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Just one of the marinas in Port Townsend that will welcome you and your crew this boating season.
Words by Steve Fennell
Port Townsend is a true boating destination. Rich maritime history, welcoming marinas, and outdoor recreation all combine to make this Pacific Northwest community a popular area to visit among transient cruisers. It’s a convenient stop if you’re cruising north from Seattle or south from the San Juan Islands and where you can refuel, stock up on supplies, and discover new attractions with every trip.
Located on the northeast corner of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, the city is hard to miss. The Port of Port Townsend dominates the southeast region of the shore and is home to two marinas, the Boat Haven and Point Hudson.
The Boat Haven is the largest of the two with 400-plus slips and can accommodate a maximum LOA of 30 m (100′ ft). Transient moorage is available and services include power, water, showers, and laundry facilities. Two pump-out stations, gas/diesel and 70-, 75- and 330-ton travel lifts are on site.
The Point Hudson Marina is just as accommodating with 32 slips, 243 m (800 ft) of linear dock space and many similar amenities as the Boat Haven. Keep in mind that guest moorage varies throughout the summer but reservations are accepted for vessels up to 21 m (70 ft). It also has a popular beachfront RV park and a boatyard.
The marina and RV park are currently taking reservations for 2023 and can be made online by visiting www.PortofPT.com. Other boat moorings can be found at the Union Wharf and City Dock downtown.
Several additional marine trades are located nearby if you need specialty parts, or boat and engine repairs/service. This entire waterfront is also a gateway to many downtown attractions and summer events.
Some might even say that boating and summer tourism drive this exciting port of call and you would be ‘missing out’ if you didn’t experience some or all of its exciting attractions. Here are five that should be on your list when visiting Port Townsend this season.
1. Downtown Port Townsend
A boating destination is just extra enjoyable when a marina is so close to its downtown district. When you pull into the Port of Port Townsend, groceries, numerous dining options, and even pubs and local craft breweries are within easy walking distance from both marinas.
While Point Hudson is immediately adjacent to the historic downtown, the Boat Haven is about a 10-minute walk or five-minute bike ride. Taxi and Uber services are also available.
Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau
Shopping - and of course dining - provides a great break from the water.
What’s special about downtown Port Townsend, however, are its shops and specialty stores. Stylish clothiers like the Mad Hatter and Co. or Expressions, and antique shops like Magpie Alley - to name only a few - are what make Port Townsend unique to avid shoppers.
The dining is impressive, too, and where you can sample a variety of local farm-to-table restaurants or sip a skinny latte with a fresh pastry at one of the trendy cafes. The options are so impressive that 10 Best by USA Today added Port Townsend to its list of Best Small Town Food Scenes in late 2022.
With more than 30 choices serving a variety of cuisines, many establishments are operated by award-winning chefs while craft brewers, winemakers, distillers and cider makers simply add to the downtown Port Townsend experience. For more information visit www.enjoypt.com.
2. Port Townsend Marine Science Center
Founded in 1982, The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is located downtown on Water St. and showcases the flora/fauna, and the marine habitat of the Salish Sea through aquariums, educational exhibits, and scheduled programs.
Ideal for all ages, the volunteer-based Marine Science Center acknowledges how adults and youth alike can respect the local marine environment; offers outdoor/indoor educational experiences; and partners with other organizations dedicated to the conservation of the Salish Sea. A store/gift shop (and online store) is also on site.
A second location is in Fort Worden State Park. It also houses a museum, an aquarium, educational displays, and a store. For more information visit www.ptmsc.org.
3. Fort Worden State Park
To see more of the natural attractions in Port Townsend, Fort Worden State Park spans 423 acres and is a multi-use park that has 3 km (2 mi) of shoreline on the Admiralty Inlet, which is the eastern end of the Strait where it enters Puget Sound.
The park was once an Army base in the early 1900s, and to recognize its past, there are a variety of historical sites including museums, batteries and other attractions to explore. It's ideal for the whole family.
If you want to enjoy boating and the water at the park, you’ll be in luck. Amenities include two launch ramps and 37 m (120 ft) of docking space as well as six mooring buoys.
However, activities are not just limited off its shore. The park has designated areas for mountain biking and approximately 13 km (8 mi) of hiking trails for all skill levels and abilities. Several picnic/day-use areas and a campground with 80 sites are also available.
Jason Hummel Photography
The Port Townsend Farmers Market is a great half-day attraction with many local vendors.
Throughout the summer, world-class music and a variety of genres can be heard at the park courtesy of Centrum, one of the nation's leading arts foundations. For instance, during the week, students of all ages perform publicly with master musicians while on weekends the master musicians take centre stage at the Wheeler Theater or the McCurdy Pavilion. Genres range from American Fiddle, Acoustic Blues and Jazz Chamber to Voice Works, Ukulele to Choro. For more information visit www.centrum.org and www.parks.wa.gov
4. Port Townsend Farmers Market
Outdoor markets are not unique to the BC Coast or the Pacific Northwest. However, the Port Townsend Farmers Market hosts numerous vendors and has been in operation since 1992, which says a lot about its popularity and selection of produce, meats, dairy, and local artisan products.
Hosted by the Jefferson County Farmers Markets, with a second location in Chimacum, it’s held on Saturdays at Tyler and Lawrence streets from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April to October and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. November to December. For more information visit www.jcfmarkets.org.
5. Wooden Boat Festival at Point Hudson
September 8-10, 2023, marks the annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, which is presented by the Northwest Maritime Center and is known as one of the largest boat shows of its kind in North America.
Reflecting Port Towsnend’s rich maritime culture and boat-building history, the Wooden Boat Festival showcases a variety of sleek, handcrafted classics and contemporary models built in the Pacific Northwest and from around the world.
From schooners to long boats, many models are exclusively chosen by the Wooden Boat Show Festival experts guaranteeing an impressive collection of exhibitors. Some even offer tours or sails. Kids’ activities, live entertainment, and special show events are scheduled. For more information visit www.woodenboat.org
Port Townsend is a classic Pacific Northwest boating destination with Victorian architecture, a friendly atmosphere, interesting history and a number of attractions. It will become a new favourite to visit every season as the community can always offer something exciting and unique.