Best Things to Do in Port Townsend
1. Walk the The čičməhán Trail
The čičməhán Trail has 18 formal stops in Port Townsend that are marked with signage. You can choose to walk either the 3-mile, 6-mile, or 12-mile loops. There are 16 historic sites along the trail. For a map of the trail, click this link.
2. Chetzemoka Park
Chetzemoka Park is a large grassy park within walking distance of downtown Port Townsend. The park is located directly on the water. The park has views of Admiralty Inlet and beach access. There’s a gazebo and bandstand, picnic areas, and a playground. It’s a great place to picnic or go for a beach walk. The park was named after Chetzemoka, who was a S’Klallam leader.
3. Rothschild House Museum
The Rothschild House Museum is a historic house located in Port Townsend.When you visit this house, you’ll get a true sense of what it was like to live in the mid-1800s. D.C.H. Rothschild built the house in 1868 and it was kept in the family until the house was donated in 1962. During that time, the house was barely changed at all, so it’s an excellent example of decor from that era. As a result, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
4. Port Townsend Aero Museum
The Port Townsend Aero Museum currently has dozens of historic aircraft on display. At the time of this writing, an adult admission ticket costs $10. (There are discounted prices available for seniors, active military, and children). Aircraft currently on display include a 1946 Cessna 140 and a 1929 Corben “Baby Ace.”
5. Jefferson Museum of Art & History
The Jefferson Museum of Art & History is located in Port Townsend’s historic city hall. Downstairs, you can visit the 1892 city jail. Some of the previous exhibitions at the museum have included topics on climate change and women in the outdoors. At the time of this writing, an adult admission ticket costs $8. We visited the museum during our last trip to Port Townsend and spent about 30 minutes looking at the exhibitions.
6. Port Townsend Marine Science Center
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center has two locations. The main location is in Fort Worden State Park. There are a variety of exhibits, an aquarium, and a gift shop. At the science center you can learn all about the Salish Sea and local marine wildlife. You can visit on Saturdays and Sundays. There’s also a visitor center store located in downtown Port Townsend that’s open Friday through Sunday.
7. Fort Worden State Park
Slightly north of downtown Port Townsend is Fort Worden State Park. You can actually walk to the state park along the beach if you’d like a bit of a walk. (It’s a little under 2 miles depending on where you are departing from the city. Be sure to check the tide schedules to make sure that you can walk the full way.) Fort Worden State Park has lots of shoreline, a historic lighthouse, and an abandoned military fort. As you walk its numerous trails, you’ll likely run into old military bunkers. You’ll need a Discover Pass if you’d like to park your vehicle at the state park.
8. Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park
Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park is extremely popular among bird watchers. There have been over 150 different bird species seen at this park. The park has trails, benches, and picnic tables.
9. Victorian-Style Buildings
Throughout the entire city you will see numerous Victorian-style buildings and architectural elements. The picture posted above is a commercial building that was built during the city’s earlier prosperous years. Many of the homes in the city are obviously private residences, so be respectful as you walk by and admire the architecture.
10. Port Townsend Antique Mall
The Port Townsend Antique Mall is a treasure trove of collectibles from decades past! You’re sure to find something interesting as your browse through the many items. The store is much larger than it looks from the outside. We spent a lot of time looking through all of the antiques!
11. Glass Beach
If you’re up for a bit of a walk, the trail to Glass Beach is approximately 5.4 miles roundtrip. The trail ends at a beach known for having – you guessed it – lots of beach glass! You’ll want to time your visit around low tide for greater ease in reaching the beach.
12. Larry Scott Memorial Trail
The Larry Scott Memorial Trail begins in Port Townsend and is part of the Olympic Discovery Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail. If you like to run, walk, or bike, this is a great way to get some exercise.
13. Visit a Brewery
Enjoy a craft beer at some of the local breweries. Port Townsend Brewing Company or and Propolis Brewing are great places to check out.
14. Rose Theatre
The Rose Theatre was established in 1907 and it retains much of its historic charm. The Starlight Room is an especially cozy place to watch a movie. The Starlight Room is filled with antique furniture. Instead of rows of cinema-style chairs, you can sit on a velvet couch or in a cozy armchair. In addition to the eclectic furniture, the Starlight Room has several large chandeliers that add to its ambiance.
15. Bell Tower Park
At the Bell Tower Park, you can see Port Townsend’s historic fire bell tower. The tower is 75 feet tall and it was built in 1890. The giant bell weighed 1,500 pounds and was made of brass. It’s the last wooden fire bell tower in existence in the United States.
You can reach the tower from downtown by climbing up a steep set of stairs. (There are 4 levels of staircases to reach the top of the hill.) You can also drive to the top of the hill to see the bell tower.
16. Explore Local Shops
During the weekend, you can enjoyHigh Tea with scones, sandwiches, and jams at Cafe Tenby. You can also visit Wilderbee Farm and drink some mead, pick local fruits and vegetables, and have a picnic. They have a tasting room that is currently open on the weekend. One of our favorite shops was World’s End, which sells pirate-themed and steampunk items. We also really liked Abracadabra because they had lots of puzzles, board games, journals, and toys. Port Townsend is also home to several bookstores, and we really enjoyed walking through William James Bookseller.
17. Soak on the Sound
During our last visit to Port Townsend, we booked a reservation at Soak on the Sound. We had a private room with a saltwater soaking tub. It was so relaxing! We had booked the Soak & Sauna Suite, which included a large private tub, a Finnish steam sauna, and a salt wall lounge nook. We spent 90 minutes rotating between the soaking tub and the sauna, and it was the perfect place to unwind.
18. Visit an Art Gallery
Port Townsend is filled with lots of art galleries! As you walk through town, stop into one of the galleries and enjoy the local art.
19. Wine Tasting
While you’re walking around town, stop by Vintage by Port Townsend Vineyards. They have waterfront views with indoor and outdoor seating. You can order a bottle of wine, a tasting flight, or wine by the glass. When we visited, we ordered a wine tasting flight and a glass of rosé wine mixed with a scoop of mango sorbet. It was divine! We sat outside, played a game of cribbage, and enjoyed the view!
20. Look at the Street Murals
Port Townsend is filled with murals and old advertisem*nts. As you walk around town, look at all the buildings and see what you can find! Many of the buildings feature old advertisem*nts for cigars and tobacco, the names of previous proprietors, and depictions of coastal living.
21. Adams Street Park
Adams Street Park is a small park located in the heart of downtown Port Townsend. Purchased by the city in 1993, it’s a quiet place for visitors to sit down and enjoy the water views.
Port Townsend is filled with tons of charming boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and waterfront hotels! We wrote a full article detailing our favorite hotels in Port Townsend.
During our last trip to Port Townsend, we stayed at the Tides Inn and Suites. We had a large room facing the water with a private balcony. We also had a large jetted soaking tub in our suite. We were able to completely relax while gazing at the water. We woke up to the sounds of seagulls and a fresh ocean breeze. The hotel was within easy walking distance of downtown, and we thought it was the perfect place to stay!
Because both routes are about the same duration under ideal traffic conditions, you’ll want to check WSDOT updates for current traffic conditions and ferry wait times. If there’s a long ferry line, it might be best to drive around the peninsula.
If there’s not a long ferry line, we prefer to take the ferry because it is such a unique way to view the Puget Sound. However, if the ferry line is excruciating long, we would probably skip it so that we can have more time at our destination.
Port Townsend is located on S’Klallam land. The S’Klallam (which means “strong people”) named the land qatáyand have stewarded the land for hundreds of years. The čičməhán Trail in Port Townsend honors the contributions of this tribe and seeks to educate visitors about their history.
The city of Port Townsend was established in 1851. (For reference, Washington didn’t even become a state until 1889.) The city was called the “City of Dreams” because it was hoped that it would become the largest port on the western side of the United States. However, economic activity ultimately shifted to the Seattle ports instead.
Port Townsend is ideally located near many amazing sites in the Olympic Peninsula. Most of the sites listed below are within a few hours drive of Port Townsend:
Port Townsend is a charming getaway close to Seattle, Washington. The town is filled with historic buildings in Victorian architecture and lots of delicious restaurants. We found that Port Townsend was the perfect relaxing getaway. We’d suggest staying for at least two nights. We hope that this post provided you with some inspiration to visit this beautiful city!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
