14 Awesome Things to Do in Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is one of those towns that makes you feel like you stumbled onto something. It’s not on the way to anywhere — you have to choose to go there — and that intentionality is exactly why it’s so good.
Perched at the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets Hood Canal, Port Townsend is Washington’s only Victorian seaport and one of just three in the entire country recognized as a National Historic District.
It was supposed to become a major West Coast city in the 1880s. The railroads went south instead, and what got left behind is extraordinary — three-story Victorian commercial buildings on the waterfront, a bluff full of sea captains’ homes above them, a working wooden boat culture, and a thriving arts scene that gives the whole town a creative, slightly eccentric energy.
Oh, and it sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, meaning it gets significantly less rain than Seattle. Genuinely underrated.
Here’s what to do in Port Townsend, Washington.
Table of Contents
- 1. Explore Fort Worden State Park
- 2. Walk Water Street & the Victorian Historic District
- 3. Kayak on Port Townsend Bay
- 4. Watch for Whales
- 5. Hike the Olympic Discovery Trail
- 6. Visit the Point Wilson Lighthouse
- 7. Check Out the Northwest Maritime Center
- 8. Explore Chetzemoka Park
- 9. Take the Ferry — Both Options Are Great
- 10. Hike at Fort Flagler State Park
- 11. Wander the Art Galleries
- 12. Eat and Drink Well
- 13. Explore Glass Beach
- 14. Use It as a Base for the Olympic Peninsula
- Getting to Port Townsend
- More Olympic Peninsula Adventures
1. Explore Fort Worden State Park
Fort Worden is the anchor of any Port Townsend visit and one of the best state parks in Washington — full stop. This former U.S. Army coastal defense fort sits right on the water at the northern tip of the peninsula, and it’s packed with things to do.
Hike along miles of bluff trails with sweeping views across Admiralty Inlet toward Whidbey Island. Explore the atmospheric concrete gun batteries and military bunkers scattered across the headland. Walk the long driftwood beach. The park also has a campground, kayak rentals in summer, and the Point Wilson Lighthouse at the tip — one of the most scenic lighthouse walks in the state.
Fort Worden is also where the film An Officer and a Gentleman was shot in 1982, if that’s your thing.
Pro tip: The fort has over 100 historic structures, including renovated officers’ quarters you can actually rent as vacation cottages. Staying inside the park is a unique experience.
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2. Walk Water Street & the Victorian Historic District
Port Townsend’s downtown Water Street is one of the most well-preserved Victorian commercial streetscapes in the entire United States. The buildings are original, the scale is human, and the waterfront backdrop makes the whole thing feel almost too good to be real.
Wander the independent shops, galleries, and cafes along the strip, then head up to the residential bluff above downtown where the old sea captains’ homes sit — a gorgeous collection of Victorian architecture with views out over the water. A self-guided walking tour map is available at the visitor center on Water Street.
The monthly Art Walk on the first Saturday of each month keeps things lively year-round.
3. Kayak on Port Townsend Bay
Getting out on the water is one of the best things you can do in Port Townsend, and kayaking is the perfect way to do it. Port Townsend Bay is calm, scenic, and full of marine life — harbor seals, bald eagles, great blue herons, and the occasional sea lion are all regular sightings.
Kayak Port Townsend offers guided half-day and full-day tours on Admiralty Inlet. Fort Worden also has kayak rentals in summer for self-guided paddling. More adventurous paddlers can head across to Fort Flagler State Park on nearby Marrowstone Island for a longer trip.
4. Watch for Whales
Port Townsend sits right on the Salish Sea — one of the best whale watching locations on the West Coast. Between May and September, local tour operators run excursions into the Strait of Juan de Fuca where orca, humpback, and gray whale sightings are common.
Olympic Tour Company runs catamaran tours from the waterfront and also offers bioluminescent kayak tours after dark in summer — easily one of the most wild and memorable experiences in the Pacific Northwest.
5. Hike the Olympic Discovery Trail
The Olympic Discovery Trail is a long-distance trail stretching over 130 miles across the Olympic Peninsula, and the Port Townsend section is one of the most scenic and accessible stretches. The trail runs along the waterfront and through the forest fringe around town, with great water views and easy terrain.
It connects to the čičməhán Trail, the historic Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe path, for a longer coastal hiking experience. A solid half-day on foot or a great bike route.
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6. Visit the Point Wilson Lighthouse
The 1.5-mile walk from Fort Worden to Point Wilson Lighthouse follows the shoreline with views across Admiralty Inlet that are genuinely stunning. The lighthouse has been operating continuously since 1879 and sits right at the tip of the peninsula where the strait and inlet meet — one of the busiest shipping lanes on the West Coast.
It’s free, accessible year-round, and one of those classic Pacific Northwest coastal walks that just feels right. Add it to every Fort Worden visit.
7. Check Out the Northwest Maritime Center
Port Townsend is serious about wooden boats. The Northwest Maritime Center on the waterfront is the hub of a genuine working maritime culture — wooden boat building, sailing education, and a community centered around the sea.
Every September the center hosts the Wooden Boat Festival, one of the largest wooden boat festivals in the world, drawing over 5,000 boats and thousands of visitors. Even outside the festival, the center is worth a wander — the craftsmanship on display is remarkable.
8. Explore Chetzemoka Park
Chetzemoka Park is a hidden gem right in town — a classic Victorian-era city park with a rose garden, a small beach, picnic areas, and gorgeous views across the water toward the Cascades on a clear day. Named after a local S’Klallam chief who was known for his friendship with early settlers, it’s a lovely, peaceful spot for a morning wander.
The rocky beach below the park is great for watching the ferry traffic and marine life. Bring coffee.
9. Take the Ferry — Both Options Are Great
Getting to Port Townsend by ferry is part of the experience. Two options worth knowing about:
Coupeville Ferry (Washington State Ferry): Runs between Port Townsend and Coupeville on Whidbey Island — one of the shorter ferry crossings in the state and genuinely scenic. If you’re coming from the north or making a loop trip, this is the move.
Kitsap Peninsula Route: Drive to Kingston or Bainbridge via ferry from Seattle, then drive up through the Kitsap Peninsula. Adds scenery to the journey and skips a lot of traffic.
Either way, arriving by ferry makes the whole trip feel like a proper adventure.
10. Hike at Fort Flagler State Park
Fort Flagler State Park on nearby Marrowstone Island is Port Townsend’s quieter, less-visited sibling — another decommissioned military fort with miles of shoreline trails, historic gun batteries, a lighthouse, and stunning views of Puget Sound and the mountains beyond.
It’s about a 20-minute drive south from Port Townsend, and the lack of crowds compared to Fort Worden makes it feel like a real discovery. The campground here is excellent — waterfront sites with mountain views.
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11. Wander the Art Galleries
Port Townsend has over two dozen working artist studios and galleries concentrated in the Victorian commercial district along Water Street and in the uptown neighborhood. The quality and range is genuinely impressive for a town this size — ceramics, painting, sculpture, printmaking, woodwork.
The first Saturday Art Walk is the best time to see everything open late and meet the artists. But most galleries run regular hours throughout the week too.
12. Eat and Drink Well
Port Townsend punches well above its weight for food and drink. A few standouts:
Waterfront Pizza — a local institution, nothing fancy, consistently great. Alchemy Bistro serves some of the best farm-to-table food on the Olympic Peninsula. Propolis Brewing makes genuinely interesting herbal and foraged ales that you won’t find anywhere else — a perfect expression of Port Townsend’s quirky, artsy identity.
For coffee, Better Living Through Coffee on Water Street is the local go-to.
13. Explore Glass Beach
Glass Beach at McCurdy Point is a local favorite — a small rocky cove where decades of sea glass washing up on the beach has created a uniquely colorful shoreline. It’s more of a curiosity than a dramatic destination, but it’s charming and very Port Townsend in its energy.
Check tide tables before you go — there’s more beach at lower tides. It’s a short walk from North Beach County Park.
14. Use It as a Base for the Olympic Peninsula
Port Townsend’s location makes it one of the best base camps for exploring the Olympic Peninsula. From here you’re a short drive from Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rain Forest, Lake Crescent, and the wild Olympic coast beaches.
Spend a night or two in Port Townsend, then keep pushing west into the park. It’s the perfect intro to one of the most dramatic landscapes in the country.
Getting to Port Townsend
From Seattle, the most scenic route is via the Bainbridge Island or Kingston ferry, then north through the Kitsap Peninsula — about 2 hours total including ferry time. Alternatively, drive north around Puget Sound through Everett and down the Whidbey Island ferry at Mukilteo, then catch the Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry across. Either way involves water, which is appropriate.
More Olympic Peninsula Adventures
Port Townsend is just the beginning out here. Check out our guides to things to do in Port Angeles, the best hikes in Olympic National Park, and where to stay in Olympic National Park to plan the full Olympic Peninsula trip.
Happy adventuring, friend!
