Next up in our One Day series is an itinerary for Kitsap!
Where to Stay:
If you guests can’t stay with you, the Best Western Plus in Silverdale is centrally located to most of the spots to visit in Kitsap in addition to being only 15 minutes from base! Poulsbo Inn and Suites is walkable to the waterfront area in Poulsbo. There are also many AirBnBs around Kitsap especially if you are interested in a waterview or have a large number of family members visiting.
Morning: Poulsbo
Start your day with donuts! There is a great debate in Kitsap County over which bakery has the best donuts. Larry & Kristi’s Bakery is located in Bremerton’s Manette neighborhood right on the water or if you are further north Sluy’s Bakery in Poulsbo is another great place to try! In Silverdale Lone Star Donuts just opened not to long ago and even has a military discount. You can’t go wrong with the apple fritters!
If you are looking for a family friendly sit down breakfast I highly recommend Oak Table Cafe in Silverdale. This family owned local restaurant has an enormous menu with HUGE portions! The strawberry blintzes are my favorite!
Now that you have everyone well fed, I would walk off the meal in downtown Poulsbo along Front Street. There are lots of small shops to peruse including bookstores, galleries, antique shops and more. The Dancing Brush is a paint your own ceramics studio where you pick out a plain piece of pottery then can select from a multitude of paints to pick from to decorate the piece, then it can be picked up in a day or two.
If shopping or browsing isn’t your groups idea of fun there’s a lovely trail that begins at the Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park pavilion and follows the water and ends at a small park called American Legion Park that has a small playground and beach access if your are willing to use a old log as your staircase. If you walk down to the SEA Discovery Center you can touch sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins along with learning about all of the sea life in Puget Sound. It is free with a suggested small donation. The SEA Discovery Center is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. After visiting the aquarium you can walk down Fjord Drive NE along the water to Lion’s Park that has tennis/ pickle ball courts along with a Viking themed playground with public bathrooms.
Afternoon: Hikes or Museums
If your guests wan to enjoy Pacific Northwest nature, head over to Uleland Tree Farm in Bremerton! This is a great place for a long walk or hike. There is a short loop 1.6 mile loop (Dickerson Falls) that brings you to a waterfall. It’s fairly flat and stroller friendly until you reach the descent to the falls. The longest loop (Zach’s Lookout) where on a clear day you have a beautiful view of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains.
For other local hikes, check out these outdoor destinations on Bainbridge Island, or these kid-friendly recommendations here and here.
If the afternoon is rainy and you are looking for an indoor activity, check out the United States Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport right between Silverdale and Pouslbo. Admission is free! It is not open currently on Tuesdays or Thursdays. There is an exhibit dedicated to the ballistic missile submarines or “boomers” which is excellent to help family and friends better understand what a “patrol” is all about. There is also a “family learning area” that is kid friendly. They often have specific ocean and STEM projects for kids.
Another option is the Great Escape Kitsap in Silverdale. The business is an “escape room” or timebound immersive adventure experience. You have one hour to crack the puzzle based on the clues in the room you select for your adventure.
Evening:
Before dinner you can have happy hour at the State 42 Tasting Room in Poulsbo, then walk to The Loft at Latitude Forty Seven Seven for dinner. If you’re in Bremerton, check out Khao Soi, a thai restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining in Manette. Other area favorites include Silver City Brewery, Axe & Arrow Gastropub and Boat Shed.
Other ideas:
- Bainbridge Island. Grab coffee and baked goods at Blackbird Bakery or Pegasus Coffee House. Work up an appetite and stroll the shops along Winslow Way, our favorites include Eagle Harbor Book Co., Plum, Milstream Bainbridge, Island Life Artisan Gifts, Calico Toy Shoppe and so many others. Go wine tasting at half a dozen wineries and tasting rooms or Bainbridge Brewing. Stretch your legs at the Bloedel Reserve or a number of hikes on the island. Grab dinner before you head home!
- Port Gamble. If your friends or family have visited other cities on this list, consider exploring Port Gamble! The unincorporated community sits on the northwestern shore of the Kitsap Peninsula. If you’re outdoorsy, explore the Port Gamble Heritage Park for great hiking and biking trails. If you prefer to get on the water, rent kayaks at Olympia Outdoor Center. For a beach experience, drive over to nearby Point No Point Lighthouse & Park. Stop on over at the beloved Port Gamble General Store & Cafe for fun trinkets and sourveniors. The cafe in the back also has delicious sandwiches, soups, salads and ice cream! Poke around a few other shops in the town square. If you have a bigger appetite, try Butcher & Baker Provisions or scratch kitchen.
- Port Orchard. Enjoy the farm and have a beer at Yoked Farmhouse Brewery. They have many places to sit outside and in along with a playground for kids to enjoy. Following the brewery have dinner at the Whiskey Gulch. The Bremerton Foot Ferry is an option to have a ferry experience without going to Seattle. The ferry goes from Port Orchard to Bremerton for a roundtrip cost of $2. For more Port Orchard ideas, click here.
- Seattle. Stay tuned for a seperate blog post on one day in Seattle!
Let’s us know what you would add to our list of ideas for a day in Kitsap! If you have more than one day, be sure to check out our other blog posts: an itinerary for Olympic National Park, Mt. Rainier, indoor rainy play for kids, our favorite wineries, and other great regional day trips.