Port Orchard, WA Road Trips

It is 13 miles due west of West Seattle and connected to Seattle and Vashon Island via the Washington State Ferries run to Southworth. Port Orchard began as a booming lumber town called Sidney and became Kitsap County’s first incorporated city in 1890. It wooed the county seat away from Port Madison on Bainbridge Island in 1893 and remains the center of county government. Like many towns in the area, Port Orchard used to be only accessible by boat, and the town grew around the harbor. It now includes spread-out suburbs and big box stores. The city is very family-friendly, with child-friendly parks, a library with activities for kids, and friendly neighborhoods. City of Port Orchard website

Sinclair Inlet. The body of water that extends out from Port Orchard is a busy shipping channel, with state ferries coming and going from Bremerton. The water taxis, the Naval Ship Yard and the busy local marinas make it an interesting place to watch boat traffic. Port Orchard has several small museums all within walking distance from downtown and the marinas. This is a great way to explore some local art or learn more about Port Orchard's maritime history. 1 Log Cabin Museum, 416 Sidney Ave, ☏ +1 360-876-3693. Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1-4PM, May to September. Open seasonally and selectively, this quaint museum located in a historic log cabin features changing exhibits of home life in South Kitsap during the past 100 years as well as items typically used and tells the ongoing story of the Orchards. Worth watching for seasonal happenings like Santa visiting at Christmas. Free. (updated Jul 2019) 2 Sidney Art Museum, 202 Sidney Ave (just up the hill from the marina), ☏ +1 360-876-3693. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1-4PM. It is in one of Port Orchard's historic buildings. The gallery features a monthly exhibition of works of Northwest artists. free. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Veterans Living History Museum, 825 Bay St. This tiny museum along main street is a labor of love by its curator who has collected and displays an amazing array of military memorabilia he has collected or has been donated to him over the years. Not much space is available to navigate this tiny museum but it's worth a stop on your way exploring downtown.

1 South Kitsap Regional Park, Jackson Ave SE & SE Lund Ave (various locations along Jackson and Lund). With a large area and many utilities including batting cages, a scale outdoor railroad, hiking trails, a 6-bench picnic shelter, 3 ballfields (baseball, softball, and multi-use), and more, the park frequently hosts local sports events and is a popular spot for social gatherings and celebrations. 2 Clayton Park (Central Park), 915 Dwight St. Basketball court, large field for informal games, playground, picnic areas, restrooms, this is a popular sunny park for kids and their families. The Commons (end of Sidney Ave, next to Public Library and accessible by public transit). A small grassy area with benches and a view of Port Orchard Marina and the ongoing ship traffic, this popular downtown park is the hub of many activities downtown. Marina Park, 901 Bay St (the park runs along the Bay Street waterfront). This popular waterfront park has a boardwalk, covered gazebo and beach access. This area is central stage for many events in Port Orchard including the summer outdoor Farmer's Market. 3 Howe Farm County Park, Long Lake Rd SE (take Hwy 16 to Sedgwick; travel east on Sedgwick about three miles to Long Lake Road; the park is on Long Lake Road between Mile High Drive and Sedgwick). when Fido needs to stretch his legs and play with other dogs, this is the park to be in. Lots of room to run and meet other dogs. 4 Square Lake Park (from Hwy 16: take the Sedgewick exit, head west on Sedgewick; at the stoplight go straight onto Glennwood.

Seafood is a regional specialty so look for seasonal specials and locally sourced ingredients. Dungeness crabs, clams, oysters, mussels, and of course, salmon can all be found in abundance. Also look for fresh produce from local farms. Blackberry season towards the end of summer usually means these tasty local berries will find their way into local dessert menus. Port Orchard offers a variety of dining options, including seafood, Italian, gourmet hot dogs and hamburgers and, of course, pizza. La Palapa, 150 Harrison Ave, ☏ +1 360-245-2564. A great Mexican restaurant close to the marina with fresh food and good drink specials.

Like the rest of Puget Sound, Port Orchard takes its coffee pretty seriously. Chain shops like Starbucks are prevalent but try these coffee shops for some local flavor. Chug-A-Tug Espresso, 110 Bay St, ☏ +1 360-874-2273. A boat-themed drive-through coffee stand. On Tuesdays, you can get 50 cents off your beverage for correctly answering their trivia question. Lighthouse Espresso, 6300 SE Mile Hill Dr, ☏ +1 360-871-5700. M-F 5AM - 6PM, Sa 6AM - 6PM, Su 7AM - 4PM. A bit off the beaten path for most tourists, this drive-up lighthouse-themed espresso stand is on the route to the Southworth ferry. Whiskey Gulch Coffee Company, 2065 Bay St, ☏ +1 360-871-1985. Whiskey Gulch was the name given to the area that once was home to an illegal moonshine operation that flourished based on its proximity to Puget Sound shipping routes. Now they serve coffee, soup, and sandwiches, and an occasional band might play there as well. Bars are scattered across the area. There are enough of them downtown to perform a mini bar crawl. Bethel Tavern, 3840 Bethel Rd SE, ☏ +1 360-876-6621. Probably a bit off the beaten track for most tourists, but if you're looking for the classic dive bar full of colorful locals complete with peanut shells on the floor, this is your place. Older than anyone can remember they also have music on the weekends.

Comfort Inn, 1121 Bay St, ☏ +1 360-895-2666. On the waterfront and close to downtown, this hotel is a popular option. Red Lion Inn & Suites Port Orchard, 220 Bravo Terrace, ☏ +1 360-895-7818. Far from downtown, this hotel is close to a freeway exit. Nearby Manchester State Park offers 35 tent spaces, 15 utility spaces, and two restrooms/showers. Several campsites are reserved for non-motorized campers such as kayakers or bicyclists.

State Route 16 (SR-16) is the main highway to Port Orchard. From Tacoma and Interstate 5, take SR-16 north across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, then take one of the several exits marked for Port Orchard. State Route 3 (SR-3) joins SR-16 near Gorst, just west of the city. From Shelton, take SR-3 north through the county. From the Olympic Peninsula, cross the Hood Canal Bridge near the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula, then take SR-3 south. Arriving by water, you'll find a large, destination public marina at the center of town. There is a 500 ft (150 m) buffer zone around US Navy vessels and facilities to the north. 1 Port Orchard Marina, 707 Sidney Pkwy, ☏ +1 360-876-5535. This is the main guest moorage dock in the area and the guest dock is 3000 feet in length. There are 44 guest moorage slips available. The total estimated guest boat capacity is 180. Electrical hook up is available for a fee. Electrical power is available in 30 and 50 amps. It has been reported the minimum depth at mean low tide is 30. Fuel and pump out available. 2 Port Orchard Railway Marina, 405 Bay St, ☏ +1 360-876-2522. All vessels staying at the guest moorage area overnight will be required to register at the marina office. 3 Port Orchard Yacht Club, 201 Bay St, ☏ +1 360-876-9010. Full facilities but reciprocal moorage only. 4 Port Orchard Boat Launch, 535 Bay St (across from City Hall). The boat ramp facility can be used in most tidal conditions. Large parking lot designed for boats and trailers. Facilities: floating concrete dock, concrete ramp, and restrooms.

The historic downtown shopping area is small and very accessible on foot or bike and includes easy access from the foot ferry and marina. Port Orchard as a whole is quite spread out and is more appropriate for car travel. Kitsap Transit, ☏ +1 360-479-6962, toll-free: +1-800-501-7433, [email protected]. Kitsap Transit offers transit services throughout the area including pickup from all ferry terminals and connects with Mason Transit (Mason County), Pierce Transit (Pierce County), and Jefferson Transit (Jefferson County) offering connections outside of the area. full fare $2 and is part of the regional ORCA network system.