In the past few years, the world has come to know what locals have known for years: Port Townsend is a special place for both visitors and residents alike. Publications from around the world and the interwebs have been talking about PT and it’s unique blend of maritime heritage, artist spirit, and urban chic. Here’s a sampling of recent accolades:

Port Townsend In the News

Top 10 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in the USA – TheCultureTrip.com – May 2015

20 Best Towns to Visit in 2015 – Smithsonian Magazine – May 2015

10 Most Beautiful Towns in Washington – TheCultureTrip.com – March 2015

20 US Cities for an Affordable Valentine’s Day – CouponsDaily.com – February 2015

11 Most Romantic Small Towns – SmarterTravel.com – February 2015

14 Best Small Cities for a First Date – DatingAdvice.com – February 2015

Top 10 Foodie Towns to Retire – Huffington Post – December 2014

Top 10 Best Beach Town Bargains for Fall – Budget Travel – October 2014

10 Most Unique Historic Lodgings in the US – Huffington Post – September 2014

One of America’s Best Small Towns – Globe & Mail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada – July 2014

Top 10 Best Small Towns in America – Fodor’s Travel – June 2014

Top 10 Best Small Beach Towns for Retirees – CBS News – May 2014

12 Best Places for a Family Vacation – MSN – March 2014

One of the Best Main Streets in the US – Huffington Post & Fodor’s Guide – January 2014

Best 4 Small Towns for Retirement – USA Today – November 2013

Top 10 Best Beach Bargains – Budget Travel & Yahoo Travel – August 2013

Top 10 Best Places to Retire, if you’re a Boater – Boat US – May 2013

One of the Most Romantic Getaways in Washington – USA Today – February 2013

Top 10 Most Quirky Places to Retire – AARP Magazine – February 2013

Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America – Budget Travel, Fox News, NBC News, Yahoo Travel

– September 2012

Join us for Port Townsend’s “community holiday” celebration May 9-17!

80th Annual Rhododendron Festival
May 9-17, 2015
Learn more at www.RhodyFestival.org or www.RhodyRun.com

Wednesday, May 13

• 6pm Trike Race begins

Thursday, May 14

• 4:30pm Pet Parade begins and the Funtastic Carnival opens at Memorial Field

Friday, May 15

• 3:30pm Kiddie Parade begins with the Navy Band NW Concert to follow
• 6:30pm Bed Races begin

Saturday, May 16

• 1pm Rhody Festival Grand Paradewith a Cake Picnic to follow

Sunday, May 17

• 11am Rhody Run XXXVII begins

Celebrate Olympic Peninsula Artisan Foods and Makers May 23-24, 2015 with classes, chefs demos, tastings, tours, author talks, and more.

SATURDAY

9-3pm at the Port Townsend Farmers Market.

One of the largest small town markets in the nation. Winner of Washington State’s first ever Farmers Market of the Year award. Over 70 regular vendors featuring: a broad array of organic produce, pastured beef, chicken, eggs, line caught salmon, artisan and farmstead cheeses, jams, breads, pastries, ciders, wine, beer, herbs, honey, clams, woodfired pizzas, raw foods, flowers, coffee, lavender, soap, pottery, handmade clothing, art, felt goods, music and much more. Plus special guest vendors: Alpenfire Cider, Chimacum Valley Dairy, Sol Foods, more.

10-5pm Artisan Food Making Classes
Register for Classes Now with the Cedar Root Folk School! In the Port Townsend community Center 10am -5pm.

• Hard cider with Finnriver’s head cider-ologist Andrew Byers,
• Fresh Cheesemaking with award winning Mystery Bay Farm cheesemaker Rachael VanLaanen
• Breadmaking secrets with Pane D’Amore’s head baker Gabe D’Amore
• Krauts and Kimchi with Midori farm’s master fermenter Marko Colby
• Pickling vegetables with Mama’s Harvest’s Kayla Boyd
• A master class in culinary herbs with Chef Arran Stark.

All Day: Meet the Authors, Buy the Books! 
Seattle-based Sasquatch Books, one of the nation’s leading independent publishers, with topselling books on food&wine, travel, and gardening, will feature a number of their food books and authors at the farmers market on Saturday. Jennifer Adler is a nutritionist and whole foods advocate whose business and book are titled Passionate Nutrition. She will be share tips and techniques for getting more foraged foods into your diet. “This power-foods healthy-living guidebook will inspire readers to eat well, lose weight, and embrace food as medicine. “Food as medicine” is a powerfully healing way to eat and was embraced by nutritionist Jennifer Adler as she recovered from a malnour­ished childhood and adolescence. Part cookbook, part handbook for healthy living and eating, and part memoir, Passionate Nutrition provides digestible information, tips, and techniques for how to find your way to optimal health. She focuses on abundant eat­ing (as opposed to restrictive eating), and explores what she calls “the healthy trinity”—digestion, balance, and whole foods.”

SUNDAY

Artisan Food Tour
Visit our local food artisans at their facilities. Start in historic Port Townsend and head out into the wild Olympic Peninsula our at least the farms of Jefferson County. 10am- 4pm. Tour Itinerary:

• Port Townsend Food Co-op
• Mt. Townsend Creamery- tours only 10am, 11, 12, and 1pm on the hour.
• Lullabye Winery
• Alpenfire Cider
• SpringRain Farm 10-2 tours on the hour
• Chimacum Corner Farmstand
• Finnriver Farm and Cider
• Marrowstone Vineyards
• Eaglemount Wine and Cider
• Hama Hama Seafood