The Romans introduced grapevines to the Netherlands in 968. Today about one million bottles of Dutch wine are produced annually from 170 small vineyards located throughout the country. Fortunately, there’s no need to buy a ticket to Amsterdam to taste Dutch wines when you can make a trip to Bainbridge Island instead. There, the Washington […]
People & Places
West Sound has an incredible number of talented artists, interesting people, fascinating places and popular destinations. We love to share their stories with our readers. These articles are only a sample of what we have in West Sound Magazine each issue — subscribe to the print version to see all of what we have to offer!
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Illahee Preserve — A Natural Forest in an Urban Setting
In the middle of Kitsap County between East Bremerton and Silverdale is located one of the most outstanding urban natural-park spaces in the United States. It is a 570-acre site known as the Illahee Preserve. Owned by Kitsap County, the Illahee Preserve is managed by the county’s parks department in conjunction with a nonprofit group […]
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WSSEF — Inspiring Future Scientists and Engineers
Science project. For some students, those words conjure up nightmares. For others, it’s an opportunity for revving up their creativity and designing a project that might win them an award in the Washington State Science & Engineering Fair — and beyond. WSSEF (“Wussef,” as its 600-plus volunteers call it) has drawn students from across the […]
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Gig Harbor’s Gallery Row — A Place for Diverse, Cool Art
In 1988, a small handful of artists got together and rented a space in the old Shoreline building where Marketplace Grille is located today in downtown Gig Harbor. Gretchen Wilbert (a former mayor of Gig Harbor) was their landlord, and very supportive of the little gallery. The artists supported the gallery by sharing the rent […]
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Preserving a Piece of Key Peninsula History
When Washington became the 42nd state in November 1889, the Key Peninsula celebrated in style. Earlier that year, the community had come together to build the Vaughn Library Hall as a dance floor for the 4th of July celebrations on land donated by early settler Harry Coblentz. When the Vaughn Library Association looked for a […]
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10 Tips for Acing Your Next International Trip
Maybe you’re planning a trip to Croatia to see the Instagram-worthy walls of Dubrovnik. Or to Portugal because everyone raves about its food and budget-destination status. Or perhaps to Peru to see Machu Pichu before limits are imposed on daily tourist visits. You’re planning the trip sans tour company. You’ve read the guidebooks. Now the […]
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The Greek Island You Never Knew You Needed to Visit — Antiparos
We always hear about the well-known and touristy Greek islands such as Crete, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes. All of these islands have an abundance of beauty but also an abundance of tourists. Some, an overabundance. And then there is Antiparos. Where, you say? Antiparos, the little sister island to Paros, one of the Cyclades […]
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Historic Waterfront Mercantiles — The Heart of Their Communities
It’s the kind of business where the same regulars hold court each morning over coffee — a place where you can drop by to pick up a carton of milk and check out the community bulletin board, and find a water bowl pit stop for neighborhood dogs. The area’s small, historical general stores were built […]
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Master Potter Dan Barnett — Blending Beauty and Durability through Clay Art
Entering a clay artist’s workspace can be an experience in sensory overload, with so much to see, absorb and understand. There are bags and buckets of clay, buckets and pots of glaze, bowls of slip and stains, work tables, large pieces of mechanical equipment and assortments of hand tools. Shelves of work in various stages […]