Port Gamble Gazette
By Pete Orbea/Contributor
Traditionally, summertime in Port Gamble means big festivals like June Faire and Old Mill Days.
Although Port Gamble will not be hosting large festivals this year, the quaint historic town is expecting a busy summer.
With a third restaurant expected to open in the near future, Port Gamble boasts great eats, unique shopping experiences, and lot of outdoor activities to fill your summer appetite.
Olympic Outdoor Center leads the charge in outdoor activities year-round. From kayak rentals and classes to mountain bike rentals and summer camps, this long-time anchor of Kitsap County has you covered. Best known for their top-notch kayaks and classes, Olympic Outdoor Center (OOC) is excited to be offering mountain bike rentals as well. With many options, ranging from hourly to multi-day rentals, you don’t have to be a hardened trail warrior to enjoy the mountain bikes and experiences offered by OOC.
The great thing is that it’s so easy. Visit their shop on historic Rainier Avenue, rent your bike, and within minutes you’re on one of the best trail systems in the Northwest with 4,000 acres of forestland as your playground.
Sounds awesome right? But what if you have kids? What could they do? Well, OOC has summer camps featuring outdoor adventures, kayaking, and mountain biking. The Outdoor Adventure Camp kicks off the summer season in Poulsbo on June 20-24 and July 4-8. Kids ages 8-13 will enjoy a week of adventure experiencing kayaking, paddle-boarding, mountain biking, hiking, and beach combing. For registration and details on all of the upcoming camps, go to www.olympicoutdoor center.com/youth-classes.
To get your summer recreation going with kayaking and mountain biking, go to www.olympicoutdoor center.com or stop in at 32379 Rainier Ave., Port Gamble.
Port Gamble Weddings & Events Open Houses in June:
From 1-4 p.m. June 19, the informative and helpful staff of Port Gamble Weddings & Events will be on site to tour you through our Historic St. Paul’s Church and Hood Canal Vista Pavilion and to answer questions or be of assistance.
They will also have a host of vendor resources to help with your event planning. If you’re planning a wedding for 2017, the staff encourages you to start booking your venue and vendors now as dates are starting to book up fast.
These open house events aren’t just for the brides and groom, though. Port Gamble has many options for business meetings and retreats as well as retirement parties, celebration-of-life events, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations. To find out about the vast options for a unique and elegant event in Port Gamble, go to www.portgambleweddings.com and www.facebook.com/portgambleweddings.
Retail Space Available in Historic Port Gamble: Move your business to Port Gamble. Hovey House (House 8), built in 1890, is available for rent on Port Gamble’s historic Rainier Avenue This Victorian-style home is perfect for retail and rents for $1,600 a month.
This 2,089-square-foot building has two bathrooms and is available for a one-year lease with option for more. If you are looking for a great business opportunity, contact the Port Gamble property manager at 360-297-7251 and set up an appointment to tour the Hovey House.
Port Gamble Bay Cleanup Site Still Closed to Public: Contractors are still working during the off-season of the cleanup project on the historic saw mill site. Please note that the mill site is still closed to the public. You may observe the work from the bluff above near the Port Gamble Historic Museum.
Construction updates will resume soon as season two of construction commences in the summer. Go to www.portgamble baycleanup.com or on Facebook to stay up to date with this historic project. The cleanup process aims to eliminate threats to human health and the environment while minimizing the impacts of cleanup.
2016 Event Calendar: Port Gamble is set for an exciting year of events — Port Gamble Ghost Conference, Maritime Music Festival, Country Christmas, and 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 at www.portgamble.com. For more information about the E-newsletter, contact the events office at 360-297-8074 or via email at portgamble@orminc.com.
Stay up to date by viewing our calendar of events at www.portgamble.com or tune into Port Gamble on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
— Pete Orbea is marketing and communications coordinator for Port Gamble. Contact him at porbea@orminc.com.
