Port Townsend, WA

We were drawn to Port Townsend by the Wooden Boat Festival and fell in love!  This was circa 1998 and we stayed at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds with shuttle service to and from the festival events. Howard is a lover of wooden boats and we have traveled as far as Mystic, CT to view these classic beauties.   But on this trip more than the boats tickled our fancy and we have returned most every year since.  This vibrant Victorian seaport, with its maritime heritage and artist spirit, makes for an easily accessible base camp for the Olympic Peninsula and beyond, and has become our August Happy Place, much like January in Anza Borrego. Click What to do and see in the area for past excursions.

Welcome to our Happy Place!

Where we have a front row seat...

And sunsets over the Marina, just outside our door

Taken from our front yard

We mostly stayed out in Chimacum with a short commute into town, that is until we found our primo $20 waterfront site.  Way back then this site was frequently unoccupied and we jumped at the chance, and have returned year after year for our 2 week limit.  Now the word has gotten around but we lucked out for 5 glorious days and were joined by our Sacramento kids, Steph and Gary, who drove up in their motorhome and parked across from us.

From town looking way over there at our stern

The endless beauty of reflections

Our days were mellow and unencumbered by scheduling.  Steph and Gary have high stress jobs and just wanted to enjoy our warm, sunny days around town.  We walked a lot, ate good food, mostly home-cooked meals, but always ready for a stop at Elevated Ice Cream, and a final dinner at Doc's Marina Grill.

Approaching ferry

A view from Uptown

Howard admires the Jefferson County Courthouse

An old Victorian beauty for sale

We chased cruise ships and clouds, lighthouses, and sunsets...

Point Wilson Lighthouse

And finally, we took a ferry ride....

We have a front row seat

Looks like we've arrived