Port Orchard Waterfront Park, Photo by Emma Avery
Some vacations are about checking boxes. This one is about slowing down.
Wake with the tides, wander waterfront towns, linger over coffee, browse independent bookstores, and taking the scenic route through Gig Harbor, Olalla, Port Orchard, and Bremerton. Perhaps leave your phone in your pocket for one hour. Notice the boats, birds, and conversations around you.
Devoted Kiss Café in Gig Harbor, Photo by The News Tribune.
Check into your waterfront accommodations and ease into vacation mode.
Start with coffee from Devoted Kiss Café, then stroll the Gig Harbor Waterfront and browse the shelves at Invitation Bookshop. Enjoy lunch overlooking the harbor at Tides Tavern, followed by a visit to the Harbor History Museum or a leisurely paddle on the bay. As the sun sets, savor dinner at Brix 25°, where seasonal Pacific Northwest cuisine pairs perfectly with waterfront charm.
Slow down by watching sailboats drift across Gig Harbor from Skansie Brothers Park.
Brothers Greenhouse in Port Orchard, Photo by South Sound Magazine
Take the scenic drive through the winding backroads of Olalla, where forests, farms, and shoreline views slow the pace. Stop at Olalla Bay Market & Landing for locally made treats and browse nearby farm stands during the summer season.
Continue to Port Orchard, and stretch your legs with visiting Brothers Greenhouse. Open to the public year-round, browse their diverse greenhouse & garden center, and don’t miss their Hobbit House. Catch dinner in downtown Port Orchard, at Brick House 714 Bar + Grill, then take an evening stroll along the Port Orchard Waterfront Promenade.
Ballast Book Company in Bremerton, Photo by Brittany Kelley Photography
In downtown Port Orchard, grab coffee at Café Corvo, explore Sidney Art Gallery, and browse the independently owned shops along Bay Street.
When you’re ready, head to Bremerton. If you’re feeling extra leisurely, pack one bag and take in the salty breeze by taking the foot ferry from Port Orchard to Bremerton foot ferry!
Once in Bremerton, peruse Ballast Book Company, then enjoy a meal at Restaurant Lola, one of the local-owned favorite restaurants. Spend the late afternoon and evening walking the Bremerton Boardwalk, visiting the USS Turner Joy, or relaxing at Harborside Fountain Park while ferries glide across Sinclair Inlet.
View of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) from a Washington State Ferry docking in Bremerton.
Wake slowly before deciding how you want to enjoy your time before heading home. Whether it’s coffee overlooking the harbor, browsing one more independent bookstore, or watching the first ferry of the day depart, you’ll quickly discover that Kitsap’s greatest luxury is simply having time to enjoy it.