Jon_Eric

I always hear great things about Seattle, half the world moved there etc, but I havent yet visited it. I'm thinking of summer as a great time to go. I realise Seattle is an extremely popular place to live, but is there a lot for a tourist? I've always wanted to visit Pt. Townsend too, but I am not sure if theres a lot there other than lots of B&B's? I almost always travel alone which tends to color my choices. Thanks

BTilke

Port Townsend has much more going for it than B&Bs (the B&Bs are one of the things I like least about PT--so many of them are full of kitsch). The local marine science center runs educational boat tours around the bay--in fairly small boats, you'll see tons of bird life, get up close to seals, etc. The Centrum program runs all kinds of workshops--its writers conference, for example, is world famous. Fort Worden, worth exploring on its own, is also the setting for music festivals and other events.
I think PT is one of the nicest places to visit for a solo traveler. People are friendly, it's a small town but with some "big city" amenities--sushi bars, little jazz clubs.
Check out www.ptguide.com And don't hesitate to contact the visitor's bureau (you can email them from the ptguide web site), tell them you're a single visitor, describe your interests and ask them what they recommend--you'll get personal service. Also, go to Sequim (pronounced Skwim), about 30 minutes away, and visit the lavender farms, maybe the llama farms, too.

Jon_Eric

Thanks BT! With SO many B&B's I figured it must be a popular place. Any thoughts on Manresa Castle as a lodging choice, seems very interesting? I'm almost certain I'll have to rent a car which will make exploring areas near P.T. easy. I imagine the whole peninsula is scenic and I plan to devote some time to Seattle as well.
What the best route from Seattle to P.T.
in summer, the ferries or to drive around? Thanks again!

BTilke

I've never stayed at Manresa Castle, but it seems a little bit off the beaten path--for a solo traveler, it might be more fun to be near Water Street, then you can walk back to your hotel after dinner and a few drinks, etc. The Swan Inn is very nice, check that one out.
I don't know the best route to get there from Seattle--we always drove up from Portland and then I lived in Sequim for a while...so we didn't have to deal with the Seattle traffic, car or ferry. Hopefully, Seattle experts will help you there.

mlc

Hi Jon. I highly recommend taking a ferry from downtown Seattle over to Bainbridge Island -some of the best views of the Seattle skyline you can get. Have your camera ready. Then drive over to nearby Poulsbo, a pretty little town on the water with a Scandanavian theme. From there, take the highway over the Hood Canal bridge to Pt. Townsend. Fort Worden has wonderful views across of the water and on a clear day, you get magnificant views of Mt. Baker. They also filmed parts of An Officer and a Gentleman at Ft.Worden, and there are some old gunnery ramparts still standing that you can explore. From there, I would highly recommend driving up to Hurricane Ridge (in between Pt. Angeles and Pt. Townsend) - incredible views into the Olympic Mountain Range and unforgettable vistas. There is a one-mile easy hiking trail that takes you from the parking lot up a hill that has great views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island. Speaking of the latter, you can also drive to Port Angeles and take a private ferry over to Victoria, a charming European-type Canadian city on Vancouver Island. I've lived in or near Seattle my whole life, so if you have any other questions, let me know.

lee

payant

check out the date of the wooden boat festival with the PT web site. Lots of interesting wooden sailing craft pay a call. be sure you dine Scandinavian in Poulsbo on your way. I found the walk on the great Dungeness spit more fun than Hurricane Ridge but then I live in the south end of the Olympics.
Port Townsend is a great walkaround town with some great bakeries for snacks.

BTilke

Although this thread is a little old, topping because the Wooden Boat Foundation, such a longstanding part of the PT community is in serious financial straits. Go to:
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Sec...rticleID=10095

Fodorite018

When we lived in the Seattle area we used to go to PT and stay at the Morgan Hill Guest Cottage (www.morganhilldesign.com then click on guest cottage). It is a small cottage that is up on a hill and the front patio has a clear view of the water and you can watch the ferries and other boats. The cottage itself is very nicely decorated...not too cutesy at all. It is small, and would be perfect for a single person. The owners leave a huge assortment of breakfast items as well as morning drinks in the refrigerator. The cottage is well equipped with wine glasses, etc. We were last there for an anniversary and it was so nice to sit out on the patio drinking wine and enjoying the views.