Exploring: Beyond Gig Harbor

“We were voyagers!”   – Moana

If you, like me have kids or pay attention to kid stuff than you’re probably familiar with the Disney film Moana that came out a few years ago.   In the movie, an island princess discovers the roots of her family.   The tribe lives a comfortable and safe existence on their idyllic island, enjoying the bounty of their tropical home, until something starts destroying the trees and fish.   Moana finds divine courage to look beyond the shores of her protected land and summons the experiences of her ancestors who used to roam the seas as voyagers.   She taps into that energy to explore and save her people. Well, I get it Moana. Same. Totally! Ok, not quite, but I do love a good day trip!  

While I absolutely love kicking it around The Harbor, and you’ll find me and my kiddos often down in Skansie park or enjoying the restaurants and business our little downtown is home to – the summer is my most favorite season to hop in the car and drive! To keep on going to see where we land for the day, to explore and drift through the day, appreciating new as well as familiar areas nearby.  Occasionally we just pick a compass direction and head that way, always prepared with snacks, water and maybe a couple towels.   We’re more than lucky to live in a naturally gorgeous area that boasts mountains, beaches and forests aplenty.

Gig Harbor is considered the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula which comprises the northwest corner of Washington state.   This area of the PNW boasts some amazing areas for hiking, beaches for exploring and a few quirky towns clamoring for you to wander through and enjoy.   Here’s my family’s list of favorite day trips near our neck of the woods.  Our day trips typically include some outdoor activities and treats.  And I’m certain all these areas have lots to draw your attention, but we mainly strive for a good walk, pretty views and sweets!

Port Townsend  

This is hands down one our favorites, and we always stumble onto something new to love about this funky little town and surrounding area!  The little over an hour drive from Gig Harbor, winds you through farms and over the Hood Canal bridge (which occasionally opens for nuclear submarines or other large ships to pass through, so check the DOT) with awesome stops along the way.  Right at this point in the journey, you could also veer to the right and go discover Kingston or Port Gamble, also fun destinations!  If you haven’t checked out Chimacum, a blink and you’ll miss it type location, I highly recommend grabbing some local veggies and snacks at Chimacum Market .   And if you desire a chill afternoon or evening hanging out in a stunning farm setting, put Finn River Cider on your list of must dos! They have a fabulous selection of ciders as well as food trucks to sample from and often host musicians and events!  Another 20 minutes down the road, you’ll find Port Townsend.   This historic town features a ferry terminal (you could head to Whidbey Island, another absolute favorite!), eclectic shopping galore, a wide variety of restaurants and water views for days.   Because we’re a little one note, Elevated Ice Cream is always on our list! Just a few minutes outside of town, Fort Worden state park contains historic bunkers for exploring (perhaps seeing who in the family is most afraid of dark, enclosed spaces!), a lighthouse and sandy beaches for playing.   If you’d like to head up to Port Townsend sans kiddos, my favorite for an adult day or weekend indulgence is a mineral bathhouse experience at Soak on the Sound and an exceptional meal at Finistere. 

Sequim.

About an hour and half drive from Gig Harbor, the charming town of Sequim boasts natural beauty and a bit of a reprieve from the rainier Washington weather, as it sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains. The added sunshine makes the conditions just right for one of Sequim’s specialties – lavender farms!  And this week is a perfect time to visit this little berg on the Olympic Peninsula as the Lavendar festival celebrating the height of lavender season is this weekend July 15-17. Although the beauty and bounty of the lavender lasts the summer.  When not heading to Sequim just for lavender, our other favorite destination for exploring is Dungeness Spit park – kid friendly paved hike down to a rocky and sandy beach with a 5 mile long spit to explore while enjoying views expanding through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.   If you’d like a treat with a local farm experience, check out Dungeness Valley creamery which sells local raw milk and other dairy items, including ice cream! If you’re feeling like a bit more to eat, a favorite dining option we’ve enjoyed, Nourish Sequim features organic & local products with a beautiful scenic setting.    One other Sequim area adventure, perhaps too much for kiddos, is a hike to Lake Angeles, it’s a booty kicker, but a breathtaking secluded mountain lake is your reward after an 8 mile hike with an elevation gain of 2400 feet!

Vashon Island  

Although this sweet island isn’t part of the Olympic Peninsula, just a Puget Sound gem, it is a fabulous destination via ferry! And seriously, a ferry ride is a great PNW way to explore with kiddos.   The trip to Vashon can begin in Port Orchard or Tacoma.   If you go from the Tacoma side, added bonus, factor in some play time at Point Defiance park with awesome slides in the Dune park right next to ferry waiting area.   Once on the island, we make a beeline for Vashon Island Baking Company.  I don’t like to waste my time on run of the mill donuts and muffins – this shop offers phenomenal quality baked goods. I can never decide between lemon bars or something chocolate, so I go ahead and get both!  With goodies in hand, we love to wander down the lane to the Giraffe gift and décor shop.   This little fair trade market highlights products from around the world with a spectacular assortment of spices and specialty salts.  Filled up on baked goods, we head across the island to Point Robinson Park, with a lovely short walk down to the beach and lighthouse.  If we need to burn off a little more energy and want to cruise around more of the island, we like to make a stop at Dockton Park featuring a playground and dock.  

Exploring the PNW is delightful, even as a native to the area!  Hopefully your summer is filled with adventures near and far and shared with those you love!   I’d love to hear about your favorite locales, I’m always looking for a reason to put my voyager desires in action!

Take care!

Lindsay