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City in Washington, United States
Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Port Townsend is a city at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, in Washington, where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets the Puget Sound. In addition to its natural scenery, it is known for its Victorian architecture and thriving arts scene.
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On the National Historic Registry. Also one of the most haunted buildings in America.
Regularly-rotated exhibits of visual arts, as well as periodic readings, films, and performances.
The art galleries in town are all open late, providing refreshments and a chance to speak with the artists themselves.
On a bluff overlooking Port Townsend Bay stands a historic house built by Bavarian immigrant and businessman "Baron" Rothschild. The house has been largely unchanged since the 1800s, giving a glimpse into life from over a century ago.
A working city hall, court, with an old jail cell, various other historical exhibits, and an art gallery.
Movie theater.
Movie theater.
of woods and wetland that slope down to 70-acre Anderson Lake. The park offers picnicking, trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use, non-motorized boating, fishing, and birdwatching.
The largest wooden boat festival in North America. Tour, ride, or view a number of different boats. Live music and children's activities.
Showings of more than 100 films, along with interviews and panels with the people who made them.
A series of jazz concerts at Fort Worden.
An abandoned lighthouse, it is closed off, but still worth a look from the outside.
An organization devoted to understanding and conserving the marine and shoreline environment, it has a museum (on the shore) and aquarium (on the pier), and provides wildlife cruises and leads beach walks.
Preserves and interprets coast artillery history, with exhibits on the history of Fort Worden.
Art nonprofit that offers workshops and holds festivals and public performances.
Canteen
Formerly used to store electrical cable to control underwater mines, it's now a beach shack featuring fast food to go.
Great little place up the hill from the fountain with mostly organic foods. Reservations recommended.
Great pizza! Buy it by the slice or order a full pizza with all your favorites and dine upstairs in the funky atmosphere.
Really great Thai food, a favorite with the locals.
Japanese cuisine from its sister city.
Great atmosphere and is known for their exceptional seafood dishes.
Pub with local art exhibits and live music.
Artisan espresso with a cozy local feeling.
Bed and breakfast in an old Victorian mansion, whose name comes from the fact that the German Vice Consul used to reside here. A National Historic Landmark, it sits opposite the Jefferson County Courthouse, and overlooking Puget Sound.
Another bed and breakfast. But unlike the others in town, it is not Victorian, but Southern Colonial style. It has dual verandas that overlook the bay.
By public transit
Travelers make connections between Jefferson Transit buses at Haines P&R south of town. See schedules here.
By bus
By ferry
Washington State Ferries (WSF) operates the Port Townsend / Coupeville route, connecting Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula.
By bicycle
By public transit
Fares are $1.50 for a daily pass; $1.00 for seniors 60+, disabled, and youth 7-18; and free for children 6 and under. The most useful routes for visitors, running hourly, are:
By bicycle
By taxi
As of December 2020, ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft are banned, and not available.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Everett · Regional · PAE
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