Pack your sunscreen and head to Port Gamble, one of Western Washington’s most beautiful and diverse playgrounds for the adventure sports fanatic.

Port Gamble’s Olympic Outdoor Center looks to Unleash the Beast in Port Gamble on May 17 as a part of the NW Adventure Sports Festival. Olympic Outdoor Center owner John Kuntz launched The Beast in 2010. “The purpose of The Beast is to bring attention and focus to Port Gamble as a destination for adventure sports. It’s such a beautiful area with so much to offer outdoor sports enthusiasts,” Kuntz said.

The Beast Adventure Series triathlon combines the sports of paddling, mountain biking, and trail running on a spectacular water and land course. The race can be done as an individual or as a team. There are long and short course options for the casual athlete or the competitive adventurer. The water route paddles along the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail and the land trail goes through the epic Port Gamble/Stottlemeyer single track. All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary for this seriously fun event.

For event information and registration, go to www.unleashthebeastnw.com.

Olympic Outdoor Center is located in the historic Fire Hall of Port Gamble and remains a full-service paddle sports dealer. They are open year-round.

Along with dozens of tours, OOC also provides classes like the popular Outdoor Adventure Camp, a week long camp featuring paddling, mountain biking, hiking, beach walks and paddle boarding suitable for ages 8-13. These camps run from mid-June through August. To learn more, go to www.olympicoutdoorcenter.com/classes.

John Kuntz is excited to begin offering adult and youth mountain bike rentals starting, which was expected to begin in April. The store will be renting hardtail bikes for trail riding, with the option for a two-hour rental, or an all-day rental.

Come and visit John and his wonderful, experienced staff and find out why Port Gamble is your destination for adventure sports. For store hours and information on all of the store’s activities, call 360-297-4659, or visit www.olympicoutdoorcenter.com.

Port Gamble General Store & Café expands

Recent recipient of the “Best Out-Of-The-Way Restaurant 2014” in the West Sound Home & Garden magazine, the Port Gamble General Store has been serving up nostalgia and good eats daily since March 2010. Since their opening in the historic General Store building, they have been able to serve a capacity of 47 in the ever-popular café.

On May 9, owners Kim Campbell and Erik Kleiva will be open a new dining room expansion, which will feature a full bar, and will increase the café capacity to 149.

“We are just simply excited to be able to serve more people. We’re not changing what we do, we just have more room now,” Campbell said. The expansion will allow them to accommodate the demand for rehearsal dinners and large group reservations. The store was closed for the month of January to kick start the expansion by tripling the size of the kitchen and building a large new deck for outdoor seating. The cooks are enjoying the expanded kitchen because it’s almost too efficient and has allowed them to expand the menu with all of the new equipment.

The highly anticipated full bar will boast 24 beers on tap, offering mostly locally made beer and high quality imports. They will also be serving delicious craft cocktails and boosting the wine selection with fine European and South American wines. Campbell and Kleiva are also planning to have live music on new deck in the summer as well as live music inside occasionally.

For store and café hours, call the Port Gamble General Store at 360-297-7636, or visit www.portgamblegeneralstore.com.

Celebrate in May with Tango Zulu Imports

Tango Zulu celebrates its four-year anniversary and World Fair Trade Day all day May 10. Stop by between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for door prizes, special deals, and snacks. Tango Zulu has an amazing assortment of African baskets, both fair trade and U.S.A.-made clothing, and hundreds of other artisan products you won’t find anywhere else in the area. For more information, visit www.tangozuluimports.com.

Did you or someone you know get engaged? Why not consider Port Gamble, one of the Puget Sound region’s 10 best wedding venues for that special day?

Port Gamble Weddings offers great off-season pricing November through April on our beautiful and unique venues for weddings and reception. Port Gamble Weddings also has some great summer dates available for 2014 and 2015.

Call one of our experienced venue coordinators at 360-297-8074 and find out why Port Gamble Weddings is one of the most sought-after wedding and reception venues in western Washington. You also can visit www.portgambleweddings.com.

Port Gamble’s 2014 Event Calendar

Port Gamble is set for an exciting year of events, from the NW Adventure Sports Festival, hosted by Olympic Outdoor Center, Old Mill Days Americana, Country Christmas, to monthly trail activities. You can stay up to date with activities and happenings at Port Gamble by subscribing to the monthly Port Gamble e-newsletter.For information or to sign up for the newsletter, contact the events office at 360- 297-8074, or via email at portgamble@orminc.com. You also can find details at www.portgamble.com.

— Shana Smith is general manager of Port Gamble. Contact her at ssmith@orminc.com.