Port Townsend vacation rentals

Port Townsend is a charming historic village that sits on the northeastern tip of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, one of the most stunning parts of the state. There are numerous opportunities to explore the natural beauty of this area, including paddling along Point Wilson — and possibly lucking into a whale viewing, as orcas and gray whales migrate through the nearby Strait of Juan de Fuca. You can also hike or bike Fort Worden’s trails, skirting WWI and WWII defenses. In town, Victorian architecture abounds, thanks to Port Townsend’s origins as an international seaport. The town still harbors vessels at Boat Haven — the state’s only shipyard open to the public — and celebrates its maritime heritage at the Marine Science Center. Port Townsend is also a cultural hub. Many of the bars and restaurants here feature local beer, wine, spirits, cider, and even mead. You’ll find theater, live music, and art galleries in town too, including an art walk on the first Saturday of every month.

Visit between mid-July and late August for the most reliably dry, warm and sunny weather. By October, the temperature starts to cool. Expect more of the area’s 180 annual rainy days between then and the beginning of May.

Port Townsend salutes its rich beer scene with Strange Brewfest in early February and honors its seaport roots with the Victorian Heritage Festival in March. May brings celebrations of wearable art and also the Brinnon ShrimpFest nearby on the Hood Canal, 45 minutes south. In summertime, catch free dock concerts at Pope Marine Plaza and Jazz Port Townsend. In autumn you can catch the West Coast’s biggest wooden boat festival and October’s quirky Kinetic Sculpture Race, where human-powered vehicles tackle traversing sand, mud, and hills, and water.

Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

One of the planet’s longest sand spits sprawls 38 miles west of Port Townsend. To reach it, switchback down a forested bluff, then stretch your legs on the flat five-mile trek to an 1857 lighthouse. The refuge and nearby town of Sequim (“Sqwim”) — known for its lavender farms — make for excellent afternoon excursions from Port Townsend.

Mystery Bay State Park

The Chemakum people first harvested the abundant clams in this scenic spot 17 miles southeast of town. Today the sanctuary — on the western edge of Marrowstone Island — still delights visitors seeking shellfish and crabs (make sure to buy a license from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). Divers and paddlers will also appreciate this off-the-radar destination, which has six picnic tables with stunning vistas of the Olympic Mountains.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center

Fort Worden State Park harbors this museum and aquarium, along with two miles of coastline — a mix of sand, cobblestones, and dramatic glacial bluffs. The educational nonprofit showcases one of the few full orca skeletons on display in the country, along with exhibits about the Salish Sea ecosystem. In summertime, the center hosts naturalist-led beach walks and wildlife-viewing cruises, including jaunts to see tufted puffins.