Hi friends! Last week our family took a short beginning-of-summer getaway to one of our favorite nearby towns, Port Townsend. If you haven’t been, Port Townsend is a charming coastal town a couple of hours from Seattle by car and ferry.
We’ve visited Port Townsend many times and never tire of its relaxed coastal vibe. This post collects photos from a few recent trips since I haven’t featured this destination here before.
I enjoy sharing favorite travel spots in my “out to see” series, so here’s a peek at what makes Port Townsend so appealing.
From Port Townsend you can catch a ferry to the San Juan Islands and Friday Harbor, another favorite destination. It makes for a fun day trip or a delightful getaway.
Port Townsend offers everything we love in a coastal escape: quaint shops, picturesque beach houses, great restaurants and cozy places to stay.
I adore this fairytale house perched on a hill overlooking the water.
And I’m smitten with this blue house and its whale weathervane!
The next photos show one of my favorite shops, Conservatory Coastal Home, but there are many stores to explore—from bookstores and antiques to boutiques and gift shops.
You’ll also find numerous eateries, ice cream and coffee shops, plus community events like a farmers market—something delicious around every corner.
We visited Velocity Coffee several times for lattes and pastries.
Strolling the streets offers many opportunities to enjoy views of the water and sailboats, and you can easily walk down to the beach or marina areas.
There’s plenty for everyone to enjoy—kayaking, seasonal whale watching (our kids recently saw several whales on a tour), and other outdoor activities.
You feel a genuine sense of getting away from it all here. Besides the fresh sea air, you might spot deer roaming through neighborhoods.
Port Townsend also features a small movie theater, a jazz club and several spots for evening entertainment.
My husband and I stayed at the Palace Hotel last year—an affordable, quaint inn in a very convenient location.
We haven’t stayed at the Swan Inn, but it looks adorable from the street and sits across from a favorite coffee shop. They offer dog-friendly rooms, which is great for travelers with pets.
Another favorite is the Chevy Chase Beach Cabins. The sweet farmhouse is perfect for families and is fenced for dogs. It’s about a 15-minute drive to downtown Port Townsend and offers a peaceful, scenic stay.
The main house is a private home and the adjacent building serves as the office—charming and well kept.
The property has a large private beach that our dogs loved. It was wonderful to watch them run freely—something we can’t do as easily in the city.
The trail to the beach smelled fresh and forested—absolutely delightful.
The scenery felt both breathtaking and peaceful.
The property also included a playground that our older kids enjoyed as much as the little ones.
We made wonderful memories on this trip.
Have you ever been to Port Townsend?
Happy weekend, friends! Excuse my random afternoon posting times lately—just keeping you on your toes. I’ll be back soon with more of the best-of-the-best kitchen series and updates on the progress in our house.
Related:
Out to See Sesame & Lilies in Cannon Beach
5 Ways to Make Your Home a Staycation Worthy Destination (my post on eBay)