Inclusive Travel Spotlight: Kitsap Peninsula Scores 8/10 with TWB

Visit Kitsap Peninsula and Traveling While Black Seattle Release Landmark Content Series Showcasing Inclusive, Representation-Driven Travel on the Kitsap Peninsula

KITSAP COUNTY, WA — December 10, 2025 — Visit Kitsap Peninsula (VKP) partnered with Traveling While Black (TWB), one of the region’s most influential Black travel and storytelling platforms, to launch a groundbreaking series highlighting diverse voices, welcoming visitor experiences, and the beauty and heritage of the Kitsap Peninsula. The collaboration, which includes multiple videos, blogs, and itineraries, marks a significant milestone in the region’s commitment to inclusive, accessible, and culturally resonant tourism.

The project—spanning Bremerton, Kingston, Port Gamble, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Olalla, Suquamish and more—resulted in TWB’s highest-performing video content to date, fueled by authentic storytelling, local business engagement, and a “Basecamp Kitsap” adventure itinerary curated by Visit Kitsap Peninsula.

As part of the collaboration, Traveling While Black evaluated the Kitsap Peninsula through their Comfortability Traveling While Black Score, a qualitative benchmark assessing cultural safety, representation, hospitality, community awareness, and overall experience for Black travelers.

The Kitsap Peninsula earned an impressive score of 8/10, underscoring the region’s:

  • Genuine warmth and openness from local businesses
  • Growing representation of diverse experiences and cultural stories
  • Commitment to safety, comfort, and community-driven tourism
  • Clear desire to welcome visitors from all backgrounds

This score places Kitsap among the most comfortable and inclusive destinations TWB has reviewed in Washington State.

The content series features:

  • A signature “Exploring Bremerton” episode showcasing local eats, history, and creative culture
  • A haunted Kitsap feature blending fun, history, and storytelling
  • “Basecamp Poulsbo” showcasing culture, trails, history, and local eats.

Each episode offers deep-dive narratives highlighting community voices, small business owners, and local makers. These stories help ensure that visitors—especially those historically under-represented in mainstream travel media—can see themselves reflected in Kitsap’s people, culture, and outdoor experiences.

“For us, representation isn’t a marketing trend—it’s a responsibility,” said Aljolynn Sperber, Executive Director of Visit Kitsap Peninsula. “Our partnership with Traveling While Black expands the stories we tell about this place. When travelers see people who look like them exploring Kitsap, it signals that this is a destination where they belong.”

The partnership not only amplifies Kitsap’s tourism visibility statewide and nationally—but also aligns with VKP’s long-term strategy for equitable tourism development, community storytelling, and strengthening small businesses through out-of-market visitation.

The TWB series has already helped drive:

  • Increased visibility for BIPOC-owned and inclusive businesses
  • Broader recognition of Bremerton as an edgy, welcoming, military-rooted community, especially on-time for the Fan Zone for the FWC26 games
  • More first-time visitors discovering Kitsap’s neighborhoods and natural beauty
  • A national conversation about inclusive travel in smaller communities

Watch the Episodes & Read the Stories

About Visit Kitsap Peninsula

Visit Kitsap Peninsula (VKP) is the leading tourism authority for the Kitsap Peninsula, championing the region’s economic vitality through strategic marketing, cultural storytelling, and strong community partnerships. Since 1983, VKP has elevated Kitsap as a welcoming, diverse, and adventure-rich basecamp for travelers from across the country and around the world. With a commitment to inclusive travel, cultural heritage, outdoor recreation, and year-round visitor experiences, VKP showcases the peninsula’s unique blend of maritime history, Indigenous culture, forests, shorelines, makers, and small businesses—inviting visitors to discover a destination where people and place thrive together. Learn more at VisitKitsap.com.

About Traveling While Black Seattle

Traveling While Black Seattle is a storytelling platform, video series, and travel guide dedicated to documenting the experiences, safety, and joy of being Black while traveling. Through honest reviews, destination scores, cultural insights, and deeply personal storytelling, TWB empowers Black travelers with knowledge, representation, and inspiration. Their highly acclaimed “Comfortability Traveling While Black Score” helps audiences make informed decisions about where to explore while sparking industry conversations about inclusion and belonging. Learn more at TravelingWhileBlackSeattle.com.

Press contact info:

Aljolynn Sperber, hello@visitkitsap.com