Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shopping is just about the most popular activity in Port Townsend's old town,
and of the many stores in the historic district, several stand out.
Earthenworks
Gallery,
702 Water St. (
&
360/385-0328
), showcases colorful ceramics, glass,
jewelry, and other American-made crafts.
Ancestral Spirits Gallery,
701 Water St.
(
&
360/385-0078
), is a large space with a great selection of Northwest Native
American prints, masks, and carvings. Women enamored of Port Townsend's
Victorian styling will want to visit the
Renaissance Rags,
1012 Water St. (
&
360/
370-1661
), a dress shop specializing in modern Victorian fashions.
FORT WORDEN STATE PARK
Fort Worden State Park, once a military installation that guarded the mouth of
Puget Sound, is north of the historic district and can be reached by turning onto
Kearney Street at the south end of town, or onto Monroe Street at the north end
of town, and following the signs. Built at the turn of the 20th century, the fort
is now a 360-acre state park where a wide array of attractions and activities
assure that it's busy for much of the year. Many of the fort's old wooden build-
ings have been restored and put to new uses.
At the
Fort Worden Commanding Officer's House
(
&
360/344-4400;
www.
olympus.net/ftworden), you can see what life was like for a Victorian-era officer
and his family. The home has been fully restored and is filled with period
antiques. In summer, it's open daily from 10am to 5pm, and in spring and fall, it's
open weekends from noon to 4pm; admission is $2, free for children under 12.
Here at the park you can also learn about life below the waters of Puget Sound
at the
Port Townsend Marine Science Center,
532 Battery Way (
&
360/385-
5582;
www.ptmsc.org). The center has great tide-pool touch tanks filled with
crabs, starfish, anemones, and other marine life. There's also a fascinating exhibit
on the area's terrestrial natural history, complete with fossils from around the
peninsula. Don't miss the exhibit on the glaciers that once covered this region.
In summer, the center is open Wednesday through Monday from 11am to 5pm,
and fall through spring, it's open Friday through Monday from noon to 4pm.
Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students and children.
For many people, however, the main reason to visit the park is to hang out on
the beach or at one of the picnic areas. Scuba divers also frequent the park,
which has an underwater park just offshore. In spring, the Rhododendron Gar-
den puts on a colorful floral display. Throughout the year, there is a wide vari-
ety of concerts and other performances at the
Centrum
(
&
800/733-3608
or
360/385-3102; www.centrum.org). Also within the park are campgrounds, a
restaurant, and restored officers' quarters that can be rented as vacation homes.
A Victory for Kids in a Victorian Town
There aren't a lot of children with an appreciation for Victorian archi-
tects, so parents visiting Port Townsend may find themselves at the mercy
of whining young ones. Don't despair. You can all take a time out from
touring mansions and head out to Fort Worden State Park. Here you'll
find a fascinating marine science center where kids can grab starfish and
poke anemones. There's also a long beach, and even though the water is
cold, the kids might not mind. Then there are the trails through the
woods and the very spooky old gun emplacements. Bring a flashlight and
you can dig around in the dark corners of history.
Kids