Marrowstone Island

The enchanting Marrowstone Island is one of my favorite places to visit in Washington State. It's just a few hours from Seattle, but I always feel like it's a world away.

Marrowstone is a quieter island with no main town, and limited amenities. It's the perfect place to unplug and relax!

My first stop is always the Nordland General Store, where I pick up everything I need for a weekend away, including groceries, coffee, wine and ice-cream. It's open 8am to 8pm and is the social hub for locals.

There's also a seasonal Beachcomber Cafe near the beach at Fort Flagler, with yummy comfort food like burgers and fries.

My favorite activities

My favorite things to do on Marrowstone Island are exploring the spectacular trails at Fort Flagler, and sipping wines on the patio at Marrowstone Vineyards. There's also an excellent military museum, and some historic military homes with killer views for overnight bookings.

Where is Marrowstone Island?

Marrowstone Island is 2 hours north of Seattle on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula near Port Townsend. To get there from Seattle, I take the 35-minute Bainbridge Island Ferry, then drive north-west for an hour to Marrowstone Island across a bridge.

10 best things to do on Marrowstone Island

1. Go wine tasting at Marrowstone Vineyards.

The Marrowstone Vineyards is tucked away on a gentle slope on the eastern side of Marrowstone Island, with breathtaking views of Admiralty Inlet from the patio. Summer weekends are full of live music, or I love to huddle by one of their firepits on a chilly day. The staff is super welcoming, and great for a chat. My favorite wine recommendation is the full bodied 2023 Viognier.

Check out that gorgeous patio!

I love to sample the wines in the tasting room inside the rustic barn.

My other favorite thing to do is browse the artwork by local artists. There's even more art upstairs in the loft.

2. Buy lunch at Nordland General Store, then picnic at E Beach Park.

We always make it a priority to load up on supplies at Nordland General Store (7180 Flager Road, Nordland). From here it's a short drive to E Beach Park, where we sit at a picnic table while enjoying east facing views of Mt Baker and Whidbey Island.

3. Hike at Fort Flagler.

I'm always in awe of the jawdroppingly, beautiful views along the trails at Fort Flagler State Park. It's also fun to explore the mysterious bunkers, secret rooms, and tunnels, of this old military fortress.

I've linked to a map of all the beautiful hiking trails at Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island. The 5-miles of dirt trails are easy to walk along, perfect for a short walk, or longer hike.

Here's an example of the amazing views across Admiralty Inlet to the North Cascades and Whidbey Island. Look out for Glacier Peak (10,541 feet), just one of two active volcanoes in Washington State that have erupted in the last 15,000 years.

I'm always in awe of the huge ocean liners and cargo ships that navigate this shipping lane in Admiralty Inlet, on the east side of Marrowstone Island.

Be prepared to see lots of deer and fawn at Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island.

4. Find secret rooms and tunnels at Fort Flagler.

My kids absolutely love grabbing a flashlight and exploring the secret tunnels and dark chambers in the historic gun batteries at Fort Flagler. Look out for signs to the popular Bluff Trail, where you can see 8 out of 10 of these batteries.

Did you know that Fort Flagler was once part of a coastal defense system known as the "Ring of Fire" that guarded the nautical entrance to Puget Sound? It kept downstream cities like Seattle and Bremerton safe from invasion.

If an enemy ship had ever entered Admiralty Inlet, it would've been pounded by gunfire from three forts; Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island, Fort Worden at Port Townsend, and Fort Casey on Whidbey Island. Fortunately this never happened.

I love the history of this place, stretching all the way back to 1899. Imagine all the ghosts that inhabit these tunnels, probably from soldiers that were stationed here during WWI, WWII and the Korean War. Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island finally became a state park in 1955.

My imagination is always inspired by these cool nooks and crannies at Fort Flagler! Pack a flashlight for those dark, spooky tunnels!

5. Stay overnight in historic military homes.

My family had an incredible experience staying overnight in one of the old military buildings at Fort Flagler. There are so many to choose from, but my absolute favorite is the cosy Engineer's House, perched up on a bluff overlooking the inlet.

Step back in time, and make a booking at other important buildings at this old military fortress. Choose from the Officer's Quarters, Hospital Steward's House, Waterway House and Non-Commissioned Officers Quarters (book here). You can also stay at a hotel at nearby Port Townsend.

If you've got a larger group, then book the non-commissioned Officers' Quarters house, and enjoy incredible views from the front porch.

The Engineer's House has a cute, cosy interior, and a bird's eye view of the inlet.

6. Visit the Beachcomber Cafe, pier, and playground at the lower campground.

Talk about an amazing location right on the beach! Reserve a site at the lower campground at Fort Flagler, and soak in the views of Kilisut Harbor.

This scenic area also has picnic tables, a boating pier, SUP rentals, and plenty of picnic tables.

Pick up refreshments at seasonal Beachcomber Cafe (pictured) or take your kids to the playground.

7. See Marrowstone Point Light Station.

We couldn't tour the Marrowstone Point Light Station, but it's worth driving to the bluff for a quick look. It sits on a sandy spit on Marrowstone Island's northeast tip, and is now occupied by the U.S. Geological Survey's Marrowstone Marine Field Station. The lighthouse sits on top of a square fog building.

I was feeling adventurous, so drove to the parking lot along Marrowstone Point Road for closer views of the lighthouse.

8. Visit the Military Museum.

My family set aside an hour to check out the fascinating Military Museum at Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island (check seasonal times). It was pretty cool learning about things like the anti submarine nets in Puget Sound, and seeing hand grenades, missiles, machine guns and land mines up close.

9. See a demonstration of a 19th Century Gun Emplacement.

The Gun Emplacement Guided Tour at Fort Flagler is not to be missed. See how the projectile lifts and sliding targets all worked on these super cool, giant guns. Check seasonal times.

10.  Wander the corridors of the spooky military hospital.

I always love a ghost story, and the military hospital at Fort Flagler doesn't disappoint. It's right on the main parade ground, and was constructed in 1905. Check seasonal tour times. 

Fun places near Marrowstone Island

• Finnriver Cidery - 5 miles W
• Port Townsend -  16 miles NW
• Fort Worden - 17 miles NW
• Port Gamble -  26 miles south
• Dungeness Spit -  41 miles West
• Olympic Game Farm -  40 miles West
• Lake Crescent -  70 miles West
• Hurricane Ridge - 73 miles west