Fall is the perfect time to relax and enjoy the changing weather and scenery on the Olympic Peninsula. Most of Washington is in Phase 2 of the State’s phased approach to re-opening, and as such, masking up and the governor’s safety guidelines are still being followed. As socially distant activities are now the new norm, here are some recreation options in Port Townsend for those looking to stay safe and close to home and experience a Port Townsend Staycation!

The city is home to many agritourism opportunities perfect for the chilly days of fall!

Port Townsend Vineyards has three wine facilities in the city: The Vineyard on Portuguese Hill, The Winery and the Vintage Wine Bar and Plaza. Each showcases a different aspect of Port Townsend Vineyards, and immerses visitors in the sights, tastes and sounds of the wine making process all while maintaining social distancing and offering a safe experience for visitors.

Another local winery is Eaglemount Wine and Cidery. Eaglemount hosts a tasting room, event space and inn on 12 acres of farm and woodland. They offer wide selections of wines, ciders and meads all crafted at their production facility.

The Port Townsend Farmers Market is another popular local attraction that features locally-sourced, fresh grown produce. The Market happens on Saturdays in the Uptown area of Port Townsend and features local farmers, food vendors and crafts people. The Farmer’s Market has adapted to the new safety guidelines by not only masking up, but have implemented new safety procedures such as hourly surface cleaning, maintaining six feet of space between vendor stalls and patrons and have limited the amount of people that can be at the market at one time.

Port Townsend is also home to numerous fun and educational activities for all ages! The Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s museum and aquarium are open by reservation. The staff is prepared to show you the marine life in their tanks and discuss the orca skeleton hanging from the ceiling! The orca skeleton, named Hope, is one of only six fully articulated whale skeletons on display in the United States!

The Marine Science Center also partners with Puget Sound Express for a Thanksgiving cruise! The three hour cruise departs from Point Hudson Marina and features naturalists and volunteer cruise hosts from the Marine Science Center as cruise hosts. They discuss local birds, mammals, geology and weather.

When its time to wind down in the evening, consider some of these fantastic local hot spots.

The Pourhouse is located on the beach of Port Townsend Bay. It offers a relaxed environment with beautiful waterfront views. Their Beer Garden, the outdoor “Impound Lot” is a great place to relax and sip in a socially distant outdoor environment.

Another popular option is Sirens Pub. Siren’s offers delicious food and eleven micro brews on tap. In the winter months Sirens heats up the fireplace and provides a cozy atmosphere to sip and relax in a socially distant environment.

Now is a great time for a safe vacation in your own backyard. Explore the familiar, but also be on the lookout for new experiences!

If you are wondering, “What is open in Port Townsend? What can I do there? Are there hotel, restaurant, and camping options?” The answer is you have a number of options! Now is the perfect time to plan your future getaway to Port Townsend.

Some of our businesses are open and more will be opening as our area moves to Phase 3. In the coming weeks as more businesses open up, we ask for your help in keeping our community safe & healthy by masking up and practicing social distancing as you enjoy our extraordinary area.

If getting out for some exercise while staying healthy is on your wish list, Port Townsend has plenty of options for exploring open spaces as travel restrictions are lifted.

Port Townsend is a great place to kick-off your visit to the Olympic National Parks! Start here to warm-up on trails and enjoy some delicious local food and experiences before heading to the national park.

The Larry Scott trail offers many different views of our beautiful city; you can take in stunning views of the ocean, see the boats moored at Boat Haven, and explore quiet, forested stretches of trail, by foot, bike or with a four-legged companion.

As the city has a working maritime waterfront, there are many options for enjoying the water. Kayak along the shoreline and view the cityscape from a unique angle, stroll along the beach at the Point Wilson Light House, or just enjoy the stunning views of the Straits of Juan de Fuca at Fort Worden.

If you are local and a “staycation” is in your plans, our agricultural community is providing fresh farm-to-table food! There are many options to safely get delicious food sourced from the surrounding area. The Jefferson County Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday with upgraded safety standards and social distancing. The Food Co-op also provides fresh local food available for parking lot pick up.

The health and safety of our residents and visitors is one of our highest priorities. The City of Port Townsend, Jefferson County, business owners, employees, and visitors have adopted the JeffcoCARES pledge to highlight the care and commitment we have in keeping the community safe. It’s the perfect way join the community as we all work together to keep everyone healthy. When we are all free to travel in a safe and healthy way and open all our businesses, this vibrant community will be here to welcome you! Check out the video and our social media sites from the comfort of your home and be inspired by all you can do in Port Townsend. Start planning and dreaming up your future trip!

JeffcoCARES Pledge

As businesses we pledge:

• To demonstrate to our staff and community that we care about them and their families.
• To commit to the most up-to-date training and protocols that ensure safe and healthy “best practices” for business.
• To wear masks, maintain social distancing, and provide sanitary facility conditions that meet or exceed those suggested by the Washington State and Jefferson County Departments of Health.
• To treat all customers and clients with respect in each Phase of economic recovery.

As customers, clients, shoppers, residents, and visitors we pledge:

• To educate ourselves about “best practices” for a safe and healthy economic recovery – posted along with this pledge in all participating businesses.
• To respect businesses, workers, and community guidelines for health and wellness.
• To wear masks, maintain social distancing, and wash our hands often.
• To treat each other kindly and without judgement.

We are all in this together!

March is here and it brought Spring with it! Hopefully sunny weather is around the corner, but if not, the city of Port Townsend’s got you covered. The month is full of indoor and outdoor activities; rain or shine, we have something for everyone!

Key City Public Theater is leading the charge with new offerings for their Playfest 24. A new works showcase, the festival runs from March 6-15 and features one act plays from local playwrights and showcases performances that are being workshopped by regionally and nationally-known playwrights. The fest has performances, open rehearsals, discussion panels and workshops. It’s a fantastic way to get an inside look at the inner workings of play production!

Vinyl will live forever! On March 7, the Port Townsend Record Show is being held at the American Legion Hall. Featuring over 30 vendors, the hall is going to be stuffed to the brim with LPs, tapes, cds and collectibles. DJs will be spinning vinyl all day at the event. Come kick out the jams!

The Victorian Festival is on March 20-22. This year’s festival will focus on the years of “Great Expectations” in Port Townsend, when business was booming, the sailing ship was king and citizens were sure Port Townsend would be the ‘key city’ gateway to Puget Sound. The festival will feature lectures by local Victorian experts, the Chrismans, a tour of the Schooner Martha and an exploration of the Victorian’s fascination with the macabre at the Starrett House.

Most people don’t need any kind of encouragement to go fishing, but the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby is offering a $10,000 prize to whoever catches the biggest salmon!  The event runs from March 13-15 and happens on the water from Port Angeles to Port Ludlow. Other prizes include four $500 mystery fish. What other reasons do you need to get on the water?

Looking to hear some good yarns for a great cause? She tells Sea Tales is an evening of stories told by  women mariners in support of the Girls Boat Project, a project at the Northwest Maritime Center for girls between 12-18. The Girls Boat Project students learn all sorts of maritime skills, on and off the water. They learn woodworking and boatbuilding techniques in the fall and longboat techniques in the spring. The story event is March 14 at the Northwest Maritime Center at 7 p.m.

Don’t miss these upcoming events in Port Townsend:

April 2 – May 2, 2020
KCPT: Always Patsy Cline

April 6
PT Farmer’s Market Opens

April 20
PT Mainstreet Earth Day Spring Clean Up

April 24-25
Port Townsend Film Festival: Woman & Film

April 25-26
Northwest Wine & Cheese Tour