Fodor's Expert Review Fort Worden State Park Conference Center

The 330-acre Fort Worden, built as a late-19th-century gun emplacement to guard the mouth of Puget Sound, gained a new purpose when enterprising souls turned the spacious Victorian homes on Officers Row into some of the more memorable lodgings on the Olympic Peninsula. The charming houses are furnished with antique reproductions, and some have been recently renovated with new furniture. Besides the Officers Row choices, there are houses from the former NCO Row and assorted other duplexes, cottages, and loft apartments. Homes range from the one-bedroom Alexander's Cottage (built in 1883) to the recently remodeled 14-bedroom Reunion House that accommodates 29 and has a double kitchen. The old fort is a magical place for children, with an artillery museum, a marine science center, and a graceful old lighthouse. Dining options include a restaurant, pub, and beach snack shack that are open varied hours and days depending on the season.