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City in Washington, United States
Photo: Carol Baldwin, NOAA OMAO, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Gig Harbor is a city on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound of Washington State, just across the dramatic Tacoma Narrows Bridge from Tacoma, making it the southern gateway to the Kitsap Peninsula and the Olympic Peninsula. This tucked-away town sits on a scenic inlet framing a postcard-perfect view of Mount Rainier. Gig Harbor's strong Scandinavian and Croatian heritage has always influenced its nautical lifestyle and fishing-village character. Today specialty shops, creative boutiques, art galleries and waterfront restaurants add to its appeal and make it a wonderful get-away.
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Experience the history of the Gig Harbor Peninsula including its maritime industries and even a well preserved school house.
At only 15 ft tall, this is certainly one of the smaller lighthouses in the region but nonetheless plays an important role in marking the opening to Gig Harbor.
A 109-acre marine park with 5,600 feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. One portion of the park, Cutts Island (or "Deadman's Island") is a half mile from shore and reachable only by boat.
A great place to see the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. On a clear day, Mount Rainier will be in the background to the east, beyond the waterway.
Rent a kayak, canoe or pedal boat to explore the harbor and beyond.
Harbor tours, sightseeing, charters and eco tours of Tacoma Narrows Bridges, Gig Harbor, Salmon Beach, Point Defiance, Thea Foss Waterway and the Port of Tacoma.
This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to visit including several close to Gig Harbor such as The Narrows Park which is a safe haven at the midpoint of the Tacoma Narrows. At night it's great to watch the vehicle lights on the Narrows Bridges from the serenity of the park. The white dome of Mt. Rainier is visible over Tacoma, especially on moonlit evenings.
This protected marine area is considered one of the best shore accessible diving areas in Puget Sound. Known for its many friendly wolf eels and its 25 ft high rugged rock wall that runs along the shoreline for about 200 ft. There are also sightings of giant Pacific octopus, ratfish, copper, brown, and quillback rockfish, lingcod, greenlings, many varieties of sculpins, green sea urchins, scallops, rock sole, starry flounder, countless sea stars, warbonnets, gunnels, and different varieties of nudibranchs.
A designated conservation area on the shores of Fox Island just south of Gig Harbor that is well-known to regional scuba divers. A variety of fishes typically associated with rocky habitats congregate at the site and in such quantities that are unusual for southern Puget Sound. The dominant fishes include copper rockfish, brown rockfish, and quillback rockfish. Other common fishes include lingcod, kelp greenling, painted greenling, wolfeel, and striped seaperch. Pregnant rockfishes are observed at the site during the spring indicating that at least some fishes use the site for reproduction. Other marine organisms include sea stars, encrusting organisms such as giant barnacles, red sea cucumbers, shrimp, and red rock crabs. Seastars are common including sunflower seastar and gumboot chitons are also frequently observed.
This beach is mostly sandy substrate and littleneck clam habitat is limited. There is a small patch of mixed sand and gravel near the west end of the beach that may have some native littleneck clams and Manila clams, but they are probably not abundant. There are some butter clams and horse clams available on the sandy areas of this beach and there are some oysters available on this beach.
Open year-round for clam and oyster fishing. Colvos Passage Marine Preserve lies south of the County Park. Marine preserve restrictions do not apply within Sunrise Beach County Park.
18-hole public golf course, reasonably priced and well maintained.
This restaurant has been a local institution for many years. The smoke-free, 21 & over (it's a bar in the Washington State Liquor Control Board's eyes) environment is set on pilings over the harbor and is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine or beer, a tasty meal from an extensive menu. Perfect for kicking back, while looking the Sound wildlife, boat traffic, and locals coming in and out of The Tides.
Part of a chain of seafood restaurants in the Puget Sound area, the Gig Harbor location is one of the jewels in the chain's crown. Fairly upscale seafood fare shares the menu with traditional beef, chicken, and salad items. The restaurant's location is fantastic. at the head of the harbor with a drop-dead gorgeous view of the marinas, the homes clinging to the sides of the hill, and Mount Rainier. A bar downstairs features happy hour 1/2 price appetizer options and the same spectacular view.
While this local favorite doesn't have a view of any sort or even a very nice structure to call home, the menu and presentation is fantastic. Meals are exquisitely prepared and feature daily specials. The fare is primarily continental with a Northwest twist. Expect halibut, salmon, some shellfish, along with a filet mignon, or a duck breast on the menu most nights. Their wine selection is impressive and has won several awards, including the 2008 Washington Wine Restaurant of the Year.
The Pacific Northwest's premier Destination Distillery. Free samples of custom made spirits - whiskey, gin and vodka. Plus, the first and only Craft Distillery in the US to offer patent-pending programs for customers to legally make their own distilled spirits and/or have them custom aged to individual specifications.
One of the newest and most well known choices. The Inn features upscale lodging close to the city center with many amenities within the hotel. The construction is of a Northwest lodge style. One of the drawbacks to this lodging, though, is its location. It is a bit outside of the loop for exploring the area by foot and is set right against busy Highway 16.
This small hotel is Gig Harbor's only major lodging choice right along the waterfront. Rooms have fireplaces and many enjoy views of the harbor.
Not your typical Best Western. This is quite a nice lodging choice perched above the center of the town, convenient to some restaurants and freeway access. Rooms are nicely appointed including some with fireplaces and bay windows.
A small B&B right on the water. This is a perfect spot from which to explore this maritime village. The Inn was built in 1918 as a private residence and retains much of its exterior charm. There are three rooms in the waterfront area and three "Captain's Quarters" rooms that are not waterfront. Each room is outfitted with modern conveniences and is clean and uncluttered, unlike so many B&Bs.
Fresh flowers, produce, plants, baked goods, food, handmade crafts, expert advice from master gardeners, a kids' tent, free guitar lessons, live entertainment.
One of three bookstores in downtown Gig Harbor, No Dearth of Books specializes in unique local interest books: maritime fiction & travel accounts, boating know-how, military, naval & aviation history, and the Pacific Northwest. The store also stocks a wide range of other genres, from classics to recent bestsellers.
Olympic Towne Center hosts Fred Meyer, PetsMart, Ocean 5 & Table 47, AutoZone, Gadget Fix and other numerous other shops, banks & restaurants in the mall and in the immediate surrounding areas not part of the mall (Harbor Greens Supermarket, Les Schwab, Anytime Fitness, etc). Unlike a traditional mall where everything is under one big roof, in a single building, this mall consists of several smaller buildings spread further out from each other in a huge parking lot.
Point Fosdick Square hosts Safeway, Kohl's, Galaxy Theatres, Marshalls, Multi-Care Medical Center and numerous other shops, banks & restaurants in the mall and in the immediate surrounding areas not part of the mall (Moctezuma Restaurant, Mud Bay Pet Supplies, among others) along Point Fosdick Dr between Olympic Dr & Harbor Country Dr. Unlike a traditional mall where everything is under one big roof, in a single building, this mall consists of several smaller buildings spread further out from each other in a huge parking lot.
By boat
By bus
The major bus stations in Gig Harbor for Pierce Transit (Rt #100 & 101) and Sound Transit Rt #595 are Kimball Dr Park & Ride (near downtown at Kimball Dr, off of the Pioneer Way Exit from Hwy 16),…
By plane
The nearest airport for commercial passenger flights is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) (SEA).
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Tacoma · Regional · TIW
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