Exploring the Olympic Peninsula : Port Townsend.

One definition of the word " adventure " I can personally relate to is -

Something that’s new or different that isn’t an everyday occurrence

My latest trip to Port Townsend was something different to me. No biking, hiking, climbing...Just relaxing!

Port Townsend is famous for its historic homes and buildings, art galleries, museums, farmers markets, and of course festivals. Port Townsend is only one of three Victorian Seaports on the National Register of Historic Places.





So, a big part of the day I spent just walking around downtown ( which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark ).

Even if you are not a history buff, visit Fort Worden State park, where you can feel " back in time " : visitors can view the original 12- gun emplacements, "discover " the bunkers, and even stay in restored residences or barracks. Fort Worden's Coast Artillery Museum was small, but very interesting. Because there were not many visitors at that time, we were even offered an interpretive walk.









In addition to the fascinating history of the place, the park offers a variety of outdoor activities : boating, swimming,diving, fishing, crabbing,kayaking,picnicking, hiking....







Fort Worden State Park and Conference Center is a 434-acre multi-use park and it's really hard to experience its history and beauty in just one day ( in my case -2 hours). If you are looking for a cheap stay, Olympic Hostel offers frugal lodging options right here at the park.





If you are looking for something more upscale , the Clam Cannery Hotel offers Port Townsend’s most luxurious waterfront accommodations ( and it's just 10 minutes away from the park ).

What struck me about the hotel was the difference between " outside" and "inside". When we got there, at first I thought I had the wrong address. It looked so...



But inside ( ! ) :

The Clam Cannery Hotel - first class accomodations for outdoor enthusiasts.

Who says you have to sacrifice comfort and luxury to enjoy the great outdoors ?
If you are looking for somewhere truly unique to stay, when visiting Port Townsend, consider the Clam Cannery Hotel, the only 4-star quality hotel in Port Townsend.

This new boutique, all suite waterfront hotel offers unobstructed views of the Cascades, the Olympic Mountains, Whidbey Island and the Strait of Juan DeFuca. The hotel is called the Clam Cannery because the building was once home to one of the largest producers of canned clams on the west coast of the United States. Painstakingly restored by local artisans with an extensive use of materials reclaimed from the building, this historic structure is now one of the Pacific Northwest's most beautiful boutique waterfront hotels.

With the Olympic Mountains on one side and the Cascades on the other, Port Townsend is a unique location for recreational opportunities, with many of which are just withing minutes from the Clam Cannery.

What to do in Port Townsend is never a problem. Outdoor enthusiasts will find an adventure for almost every type, from adrenaline junkies to culture and history hounds.

Port Townsend is surrounded by water, so it's little wonder that the dominant outdoor activities here are water sports - fishing, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, and of course, beach combing.

"Beachcombing" is the recreational activity of looking for and finding various curiosities that have washed in with the tide: seashells of every kind, sea beans (drift seeds), sea glass (beach glass) and driftwood.

Crabbing is one of Puget Sound’s most popular recreational fisheries. Each year, sport fishers catch more than a million pounds of Dungeness crab, using pots, ring nets and – in the case of wade and dive fishers – their bare hands ( at the Clam Cannery you can practically throw a crab pot from your balcony).

Port Townsend is a gateway to San Juan Islands, famous for its Orca whales and occasional gray and minke whales. Hop on board a local charter boat , and enjoy a fun-packed and fascinating whale watching tour on the water around the Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands.

Set sail on a 82 ft. gaff-rigged schooner: a roomy, comfortable, traditional vessel that offers groups of up to 6 people a memorable sailing adventure. Explore the San Juan Islands, or cross the border into Canada with a destination of either Desolation Sound or Barkley Sound.

Admiralty Dive Center, a full service dive center ( just several blocks away from the Clam Cannery) , offers "Discover Scuba" class for the curious non-certified divers. The course entails a short academic session, pool session and, upon successful completion, a two-tank boat dive.

Your visit to Port Townsend wouldn't be complete without a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic downtown district with beautiful views of Admiralty Inlet and Mount Baker, while your driver tells you about Point Hudson's history.

Whether you are traveling with family, pets or that special person in your life, there's no better place to stay while you’re in Port Townsend than the Clam Cannery Hotel. With unobstructed view of Port Townsend Bay, the surrounding mountain ranges, marine traffic and Port Townsend Historic District in their backyard, the hotel is the ideal home base for exploring the Olympic Peninsula.