USA TODAY’s 10Best travel experts carefully selected a list of the 20 notable small towns to visit for their culinary offerings around the country and polled their readers to decide on the best. The readers have spoken and narrowed it down to 10 winning destinations with “big food scenes with chef-driven restaurants, local flavors and plenty of variety, especially given their small size.” Port Townsend, WA won a spot on the list of “10 Best”.

“We are thrilled to see the restaurants in Port Townsend and the hard-working people who run them and work in them recognized for this award, particularly as it’s our first time being selected for this honor”, remarked Arlene Alen, Executive Director of  The Chamber of Jefferson County serving as the Destination Marketing Organization for the City of Port Townsend.

Complete information may be found at Best Small Town Food Scene Winners (2022) | USA TODAY 10Best

Congratulations to all these winning towns!

The Top Ten Winners are:

1. Abingdon – Virginia
2. Thibodaux – Louisiana
3. Lewisburg – West Virginia
4. Newberg – Oregon
5. Stillwater – Minnesota
6. Los Alamos – California
7. Port Townsend – Washington
8. Vail – Colorado
9. Traverse City – Michigan
10. Hammonton – New Jersey

Travel and Leisure magazine recently named Port Townsend as one of the Eleven Best Small Towns in Washington to explore!

“The breathtaking views and opportunities to see local wildlife like orcas are reason enough to visit Port Townsend, which juts out into into the whale-rich waters of Puget Sound, with jagged mountains fringing the horizon. But the destinations historic collection of ornate, Victorian-style buildings adds an element of enchantment and grandeur to the scenic backdrop. Many of these exquisitely crafted gems date back to the 19th century, and the walkable downtown and Uptown areas get visitors close to them. Along with friendly locals and fun, year-round events like farmers markets and film festivals, outdoor fun abounds in the form of boating, fishing, hiking and cycling in Fort Worden State Park.”

Read more – and let us know what you like exploring in PT!

With Jefferson Transit’s new Kingston Express Shuttle program, it’s easier than ever to explore the trails around Port Townsend and Jefferson County on bicycle!

The transit service has four stops, the Kingston Ferry Terminal, the Gateway Visitor Center, Four Corners Park and Ride and Haines Place Park and Ride in Port Townsend. You can utilize any one of these as a jumping off point for cycling adventures on the Peninsula, not to mention the amazing trails and pathways in Jefferson County. You can also return from any of these locations. The Express Shuttle is only $8 or $6 for youth under 18 and seniors.

The shuttle comes equipped with bike mounts, and using the shuttle allows visitors to lower their carbon footprint and experience Port Townsend and Jefferson County in a unique and exciting way!