The Kitsap Peninsula may be best known for its beautiful scenery, hiking, trails, and outdoor activities. In addition to the natural beauty surrounding us, we are rich in culture and community, and there are many lovely, small businesses, easily accessible shops, art stops, neighborhood parks, and great food in the different districts of Bremerton. Here are my top recommendations for a three-day adventure in Bremerton, featuring a few of my favorite spots.
This particular district is close to my heart. Being a part of this up-and-coming community has been a highlight of my career as a Psychic Consultant. I love that there are so many small, lady-owned businesses all along Callow Avenue. To get the full experience, you’ll definitely want to start your adventuring here with a stop at Cafe Corvo, one of the best coffee places in all of Bremerton. They get their beans from local roasters within 25 miles of the shop. When you walk in, you immediately feel welcomed by the friendly and authentic staff while being immersed in local artist creations and punk rock vibes. I recommend their velvety Cuban-style cappuccino and a fresh pastry from their case (also locally sourced from the bakery a few doors down). Next, it’s time to shop small! Little Bee Home, just a couple of doors down, is filled with environmentally-friendly kitchen and bath goodies, gift items, local art, and other items that fill your heart with warm fuzzies. Don’t forget to pick up used and new art supplies from Spread Supplies so when you get to some of the easily accessible neighborhood parks, you can sketch, journal, or draw. My other favorite place to shop is at Abraham’s House Charity, a high-end antique store that supports their charity by providing household goods and clothing to those in need. There’s always a treasure or two to be found. For food, there’s a lot of choices on Callow. I recommend Thai Palace and Suzie’s Kitchen (Korean) for some of the best the district has to offer. Before leaving the district, check out Rimbert Illustration for any fun, creative art classes or events happening while you’re in town. From there, head across the city to Bachmann Park while taking in some of the scenic views that Bremerton can offer, including the Manette Bridge. Easily accessible, this park is a hidden gem in the Manette neighborhood. Benches provide great views of the waterway while under the cover of shady trees. This is a great place to watch some native wildlife.
Downtown Bremerton is a unique blend of historical art deco buildings and small, independent, lady-owned and operated shops, including a variety of metaphysical shops all within walking distance of each other. First, coffee and breakfast at Cups Espresso. They offer hot breakfast sandwiches, quiches, ice cream, and more! It’s not a true vacation without a massage, and I would definitely take the time to book with Cyndi’s Light, a breath, bodywork, and relationship maven. After feeling relaxed and refreshed, it’s time to check out the boutique shops. For a classic and clean metaphysical feel, check out Avenbury’s Mystikals for tarot decks, crystals, and other witchy and ritual needs. Next is Ballast Books for a few more unique tarot deck options, cards, candles, and great reading material. The CVG Art Gallery always has something to intrigue the mind with local artist creations. For lunch, I recommend El Balcon, a Salvadoran restaurant. It’s takeout only, so get it to go and bring it along with you as you check out Vulca’s Mediterranean Market and head down Pacific Ave towards Evergreen Park. Evergreen Park is a beautiful place to sit and watch the world go by. Children love the large playground, and you can get some great bird-watching in. Don’t forget to check out Lumen Moon, another metaphysical and vintage shop at the park’s edge. To top the day off, be sure to have dinner or cocktails at Anthony’s. The views are incredible, and the food is top-notch.
Don’t be fooled by East Bremerton’s strip malls. They’re chock full of delightful surprises. One of these is Ristretto Stone – as always – coffee first. They take their tea and coffee seriously with homemade syrup blends, fresh baked goods, and wonderful staff. There are also local Mexican Tiendas and thrift shops nearby. Be sure to get your goodies to go from Ristretto Stone and head down to Lions Park. There’s an easily accessible flat, paved path that encompasses the park along the water’s edge. Wildlife and people watching are wonderful from the perfectly placed benches along the path. When you’re ready for the next round of shopping, it’s time to head back to Manette. This quaint little district is lined with small, independent shops. Life in Mauve is a great place to start with their unique gifts, jewelry, and locally crafted items. You might even find a tarot deck or two in the shop. Across the street is the Manette Antiques Mall and Paul’s Flowers. You can wander through the collections for a very long time and see all sorts of vintage treasures. Don’t forget to buy yourself some flowers too. They’re the freshest around. When it’s time for meals, I recommend Khao Soi, authentic Thai cuisine. They offer an intimate inside dining experience or outside under tents and heat lamps with views of the bridge and water. If you prefer Mexican food to Thai food, you can also head back to East Bremerton and enjoy some delicious Mexican food from Los Cabos, or some fabulous BBQ and steak at McClouds. I would finish the day off by going back to downtown Bremerton and catching one of the art house films at the restored Roxy Theater or grabbing a glass of wine and listening to live music at Grumble and Wine.