Port Townsend

Standing on the northern tip of Quimper Peninsula—a point off the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula [1]—Port Townsend (pop. 9,000) is best known for its many excellent Victorian homes. Sandwiched between the perpetually snow-covered Olympic Mountains and the ship-filled Strait of Juan de Fuca [2], Port Townsend is a working town with much to see and explore. Many folks consider it one of the most interesting and beautiful towns in Washington.

Getting to Port Townsend

Parking can be a nightmare on summer weekends; avoid the hassles (and parking tickets) by parking at the Park & Ride (Haines Pl. and 12th St.); stop on the south side of town and hop aboard a Jefferson Transit (360/385-4777 or 800/773-7788, www.jeffersontransit.com [3]) bus, serving Port Townsend and Jefferson County.

Port Townsend is served directly by the Washington State Ferry (206/842-2345 or 888/808-7977, 800/843-3779 for automated information, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ [4]) from Keystone on the southwest side of Whidbey Island [5]. The ferries depart about every 50 minutes, and in summer cost $2.60 one-way for passengers and walk-ons, $11.15 one-way for car and driver, $0.50 extra for bikes.

P.S. Express (360/385-5288, www.pugetsoundexpress.com [6], $78 round-trip, bikes and kayaks $12 extra) provides passenger-only service between Port Townsend and Friday Harbor on San Juan Island [7]. The boat leaves Port Townsend daily April–October and takes you through Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca [2], where you’re likely to see seals, sea otters, and orcas.

Goodwin Aviation (360/531-1727) offers charter service to Sea-Tac Airport, Victoria, the San Juan Islands [8], and other Northwest destinations.