Kingston WA

Kingston is located on the Olympic Peninsula and has a small population of 2,000 people. 

I love to take a short ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle or Edmonds to Kingston, and enjoy restaurants along it's beautiful main street!

It's especially lovely in summer with bright flower pot arrangements, tree-lined streets, and plenty of outdoor dining.

What can I do here?

Kingston is the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula, but there's also lots to do near here.

I only need to drive 10 minutes to get to the stunning Heronswood Garden. It's also a 20 minute drive to charming towns like Port Gamble and Poulsbo, or cool attractions like the Naval Undersea Museum and Point-no-Point Lighthouse.

I like quick visits to Kingston where I walk on the pedestrian ferry from Seattle, enjoy a meal in Kingston, then return later that day refreshed and relaxed. It's tree-lined streets are particularly beautiful in fall!

Where can I stay in Kingston WA?

Kingston's only hotel is the The Point Casino and Hotel, 10 minutes drive from the ferry terminal.  The other nearest hotels are 20 minutes away in Poulsbo. We've also found vacation homes to rent in Kingston, many with waterfront views. The waterview rentals also seem a bit cheaper here than other locations on the Olympic Peninsula.

5 best things to do in Kingston WA

1. Ride the Kingston ferry.

Washington State is blessed with an incredible ferry system. The ferry ride to Kingston definitely doesn't disappoint, with soaring views of the snowcapped Olympic Mountains.

If I don't want to drive, I take the 40-minute pedestrian only ferry from Seattle to Kingston (see schedule). If I need my car, then I take the 30-minute ferry from Edmonds to Kingston (see schedule).

2. Kingston restaurants on main street.

I remember the first time I drove off the ferry and arrived at Kingston's main street. I wasn't expecting much, but was super surprised to find two blocks of charming restaurants and shops. This was supposed to be a town I drove through to get to the Olympic Peninsula, but I instead found myself exploring the main street.

Both the The Grub Hut and Kingston Ale House have laid-back patio areas, where you can indulge in burgers and casual meals. Our family was especially impressed by the milkshake menu at The Grub Hut, with cool flavors like red velvet cake and butterscotch. 

There's three restaurants in Kingston with water views. Top of the list is J’aime Les Crepes which serves crepes, ice-cream and coffee. There are 30 sweet and savory choices for the crepes, but our kids' favorite was the strawberry with swiss dark chocolate!

We discovered more water views across the road at Sourdough Willy’s Pizzeria, with delicious New York, Sicilian and Detroit pizzas. The Kingston Ale House also has water views from its back deck.

3. Coffee in Kingston.

I decided to take a stroll down the main street towards the ferry, and discovered this cute kiosk for Aviator Coffees and Teas. I figure a lot of people get their coffee and pastries here before boarding the ferry. It also overlooks Mike Wallace Park on the waterfront, so you can grab your coffee and hang out down there.

On colder days my favorite coffee place in Kingston is Over the Moon. This celestial themed cafe has homemade burritos and quiche, and build your own sandwiches. There's lots of local art here and an overall friendly vibe. The back deck is also fun for watching the ferries.

4. Kingston ice-cream and bakery

It seems like everyone on Kingston's main street is walking around with an ice-cream in summer. Be sure to stop by Island Cool Icecream (above) which has 40 flavors to choose from, inside a sleek shop with plenty of seating.

We can never resist peeking inside this charming, blue cottage to see the latest offerings from the Sweet Life Cakery (above). This boutique bakery has it all, like seasonal pies, premium lemon cake, and chocolate cake with ganache filling.

5. Concerts at Mike Wallace Park

It's so nice to see the large grassed area at the waterfront Mike Wallace Park, overlooking the marina and ferry area.

After indulging in a big meal on main streat, I love strolling down to this park to watch the ferries glide across Puget Sound. Everything is beautifully maintained here, and you can see the locals take a lot of pride in their public spaces. This great space also brings the community together with summer concerts and a public market.

6. Check the events calendar.

It's great to see a community loaded up with year-round events, and Kingston WA certainly excels in this area. Take your pick of fun things to do, like Art in the Woods, the Wine & Brew Walk, Kites over Kingston, and the Kingston Cove Christmas (calendar of events).

7. Visit Saltair Beach Park

My family wanted to dip our feet in the water, so strolled down to Saltair Beach Park. We had to follow a zigzag path down the hill to get there, and easily found it north of the Kingston Ferry on First Avenue. It was lovely walking along the sandy beach while savoring views of Mt Rainier.

8.  Heronswood Garden

Heronswood Garden is an absolute gem, and only a 10-minute drive from Kingston. The best bit is the stunning formal garden, with hedges artfully laid out into geometric patterns. Another highlight is the re-creation of an 1800's forest logging camp, where the trail traverses logs, ferns, red cedar and wetlands.

9. My Girl Museum and Drive-In 

I discovered that this museum needs to be booked in advance, but would be great for a group celebration.

The My Girl Museum and Drive-In is basically a replica of a drive-in diner from the 1950's, complete with jukebox, classic cars, rock and roll memorabilia, and a gas station from 1957! You can also hit the dance floor for loads of fun, and check out the movie trailer that Elvis used! 

To add to the fun, the museum offers live music, catering, a bar tender, and Marilyn and Elvis impersonators.

Check hours.

10. Arness Roadside Camp

I'm always in search of the perfect viewpoint! My family was lucky enough to stumble upon the Arness Roadside Camp just a few minutes from downtown Kingston. We relaxed by watching the Kingston Ferry come and go, and sinking out feet into the sandy beach.

Parking in Kingston WA

It can get a bit frustrating finding parking in Kingston in summer, so take a look at this map to help you figure it all out.