Port Gamble

I'm always surprised by how many charming, small towns are just a short trip from Seattle!

One of my favorites is Port Gamble on the Olympic Peninsula. This former mill town has a picture-perfect main street that resembles a New England Village.

Think white picket fences, cute shops, and a magical, waterfront setting.

Is it worth the trip?

This teeny town packs in a lot of activities, and is enough for my family to explore in a day.

We start by browsing the gift shops full of treasures, then load up on ice-cream and souvenirs at the Port Gamble General Store.

Our favorite lunch spot is Butcher and Baker Provisions, with delicious burritos, grilled chicken sandwiches, and fresh baked goods like eclairs, cobblers and pies.

We then visit the local museum to learn about Port Gamble's fascinating past, and burn off some energy at the huge playground. On sunnier days I also rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore the local waterways.

How do you get to Port Gamble?

I take the 35 minute Bainbridge Island Ferry from Seattle, then drive 30 minutes north to Port Gamble. Accommodation is limited to the Port Gamble Guest Houses. but you can stay 35 minutes away at the Victorian seaport town of Port Townsend.

10 best things to do in Port Gamble

1. Visit the Port Gamble General Store.  

I always start my visit at the Port Gamble General Store, the heart and soul of the town. Locals have been coming here to shop and socialize since 1916.  We always get a bit of early holiday shopping in here each year. There's a huge selection of gifts like candles, toiletries, kitchenware and ornaments.

My favorite spot is outside on the patio, with peep-through views of the water.

Our family always plans a quick trip during the holiday season, to experience the old world charm of this vintage store.

Many of the gifts are sourced from local artisans, with so much thought and attention going into the displays.

I purchased a few of these soy candles, in unusual scents like milk and sugar, and berry jam!

After purchasing all my gifts, I relaxed at a window seat table at the back of the cafe. I then ordered a roasted turkey bread sandwich and expresso, while the kids loaded up on blueberry icecream.

It's impossible for us to leave the Port Gamble general store without purchasing a bag of saltwater taffy in fun flavors like maple bacon and raspberry. Yum!

With our bellies full, and gifts purchased, we headed upstairs to see the cool collection of shells and sea creatures upstairs. Check out this Alaskan King Crab!

2. Eat at Port Gamble.

The buzzworthy Butcher & Baker Provisions is at the entrance to Port Gamble. It's inside a vintage 1920s gas station (check hours). If I need a caffeine fix, I also drive through the convenient coffee stand directly outside.

Can you see the old pump from when it was a gas station?

I've discovered that Butcher & Baker Provisions ticks a lot of boxes. It's not only a cafe for breakfast, lunch or dinner, but also a butcher and bakery (check hours). 

We really enjoyed the casual ambiance inside the Butcher & Baker Provisions dining area. On sunnier days we take our food to the patio directly outside. If we want views of Port Gamble Bay, we try and snag a picnic table across the road in the park.

Look at these mouth watering baked goods!  Choose from chocolate fudge brownies and peanut butter raspberry jam bars, and so much more!

The temptations never end, with scrumptious offerings like hazelnut praline cake, lemon bars, irish cream cheesecake and lemon cranberry meringue cake.

I love to put together a picnic basket with gourmet goodies like jams, jellies, olives, goat cheese and salami!

3. House 11 Taproom in Port Gamble. 

The trendy House 11 Taproom on main street is the town's local watering hole. It's 21+ so our kids can't visit (but dogs are welcome).  There's a beautiful lawn with tables outside for sunnier days, or you can take a seat inside.

There's a rotating beer list, ciders and wines to choose from. My top recommendation is the lemon huckleberry cider!  I also indulge in the yummy food offerings, like the Reuben sandwich and charcuterie boards with cured meats and cheese.

4. Explore charming Port Gamble shops.

We always set aside a few hours to browse the charming shops along Rainier Avenue. This pretty street is full of homes from the original settlers. Many have historical markers explaining the unique history of each house. It's so much fun getting a glimpse inside these old houses.

PrettyStick is inside the historic New York House (1863) on Port Gamble's main street, where you can load up on all natural beauty products.

Shop for fair trade goods from developing countries at Tango Zulu Imports. Find brightly colored binga baskets from Zimbabwe, embroidered bags from Nepal, and stunning straw hats from Northern Ghana.

If you're looking for a cool selection of classy gifts, then stop by the beautifully curated Wish gift store. It's got tons of unique finds, including puzzles, books, cards, jewelry and beauty products. There's also a great selection of beautiful writing journals.

One of my favorite parts of the Wish store is the cosy window seats looking out on the street. So charming!

Check out these quirky finds at the Wish store, like dish towels with fun messages.

Whenever I step inside The Artful Ewe yarn store, I'm greeted by a rainbow of colors from gorgeous wools and fibers! There are so many different textures, including woold, camel, mohair and bison. They are all skillfully handcolored by the business owner.

The business owner has adorable whippets, so don't forget to say hi! These comfortable chairs are for visitors to sit in, and spin, knit or weave.

Gamble Bay Textiles is a weaving studio and gift shop, with the most exquisite wall hangings and mats. 

5. Port Gamble playground.

This super cool playground has a great location in the center of town, and is perfect for burning off energy.

 

6. Port Gamble Museum.

Port Gamble has a free museum, tucked away in the basement of the Port Gamble General Store (check hours).

It's fascinating to learn about magnificent local buildings like Admiralty Hall (1887 -1940) and the Puget Hotel (1903 to 1963). They are no longer standing, but hark back to an earlier time when Port Gamble was a thriving mill town.

The Hotel Puget once had the best spot in town, overlooking the Hood Canal from a bluff.  This grand hotel had a billiards room and saloon. It was demolished after damage from the 1963 Columbus Day Storm.

Anotherother notable building was the Admiralty Hall mansion, owned by mill manager Cyrus Walker. I tried to imagine this grand home and hotel taking up a full city block! If you want to check out its exact location, drive to the Port Ludlow Inn. The Port Gamble Museum has a re-creation of its master bedroom.

7. Olympic Outdoor Center kayak rentals.

I figure there's no better place to be on a warm summer's day, then exploring the waterways around Port Gamble on a kayak. If you'd like book a kayak rental, then stop by the Olympic Outdoor Center on the main street. Beginners can book a kayaking tour of the local waters.

If you'd prefer a less vigorous activity, then catch a show at the theater next door (check schedule).

8. Self-guided walking tour of Rainier Avenue.

One of the best free activities in Port Gamble is wandering along Rainier Avenue to admire the beautiful homes and buildings.  We needed about an hour to see everything, and stopped to read the historic markers in front of each building.

Port Gamble has a rich history, and much of its daily life was once centered around the Puget Mill Company. Unlike the typical rough and tumble towns you see in Washington State, Port Gamble has a more refined, white picket fence look. I discovered that this was because its founders, William Talbot and Andrew Pope, grew up in a fancy, New England town back in Maine.

The other really intriguing thing about Port Gamble, is that it's buildings are still company owned! Anyone that moved to this once thriving mill town, was provided with company housing. Today you can lease these buildings.

I really soaked up the history by strolling the picturesque streets of Port Gamble. This is the pretty Clarence R and Lulu Cranmer House (1894), where Lulu passed away at only 32 years old!

I tried to imagine the red Community Hall & Post Office (1905) bustling with activity over a hundred years ago. There were dances, plays and movie nights! Everything was run from here, including the barber, doctor, and dentist!

One of the first things I noticed when first visiting Port Gamble, was this beautiful grand dame. The Walker Ames House (1888) was once owned by the general manager of the mill, William Walker. Nice digs if you can get it!

The cute taproom in Port Gamble, was once the Leo and Goldie Hammersmith House (1918-1919). Leo was a mill manager who retired in 1958.

The third postmaster of Port Gamble resided in the charming Daniel B Jackson House (1871).

The charming Eugene and Ann DeFord House (1873) was owned by a plant manager at the mill, who retired in 1985.

Another mill employee resided in the David and Joyce Olson House (1870).

It was a real treat to stumble across the oldest continuously occupied dwelling in this state, the James and Sarah Thompson House (1859).

Resident physicians once occupied the New York House (1863).

Another incredibly old building in Port Gamble is the oldest masonic lodge in the state, known as the Franklin Lodge (1871 to 1872).

9. Weddings at Port Gamble.

I can't think of a more picturesque backdrop for a wedding than the quaint town of Port Gamble. There are two event venues up for grabs, but demand is super high!  Book the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion up on the blufftop, or the tented reception area and church interior at St Pauls Church.

Here's a look at the stunning St Pauls Church (1878). It's amazing that everything is still intact here, including the cathedral windows and original pews. After tying the knot, couples head up to the steeple to ring the bell!

10. Port Gamble's Buena Vista Cemetery.

It might sound a bit morbid to seek out the local cemetery, but this 1856 cemetery is absolutely brimming with history. The locals maintain it, and have provided educational boards when the headstone is not legible. I got there by walking up the hill from Port Gamble.

All 170 graves are from Port Gamble's earliest pioneers. Many died in infancy or early childhood. Adults didn't fare much better. Dates on the headstones indicating that they died aged in their 30's or 40's. It's fascinating to see the far flung countries that many of these pioneers were born in, like Austria, England, Finland, Ireland and Germany.

Check out the incredible views from the cemetery of the Hood Canal and Olympics!

Can I stay at Port Gamble?

There's limited lodging at Port Gamble, pretty much limited to the Port Gamble Guest Houses. As an added bonus, these guest houses have full beach access.

Things to do near Port Gamble

• Point no Point Lighthouse - 13 miles NE
• Finnriver Cidery - 17 miles NW
• Bremerton - 26 miles south, with the USS Turner Joy warship to tour
• Wilderbee Farm - 27 miles northwest
• Port Townsend -  28 miles north
• Fort Worden -  29 miles north
• Dungeness Spit -  44 miles NW
• Olympic Game Farm -  43 miles NW
• Hurricane Ridge -  71 miles west
• Lake Crescent -  74 miles west