port gamble tour

Best things to do in US cities

Port gamble.

Visit the waterfront Washington State town that resembles a New England village!

Port Gamble is 1.5 hours from Seattle, in a charming waterfront town on the Olympic Peninsula. It has a picture-perfect main street full of historic buildings lined with white picket fences.

Port Gamble is a tiny town, but packs in a lot of activities.  There are two restaurants, a cafe, a stylish taproom for wine tastings, and local gift shops with plenty of treasures. There's also a fabulous playground for kids on a large lawned area with picnic tables. 

History buffs can do  a self guided walking tour of Port Gamble's buildings, or visit the local museum or historic cemetery to learn about its fascinating past.  It's also possible to rent a kayak or paddleboard at Port Gamble and explore the local waterways.

To get here from Seattle, take the  Bainbridge Island Ferry   then drive 30 minutes north to Port Gamble. There's limited accommodation at the charming  Port Gamble Guest Houses , or you can stay 35 minutes away at the popular tourist town of  Port Townsend .

10 best things to do in Port Gamble

1. Visit the café and gift shop at the Port Gamble General Store .  

The Port Gamble General Store opened in 1916, and is the hub of activity for locals and visitors.  

There's plenty to browse on the main floor, including gift cards, ceramics, candles, ornaments, toiletries, kitchenware, and clothing.  The holiday season is a great time to visit, with festive decorations enhancing its old world charm.  It's like stepping back in time to a general store of yesteryear!

This is just one example of the beautifully curated displays at the Port Gamble General Store , with many products sourced from local artisans.

Check out these beautiful soy candles at t he  Port Gamble General Store , in scents like Milk & Sugar, and Berry Jam.

The cafe is at the back of the Port Gamble General Store , and sells coffee, icecream, milkshakes, baked goods, salads, sandwiches and soups. There's also a lovely seating area overlooking the water.

The cafe sells saltwater taffy in delicious flavors like maple bacon, cotton candy, and raspberry!

Take the stairs up to the second floor of the Port Gamble General Store , to see an interesting (and free) museum with a collection of shells and sea-life from all over the world, like this giant  Alaskan King Crab.

This fun shell collection is from Vietnam and Thailand.

2. Eat at two delicious Port Gamble restaurants.

Port Gamble is a tiny town with only  two restaurants;  Scratch Kitchen  (check  hours )  and Butcher & Baker Provisions ( check  hours ). There's also a drive through coffee stand directly outside Butcher & Baker Provisions .

Scratch Kitchen serves yummy comfort food, and is next door to the Port Gamble General Store.

Savor beautiful water views from inside the rustic interior at Scratch Kitchen , or take a seat outside on the patio.

Scratch Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner  (check  hours ), including breakfast bowls, burritos, sandwiches, salads, seafood and baked goods, and there's also a full bar.

The buzzworthy  Butcher & Baker Provisions is just off the main street at Port Gamble, housed inside a historic 1920s gas station. 

Butcher & Baker Provisions is a combination of things, including a farmhouse restaurant, bakery and butcher. It also offers small batch artisanal food (check  hours ). 

You can dine inside at  Butcher & Baker Provisions  or  on the patio outside.  You can also load up on supplies and enjoy a picnic at the park across the road with picnic tables overlooking a fun playground.  Continue walking across the park to the viewpoint with the flagpole at the corner of Rainier Avenue and Walker Avenue, to find some other picnic tables with incredible views of Port Gamble Bay.

Butcher & Baker Provisions has an in-house baker, serving up scrumptious baked goods like peanut butter raspberry jam bars, and chocolate fudge brownies.

There are other temptations, like lemon bars, irish cream cheesecake, chocolate pudding, hazelnut praline cake, and lemon cranberry meringue cake.

Load up on goodies like gourmet cheese, salami, olives, honey, jams and jellies, perfect for a picnic!

There's also a great selection of wines, spices and hot sauces at Butcher & Baker Provisions in Port Gamble.

3. Stop by  House 11 Taproom  on the main street in Port Gamble. 

Choose from a fantastic selection of beer and wine, chocolate boxes, gourmet jam, and swag at the  House II Taproom  in Port Gamble.

Take a seat at the bar, and sample beer, ciders and wine (no kids allowed).

4. Explore a handful of charming Port Gamble shops.

Although Port Gamble is very small, there are some delightful shops along Rainier Avenue. Most of these shops are inside historic homes, enabling you to wander from room to room, and appreciate the architecture as well as the merchandise!

The Painted Lady  has two floors of vintage treasures to explore.  

The Painted Lady  i s inside the historic New York House (1863) on Port Gamble's main street.

Wander through the rooms and up the staircase  to find vintage decor pieces, like model boats, picture frames, figurines, lamps, kitchenware, furniture, chests  and paintings.  

Tango Zulu Imports  has handcrafted products from developing countries around the world.

You'll find a wide selection of fair trade goods at Tango Zulu Imports , like binga baskets from Zimbabwe, straw hats from Northern Ghana, and embroidered shoulder bags from Nepal.

The Wish gift store is a must-see, with a beautiful selection of truly unique merchandise like  books, cards, puzzles, home decor, jewelry, soaps and lotions.

The excellent book section has both kids and adult titles, and a choice of writing journals.

The greeting cards are superb, housed in a light filled room overlooking Port Gamble's main street.

Take a seat and soak up the cosy atmosphere at Wish gift shop.

The quirky dish towels are perfect for gift giving, adjacent to the fun cookbook section. 

The Artful Ewe  sells a colorful range of wools and fibers, handcolored by the shop's owner. Choose from mohair, wool, bison, camel, mohair and more! 

Take a seat in the 'cosy corner' at the back of the shop to knit, spin or weave. 

Gamble Bay Textiles sells an ever changing selection of exquisite handcrafted products, like clothing, wall hangings, and mats. There's also a weaving studio next door.

5. Take your kids to the playground at Port Gamble.

The playground has a superb location at Port Gamble, on an expansive grassed area overlooking the town and water. There's also plenty of picnic tables, and you can pick up some snacks or lunch at Butcher & Baker Provisions across the road, or visit the coffee stand outside it.

6. Visit the excellent  Port Gamble Museum.

The  Port Gamble Museum  is in the basement of the General Store, and has been beautifully renovated. Highlights include the reconstruction of the Master Bedroom of Admiralty Hall (1887 - 1940), and the lobby of Hotel Puget (1903 -1963).  Check  hours  and  call  ahead to set up an appointment to visit the museum.

The  Hotel Puget  operated in the center of Port Gamble, from 1907 to 1963. This large Victorian building sat atop a bluff, with incredible Hood Canal Views, and had a saloon and billiards room. It was demolished in 1963, after damage sustained by the Columbus Day Storm.

In 1887, mill manager, Cyrus Walker, constructed the  Admiralty Hall   mansion at nearby Port Ludlow, for his new bride.  This was a grand home, taking up a full city block.  It was demolished during WWII for scrap, and the  Port Ludlow Inn  now stands in its place.  What a shame that Washington State lost this beautiful, architectural treasure.  

The museum has miniature models of some of the local buildings at Port Gamble, like St Paul's Church.

7. Take a self-guided walking tour along historic Rainier Avenue .

Set aside some time for a fascinating one-hour self guided walking tour of Port Gamble's quaint buildings along Rainier Avenue, with big signs clearly explaining the history of each building.

Port Gamble sprung up around the Puget Mill Company , a saw mill founded in 1853 by wealthy industrialists William Talbot and Andrew Pope.  Unlike some of the rough and tumble towns in frontier Washington State, Port Gamble was modeled on a charming New England style town back in Maine where Talbot and Pope had grown up.  This influence is evident in the white picket fences, steeply sloping roofs and wood siding exteriors of buildings in the town. 

Port Gamble also has the unique characteristic of being a fully company owned town. Talbot and Pope encouraged family and friends from back East to become part of this community, and provided them with company housing. Over 150 years later, Port Gamble's buildings are still company owned, but available for lease. 

This is the Clarence R and Lulu Cranmer House (1894).  Lulu sadly died at the young age of 32 and is buried in the Port Gamble Cemetery.

The Community Hall & Post Office (1905) is where Port Gamble residents once socialized, with movie nights, dances and plays.  Other services also operated out of here, like the doctor, dentist, barber and telephone operator.

The Walker Ames House (1888) is the grand dame of Port Gamble, owned by the master mechanic, resident manager and then general manager of the mill, William Walker.

The Leo and Goldie Hammersmith House (1918-1919) was once owned by mill manager Leo Hammersmith who retired in 1958, and is now a taproom.

The Daniel B Jackson House (1871) was owned by the third postmaster of Port Gamble.

The Eugene and Ann DeFord House (1873) was owned by WWII veteran Eugene DeFord, who eventually rose to plant manager at the mill at Port Gamble, and retired in 1985.

The David and Joyce Olson House (1870) was owned by an employee who worked at the mill at Port Gamble for nearly 40 years.

The James and Sarah Thompson House (1859) in Port Gamble, is the oldest continuously occupied dwelling in Washington State.

The New York House (1863) was once occupied by resident physicians.

The Franklin Lodge (1871 to 1872) in Port Gamble, is the oldest Masonic Lodge in Washington State.

8. Book a kayaking tour at the Olympic Outdoor Center, or catch a show at the theater next door.

The  Olympic Outdoor Center is along the main street of Port Gamble in the red building, and offers kayaks and bike rentals in 1, 2 or 3 hour blocks, or for the entire day.  There are also  kayaking tours  of the local waters, and advice on the best places to kayak to.  Always call ahead to check conditions.

The yellow building next door to the Olympic Outdoor Center  is th e  Port Gamble Theater,   with a regular  schedule  of theatrical performances by locals.

9. Hold your wedding or special event at Port Gamble.

Port Gamble offers two wedding venues that are in high demand. 

St Pauls Church  provides a New England style church setting for weddings and adjacent reception area, and  The  Hood Canal Vista Pavilion   is on a bluff with superb water views. 

One of the most beautiful buildings in Port Gamble is St Pauls Church (1878-79), popular for weddings. It has the original pews, and eight dramatic cathedral windows.  As an added bonus, couples can also ring the original bell in the steeple!  There's an outdoor terrace next door, with a tent for receptions.

The  Hood Canal Vista Pavilion   has breathtaking water views over Hood Canal, and is surrounded by lush gardens.

10. Search for early pioneers in Port Gamble's Buena Vista Cemetery .

The historic Buena Vista Cemetery is just a short walk up the hill from Port Gamble's main street, and was established in 1856. Tourists are definitely encouraged to stop by the cemetery, and a lot of effort has been put into preserving the headstones, and providing information boards where the words on the headstones are not clearly legible.

All 170 graves are from Port Gamble's earliest pioneers, with many dying in infancy or early childhood.  Adults didn't fare much better, with dates on the headstones indicating that they died aged in their 30's or 40's.  It's fascinating to see the far flung countries that many of these pioneers were born in, like Austria, England, Finland, Ireland and Germany.

 On a sunny day, the cemetery has incredible views over the Hood Canal, Floating Bridge, and Olympic Mountains. 

Can I stay overnight at Port Gamble?

Stay at the   Port Gamble Guest Houses   and choose from two beautifully renovated 3-bedroom guest houses, or a suite.  There is easy beach access from these guest houses.

Fun things to do near Port Gamble

• Point no Point Lighthouse - 13 miles NE
• Finnriver Cidery - 17 miles NW
• Bremerton - 26 miles south, with the USS Turner Joy warship to tour
• Wilderbee Farm   - 27 miles northwest
• Port Townsend -  28 miles north
• Fort Worden -  29 miles north
• Dungeness Spit -  44 miles NW
• Olympic Game Farm -  43 miles NW
• Hurricane Ridge -  71 miles west
• Lake Crescent -  74 miles west

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History Fangirl

The Ultimate History Travel Blog Since 2015

23 Perfect Things to Do in Port Gamble, Washington: Activities for History Lovers & Ghost Hunters!

Last Updated on: 6th February 2023, 12:09 pm

Planning a getaway to Port Gamble, Washington? Whether you’re looking to spend a weekend here or stopping by for a day trip, there are so many fabulous things to do in Port Gamble for you to choose from!

Here are the best Port Gamble activities and attractions plus travel tips from my travels to this charming company town.

Whatever you’re interests – from learning Port Gamble history to ghost-busting to outdoor adventures – there’s something here for everyone!

After suggestions for what to do in Port Gamble you’ll find recommendations for where to stay, how to get here, what to pack, and more!

Can’t read now? Pin for later!

Good to Know: During this portion of my trip to Washington, I was hosted by Visit Kitsap Peninsula, an organization that promotes tourism to the Kitsap Peninsula and Kitsap County.

We explored many parts of this corner of the Pacific Northwest , including Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Suquamish, Poulsbo , Bainbridge Island, and Port Gamble.

While VKP hosted the trip, all opinions are my own, including thoughts shared about my visit and my tips for what you should do during your trip to Washington state.

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The Best Things to Do in Port Gamble, WA

Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, with friends, or with kids, here are ideas for the best things to do in Port Gamble for every kind of traveler!

Walk around Historic Downtown Port Gamble

After arriving in Port Gamble, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in New England and not the Pacific Northwest.

This is because the town’s architecture was heavily inspired by the town of East Machias, Maine, where the original Port Gamble settlers journeyed from.

Port Gamble was founded in 1853 as a company town operated by the Puget Mill Company, which was formed to produce lumber for US settlers flooding to the West Coast.

Before this, the area was inhabited by the Port Gamble S’Klallam. You can read about the Tribe’s history with the mill company on the Tribe’s website.

The mill operated from the 1850s through the 1990s, and while the mill is closed, the town is still company-owned.

In 1966, Port Gamble was listed as a National Historic Landmark , protecting and preserving the historic buildings downtown.

The Port Gamble National Historic Landmark is bounded by the Hood Canal, Port Gamble Bay, State Road 104, and the town limits.

While it’s not one of Washington’s National Park Service units, the NPS has said that Port Gamble is “the finest example of a nineteenth-century Pacific Coast logging community.”

Many of the individual houses are listed below separately along with information about their importance so that you can see all of them, but you really should walk around Rainier Avenue, the town’s main street, and take in the beauty of the historic downtown as a collective.

A few of the most famous buildings in Port Gamble:

The New York House (The Painted Lady)

The Walker-Ames House

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Michael S. Drew House

Franklin Lodge No. 5

Daniel B. Jackson House

Shop in the Port Gamble General Store & Cafe

An eclectic mix of gifts, souvenirs, books, and groceries makes shopping at the old-fashioned Port Gamble General Store a blast.

The architecture inside the store is beautiful, with a grand sweeping staircase running up to the second floor.

In the back, you’ll find the Port Gamble Cafe, where you can get coffees, teas, pastries, ice cream, and savory snacks.

No trip to Port Gamble is complete without perusing the general store, though you can spend as much or as little time here as your like!

Hold a Ghost Investigation or Go on a Ghost Tour

One of my favorite things to do in Port Gamble is to look for ghosts!

Known as one of the most haunted towns in America , there have been ghost sightings in almost every historic building in town.

Serious ghost hunters come to town for the annual Paranormal Conference or schedule a time to conduct their own paranormal investigation.

Amateur ghost-enthusiasts (and even skeptics) can schedule a ghost tour of Port Gamble through Port Gamble Paranormal.

Good to Know: If you love haunted towns, you can pair a visit to Port Gamble with a visit to haunted Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula .

Learn the History of Port Gamble at the Port Gamble Historic Museum

The small Port Gamble Historic Museum packs a big punch! Located behind the Port Gamble General Store, not only is the museum haunted, but it also has beautiful exhibits from the town’s history.

You’ll learn about the history of the Puget Mill Company, a sawmill located right on the water which ran the entire town.

You’ll also see artifacts from the town like garments, presidential documents, and even a replica of the former Hotel Puget.

Set aside 30-45 minutes to see the museum, which is one of the best free things to do in Port Gamble.

Check the museum’s website for the museum’s schedule and hours.

Come See the Former Mill Site & Grindstone

If the museum is closed, it’s still worth venturing behind the General Store to see a few of the landmarks.

You’ll see a grindstone with a plaque that reads:

”This grindstone was used in the mill until 1895 when it was given to Knute O. Vaa by Cyrus Walker when Knute retired. It was then donated by Edwin Vaa at the time of his father’s death.”

If you look out to the low-lying spit of land beneath you, you’ll see where the former mill was located.

While today everything is gone, you can see how the town sat above the mill and get a feel for how everything in the town revolved around the water.

Stop by the State Champion Camperdown Elm

While you’re in this same spot, stop by the tree with the plaque out front that reads “State Champion Camperdown Elm.”

Planted in 1875, this tree is a descendant of the original Camperdown Elm in Scotland:

“It was in 1640 that the “Earl of Camperdown” in Dundee Scotland noticed a branch growing on the floor of his elm forest.

He grafted it to a Scotch elm tree and it took hold producing the first Camperdown Elm. The Scotch Elm is the only root mass the Camperdown Elm will grow on.

The tree is a mutant and cannot self-produce. Every Camperdown Elm tree in the world is part of the original and they must be grafted to a Scotch Elm tree to get started.

When the graft starts to grow, the Scotch Elm branches are cut off leaving only Camperdown Elm.

This magnificent tree depends on humankind to keep it alive as a species.”

Stop by the Of Sea and Shore Museum

For such a small town, there is more than one Port Gamble museum worth visiting.

The Of Sea and Shore Museum is located on the second floor of the Port Gamble General Store and displays a part of one of the largest private collections of seashells in the US.

If you happen to be in Port Gamble on a rainy day, you’ll be happy that you can visit a store, cafe, and two museums all in the same building!

Get a Whiff of New England at St. Paul’s Church

One of my biggest regrets while visiting Port Gamble is that I didn’t have time to stop by St. Paul’s Church (though I did get to see a replica in the Port Gamble Museum).

Dedicated in 1878, this beautiful church was modeled after the Congregational Church of East Machias, Maine, so many of the mill’s New England-born workers would have felt right at home here.

Today the church is only open for Sunday service and pre-booked weddings, so it’s not on any of the town tours, but it’s one of the most beautiful places in Port Gamble to stop by outside and admire.

Address: 31899 NE State Hwy 104, Port Gamble, WA 98364

Good to Know: Considering getting married in Port Gamble? This town is a very popular Washington state wedding destination.

Two of the most popular spots for Port Gamble weddings are St. Paul’s Church and the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion.

Stop by the Port Gamble Theater for a Show – or to Mail a Letter!

If you’re looking for things to do in Port Gamble at night, check out the Port Gamble Theater Company’s performance schedule!

Built in 1906, the Port Gamble Theater building is one of the most prominent buildings in town and originally housed the playhouse, a community center, and the town post office.

Even if you don’t plan to go to a show, pop in to see the town’s diminutive post office complete with early twentieth-century P.O. Boxes.

If you want to mail postcards from your trip, you can pick some up at the General Store beforehand!

Take in the Views of the Hood Canal

Port Gamble is surrounded by water on two sides . On the west side is the Port Gamble Bay, while the north side is bounded by the Hood Canal.

Both bodies of water are part of the larger Puget Sound, a fjord system with many offshoots.

Looking out across the Hood Canal offers views of the water, the Hood Canal Bridge connecting the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas, and potentially (depending on the weather) a glimpse of the Olympic Mountains!

Enjoy the Hood Canal from Salsbury Point Country Park

If you want to spend some time on the Hood Canal instead of just taking a quick peek, you can head to Salsbury Point County Park.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset and has a boat launch, a playground, picnic tables, and walking trails.

You can enjoy a picnic here while watching the water. It’s also a great place to get photographs of the Hood Canal Bridge.

You might even get to watch the bridge open for ships to pass!

Get Out on the Water on Port Gamble Bay

If you want to go kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding in Port Gamble, Port Gamble Bay is a great place to get out on the water.

You can find a few suggested routes here.

Don’t have your own gear? You can rent kayaks, canoes, and whatever else you need from the Olympic Outdoor Center, housed in the Old Fire Station next to the Port Gamble Theater.

They even offer lessons for those wanting to learn while you’re out here!

If you are interested in bioluminescence , you can go on a Port Gamble Bay Bioluminescence Tour through the Olympic Outdoor Center.

Good to Know: I didn’t go on the bioluminescence tour in Port Gamble, but I did one a couple of months earlier in Holbox, Mexico, and I highly recommend it!

Or Get Your Adrenaline on Land via Mountain Biking!

If you want to spend some time mountain biking, you can go on a portion of the local trails or complete the entire Port Gamble loop which is over seventeen miles of connected trails.

Need to rent a mountain bike? You can rent bikes from the Olympic Outdoor Center.

Visit During Cherry Blossom Season

I was lucky enough to get to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms in Port Gamble in late April, and it made our time in Port Gamble extra special.

Cherry Blossom season in Washington state runs from mid-March to mid-April , though we still had blooms to enjoy in late April.

Or Come for the Fall Foilage

If you’ve dreamed of seeing the autumn colors in New England , you can get a taste by spending a few fall days in Port Gamble, where the maple-lined streets and New England architecture make for an amazing autumn escape!

Enjoy Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park

One of the largest county parks in the US, the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park includes over sixty miles of trails and over a mile of shoreline.

Trails here can be used for walking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and even mushroom hunting!

Dig into Delicious Port Gamble Restaurants

For a town as small as Port Gamble, you’ll be surprised at how many choices you have at mealtime when you want to visit some of the restaurants in Port Gamble.

Scratch Kitchen – a restaurant that focuses on local ingredients and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Butcher & Baker Provisions – a farmhouse restaurant that looks for local ingredients with a butcher and bakery attached

House 11 Taproom – a beer and wine taproom with a full bar, kitchen, and bottle shop

Port Gamble Cafe – this cafe located at the back of the Port Gamble General Store offers coffees, teas, ice cream, pastries, and sandwiches

Galloping Gamble Espresso – a charming drive-thru (or walk-up) espresso and spritzer that also serves wraps

Good to Know: Not every restaurant is open every day, so check each one’s hours before you arrive!

Take in the Beauty of Heronswood Garden

For those who want to get outside but prefer gardens to wooded trails, plan a visit to Heronswood Garden.

Located just outside Port Gamble across the southeastern part of Port Gamble Bay, it’s just a twelve-minute drive from downtown.

The botanical gardens are a great family-friendly activity, and they are also pet-friendly as long as you keep them on short leads.

The garden is owned and managed by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Foundation and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.

Visit Historic Buena Vista Cemetery

I love visiting old cemeteries. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to add a stop at the Buena Vista Cemetery to my Port Gamble getaway, but you should make sure to stop by!

A favorite of ghost hunters visiting Port Gamble, you can come for the ghost stories or for the solemn beauty of the place.

Of historical note, Gustave Englebrecht’s grave is located here. Englebrecht, who served on the USS Massachusetts, died in 1856 and was the first US Navy combat death in the Pacific Ocean.

Find the Best Port Gamble Photo Spots & Instagrammable Places

If you love sharing your travels on social media, here are a five of the most popular Instagram spots in Port Gamble:

The Walker-Ames House from the backyard

The Port Gamble Historic Museum Sign (especially during cherry blossom season)

St. Paul’s Church

The Green Port Gamble Water Towers

The Wooden Staircase in the Port Gamble General Store

Shop ‘til You Drop for Gifts & Souvenirs from Port Gamble

Port Gamble shopping is way more fun than you might expect in such a small area. That’s because there is a variety of stores, many of which specialize in artisanal and locally-made goods.

We’ve already mentioned the home decor and gifts you can find at the Port Gamble General Store, so here are a few more shops in Port Gamble you can drop by:

The Artful Ewe – wool and locally-made textiles and yarn for knitting, spinning, and weaving

Wish in Port Gamble – a gift shop with a little bit of everything

Quilted Strait – fabric and quilting accessories

The Painted Lady – antique & vintage goods

Tango Zulu Imports – housewares and apparel

House 11 Taproom – local beer from the bottle shop

Gamble Bay Textiles – handmade textiles

Port Gamble Historic Museum Gift Shop – postcards from Port Gamble history

Plan Your Trip Around Special Port Gamble Events

Besides the annual Ghost Conference , Port Gamble holds several annual events that would be great to plan your trip here around.

Old Mill Days, the Summer Faire, the Maritime Music Festival, and Country Christmas are all special times in Port Gamble.

There are also ghost walks, planned paranormal investigations, mountain biking races, and cruise nights in addition to the theater performances I mentioned above.

Check out Port Gamble’s Upcoming Events calendar to help decide your Port Gamble travel dates.

Plan a Day Trip from Town or Enjoy the Best Things to Do Near Port Gamble

If you plan to be in Port Gamble for a long weekend, you may want to see a few additional things to do nearby.

You can check out other important spots on the Kitsap Peninsula:

Kitsap Memorial State Park (10 minutes)

Ludlow Falls in Port Ludlow (17 minutes)

Downtown Poulsbo (20 minutes)

Point No Point Lighthouse & Park (20 minutes)

The Bloedel Reserve (25 minutes)

Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial (35 minutes)

Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Port Gamble, Washington

These are the topics visitors planning a trip to Port Gamble most want to know.

What is Port Gamble known for?

Port Gamble is famous for being one of the best-preserved mill towns in the US.

Do people live in Port Gamble?

Yes, people live in Port Gamble! The buildings are company-owned, and residents rent from the company.

Who owns the houses in Port Gamble?

The Olympic Property Group is what remains of the company that owns the town now that the mill is closed.

Is Port Gamble open?

Yes, you can visit Port Gamble!

What is the population of Port Gamble?

There are fewer than one thousand permanent residents in Port Gamble.

What are the most popular things to do in Port Gamble?

The biggest must-sees in Port Gamble are walking Rainier Ave, stopping by the Port Gamble General Store, and seeing St. Paul’s Church from the outside.

When is the best time to visit Port Gamble?

If you want to come to see the cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, then plan your trip around these events.

If you want to experience the paranormal, plan your trip during the Paranormal Conference or a scheduled paranormal investigation.

Otherwise, spring and autumn are great times to visit the Kitsap Peninsula. The crowds aren’t as big as they are during the summer, and the cool weather makes walking around town a treat.

How to Get to Port Gamble, Washington

Port Gamble is easy to reach from Seattle and Tacoma.

You will want a car to get here as well as to get around once you’re here. If you are flying into SeaTac before heading to the Kitsap Peninsula, reserve your  rental car early .

Once in town, streetside parking and public parking are available.

Get a rental car quote for your trip!

From Seattle

You can take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge or from Edmonds to Kingston .

Once you have arrived in Kitsap County, make your way to State Highway 104 which goes right through Port Gamble.

Both routes take between seventy-five and ninety minutes unless you run into long ferry wait times or traffic leaving Seattle.

If you don’t want to deal with ferry wait times, drive south through Tacoma and cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge then drive north through the Kitsap Peninsula.

This route takes ninety minutes without traffic.

From Tacoma

From Tacoma, take Highway 16 across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and up to Highway 3 and then Highway 104.

The drive time for this route is about an hour before traffic.

Pro Tip:  Don’t leave without a full tank of gas just in case you get stuck in traffic! This goes for your return from Poulsbo to Seattle as well, as ferry lines and highway traffic can be bad in both directions.

Where to Stay in Port Gamble

The most popular place to stay in Port Gamble is the Port Gamble Guest Houses.

Guests love having access to their own kitchen, fireplace, and patio. Plus the location on the water in the heart of Port Gamble really can’t be beaten.

However, these ultra-popular accommodations are hard to get since they sell out very early, especially during the wedding season.

If you want to stay in Port Gamble proper, reserve your house asap!

Book your stay at the Port Gamble Guest Houses!

If you don’t want to stay in Port Gamble (or it’s fully booked), we stayed in two different hotels in Kitsap County that I can recommend:

About twenty minutes away from Port Gamble, the  Suquamish Clearwater Resort is a popular hotel on the Kitsap Peninsula that’s packed with amenities and located right on the water.

Our rooms were comfy and cozy, with epic views of Agate Pass.

The restaurant on the property was nothing short of scrumptious, and the atmosphere in the lounges was a perfect blend of Pacific Northwest traditional architecture and modern comforts.

The resort is owned by the Suquamish Tribe, so staying here is a great way to give back to the people from whom US settlers took so much.

Reserve your room at the Suquamish Clearwater Resort!

During our time on the Kitsap Peninsula, we also stayed at  The Marshall Suites on Bainbridge Island, which is about thirty minutes from Port Gamble.

This comfy hotel features kitchenettes, onsite laundry rooms, and free Diet Cokes for guests, so I was essentially in my element.

This is a great option for those who want to see more of Bainbridge Island with day trips to other Kitsap towns like Poulsbo and Port Gamble.

Reserve your room at The Marshall Suites!

5 Things to Pack for Your Trip to Washington State

Along with a good  Washington State guidebook ,  make sure to bring the following:

A Packable Down Jacket –  everyone in our family has one. They’re light and easy to keep in your backpack or car, but they’re warm enough to make a huge difference if the weather turns cold.

I have this  women’s version .  I loved having it with me on the Kitsap Peninsula, even in late April. My husband has this  men’s version.  Our son just outgrew this  child’s version.

A Lightweight but Durable Backpack  – My  Venture Pal 40L Lightweight Packable Daypack  was a steal for the price. It’s survived 17 national parks as well as trips to Mexico and El Salvador!

It won’t last forever, but it has more than proved its worth so far.

See the Venture Pal 40L Lightweight Packable Daypack on Amazon

A Pair of Binoculars  for trips where I’m going to be looking for wildlife – like whale watching. I use  these binoculars,  and my husband has a separate pair.

A Portable Charging Bank  in case my phone dies. Having a  portable charger  for your phone is crucial.

This is a safety issue as my offline maps may be the only way to navigate where there’s no cell phone data available, as well as the convenience of being able to use my cell phone camera.

I relied on this heavily during my time on the Kitsap Peninsula, as cell phone coverage was spotty in places, which drains the battery.

A Basic First Aid Kit  to handle minor issues while you are out. Don’t let a hot spot on your foot turn into a blister, or leave a small cut open to the elements.

I keep a  small first aid kit  in my backpack at all times when we are on the road.

Other items to consider:  a  pocket knife  and a  water bottle with a filter.

More Washington State Resources

Here are all the resources I have written about travel in Washington state.

Washington State Guides

50 Fabulous Things to Do in Washington State: Bucket List & Beyond!

The 17 National Parks in Washington State: How & Why to See Each One!

Olympic Peninsula Guides

The Best Things to Do on the Olympic Peninsula

27 Essential Olympic National Park Travel Tips: Planning a Trip to Olympic National Park the Easy Way

17 Things to Know about Hurricane Ridge Road in Olympic National Park: Best Viewpoints + Travel Tips!

21 Things to Know Before Hiking Marymere Falls Trail in Olympic National Park, Washington

Things to Know Before You Hike to Ludlow Falls

Kitsap Peninsula Guides

27 Blissful Things to Do in Poulsbo + Tips to Visit Poulsbo, Washington’s Little Norway on the Fjord

Tri-Cities and Southeastern Washington Guides

17 Fabulous Things to Do in Palouse Falls State Park & Nearby + Tips for Visiting Palouse Falls

Before You Visit Washington – Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!

Whenever I go on a trip, I always make sure to get travel insurance!

The company Safety Wing   is the travel insurance company I always look to first, and I happily recommend them!

I always make sure to get travel insurance whenever I’m going to be over one hundred miles from home, in large cities where tourists can be the target of pickpockets, and anytime I’ll be doing outdoor adventure or beach activities.

It makes my life easier knowing if something should happen, I’ll be able to take care of it!

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Pin this Guide to the Top Things to Do in Port Gamble for Your Washington State Adventures!

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Visiting Port Gamble

Home » Visiting Port Gamble

Traveling Northbound on Highway 3 towards the Hood Canal Bridge, a large brown sign stands on the shoulder reading “National Historic Landmark straight ahead.” Passing the bridge exit on my left, Highway 3 becomes Highway 104 East as it quickly narrows and slows to a cautious 25 mph. Entering a large thicket of Evergreens the forest grows dense and dark. Then, as if shooting out of a time portal, you emerge into a scene of early Washington state history. A living, working museum, time stamped and sealed inside a 120-acre plot of Kitsap County known as Port Gamble , Washington.

Port Gamble played a pivotal role in the colonization and growth of the Puget Sound Region, from the first interactions of European expeditions with the S’Klallam people to naval battles against raiding war parties from the far north. From the longest operating timber mill in U.S. history to its National Historic Landmark entitlement, this company town on the shores of Gamble Bay has a story to tell.

Early Days of Port Gamble

Standing at the town flagpole, looking north from Teekalet Bluff , you can see straight up the mouth of the Hood Canal towards Admiralty Inlet , leading towards the Pacific Ocean. It was on this horizon that the mighty ships first appeared, forever shaping the cultures and peoples that inhabited the land and seas.

In 1841, while on expedition to explore the coast and inland waterways of the Pacific Northwest, Commander Charles Wilkes came ashore and camped near a shallow and well protected bay, naming it Gamble Bay. Most sources point towards Lt. Col. John M. Gamble, veteran of the War of 1812, as the namesake, but there was also another Gamble, Lt. Robert Gamble, wounded aboard the USS President in a skirmish with Britain’s Royal Navy. Wilkes himself never names an honoree; with the only mention of the word gamble coming from his journals are entries of indigenous trading parties gambling and trading for goods near the bay.

The easy access to both abundant timber lands and the Pacific trade routes caught the attention of William Talbot and Andrew Pope in 1853. Two New England businessmen hailing from Maine, they quickly recognized the potential and set forth with partners, Josiah Keller and Charles Foster in creating the Puget Mill Company. Originally referred to as Teekalet, the town built to support the mill soon took on the name Port Gamble, after the bay it loomed over. 

Building Port Gamble

With more timber than the local workforce could keep up with, the mill reached out to their hometown of East Machias, Maine, for help on the line. Workers came in droves, bringing their families and taking a gamble of their own, moving some 2,500 miles from all they knew to help build a town. So many Mainers came to Port Gamble with homesick hearts and decided to replicate East Machias with many of the structures they were building in the new mill town.

St. Paul’s Church, built in 1878 on the east side of town, was constructed from the same design as the old church in East Machias. Business was good, with the Puget Mill Company supplying lumber to the world, while Port Gamble continued to grow. Then in 1856, a waring party descended from the Northern Pacific coastal forests and islands, paddling into the waters now known as the Puget Sound, looking to engage with local Salish Tribes and settlers alike.

The Battle of Port Gamble

In the fall of 1856, a large raiding party of northern warriors entered the Salish Sea and paddled south until they reached Fort Steilacoom . Having been recently fortified with the outbreak of war in the Washington territory, the fort proved the risk was not worth reward and the Tingit turned away without conflict. By that time the element of surprise quickly turned to a hasty retreat, but not before the U.S. Navy took notice and dispatched the USS Massachusetts to intercept the fleet of fleeing canoes.

The wooden steamer finally caught up to the Tingit as they camped on the shores of Gamble Bay, forcing Port Gamble residents into heavy timber block houses for protection. A brief battle would ensue and by the time the dust and smoke cleared, 28 people had lost their lives. 27 of those were from the roaming Tingit Tribe with just one being a U.S. casualty. Gustave Englebrecht, coxswain aboard the USS Massachusetts, was bestowed the notoriety of becoming the first casualty of war for the U.S. Navy in Pacific Ocean waters when he fell to return fire during the battle.

Port Gamble a Timber Town

After the battle scars had subsided, thoughts quickly turned to the export of goods. Around here, that was measured in board footage. With abundant resources at its disposal, the Puget Mill Company, later named Pope & Talbot, thrived for 142 years. The longest operating mill in U.S. history built a fleet of ships that shipped Olympic Peninsula timber from Asia to South Africa and most places in between.

The mill supplied lumber to all parts of the world, but closer to home it supplied a steady income for countless families, not only from the mill, but the many business trades the mill relied on to run smoothly. The mill literally grew itself into a community that spanned a century before finally closing the gate for good in 1995. With the loss of its main employer, the town quickly turned its focus to the preservation of its past. The property was acquired and restored by Pope Resources to the high nostalgic charm you see today.

Traveling to Port Gamble

The simplest way to get to Port Gamble is to drive north on Highway 16 out of Tacoma which turns into Highway 3 in Bremerton and takes you straight into Port Gamble. The most scenic route would be aboard a ferry crossing the Puget Sound. Hop on the Seattle to Bainbridge or the Edmonds to Kingston, both routes take you from the mainland to the Kitsap Peninsula.

I arrived on a cloudy, dreary, Washington kind of day. The sun struggled to break through the cold hanging fog rolling in off the water. After parking the car I walked a few trips around town to orientate myself and warm up the blood.

Easy to explore, on foot Port Gamble offers miles of walking trails in the woods just south of town across the road. Look for the carved monkey standing guard at the trailhead leading the way. Unfortunately today, do not enter signs were posted due to Herron nesting season, so my walk in the woods was detoured back to town. With plenty of parking, Port Gamble makes it easy to park the car once and see everything on foot in an easy carefree afternoon.

Things to Do and See

Port Gamble, admittedly, is not a very big town. You could make a lap of the whole village in 25 minutes if you really wanted to. But you should try and linger, take your time and enjoy the details that Port Gamble offers.

Walk the town and find the red plaques placed street side in front of most structures. Each sign tells a brief story pertaining to the historically significance of that building or family which made that house a home so long ago. You can learn a lot just by taking a stroll around the town center. Check out the massive anchors from past trade ships located outside the historical museum and theater.

For those of you looking for something with a bit more speed, head over to Olympic Outdoor Center (OPC) for all things adventure. Rent a mountain bike to glide the 20 plus miles of wooded single track and dirt road while taking in the sea air. They have the water covered as well, grab a paddle board or a kayak and enjoy the salty shores of Gamble Bay. OPC offer kayak adventures and paddle tours of the local waters with experienced guides that know the area.

Walk up the hill to the Buena Vista Cemetery for the best view in town. With some of Port Gambles earliest arrivals and heroic war veterans, a walk through the green turfed place of rest is a history lesson in itself. With 60 plots of 120 years old or more, Buena Vista has the retired souls of Josiah Keller, original partner in the Puget Mill Company and Gustave Englebrecht.

For a shopping excursion, the Artful Ewe sells locally hand woven tapestry and clothing made on wooden looms. They also host classes and workshops along with other local artists. Also, check out the Teekalet Trading Post for local town info and shop an array of eclectic items. One of the older homes in town, the M.S. Drew House, ca. 1860, belonged to the Puget Mill timber agent and his family. The shiplap sided Victorian home now belongs to Wish , a small boutique store working within the same footprint that the Drew family lived in. The small rooms of the store give it a quiet intimate feel.

Port Gamble Theater

Visit the Port Gamble Theater for a fun weekend night out. Located in the old yellow Post Office building across from the flag pole, this rustic theater runs just a handful of productions a year. Unwind as local thespians take you on a journey to another time and place. With a mix of lighthearted, family friendly theater and classics like Shakespeare and Dickens, there’s a show for everyone. The theater, built in 1906, stays busy playing host to other events throughout the year so check out their online calendar for theater and event details.

The General Store

The General Store is part museum and part gift shop, full of Pacific Northwest gifts and a delicious deli and coffee shop set quietly in the back. Since 1916, the General Store supplied the townsfolk with everyday goods and services needed for the isolated families. Head to the stairs to the second floor loft and museum take a spin around the seven seas. Rare fish, crustaceans, shark heads and other curated creatures of the deep line the shelves of this unique showroom.

As you head back downstairs, again, slow down and take notice of the beautifully stained, original wooden staircase ascending all 3 levels inside the open concept store. Wrap around lofts once used for storage now double as the museum floor and office space. The ground floor of the General Store features some handmade local art pieces, home décor and clothing for sale along with your typical gift shop souvenir items. It’s worth a trip just to soak in the ambiance of the place.

Where to Eat

Though food options may be limited, expectations are met with satisfaction when it comes to grabbing a meal inside the preserved town center. Scratch Kitchen serves fresh local food with an amazing view of the harbor starting at 7 a.m. Adjacent to the General Store, Scratch has a full bar with local beers only on tap and outdoor seating for the days much warmer than today. Heavy vault doors with the Puget Mill Company insignia hide in the shadows and thick timber slats line the floor, showing the buildings age and reverence giving to preserving it.

On the main route through town as you pass through you’ll see the old service station. Its unremarkable likeness to any early American roadside service station built in the 1920’s is apparent. A tall wooden high hat stands over a group dining table where early automobiles once lined up for service.  The main service building lost its roll up doors for pull up lunch and has now been converted to serve charcuterie and local cheeses paired with wines and ales from the area. Butcher & Baker Provisions has a full sit down restaurant serving small batch meals with of to-go items for the traveler passing through.

Where to Stay

If you decide to make a weekend of it, stay in town and wake up with the sound of waves crashing at the shoreline and birds chirping from the bramble. Look up the Port Gamble Guest Houses for a comfortable stay in a serene location. Looking north from your private cliff side perch, the houses have the best view in town. Scan out your back porch for Pacific Seals and Bald Eagles while sipping coffee in this one of a kind stay.

Make it a quick stop on the way to Port Townsend or somewhere else or spend the weekend. Port Gamble has plenty to share about this small pocket of Kitsap County, which supplied the wood used to build the new world.

Chris Boone

[…] we made the short drive (16 miles) to Port Gamble. Our intention was to check out the Heritage Park to do some hiking. When we got to Port Gable we […]

Unfortunately Scratch Kitchen has been closed for nearly 2 years.

There is a soup and sandwich shop in the back of the general store. Also Butcher Baker is another nice eatery with excellent cheese cake

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THE BEST Port Gamble Tours & Excursions

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1. Olympic National Park Luxury Small-Group Day Tour with Lunch

2. Olympic National Park - Private Luxury Day Tour with Lunch

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Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass Combination Ticket

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Pike Place Market Tasting Tour

Touring and Hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park

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Evening Colors Sunset Sail Tour in Seattle

Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour

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12 Fun Things To Do In Port Gamble

• Last updated May 07, 2023
• Difficulty Beginner

• Category United States

Port Gamble is a quaint little town located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. Known for its historic architecture and idyllic waterfront views, this charming destination is the perfect place for a weekend getaway or a day trip. But beyond its picturesque scenery, Port Gamble is also filled with fun activities and attractions that will keep visitors of all ages entertained. So, if you're looking for a list of exciting things to do in Port Gamble, you're in luck! In this article, we've rounded up 12 of the most fun and unique experiences that this town has to offer, from exploring haunted houses to indulging in delicious local cuisine. So, buckle up and get ready for a thrilling ride through the many wonders of Port Gamble.

What You'll Learn

Visit the historic port gamble town, check out the port gamble museum, take a kayak tour in the port gamble bay, explore the picturesque stottlemeyer trail, take a hike in the port gamble forest heritage park, visit the port gamble general store and cafe, hunt for antiques in the town's antique shops, go crabbing or fishing in the hood canal, go wine tasting at the port gamble wine & tap room, check out the halloween activities and decorations in october, attend the annual port gamble christmas tree lighting ceremony, enjoy a scenic drive along the hood canal.

If you're a history buff, you won't regret visiting the charming town of Port Gamble. Established in 1853, Port Gamble used to be a company town built by the Puget Sound's oldest lumber company, Pope and Talbot. Though the town has undergone many changes over the years, it remains a historic gem full of fascinating stories that are waiting to be uncovered.

Located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington, the town of Port Gamble is just over an hour's drive away from Seattle, making it a perfect destination for a day trip or a weekend gateway. As you step into the town, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time, thanks to the well-preserved 19th-century architecture that lines the streets.

One of the best ways to explore Port Gamble's history is by visiting the Port Gamble Historic Museum. Housed in one of the oldest buildings in town, the museum features a collection of photographs, artifacts, and exhibits that tell the story of life in the town during the 19th and 20th centuries. You'll learn about the town's logging and milling industries, see displays of antique tools and machinery, and discover how the town has evolved over the years.

Another must-visit attraction in Port Gamble is the St. Paul's Church. Built-in 1879, this historic church is a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture and is still in use today. If you're lucky, you might catch a service, or you can take a self-guided tour of the church during opening hours.

If you're looking for outdoor activities, Port Gamble has plenty to offer. The town is situated in a beautiful location, with stunning views of the Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains. Take a stroll along the waterfront, hike the trails at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park, or go boating or fishing on the canal.

Before you leave, be sure to stop by the Port Gamble General Store and Cafe. Established in 1853, the store is a piece of living history and offers a wide range of gifts, souvenirs, and locally made products. You can also grab a bite to eat at the cafe, where you'll find a selection of delicious sandwiches, salads, and baked goods.

In conclusion, a visit to Port Gamble town is a step back in time, where history and natural beauty collide. Whether you're interested in learning about the town's past or looking to enjoy the great outdoors, this charming town has something for everyone.

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Port Gamble is a charming little town located in the Kitsap Peninsula of Washington State. Known for its well-preserved history, this town is full of old-world charm and plenty of interesting sights to see. One of the must-visit destinations in Port Gamble is the Port Gamble Museum.

Located right in the heart of the town, the Port Gamble Museum is a great place to dive into the interesting history of the area. This museum is run by the Port Gamble Historic Museum Society, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the town and sharing it with the world.

At the museum, visitors can explore a range of exhibits that showcase the rich history of the town. One of the popular exhibits is the "Logging in Kitsap County" exhibit, which takes you back in time to when the town was one of the leading producers of lumber. The exhibit features old photographs, artifacts, and even some of the working tools that were used back then.

Another exhibit that shouldn't be missed is the "Port Gamble's Asian Heritage" exhibit, which showcases the impact that Asian immigrant workers had on the town. This exhibit is particularly interesting because it is rare to find a museum that provides such important information about Asian history.

Aside from these two popular exhibits, the museum also features a range of other exhibits that cover different aspects of the town's history. Visitors can also watch a film about the town's history, browse through historical archives, and shop for souvenirs at the museum's gift shop.

Overall, a visit to the Port Gamble Museum is a must for anyone interested in history and culture. Whether you are a local looking to learn more about your town's history or a tourist looking for an interesting and educational place to visit, the museum is sure to provide an unforgettable experience. So, add the Port Gamble Museum to your list of things to do and explore the fascinating history of this charming little town.

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Port Gamble is a charming town that lies on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington. It is one of the oldest towns in the state, founded in 1853, and is now a National Historic District. The town was once a thriving logging community during the 1800s and 1900s. Today, the town attracts visitors who come to explore its rich history and enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking in the Port Gamble Bay.

Kayaking is one of the best ways to explore Port Gamble Bay's beauty, wildlife, and historic sites. There are several kayak rental shops in town that offer various tours, including guided tours and self-guided rentals.

The guided tours are perfect for those who want to learn more about the town's history and natural environment. A knowledgeable and experienced guide will lead you through the bay and point out unique features such as historic homes, the sawmill site, and sea lions who live in the area. You can also expect to see a variety of seabirds, seals, and other marine life.

If you are more experienced and prefer to explore on your own, you can rent a kayak and paddle around the bay. The bay is relatively calm and sheltered, making it an easy and safe place to kayak. You can paddle along the shore and explore the beaches, coves, and rocky outcroppings. There are several islands in the bay, including Point Julia, which is beautiful and provides a great view of the town.

Whatever option you choose, kayaking in Port Gamble Bay is an excellent way to enjoy the stunning scenery, rich history, and diverse wildlife of this beautiful area. It is an activity that is suitable for all ages and skill levels, making it perfect for families and groups.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a unique and memorable way to experience Port Gamble, consider taking a kayak tour in the bay. You will have the opportunity to learn about the town's fascinating history, explore its natural beauty, and create lasting memories.

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If you're an outdoor enthusiast looking for a new trail to explore, Port Gamble is the place to go. The picturesque Stottlemeyer trail is a must-visit for anyone who loves nature, exercise, and fresh air. Let's take a closer look at this beautiful trail and what it has to offer.

Located in the charming small town of Port Gamble, the Stottlemeyer trail starts near the Hood Canal and winds through the lush forests of Kitsap County in Washington state. It covers a distance of over 21 miles, which are well-maintained by volunteers and local organizations. So, whether you're an experienced hiker or want to take a leisurely stroll, this trail has something for everyone.

One of the best things about the Stottlemeyer trail is its natural beauty. You'll see tall trees, ferns, and wildflowers along the way. While the trail itself is relatively flat, there are plenty of little hills and valleys to navigate, making each step an exciting adventure. You'll also come across the mighty Hood Canal, which offers stunning views and endless photo opportunities.

Moreover, you'll notice many wooden bridges, which add to the trail's magic. These bridges create beautiful crossings over streams and marshy areas that don't allow you to spoil the landscape. You can enjoy the serene environment without damaging the ecosystem.

The Stottlemeyer trail is also excellent for bird watching. You'll have the chance to spot a variety of birds, including bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a playful river otter swimming downstream.

Besides, the trail has options for horses, mountain bikes, and even e-bikes. So whether you're walking, running, biking or horseback riding, you'll be able to take part in this beautiful adventure! All users of the trail share the same love for nature and respect the flora and fauna around them.

In conclusion, the Stottlemeyer trail is a tranquil and picturesque experience. The peaceful nature, well-maintained paths, and scenic views are all sure to make your time on this trail a memorable one. If you're looking for a way to get outside and explore the beauty of Washington State, head to Port Gamble and hike the Stottlemeyer trail. You won't regret it!

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Port Gamble is a bewitching historic town in Kitsap County, Washington, that attracts tourists from all over the world. It is nestled on the shores of Hood Canal and is famous for its historic buildings and scenic beauty. However, one of its most stunning attractions is the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park.

This 430-acre park is a hiker's paradise and a heaven for nature enthusiasts. It is covered with dense green foliage, lush forests, and rolling hills, which make for a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. There are over a dozen miles of well-marked hiking trails snaking through the park, offering hikers plenty of routes to choose from depending on their skill level and time commitment.

The park's most popular hiking trail is the Stottlemeyer Trail, a six-mile loop that takes visitors past some of the park's most stunning views. The trailhead is located off Rainier Avenue, and well-placed signs make it easy to navigate your way through the forest.

The trail features an impressive mix of scenery, ranging from dense forests to open meadows, and includes a few steeper inclines, making it a medium-level hike. Along the trail, hikers can spot a diverse range of flora and fauna, including a variety of trees, moss, ferns, and wildflowers. In the forest, visitors may encounter deer, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks, among other wildlife.

Besides hiking, visitors can engage in several activities while in the park. The park features picnic areas, restrooms, and a small playground for children, making it a fun place for families to spend a day. The park is also dog-friendly, but visitors are asked to keep their pets on a leash at all times.

In conclusion, the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park is a must-visit destination on your next trip to Port Gamble. The park's pristine natural beauty, scenic hiking trails, and abundant wildlife make for an unforgettable outdoor adventure. So pack your hiking shoes, bring some snacks and enjoy everything that the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park has to offer.

11 Fun Activities to Enjoy in Anoka MN

The small town of Port Gamble located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State is a popular destination for visitors looking to step back in time and experience a quiet, rural community that has retained its historic charm. One of the must-visit places in Port Gamble is the General Store and Cafe.

The Port Gamble General Store and Cafe is a popular spot amongst locals and visitors alike. The store is easy to find as it is situated at the heart of the town, just across from the waterfront. It has been in operation since 1853 and has managed to keep its original storefront and much of the interior design. Its antique display cases are filled with local and exotic goods, including clothing, jewelry pieces, candles, books, and food items.

Inside the general store, visitors can also find the Port Gamble Cafe. The small and rustic cafe offers a menu of homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. Visitors can relax at one of the tables and enjoy their meal while looking out towards the Port Gamble waterfront.

Visitors can explore the surrounding area of the general store and cafe after their lunch, including the Port Gamble Historic Museum, which outlines the town's rich history. Visitors can also take a stroll down the lovely and quaint main street that is lined with restored historic buildings.

Apart from the general store, Port Gamble offers a host of other attractions, including miles of hiking trails, picturesque beaches, and excellent fishing spots. Tourists can also visit the town's annual events, including the Ghost Walk during Halloween, and the Maritime Music Festival.

To conclude, a visit to the Port Gamble General Store and Cafe should be on everyone's to-do list during their trip to Port Gamble. This historic building is much more than a store; it's a genuine glimpse into the past of this charming rural town. Visitors should plan more time to explore the town, soak in the local ambiance, and relax in the beauty of the Kitsap Peninsula.

14 Fun Things to Do in Aberdeen, MD

Located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State, Port Gamble is a small town known for its 19th-century style buildings and charming waterfront. The town is a popular destination for antique enthusiasts, who flock to its many antique shops in search of rare treasures and vintage finds.

If you're a fan of antiques, Port Gamble is the place to be. The town boasts over a dozen antique shops, each one filled with a unique collection of vintage items, from furniture and decor to jewelry and clothing. A stroll through the shops is like taking a trip back in time, with items dating as far back as the early 1800s.

One of the most popular antique shops in Port Gamble is the Old Mill Antique Mall. Housed in a historic building dating back to the early 1900s, the shop is a treasure trove of vintage finds. Browse through the aisles and you'll discover a wide range of items, including antique furniture, glassware, and artwork. The shop also features a collection of vintage toys and games, perfect for collectors and nostalgia-seekers alike.

Another must-visit shop in Port Gamble is Bay Hay & Feed. While it may not sound like an antique shop, Bay Hay & Feed is actually one of the town's best sources for vintage and antique items. The shop's collection of antique tools and farm equipment is particularly impressive, with items dating back to the early 1900s. You'll also find a variety of vintage clothing and accessories, as well as antique furniture and decor.

If you're in the mood for something a little more eclectic, be sure to stop by Port Gamble General Store & Cafe. This charming shop is housed in an old-timey building that was once a general store, and it features a mix of vintage and modern items. You'll find everything from antique glassware and pottery to locally-made crafts and artisanal foods. Take a break from your shopping and grab a bite to eat at the cafe, which serves up delicious sandwiches and homemade baked goods.

If you're planning a trip to Port Gamble, be sure to set aside plenty of time for antique shopping. With so many unique shops to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect vintage treasure to bring home as a souvenir. So grab your walking shoes and get ready to explore the town's many antique shops – you never know what you might find!

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Port Gamble, on the shores of the Hood Canal in Washington State, is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventures in the Pacific Northwest. The Hood Canal's rich marine ecosystem provides ample opportunities for fishing and crabbing, making it an ideal location for those looking to enjoy these outdoor activities. Whether you are a seasoned angler or a first-time crabber, there is something for everyone in Port Gamble.

Crabbing in the Hood Canal is a popular pastime, and it's easy to see why. The Hood Canal is home to several species of crab, including Dungeness, Red Rock, and Kelp crabs. The best time to go crabbing in the Hood Canal is during the summer months, when crabbing season is at its peak. To go crabbing, you will need a crabbing license, which can be obtained from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. You will also need a few pieces of equipment, such as a crab pot and bait.

Fishing in the Hood Canal is equally rewarding. The Hood Canal is home to a diverse range of fish species, including salmon, trout, and steelhead. The best time to go fishing in Port Gamble is during the fall, when the salmon runs are at their peak. Fishing licenses can also be obtained from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as from local vendors in Port Gamble.

One of the best things about fishing and crabbing in the Hood Canal is the stunning scenery. The Hood Canal is surrounded by mountains and forests, providing a picturesque backdrop for your outdoor adventures. While crabbing or fishing, you may also encounter some of the local wildlife, such as bald eagles, seals, and sea otters.

In conclusion, Port Gamble is an excellent destination for those looking to go crabbing or fishing in the Hood Canal. With its diverse marine ecosystem and stunning scenery, there is no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy in this Pacific Northwest gem. So pack your gear, get your license, and head to Port Gamble for a day of fishing or crabbing that you won't soon forget!

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If you're a wine lover looking for a spot to relax and sip some of Washington state's finest wines, Port Gamble Wine & Tap Room is the place for you. Located in the quaint town of Port Gamble, this cozy little establishment is a hidden gem waiting to be explored.

The wine and tap room is situated in the heart of the Port Gamble Historic District, surrounded by historic homes, charming shops and restaurants. It's easy to spend an entire afternoon exploring the area before settling in for a glass (or two) of wine.

The Port Gamble Wine & Tap Room offers an extensive selection of local and regional wines. Whether you prefer a crisp white or a full-bodied red, you'll find something to suit your taste buds. Some of the most popular varietals include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

In addition to their impressive wine selection, the tap room also serves a variety of craft beers and ciders. And if you're feeling peckish, they offer a range of delicious snacks and small plates, perfect for enjoying with your wine.

One of the best things about Port Gamble Wine & Tap Room is their commitment to showcasing local wines. They work with over twenty local wineries to bring the best of Washington's wine country to their customers. This means you can sample a wide range of wines and discover new local favorites.

What's more, the staff at Port Gamble Wine & Tap Room are passionate about their wines and love to share their knowledge with customers. They're always on hand to offer recommendations and answer any questions you may have about the wines on offer.

Overall, the Port Gamble Wine & Tap Room is a must-visit destination for wine lovers in the Pacific Northwest. With its charming location, warm and welcoming atmosphere, and fantastic wine selection, it's a wonderful spot to spend an afternoon or evening sampling some of the best wines Washington state has to offer.

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As the fall season approaches, there's no better time to visit Port Gamble to get in the spooky spirit of Halloween. This small historic town located in Washington state offers a handful of exciting events and impressive decorations throughout the month of October, making it a perfect destination for those looking to celebrate the holiday.

One of the most popular Halloween attractions in Port Gamble is the famous Haunted House. Every year, the town opens up a chilling maze filled with actors dressed up in horrifying costumes, special effects, and spine-tingling sound effects. The Haunted House is open to visitors of all ages, but be warned, it can be quite frightening.

For those looking for a more family-friendly activity, Port Gamble offers a Halloween-themed movie screening on the lawn. Grab a blanket, some popcorn and gather with your loved ones to watch Halloween classic films, such as Hocus Pocus or Nightmare Before Christmas. This is an excellent way to spend quality time with your family while immersing yourself in the Halloween atmosphere.

Visitors to Port Gamble can also enjoy the festive decorations throughout the streets of the town. They feature carved pumpkins, colorful autumn leaves, cobwebs and spooky signage. You can take a stroll down the picturesque town and take in the fall splendor, with a few surprises here and there.

In addition to these activities, there are several Halloween-themed stores and food vendors throughout the town, all of which add to the festive atmosphere. There are carnival style games, pumpkin carving stations, and special merchandise exclusive to the season.

Whether you are looking for thrills and chills or just some family fun, Port Gamble is a must-visit destination during the Halloween season. With its hauntingly impressive decoration and fun activities, it’s hard not to feel excited about the holiday. So why wait? Pack your bags, grab your family or friends, and head down to Port Gamble to indulge in everything spooky, creepy, and fun this Halloween.

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If you're looking for a magical way to get into the holiday spirit, you should attend the annual Port Gamble Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This charming tradition takes place in the historic town of Port Gamble, Washington, a Victorian-era community that has been well-preserved for more than 150 years.

Each year, the town's Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a highlight of the holiday season. Taking place in early December, the ceremony marks the official start of the Christmas festivities in Port Gamble.

The event is free and open to the public, and people of all ages come together to celebrate the season. The ceremony features performances by local musicians, carolers, and dancers. There are usually food vendors serving hot cocoa, cider, and other festive treats.

The highlight of the evening, of course, is the tree lighting itself. The community gathers around as the towering evergreen, adorned with thousands of twinkling lights, is illuminated for the first time. It's truly a magical moment that fills the heart with warmth and joy, and it's an experience that you'll treasure for years to come.

After the tree lighting ceremony, the festivities continue with a variety of activities, including horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa Claus, and holiday shopping at the town's many quaint shops and boutiques. You can even take a guided tour of Port Gamble's charming Victorian homes and historic buildings, many of which are decorated for the season.

Overall, the annual Port Gamble Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a festive and heartwarming event that's sure to get you into the holiday spirit. Whether you're a local resident or visiting from out of town, it's an experience you won't want to miss. So mark your calendar, gather your loved ones, and head to Port Gamble for an unforgettable evening of holiday cheer.

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If you're looking for a stunning drive along the lush coastline of the Pacific Northwest, look no further than Port Gamble. This historic town located on the Kitsap Peninsula is a perfect place for both visitors and locals alike, boasting quaint streetscapes, scenic hiking trails, and a deep connection to the region's rich history.

One of the best ways to take in the stunning natural beauty of Port Gamble is to take a drive along the Hood Canal. This long and narrow waterway stretches for over 60 miles, offering breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains and the surrounding forests. The drive is especially beautiful during the fall, when the trees lining the canal burst with vibrant colors.

As you begin your drive, take a moment to stop by the Port Gamble Historical Museum. This charming museum offers an up-close look at the town's past, with exhibits highlighting the lives of the people who once called Port Gamble home. You can learn about the region's Native American history, the town's ties to the lumber industry, and much more.

From the museum, head south along Hood Canal Drive. As you go, you'll pass by lush forests, rocky beaches, and sparkling waterways. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, including seals, sea lions, and bald eagles.

Along the way, you can also take a detour to visit nearby state parks. Kitsap Memorial State Park is a great spot for a picnic, offering gorgeous views of the water and plenty of beach access. Meanwhile, the nearby Point No Point Lighthouse is a must-see for history buffs, offering a glimpse at what life was like for lighthouse keepers in the past.

After a day spent exploring Port Gamble and the Hood Canal, be sure to head back to town to catch the stunning sunset. With the Olympic Mountains towering in the distance, the sky is often ablaze with fiery shades of red and orange. It's the perfect way to wrap up a day spent taking in the beauty of this incredible region.

In conclusion, a scenic drive along the Hood Canal is an absolute must when visiting Port Gamble. Whether you're a nature lover or a history buff, you'll find something to love about this stunning and richly diverse area of the Pacific Northwest. So pack up the car and hit the road - adventure awaits!

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Frequently asked questions.

Port Gamble has a variety of outdoor activities for families to enjoy, including hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Touring the historic town is also a popular activity.

Port Gamble boasts a variety of specialty shops selling an array of unique and locally made goods. Visitors can browse through antiques, handmade candles, pottery, and jewelry, among others.

Even if it is raining, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy in Port Gamble. Take a ghost tour, visit the museum or go inside to discover the oldest continuously operating general store in Washington State.

Visitors can soak up local Washington culture by taking a tour of the historic town including the St. Paul's church, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Museum, which houses displays of historic and contemporary Native American and tribal artifacts. There are also local events throughout the year such as the Poulsbo Farmers Market, Viking Fest, and various concerts and festivals.

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5 Best Things To Do In Port Gamble, Washington

T ucked away from the bustling spotlight of popular destinations, underrated towns emerge as hidden gems waiting to be discovered. These quaint havens often escape the frenetic pace set by urban life, offering a serene escape for those seeking to sink into life, find authenticity, and experience the local charm of a small town.

Port Gamble , located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State, is one of these rare gems. It also happens to be a National Historic Landmark. Stroll along the streets of one of Washington’s oldest settlements, a company-owned town, and step back in time, far away from the city. Allow it to unveil its unique character through streets lined by white-picket fences and steepled churches. In Port Gamble, find a place where welcoming locals eagerly share their rich history, whispering tales of a bygone era.

Pro Tip: Getting to Port Gamble from the mainland is relatively easy, making it a great day trip or better yet a long weekend. Take a ferry across Puget Sound from either Edmonds or Seattle and enjoy the breathtaking scenery on this 30-minute trip. Check the Washington Ferry Schedule for sailing times.

1. Historical Charm 

The town of Port Gamble was established in 1853 by timber businessmen William Talbott and Andrew Pope. Mirroring their hometown of East Machias, Maine, these founding fathers wanted it to look and feel like home, replicating many of the structures found in its East Coast twin. Today, Port Gamble is a living time capsule, showcasing the timber industry’s legacy through well-preserved 19th-century architecture and a glimpse into its past as a bustling company town.

Port Gamble boasts remarkable accolades, hosting the oldest continuously operating sawmill in North America until its closure in 1995. Additionally, its Masonic Lodge, active since 1859, remains the oldest in Washington, attesting to this small town of 75 residents and its enduring history.

Walk along any of Port Gamble’s charming blocks and discover red plaques along the fences of homes and buildings. These describe the home’s original use and its owners. Perhaps the town physician once lived here or the manager of the timber mill. Even the iconic steeple of St. Paul’s Church echoes the same design as its Maine counterpart.

2. Picturesque Setting

Situated on the shores of Puget Sound, Port Gamble sits on a bay with breathtaking views of the scenic Hood Canal — one of the largest naturally made fjords in the continental United States — with a backdrop of the Olympic Mountains.

Grab a hot coffee or an ice cream cone from the Port Gamble General Store and set yourself down for a spell in the local park simply soaking in the beauty of this northwestern landscape.

3. Quaint Shops And Cafés

Explore Port Gamble’s charming shops, boutiques, and cozy cafés where you can indulge in local crafts, antiques, and delicious treats while experiencing the warm hospitality of the community.

Stop in at the Port Gamble General Store and take a gander through their curated gifts and goodies.

Once the heartbeat of the community, this historic landmark now houses a café and retail store, offering an array of delights from ice cream to northwestern wines. Find a spot outside on the old-fashioned porch, settle in, and indulge in delicious desserts. 

Quilted Strait

The Quilted Strait is housed in the Old Stables Building, followed by the Artful Ewe wool and knitting shop. The quilt shop stocks an impressive collection of nearly 4,000 fabrics and sewing essentials, including embroidery flosses and cross-stitch materials. Knitters can find artisan fibers, spinning, and weaving tools inside the warm environment of the Artful Ewe.

4. Outdoor Activities

For outdoor activities, try the Olympic Outdoor Center , located in the old fire station. This center offers private sea kayaking tours of Port Gamble Bay and the surrounding Hood Canal. Paddle along the calm waters of the Hood Canal while enjoying serene views and the chance to spot wildlife like seals, bald eagles, or even a whale. Enjoy mountain bike rides through the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park, a 4,300-acre tree farm designed for hiking, biking, and exploring the great outdoors of the Kitsap Peninsula.

Across the street, find the Port Gamble Theater built in 1906. They offer family-friendly community theater as well as musical productions.

For history buffs, dive a little deeper into the fascinating stories of this timber town at the Port Gamble Historic Museum. Step back in time as you walk by the original timber equipment used in this sawmill and learn about the men and women who lived here. Find rooms filled with artifacts and intriguing facts dating back to the town’s origins and stop outside to run your hands across the enormous grindstone sitting sentinel in front of the museum.

A must-stop for an afternoon walk is the Heronswood Garden, a beautiful botanical garden owned by the S’Klallam Tribe. Walk along these garden habitats showcasing over 8,000 plant varieties and featuring diverse flora from around the world and adapted to the northwestern climate. Many of the varieties are culturally significant to the S’Klallam people.

5. Community Events

Experience Port Gamble’s vibrant community spirit through various events and festivals held throughout the year, adding to the town’s allure.

Kick off the summer at Summer Faire for a fun-filled weekend of community, friends, music, and of course, great food all along the shores of Port Gamble Bay. Then in November, get ready to be spooked with the annual Ghost Conference. Did you know Port Gamble is rated as the most haunted town in Washington? If the supernatural stirs curiosity in you, book a tour with Port Gamble Ghost Tours , where the permanent residents of this town may pay you a visit.

Then in December, stroll the town square underneath 100,000 string lights at the Country Christmas. Sing with carolers, ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, gaze at fireworks, and end your evening inside Santa’s workshop.

Small Town’s With Mighty Charm

While overshadowed by their more famous counterparts, hidden gems like the small town of Port Gamble beckon intrepid travelers with the promise of genuine experiences and a chance to unearth the beauty of life, often concealed in plain sight.

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

Heronswood is open to the public every Friday and 4th Saturday!

Guided tours also available, planning your visit ahead is advised as opening hours are limited..

Heronswood Garden is open every Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM for self-guided tours , March through October. With the last garden at 2:30pm. They have just announced that they have extended their hours to include the 4th Saturday of every month for 2017.

There is no reservation required.

Entry to the garden cost just $10.00 per person for adults 18 and over. For ages 7- 17, entry is $5. 6 years and under get in for free.

Entry is free for Heronswood Garden members and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal community members.  Find out how to become a Member .

The self-guided tours include a map.

If you are interested in Group tours or Pre-schedule weekday tours visit the Tours page.

Helpful to Know Before you Arrive

The Heronswood Garden is ADA accessible.

The Heronswood Volunteers are very helpful and are available to answer questions. If you have any questions regarding plants you are encouraged to take photos with your camera or phone and a volunteer can assist with identifying it.

Heronswood Garden has a guest nursery on site each Friday offering a seasonal selection of great plants. A portion of those sales go toward the restoration of Heronswood.

Four times a year Heronswood hosts highly popular plant Sale & Garden Open events. For more information, please visit the Events page.

You are welcome to bring your lunch, however you cannot bring food into the garden proper. There are shaded tables adjacent to the Garden Shed for Picnics.

There are portable toilet facilities on site.

Heronswood welcomes Dogs on leashes, but please bring your own clean-up supplies

Visit the Map page for directions

Garden Etiquette

Just as you would expect of any private facility there are rules to follow so that everyone can enjoy the surroundings and the experience.

Show Respect for the Garden and for other visitors

• Do not walk off pathways – Stay out of garden beds.
• Do not take any plant materials including seeds, leaves, or cuttings.
• Pets are welcome on leash – please clean up after your pet
• There is no food, drinks or smoking allowed in the Garden
• Dispose of all recycling or trash properly

Wander at Your Own Risk

• Watch your footing on pathways
• Children should be supervised at all times
• Be aware of open water areas and fixtures

Photography Policy

While visiting Heronswood Garden, you are welcome to take photos or video of the garden and events taking place for your own use. No monopods or tripods allowed. If you intend to use your images/video commercially, you must sign a release form with Heronswood Garden.

Thank you for visiting our Heronswood Fan Site!

Please use the below contact form to contact Heronswood directly.

Contact Form

Port Gamble Ghost Walk 2022-2023

Fri Oct 07 2022 at 07:00 pm to Sat Apr 08 2023 at 10:00 pm

Port Gamble Historic Museum | Port Gamble, WA

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING.

By purchasing a ticket I, the undersigned, voluntarily desire to participate in the Port Gamble Ghost Walk/Conference | Special Investigations | Tours | Classes | Film Crew Activities | Paranormal Investigations held by Port Gamble Paranormal Tours, OPG Port Gamble LLC and Rayonier Inc.

I understand that Port Gamble was founded in 1853 and is an historic town with older buildings and facilities (the “Property”) owned by OPG Port Gamble LLC, a Washington limited liability company (the “Owner”). In connection with my decision to purchase a ticket to participate in paranormal activities and events upon the Property (the “Tours”), I hereby agree to release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue the Owner, its officers, employees, and affiliated or related entities (collectively, the “Released Parties”), from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me, or any minor or dependent under my custody, or any property belonging to me, while in, on, or upon the Property. I hereby further agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, loss, liability, damage, or costs (including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) that the Released Parties may incur in connection with, or in any way related to, my participation in the Tours, or the participation of any minor or dependent under my custody. It is my express intent that this agreement shall bind members of my family and spouse, if I am alive, and my heirs, assigns, and personal representative, if I am deceased, and shall be deemed as a release, waiver, discharge, covenant not to sue, and indemnity agreement. This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and shall be effective to the maximum extent permitted by law.

I certify that to the best of my knowledge; I have no physical condition which will be aggravated by the activity or which will impair my ability to participate in the activity. I am fully aware of the risks and hazards connected with the activity.

I assume all responsibility for all risks of injury to my person and property that may be sustained in connection with the associated activities, including travel by automobile or other conveyance. Furthermore, I release and discharge OPG1LLC and Pope Resources and the owners and/or managers of the investigation location from any and all claims, demand, cause of action, suit, obligation and liability for any damages, including personal injury, accidents, illness, death and personal property damage, cost or other damage that may arise from or be in any way connected with my participation in said activity, except those occasioned solely by the negligence of that said institution or their agents.

I am at least sixteen (16) years of age and fully competent.

I understand that any and all photographic, video, audio, and other such material evidence that I may gather of the interior/exterior of the investigation site may not be shared, published, or otherwise made public in any way without the express consent and permission of OPG Port Gamble LLC, Rayonier Inc., and any involved administrators and participants on site, who reserve the right of non-disclosure. I understand that failure to comply with this agreement may be legally actionable.

Where is it happening?

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Full Moon & Bioluminesence Kayak Tour ‑ Port Gamble, Washington

Starting at:

$69.00 $89.00

Explore the incredible beauty of Port Gamble's night sky on a kayak tour under the glittering light of a full moon! Feel the exhilarating freedom of gliding through the dark waters like a mythical creature! At this time of year there is always bioluminesence present and on cloudy nights this can readily be seen.

Dont see your Date Available? Check our Regular Bioluminescence tour for more dates. This tour is divided into 2 separate pages, full moon dates (this one) and regular non full moon dates. Please check both for available dates.

Regular Bioluminescence Kayak Tour Dates

Credit issued as a digital gift card within one week of purchase. Valid in-store or online. While supplies last. Promotion applies to in-stock inventory only. One credit per person. Credit cannot be applied to original transaction neither at the time of purchase nor retroactively. Not all kayaks qualify, credit value varies by model and is posted on our inventory list.

Cancellation Policy

Updated 2.01.2022

Thanks for looking to Olympic Outdoor Center for your next adventure, course, or camp!

Just a Note: Our activities go rain or shine. If YOU cancel or decrease the number of participants in your party the following cancellation policies apply. These firm policies ensure all of our guests are treated equally and fairly.

Substitutions:   Yo u may substitute another person for your reservation up to 48 hours prior to the event. You must call Olympic and get approval (this may not be approved under certain circumstances) of any changes for this to be valid.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your upcoming activity with Olympic  Outdoor Center, please contact us. Changes, modifications and cancellations to upcoming trips, courses or lodging can by made by calling our reservations team at (360) 297-4659.

Standard Activity Cancellation Policy

0-3 Days Before Reservation: Guest will be responsible for the full amount of reservation.

4-13 Days Before Reservation: Cardholder will receive a 50% reservation-booking voucher, to be used within one year of the canceled date on an activity reservation.

14-29 Days Before Reservation: Guest will receive a reservation-booking voucher for the full reservation amount, less a 5% cancellation fee. Voucher to be used within one year of the canceled date on an activity reservation.

30+ Days Before Reservation: Guest will receive a full refund, less a 5% cancellation fee.

This Full Moon & Bioluminescence kayak tour is great for all ages, all experience levels, locals and visitors!

Start with a Kayak lesson (or refresher) and then enjoy Bioluminescence viewing on Port Gamble Bay. We use stable double sit-on-top kayaks. Your are more than welcome to bring your own kayak or SUP however the cost of the tour will still be the same. 

The cost of the tour includes: Guide, Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Boat light, head lamp. No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. We hope to see you out on the water!

Please bring a head lamp if you have one to be worn during the tour .

Bioluminescence Tours begin and end at our beach in Port Gamble and will last about 2 hours.

What to Expect

Exploring the wonders of Port Gamble Bay under the light of the full moon is an incredible experience. You will certainly see the moon but also may experience  the glittering blanket of bioluminescence. On overcast nights during a full moon we see more bioluminesence and on clear nights we see less bioluminesence. This is due to the moons reflecting the light of the sun which obscures the light reaction of the bio.

You will almost certainly see Bioluminescence at some level on this tour. Bioluminescence is an amazing natural phenomenon in which an organism produces and emits light due to a chemical reaction where the chemical energy is converted into light energy. When disturbed the organisms give off light such as when you paddle a kayak. There may also be amazing sunsets over the Olympics as well as paddling beautiful Port Gamble Bay.

• We use stable double sit on top kayaks
• If you are coming as a single you can either match up with another single guest in a double or paddle a single kayak.
• We will be putting in on a beach that can be sandy or rocky depending on the tide.
• You will be wearing a life jacket
• There will be a safety talk before leaving the beach
• You will need to get your feet wet getting in and out of the kayaks so wear boots, sandals, or shoes that can get wet.
• It will be chilly on the water after sundown so pack a jacket
• You will be using headlamps and boat lights that we provide but please bring your own if you have them.
• Boat lights will go out after about 20 minutes on the water to enhance our viewing of the bio. They can be turned back on at any time.
• We will paddle as a group and each person will have, besides lights, a whistle for signaling and safety.
• Paddlers will be encourage to paddle in single file or small groups to enhance viewing. The best viewing is next to shore. It is not uncommon for us to be spread out on the tour.
• There will be a lead guide (front), a sweep guide (rear) and depending on group size guides that roam the group.
• The tour is an out and back along the shore of Port Gamble Bay, about 1.2 miles. The shore is on your right going out and on your left coming back so it would be difficult to get disoriented while on the water. Everyone also has a head light which can be turned on if needed.
• There is a sani-can at our beach which we encourage everyone to use before leaving the beach. We will be on the water 1 to 1.5 hours.

What To Bring

We will paddle even in light rain. We will not paddle in high winds or lightning. It will be cold on the water at night so dress warmly.

• Hardy snack
• Water Bottle
• Warm Fleece hat (Windproof if available)
• Shoes that can get wet, tennis shoes, sandals with straps or hard sole water shoe, NO flip-flops.
• Short or long pants depending on weather (Ideally synthetic).
• Short or long sleeve shirt depending on the weather (Ideally synthetic).
• Change of clothes left In your car If the ones your wearing gets wet.
• Towel for After (Always nice)
• Warm Fleece jacket, NOT cotton (Windproof if available)
• light waterproof/water resistant jacket.
• Dry Bag for items carried on the kayak (optional)

If bringing electronics (phone, camera, etc.) put in dry bag or Double baggie or provide a waterproof case.

Put Your name on all of your belongings, we are not responsible for lost or stolen gear especially phones, cameras, watches, etc.

Tipping your guides are always a nice gesture for excellent service.

When do we meet.

Start time varies depending on the month, you will be notified before your trip of the meet time if it changes. (Bio only comes out when it is dark). Our standard meet time is 9:30PM and our standard end time is 11:30PM.

When will we finish?

The tour will end 2 hours AFTER the meet time. Later is better for viewing Bio.

Please note that you will not be able to catch a Kingston ferry after the paddle but Bainbridge Ferry has a later ferry.  Ferry Times change PLEASE CHECK USING THIS LINK.

Safety Guidelines

We will be paddling at night. Each kayak will have a boat light and each participant will have a head lamp. The participants boat lights are GREEN and the guides RED. Participants boat lights will be turned off after about 20 minutes to enhance viewing. The guides boat lights will never be turned off, so they are always visible and easy to locate. If a participant has any trouble they are instructed to turn their head lamp on so we can locate them quickly. Each participant also have a whistle on their life jacket for signalling. Depending on group size there will be a minimum of 2 guides and a max of 4. Sound caries on the water and on Port Gamble Bay it is easy to hear the group and assess any problems.

Participants are instructed to stay close to the shore during the tour for best viewing. The tour goes out with the shore on your right and comes back with the shore on your left. Participants are instructed to NOT paddle in to the center of the bay and just paddle next to shore. It is dark during the paddle but there is always some ambient light so you can always see where you are going.

The group DOES spread out during the paddle which enhances viewing for all. We encourage participants to paddle in close to shore either in single file or in small groups.

Our guides goes thru staff training and orientation every year. This is one of our staffs favorite tours to guide. Many have come back year after year. It is not unusual for them to have 20-30 tours each per year.

Where do we meet?

Olympics Beach Site in Port Gamble, C lick For Directio ns.

We will meet at our beach launch; from Rainier Ave., take a right at the stop sign, head down the hill and you will see our shipping container straight ahead through the gate.

Local Hotels and Accommodations:

• Visit VisitKitsap.com for accommodations.
• HipCamp by NightOwl Cycling (Kingston, WA) - Tent, Yurt, RV, or Van Camping.
• In Port Orchard  you will find comfortable lodging at Comfort Inn at the Bay  and Red Lion Inn & Suites.
• Downtown Silverdale hotels include  Oxford Suites,  Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel , and Quality Inn & Suites.  
• Poulsbo is also a favorite place to stay.
• Local State Parks and RV lots

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Olympic Outdoor Center

P.O. Box 236 32379 Rainier Ave. Port Gamble, WA 98364

Phone:  (360) 297-4659 Email:  [email protected]

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Ghost tours.

A guided tour of Port Gamble highlighting the town's history of the paranormal. Includes tours of the more active buildings in town. Must be 16+ to attend. $30 per person. 

A three day conference with classes, panel discussions, tours and investigations of the paranormal in Port Gamble, WA

Investigations

Spend three hours in the Walker-Ames House investigating the paranormal. Bring a flashlight and recording equipment for this rare opportunity. Must be 16+ to attend. $40 per person and reservations required. 

Walker-Ames Mansion in Port Gamble, WA

Second Floor

This photo was taken by Ken G. during a Ghost Walk. The photo was taken on the second floor on the Walker-Ames Mansion from the Master Bedroom. 

Ghost Hunting in Port Gamble

Many homes in Port Gamble are haunted and the Walker-Ames home is probably the town's most famously haunted residence.  Pete takes us on a tour of the Walker-Ames house and gives us a brief history of some of its non living occupants.  Learn more about Port Gamble's Ghost Conference at: http://www.wasanctuaryshore.com/#!eas

The tour starts at the Port Gamble Historic Museum at 8:00PM

Coming Soon! Coming Soon!

Meet at the WALKER-AMES HOUSE at 7:00PM.

BRING A FLASHLIGHT | DRESS WARMLY | METERS, CAMERAS, etc. ARE WELCOME

This photo was taken in front of House 10, The Jackson House on Port Gamble's Rainier Ave during the 2013 Port Gamble Ghost Conference by attendee Connor H. See anything interesting in the windows?

Port Gamble Weddings

Kitsap wedding tour love is an adventure thursday, may 11th.

Celebrate your forever after at our privately owned, 120-acre National Historic Landmark on the shores of the Hood Canal. Port Gamble offers two charming venues to help create your timeless wedding and reception. With turn of the century buildings and New England style homes on maple tree lined streets and a stunning waterfront backdrop, Port Gamble has become one of Kitsap County's most sought-after wedding venues.

Photo Booth

CME Experience

Photographer

Lloyd Photo + Films

Health & Wellness

Audio stories.

Kinship Tales

Planner/Custom Gifts & Design

Amber Cheremsak Boutique

Videographer

Bella Bella Bakery

Portable Restrooms

Cozy Cove Restroom Trailer LLC

DJ Blyssful/ Blyssful Sounds

Kitsap Bartending Services

Hair & Make Up Services

Wedding Hair by Rhianna

Bounce House

Eleven 23 Bounce Company

Maddy's Old Town Flowers

Essence of the Thymes

Grand Mason Goods

Local Color BKAT TV

General Admission: 3-Day $45 1-Day $30 Class Tickets: $15 (1-hour) | $30 (2-hour) each Investigations: $10-$20 each Walker-Ames House & Masonic Lodge: $20 Church, Museum, House 7: $10

Here is a list of events included with General Admission for the weekend:

Conference Welcome Friday Night: 6:00PM-6:30PM

All Featured Speaker Presentations

All Panel Discussions Saturday and Sunday: TBD  

YOU MUST HAVE A CONFERENCE 3-DAY OR 1-DAY PASS TO ATTEND CLASSES & INVESTIGATIONS

Poulsbo Inn 15% off rates

Call the Poulsbo Inn at 360-779-3921 and state that you are attending the Port Gamble Ghost Conference to receive 15% off room rates!

Featured Speakers TBD

Featured classes tbd.

2-Hour Classes are $30 per person | 1-Hour Classes are $15 per person (Sold separately from conference admission) Each class will have a specific ticket on the Eventbrite event page

Here different points of view and perspectives to your questions at these 3 panel discussions. You'll be able to submit and ask questions to the panels. 

Investigation Locations

Become a Vendor at the Conference! $75 Vendor Fee Limited Availability  ~Vendor Availability Closed for 2023~

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Three Western Washington Ghost Tours To Haunt You

Written by: Cheryl

On: October 17, 2019

Updated: April 24, 2024

Are you a believer? It's OK if you're not. Ghost tours are fun, especially in October when the days are growing shorter and the leaves are falling. And good ones are also a bit of an (entertaining) history lesson. Here are three Haunted Tours in and (relatively) near Seattle to take this Autumn: Seattle, Port Gamble, and Port Townsend

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This post may be a bit out of date as it was written not long before the pandemic. But we know that Port Gamble Paranormal is still at it with ghost tours and conferences. As we are writing this update in July 2023, there’s an article in the Port Townsend Leader titled, “ Twisted History Tours ghost of its former self .” You may want to read it before booking one of them! And we see that Haunted History tours is still doing tours from Spring until Fall. So read on…

When you think of haunted places, you might tend to think of ancient cities like Edinburgh or York, but the American Victorian-era city also excels at exuding a feeling of hauntedness.

In northwest Washington state, three such old Victorian-era towns that come to mind are, of course,  Port Townsend , one of three National Victorian Seaports in the US (the other two are Galveston and Cape May),  Port Gamble , and the old Victorian city that is Seattle’s  Pioneer Square  neighborhood.

And, of course, each of these places comes with their ghost stories attached and has attracted paranormal investigators and ghost tours.

On each of these tours, the question sometimes arises, “why are these places haunted?” An honest answer would be that nobody knows. Brothels and Native American sacred sites or burial grounds seem to be hotbeds of paranormal activity. The latter’s connection with hauntings has  become somewhat of a cliché  due to books like Amityville Horror and Pet Sematary. Pioneer towns in the west have an abundance of both.

Seattle: Haunted History Tours

We are standing outside the Korn building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, built in 1889, right after Seattle’s great fire. Signs around the area read,” Seattle’s First Neighborhood,” reminding people that this is where the pioneer city of Seattle began. Pioneer Square is Seattle’s Victorian neighborhood and the prime location for any ghost tours in Seattle.

Our tour guide, and founder of  Seattle Haunted History Ghost Tours of Seattle , Aten, is sporting black Victorian-ish garb and impressive sideburns. He’s also trying to find a way to talk about the history of  Seattle’s “seamstresses”  (most of which didn’t do much sewing) and brothels in a way as “family-friendly” as possible, as there are kids in our group. It’s difficult to talk about haunted places near Seattle without talking about its “seamier” side (bad pun intended). To save tender ears, the term “brothel,” morphs into “pillow-fighting establishment.” Mentioning the various types of pillow fighting establishments and their associated hauntings turns into somewhat of a theme throughout the evening. (Note: Saturday night tours are 21+ only; pillow-fighting language is out, and stronger language is acceptable.)

As the evening proceeds, we walk down streets like Yesler and Occidental, and under the Pioneer Square Pergola, past places “known” to be haunted like  Merchant’s  (apparently there’s a spirit of a boy who can sometimes be seen looking out an upstairs window, and they couldn’t keep tenants so now the  upper portion is an AirBNB .) and Aten talks about such various things as the (Seattle pioneer family)  Yeslers’  connection to the occult (they were spiritualists and were known to have held seances) and symbols of Freemasonry in the Smith Tower (here he jests about it being a “Portal to Zuul”.)

Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives #111170 Henry and Sarah Yesler in front of their home at First and Jefferson July 4, 1883

The Smith Tower: A Portal of Zuul and a tool of the Illuminati?

We enter the  Bar Shoppe & Lounge  in the Korn building, which otherwise is mostly run-down and boarded up. The Bar Shoppe, which still has very cool décor, was the home of a “very special type of pillow-fighting establishment” (Asian) back in the pioneer days. A black-haired ghost can sometimes be seen looking from an upstairs window. Peering out windows seems to be a popular activity for Seattle ghosts. We also enter the  Central Saloon , Seattle’s oldest tavern, which sports a sort of altar wall to musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain, who played there during the bar’s long history. What haunts me in this location is the sudden memory of feeling like I was going to be crushed to death during a New Year’s Eve sometime in the early ‘90s. Would I then have been one of the establishment’s ghosts?

Otherwise, we peer in the door of other places and hear of their interesting paranormal tales. I wistfully wish we could enter, but then remember that I live nearby and can go back next week and haunt these places myself if I choose.

The tour ends on an unexpected note, peering at a site that housed a restaurant called “The Dairy” in the 1890s. The most astonishing factoid about the place is not its hauntings (though our tour guide claims it’s haunted), but the name of the man who ran the restaurant:  Frederick Trump . Is this building Trump Tower I?

A note for tourists or other people not familiar with Seattle taking this tour: Pioneer Square has always been a rough area, and it’s still so. It has a large and visible homeless population, and it’s not unusual for tour groups going through the area to have unwanted “encounters” – and not of the ghostly variety. When I got home, shaking my head a bit, my husband asked, “What? Did you get peed on?” What  did  happen was that a man wielding TWO pizza boxes threatened to “bash our f$#*ing heads in.,” — fortunately, without any attempt to make that threat real.

Pioneer Square at night, under the glow of its old, original streetlamps, can be lovely, and  Occidental offers a pedestrian-only walking area – both make me like Pioneer Square at night. But the charms of the former “Skid Row” are counterbalanced by its seedier side.

Haunted History Ghost Tours of Seattle

• Run approximately 1.5 hours in length.
• At the time of this writing cost about $15 with discounts for seniors and people with diabilities.
• Saturday nights are 21+ only.

Other Seattle ghost tours in the Pioneer Square area include:

• Occasionally, you’ll find activities on Viator (such as “haunted pub crawls)
• Spooked in Seattle  ghost tours.
• Haunted Happenings  Seattle ghost tour.

Twisted History Tours Port Townsend

Port Townsend is one of the ten most haunted cities in the US, so claims the website of Twisted History Tours. Grymm, who founded the tour company in 2013, sports a dark/macabre/Victorianish/Steampunkish look that fits the tours, and the town perfectly. During the tour (the one we took was a daytime history tour during the  Port Townsend Victorian Festival ), he also has his young daughter in tow, who adds a bit of humor. At one point he reminds participants to watch out for traffic and jokes that if we don’t there may be a new ghost for his tours. Later, I overheard his daughter telling someone in the group, “Nobody has died on these tours yet,” and then adding in an ominous tone, “but my dad  wishes  they would.”

Brothels are, again, a common theme here and both haunted hotels we visit in the tour – the Bishop Victorian Hotel and the  Palace Hotel have that in their history. Both hotels play up either the dark Victorian or “Pillow-Fighting” aspect of its history in some way – the Bishop with its lovely hallway displays of Victorian-era photos and mourning garb and the Palace with its various rooms with names of the girls who once “pillow-fought” there painted on the rooms’ doorways.

Mourning garb on display at the Bishop Victorian Hotel.

The Lady in Blue in a portrait at Port Townsend’s  Palace Hotel . She’s  said to haunt the halls  of the former brothel.

Plenty of other haunted locations exist in Port Townsend. PT is full of old Victorian houses, and, of course, there’s Manresa Castle, visited by the likes of  Ghost Adventures . The “castle” is said to be haunted by the spirit of monk that hung himself in the attic.

While you can stay at Manresa Castle, Twisted History Tours will take you to other haunted spots in Port Townsend. Uptown Haunts visits some of the lovely homes in the area, while  Downtown Dare looks at (I think) downtown spots like the shanghai tunnels and the hotels. If you want it all, you can do both and take the Twice as Twisted Tour.

Or, only in October, you can do a tour called “Grymm tales.” But, whatever you choose, you’ll hear plenty of stories, and Grymm is a good storyteller. Port Townsend’s history seaport abounds with scoundrels and tales of debauchery and such that lend themselves to ghost stories.

Tour lengths vary at Twisted History tours; most last around 2 hours. 

Haunted Port Gamble with Port Gamble Paranormal

Port Gamble  is a town with a kind of wistful vibe that hearkens back to earlier days – old homes, open spaces, a historic cemetery, and the town’s white picket fences all add to this effect. Autumn’s falling leaves add to this effect and to the town’s charm – and also to its feeling of being a haunted place, especially at night.

The town came about in the mid-1800s because if its mill, still in existence until 1995. Port Gamble and its homes are still company-owned and, despite that, I love to go there; I didn’t even realize that fact until I took a ghost tour.

And that’s one of the things common to all of these ghost tours, to a greater or lesser degree – they’re also history tours.

The Port Gamble ghost walk tours, run by  Port Gamble Paranormal,  are perhaps at the top of the list in this aspect. Their tours take a good three hours and take you through the fascinating history of the small mill town as you walk through the cemetery, past many of the town’s houses (many of which were, interestingly, barged here from Port Ludlow; taking your home with you wasn’t that unusual) and telling the ghost stories of each, through the  Port Gamble Historic Museum , into the community center building which houses the Port Gamble Theater and Post Office (maybe I’ll move my PO Box here just to get one of their art-deco style boxes), and, of course, into the Walker-Ames House, which is said to be the  most haunted house in Washington State .

Does the ghost of a girl sometimes occupy this chair at the Port Gamble Historic Museum?

Port Gamble Paranormal, which also runs a  paranormal conference  in Kitsap County every fall, is run by Pete Orbea, who also runs the tours. Pete, as the name of his business implies, is a paranormal investigator. He also gives the impression of being a likable, regular guy who doesn’t feel the need to dress up in gothic garb to lead his tours (not that the other tour leaders  aren’t  likable, just to make that clear). He also runs weddings in Port Gamble which is a popular venue due to its  picturesque church .

Pete describes having both seen and heard ghosts during paranormal investigations both here and in other homes and buildings. He likes to refer to them as “long-term residents.”

As we walk through the Walker-Ames house, he explains that childrens’ ghosts, as well as a nanny haunt the upstairs. I notice a row of dominoes in an empty room and ask Pete about them. They’re there, as I expected, to see if they get knocked over.

Pete has marked several spots in the house as off-limits to the living. The intention is that the spirits will have a place to go to get away from interloping humans in the house. An effort to calm them down for better behavior?

And, in the basement, he points out that there was a spirit here that had a dislike of women – especially blonde women. Women have reported nausea down here, and I note that I have been feeling queasy, but decide to chalk it up junk food rather than spirits. However, I secretly hope that if there is any blonde-hating spirit here, he can see that I have a lot of gray mixed in with my blonde stripes.

People have reported feeling either “jovial” or sadness in the home, especially in the attic. What strikes me in the Walker-Ames house  is  a sort of sadness – but it’s sadness at the state of the residence itself, and imagining what it once was, and what it could be. The house is gorgeous from the outside, and the inside has beautiful fireplaces, a lovely main stairway, and gorgeous stained glass windows. But, otherwise, it has fallen into a state of disrepair. As Pete talks about the ghosts, I am distracted by fantasies of having enough money to buy it if and when Port Gamble ever decides to sell and starting a repair project. Spirits, I’ll stay out of your rooms. There’s enough room here for all of us.

(Incidentally,Port Gamble uses the Walker-Ames house for some events besides ghost tours and paranormal investigations – if you go to Port Gamble’s Christmas festivities, you might find yourself doing Christmas crafts in this haunted mansion.)

Port Gamble Ghost walks:

• Last about three hours.
• Run frequently in October, and with less frequency into the Spring (update: in 2023, they just ran in Summer)
• Include a tour of the Walker-Ames house, but not an actual investigation (which takes time).

If you are interested in being involved in an investigation of the Walker-Ames house, you might be interested in their  Port Gamble Ghost Conference  in November.

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