Best things to do in Port Townsend

Set on a high bluff overlooking the Puget Sound, Fort Worden State Park is home to beautiful scenery and a wealth of recreational activities. The park, which spans 176 hectares (434 acres), was once a U.S. Army base and features a number of historical military buildings here. The Coast Artillery Museum informs visitors about coastal military history, focusing particularly on Washington's Puget Sound. You can explore the park via its 27 km (17 mi) of hiking trails or 19 km (12 mi) of biking trails. Bring a picnic, if you like, to enjoy in the picnic areas overlooking the cliffs of Artillery Hill or Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Cable House Canteen includes a cafe and convenience store.

Ski and snowboard in winter or hike and camp in summer at Hurricane Ridge, a pristine site that affords all-encompassing views of the Pacific coastline. Sitting 1,598 m (5,242 ft) high in the mountains of Olympic National Park, in an intense wind zone, the ridge has unpredictable weather where it can snow any time of year. The drive along the ridge overlooks the Olympic mountain range with views of meadows and snow-capped peaks. Watch for wildlife here. Check the visitor center's information desk, which provides maps and tips regarding the park's facilities and regulations. A snack bar and restrooms are also available on-site.

Deception Pass State Park features beaches, lakes, tide pools, and the swift waters of the pass separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island. The park offers 61 km (38 mi) of hiking trails, including a stretch of the Pacific Northwest Trail. Along the way, pause at lookout points over the bays, straits, and islands. You'll also find horse and bike paths. If you like to fish, head to Bass Lake, or visit Cornet Bay, where boating is popular. Enjoy a meal in one of the picnic areas or a shelter that you can reserve in advance. The park features three campgrounds with restrooms. Check online for site availability.

Visit , a lush, green wonderland of ferns, mosses, and trees that form a canopy covering much of the area. The temperate rainforest stretches 39 km (24 mi) along the Hoh River, and it is partially contained and protected by Olympic National Park. Explore this river valley, created by glaciers thousands of years ago, via the various trails throughout the forest. For a short hike, try the Hall of Mosses Trail, a 1.3 km (.8 mi) journey, or walk the 1.9 km (1.2 mi) Spruce Nature Trail. If you are interested in a longer adventure, take on the 27.8 km (17.3 mi) Hoh River Trail. Stop by the visitor center for more information on the trails and diverse wildlife you will have the chance to see. Campsites are available in the park, but be prepared for heavy rain depending on the time of year.

Serves multiple art forms, such as juried and invitational shows in the galleries, poetry readings, songwriters workshops, theatre events, and artist talks.

Buy Local Eat Seasonal and Create Community. Three times a week: Uptown! Saturdays: May-Dec Tyler and Lawrence 9-2pm. Wednesdays: June Sept. Polk and Lawrence 2-6pm. Sundays in Chimacum: June-Oct 10-2pm

In Olympic National Park, ancient rainforests and ocean tidal pools at lower elevations contrast with wildflower-filled alpine meadows and snowcapped peaks. The park's 373,120 hectares (922,000 acres) include numerous hiking trails that stretch from moist, mossy, and leafy valleys up to jagged mountain peaks that hold snow into summer. Anglers cast their lines into some of the hundreds of lakes and streams that hold 37 species of fish, including coho, chinook, and sockeye salmon, while birders try to spot a few of the 250 species, including blue grouse, belted kingfisher, warblers, woodpeckers, kinglets, and sparrows. Tide pools hold colorful life forms, such as green anemones and purple starfish, while gray whales appear off the coast from March to May, and black bears, cougars, and elk roam the park's interior year-round. The lower elevations of the park remain snow-free through winter--the extra moisture during the rainy season brightens the forest's greenery.