Visitors Guide shows Kitsap has much to offer

Staycations have been a popular concept for a long time—for a variety of reasons—and one look at the state’s official Visitors Guide shows why it’s still a good idea in Kitsap County.

In the guide, you can read about the fun of riding Washington State Ferries to places like Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. It mentions world-class cycling from the Chilly Hill on Bainbridge Island in February to the Kitsap Color Classic in the fall. The guide recommends people check out the Ancient-Shores-Changing Tides exhibit at the Suquamish Museum, which sits beside a verdant garden beside a pavilion and picnic tables.

On the West Sound, it recommends things like the Kitsap Fair and Stampede, Admiral Theatre, Kiana Lodge, Kitsap Conference Center, Kitsap Golf and Country Club, Kitsap History Museum, Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort and the US Naval Undersea Museum.

Although there are many wonderful coffee houses in Kitsap the guide specifically mentions the outdoor tables overlooking Liberty Bay at the Poulsbohemian Coffeehouse in Poulsbo. Also in Poulsbo, it mentions Sluy’s Baker, which turns out fruit rolls and cardamom braid pastries from recipes used by the town’s Norwegian settlers.

For other types of sweets, it mentions Gummy Fish at the Candy Shoppe in Port Orchard.

Kitsap also has no shortage when it comes to restaurants, but the guide specifically mentions Seabird on Bainbridge Island, which is called a casually chic bistro with excellent halibut and coho salmon dishes. And while not mentioning one specifically, the guide does point out BI does have a number of wonderful wineries. For other types of spirits, the guide does mention Bainbridge Organic Distillers.

In its own section on the Peninsula, Poulsbo is mentioned as a waterfront town where people can stroll along Front Street to see boutiques, galleries and cafes. It writes about waterfront park and marine creatures in the small aquarium at the SEA Discovery Center. For accommodations, it mentions the Poulsbo Inn and Suites.

For Suquamish, it writes about it being the homeland for the tribe for thousands of years and the hilly cemetery that holds the grave — flanked by two totem poles — of Chief Sealth, for whom Seattle is named.

In Bremerton, fans of military history can explore the decks of the USS Joy museum ship and the artifacts and photos at the Puget Sound Navy Museum. In the quaint mill village of Port Gamble, stroll the 1850’s New England-style buildings that now house distinctive galleries, shops and eateries.

There are also breathtaking beaches throughout the region, including at Point No Point near Hansville, the northern-most spot of the county. The guide mentions the scenic drive of Highway 101, including crossing the Hood Canal Bridge.

For Bainbridge Island, the state visitors guide mentions restaurants Cafe Hitchcock and Doc’s Marina Grill, the Bloedel Reserve and the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. For drinks, it points out Hillside Distilling and Eleven Winery. For things to do, it recommends the free BI Museum of Art. When shopping, check out Backstreet Beat for vinyl records, Danger for locally-made jewelry and home decor, and Eagle Harbor Books for your reading pleasure.

STAFF PICKS

Steve Powell: I love getting ice cream or crepes just up from the ferry car waiting area in Kingston. The lighthouse at Point No Point is worth a visit. I enjoy hiking around North Kitsap Heritage Park. Port Gamble is a cool historic town. The Port Gamble General Store is a must-visit. Waterfront Park is my favorite in Poulsbo, but I also like to hike around Fish Park. So many fun places downtown, but I like the Slippery Pig. The concerts outside the Clearwater casino are a blast, especially on a nice day. On Bainbridge Island, I enjoy hiking in the Fay Banbridge Park area. I like Bainbridge Vineyards and Meadowmeer Golf Course. Sakai Park is fine to walk around and Battlepoint Park is fun for pickleball. Lynwood Center is also a great place to stroll, and Fort Ward is another good hiking area. I haven’t spent as much time on West Sound, but I did enjoy playing golf at Rolling Hills. I’ve spent more time at the Silverdale Mall than I wanted to. In Bremerton, I’ve eaten the most at Tony’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria overlooking Oyster Bay. In Port Orchard, I like the concerts at the Waterfront Park, the quaint downtown with the Olde Central Antique Mall and the Whiskey Gulch Coffee Pub.

Tyler Shuey: Kingston offers some quality restaurants that don’t require too much waiting time, such as Sourdough Willy’s Pizzeria right by the ferry terminal, and The Grub Hut, which is just a little further up the road on Highway 104. Kingston also offers one of the best golf courses in the state in White Horse Golf Club, owned and operated by the Suquamish Tribe. Hansville offers some scenic hiking areas such as the Greenway Trail and Foulweather Bluff. The Indianola dock is popular in the summer, especially for locals and high school students.

Nick Zeller-Singh: Since I travel around for work, I am always looking for the best restaurants in each city. Bainbridge has several high-quality spots, including Via Rosa 11, Rolling Bay Cafe, That’s a Some Pizza, The Plate & Pint and Sweet Dahlia. My spots in Poulsbo include Chung’s Teriyaki, Greens on Your Way, Sluy’s Bakery and Green Light Diner. My favorite spots in Silverdale and Bremerton are Silver City Restaurant, Aloha Kitchen and Anthonys at Sinclair.

Elisha Meyer: I always feel a little bad for my coworkers since they do not always get to enjoy the wonders of Port Orchard that I do. For my early morning travels it is the Nostalgia House Bakery that keeps me coming back for breakfast and then some. A nice stroll in the city’s downtown brings me by Josaphine’s Mercantile and Find the Path Books, and the smells from the Brickhouse 714 Bar and Grill are incredible. I try to make my way to the revamped Town Square Mall, stopping at the Kollector Haven, and I visit Harbor Haute Dogs before covering South Kitsap athletics. The travel further into South Kitsap is worth it to visit the Olalla Bay Market and Landing.