Port Townsend Attractions

Port Townsend Attractions: Port Townsend activities and other unique things to do in Port Townsend WA that will make a memorable Port Townsend vacation.

Port Townsend, WA.Port Townsend, WA
Port Townsend Restaurants.Port Townsend Restaurants
Port Townsend Hotels.Port Townsend Hotels

Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce in Port Townsend

For a town with a modest population of around 9,200, Port Townsend WA offers a remarkable assortment of interests, activities, and attractions.

With so many options, it's a great idea to stop by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce if you have any questions or wish additional direction.

Chamber of Commerce Info Center
440 12th Street, Port Townsend WA 98331
+1-360-385-7869

Port Townsend Weather - check the weather before setting forth!

Free or Nearly Free Port Townsend Attractions

Port Townsend’s parks, scenic downtown historic area, and various landmarks, retired military forts, and lighthouses are all free to visit, or nearly free. Fort Worden requires a Discovery Pass.

Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend WA.Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend WA.

Chetzemoka Park

Chetzemoka Park is located on the water, just around the corner from the historical district of Port Townsend. The park offers lovely views, beach access, a park setting, and children's playground.

TripAdvisor Reviews of Chetzemoka Park in Pt Townsend WA

Chetzemoka Park


Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend, WA.Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend, WA.

Fort Worden State Park

Fort Worden State Park
200 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368
+1-800-233-0321

TripAdvisor Reviews of Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend WA

Certificate of Excellence

Museums and music, beach walks and Pt. Wilson Lighthouse, kite-flying and incredible views. No wonder it tops TripAdvisor's list of Port Townsend attractions.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center

Located within Fort Worden State Park at 532 Battery Way

Phone: +1-360-385-5582

Hours: Fri - Sun, 12 noon - 5 pm

TripAdvisor Reviews of the Pt Townsend Marine Science Center in Port Townsend WA

"Educational, entertaining, active..."

Point Wilson Lighthouse at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA.Point Wilson Lighthouse at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA

Jefferson County Historical Society Museum

Jefferson County Historical Society Museum
540 Water Street, Port Townsend WA 98368
+1-360-385-1003

http://www.jchsmuseum.org/ - Entry fee is $3.00

TripAdvisor Reviews of Jefferson County Historical Society Museum in Pt Townsend WA

This is a great place to stop and learn more of the history of Port Townsend. They will also provide you with a street map and direct you to the scenic Victorian-era homes and buildings throughout Port Townsend. Be sure to ask about the Ann Starrett Mansion, Manresa Castle, and the Rothschild House. Then go strolling or cruising!

Downtown National Historic District

Stroll through downtown Port Townsend: virtually the entire downtown area is a National Historic District, with many of the buildings built in the late 1800’s or very early 1900’s.

Jefferson Museum in downtown Port Townsend WA. The building is dated Year of our Lord 1891.Jefferson Museum in downtown Port Townsend WA. The building is dated Year of our Lord 1891.
Port Townsend WA is a shopper's dream. The Victorian architecture is icing on the cake.Port Townsend WA is a shopper's dream. The Victorian architecture is icing on the cake.

At right: More of Port Townsend's Historical District. This is Washington Street.

This United Methodist Church in Port Townsend WA dates to 1871.This United Methodist Church in Port Townsend WA dates to 1871.
Port Townsend Historical District. Most of these buildings date to the late 1800's.Port Townsend Historical District. Most of these buildings date to the late 1800's.
More of Port Townsend's Historical District. This is Washington Street.

Port Townsend (and Seattle) Sight Seeing from the Air

Take an air tour by small plane. How cool would it be to see Port Townsend, the Puget Sound, and the greater Seattle area from a few thousand feet in the air?!

Wyvern Air Air-Tours
191 Airport Road, Port Townsend, WA 98368
+1-800-339-6570

Hours: Every day, 9am - 5pm

TripAdvisor Reviews of Wyvern Air Air Tours in Port Townsend WA - 5 stars

Wyvernair, which flies out of both Renton and Port Townsend WA, will take you on sight-seeing flights over Port Townsend and the greater Seattle area of the Pacific Northwest lasting 1 hour, 1.5 hours, or longer if you like.

Port Townsend Attractions: Whale-Watching

Puget Sound Express cruises and whale watch tours in Port Townsend WA.Puget Sound Express cruises and whale watch tours in Port Townsend WA.

Not into airplanes?

How about boats and very large marine mammals?

Port Townsend is perfectly situated for whale-watching.

Puget Sound Express, a local whale-watching tour guide, has an office in downtown Port Townsend on Jackson Street, across from the Point Hudson Marina. A whale-watching tour is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime highlight of your visit to Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, and nearby Port Townsend. They guarantee whale sightings; see the website for specifics.

See Port Townsend Whale Watching for more info.

TripAdvisor.com Reviews of Puget Sound Express in Port Townsend WA

Puget Sound Express whale-watching boat, Glacier Spirit, moored in Port Townsend, WA.Puget Sound Express whale-watching boat, Glacier Spirit.

Port Townsend Attractions: Art and Culture

Depending on your visit dates, you might get in on some wonderful art and culture in Port Townsend.

  • Art: Gallery Walks every first Saturday of the month. “Stroll the town” as a group and view the art galleries.

  • Theatre: Key City Public Theatre. Port Townsend’s premier theatre has been in operation for over 50 years. Key City Public Theatre Website

  • Music: Olympic Music Festival conducts "Concerts in the Barn" on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer. www.olympicmusicfestival.org/

  • Blues and jazz: Centrum sponsors summer performance festivals in both music and literature that draw visitors from across the nation. Centrum is based at Fort Worden State Park. TripAdvisor Reviews of Centrum in Port Townsend WA - 4.5 stars

  • Dance: Several dance groups hold frequent dances which are open to all, with live music. Salsa, Tango, Contra, Square dancing, and more. ptguide.com/arts-music-theatre/dance

  • Literary Arts: Many books have been written by local authors or about Port Townsend and/or the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park - ptguide.com/arts-music-theatre/literary-arts
Port Townsend WA book store and imprint where local authors present their books and read their poetry.Port Townsend book store and imprint where local authors present their books and read their poetry.

Port Townsend Attractions: Sailing/Boating

Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend WA.Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend WA.

Northwest Maritime Center
431 Water Street, Port Townsend WA 98368
+1-360-385-3628

http://nwmaritime.org/

TripAdvisor Reviews of Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend WA - 4.5 stars

  • The Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend sponsors many educational programs for adults and children – experiencing life as a mariner on the water, boat-building, learning to sail, much more

  • They also put on the Wooden Boat Festival, which takes place in September each year. http://nwmaritime.org/wooden-boat-festival/

  • NWMaritime.org sponsors other events as well (including a race to Alaska) – if you have a passion about boats and sailing, visit http://nwmaritime.org/ for all the details before planning your trip to Port Townsend.
The Wells Gray, a well-cared-for wooden boat in the Port Townsend Marina.The Wells Gray, a well-cared-for wooden boat in the Port Townsend Marina.

Port Townsend Attractions: Sports/Recreation

The Pacific Northwest Trail goes for miles, from Port Townsend and around the Port Townsend peninsula.The Pacific Northwest Trail goes for miles, from Port Townsend and around the Port Townsend peninsula.
Pacific Northwest Trail is good for biking, running/walking, horseback riding, and is handicap-friendly.Pacific Northwest Trail is good for biking, running/walking, and horseback riding, and is handicap-friendly.

If you’ve brought your own equipment – bikes, kayaks, binoculars, camping gear, even horses – these activities will be low-cost, high enjoyment:

  • Bicycling, hiking, walking, running
  • Kayaking, boating, motor-boating, sailing
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Horseback riding
  • Fishing, clam-digging. Check permit requirements: ptguide.com/recreation-activities/fishing
  • Go fishing, clamming, or shrimping with a tour guide: peninsulasportsman.com/fishing/. Fly fishing, clam digging, and dungeness crab-fishing are authentic Pacific Northwest activities. Your tour guide will have all the equipment you will need.
An easy way and a hard way to go boating in the Port Townsend harbor...An easy way and a hard way to go boating in the Port Townsend harbor...

Port Townsend Attractions: Annual Festivals and Events

The Adventuress, moored in the Port Townsend Marina on the Olympic Peninsula near Port Angeles WA.The Adventuress, moored in the Port Townsend Marina.

Port Townsend celebrates two annual festivals:

  • The Rhody Festival - 3rd week in May. May is the heart of Spring, when the rhododendron and azalias are in full bloom. Color is everywhere.

    While you’re here, why don’t you participate in the Rhody Run?! The Rhody Run is a 12 km run/walk on the 3rd Sunday of May, occurring in conjunction with the Rhody Festival.

  • Wooden Boat Festival - The Wooden Boat Festival takes place in early September. This is the largest wooden boat festival in North America. Click the link for more details and  current schedule information.

Olympic National Park

Glorious vistas of the Olympic Mountains from Hurricane Ridge in May, Olympic National Park.Glorious vistas of the Olympic Mountains from Hurricane Ridge in May, Olympic National Park.

Lastly, don’t forget that the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles is just an hour away from downtown Port Townsend.

It'd be a crying shame to get this close to the majestic Olympic National Park and then not even take a peek.

  • The Olympic National Park has a visitor center in Port Angeles. (The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center burned down; stay tuned for updates.) The Port Angeles Visitor Center is a 1-hour drive from Port Townsend.
  • Hurricane Ridge is a 17-mile drive from the Port Angeles Visitor Center. Total drive time from Port Townsend to Hurricane Ridge is around 1.5 hours.
  • Add to this time allotment whatever time you'd like to spend at the Olympic National Park Port Angeles Visitor Center.

Once you've visited either locations, or at least spoken to a Ranger, you will be better able to decide if you’d like to allocate more time to the Olympic National Park, or to continue enjoying the many Port Townsend attractions. Follow the links for more info.

Bicycling in downtown Port Townsend WA.Bicycling in downtown Port Townsend WA.

Our list of Port Townsend attractions in no way exhausts the possibilities of things to do in Port Townsend.

There is so much more to see and do, depending on your interests. Explore these websites for much more info:

www.ptguide.com – “City Guide to Port Townsend, WA”

www.enjoypt.com – “One of the coolest small towns in America”

More links you may like:

More Pages You Might Enjoy

Share This Page: What’s This?

Enjoy This Page? Please Pay It Forward. Here's How... Would You Prefer to Share This Page with Others by Linking to It?Click on The Html Link Code Below.Copy and Paste It, Adding a Note of Your Own, Into Your Blog, a Web Page, Forums, a Blog Comment, Your Facebook Account, or Anywhere that Someone Would Find This Page Valuable. Var L = Window.Location.Href, D = Document; Document.Write('<form Action="#"><div Style="text-Align:Center"><textarea Cols="50" Rows="2" Onclick="this.Select();"><a Href="'+l+'">'+d.Title+'</a></textarea></div></form>');