A Strollable Seaport

Off to explore Port Townsend today in the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula. The character of today comes from it’s boom in the 1880’s and 90’s when it was a major seaport for fishing and timber. They have kept the old stone buildings and magnificent Victorian homes which give this strollable seaport it’s old time charm.

We parked on main street and walked past old preserved brick warehouses that act as shops, galleries and restaurants today. Wandering onto the pier at Admiralty Inlet we read the historical markers where steamers and traders arrived in the 1800’s. There’s plenty of history to absorb here.

Across the pier we watched them load the ferry boat that was going over to the Kitsap Peninsular across the Puget Sound. Exploring a side street we found the Silverwater Café and stopped for lunch. Then we continued our walk through the tree lined streets of town.

We drove up the steep hill to the “uptown area” overlooking Admiralty Inlet. Driving around the “uptown area” revealed several spectacular Victorian homes built between 1860 and 1900. Many of these are private but a few have been turned into B&B’s. The “uptown area” sits high on a cliff overlooking the wharf and main street. The sun has come out and the views are spectacular. Port Townsend is one of only three remaining Victorian seaports in the country and was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1976.

Leaving Port Townsend we headed back to camp. As we were having dinner Ken looked out the window to see a Blacktail Deer standing right next to our door eating dandelions. They are beautiful, but they are loosing their winter coats and they look like patchwork.

We watched TV and then off to bed to prepare for another day….

Pictures: Victorian homes (2), Port Townsend Main Street