus Coffee and Bainbridge Brewing while you are touring around.
Go hiking in the county and state parks
This is a great way to get out, stretch your legs and see some beautiful nature. On a clear day, at many of these locations you can also see the Olympic Mountains.
Point no Point County Park
This small county park follows along the shoreline with great opportunities for wildlife viewing. It’s a popular spot for outdoor recreation activities like fishing and is historic as a place where a treaty was signed between native tribes and the US government with regards to a transfer of lands.
There is a lot of natural beauty here, with views of the Olympic mountains on a clear day from the shoreline surrounded by wetland. There is a small picnic area with picnic tables where you can sit with your lunch and some binoculars to watch for orcas or you can walk along one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve
This is a hidden gem in Kitsap County. It doesn’t look like much when you approach it, but hike down to an area with two very short trails, one will take you to a beach where you can watch salmon swim up stream or head to the stump house. The stump house is worth the trip. This man made house, using a tree stump (hence the name) was created by a man trying to escape prohibition. He hid here for several months, living in the stump.
Nicks Lagoon
This is a major attraction if you want to see hundreds of great blue heron’s nesting at the same time in a small area. The noise is next level, but one of the most spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities in the area.
Visit Poulsbo
Also known as “Little Norway” this cute town is a fun place to visit filled with great coffee shops, like Caffe Cocina (which has delicious gluten and dairy free options), shops, wine bars (I recommend Details Wine Bar), and one of the best bakeries I have ever been to, Sluy’s Poulsbo Bakery.
If you visit Kitsap county, this is a must stop and a great place to spend the night. If you do plan to spend the night I recommend Hotel Scandi, a cute little boutique hotel right downtown on main street and next to a delicious Italian restaurant, Sogno di Vino.
Other towns to check out
Some other popular towns to check out include Gig Harbor and Port Ludlow and for the Twilight fans (which is definitely not me, but everyone has their thing) you will want to check out Port Townsend and Port Angeles.
Great places to eat along the way
While driving around the Kitsap peninsula there are a couple of great places to stop and eat including Greenwoodes Farm and Organic Baked goods in Hainesville and The Boat Shed in Bremerton. If you stop at the Boat Shed, sit out on their dock area, it has the best views and there is often a harbor seal hanging out there.
Concluding Thoughts
If you want to get out of the Seattle area and get those Pacific Northwest vibes, the Kitsap Peninsula is the best way to spend a day or two. The best time of year to visit is during the summer months when there is no rain and just warm days and great views from the miles of shoreline.
Want to explore more of Washington state? Make sure to visit Skagit county, another hidden gem just an hours drive from Seattle.
