Port Townsend is a small city, with a population around 10,000. Founded in 1851 on the water of Puget Sound in Jefferson County, it has an energy found in very few other cities in the state. The city has always been known for its Victorian homes and buildings but today, visitors come more for the […]
boating
Posted inPeople & Places
Preserving Gig Harbor’s Boatbuilding Heritage
Dotted by net sheds and home to a small commercial fishing fleet, Gig Harbor’s downtown has preserved its designation as a working waterfront. This is where third- and fourth-generation Croatian families still continue their ancestors’ fishing trade that was once a booming part of the city’s economy. But fishing is not the only part of […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
West Puget Sound Island Could Be Our Own ‘Panama Canal’
What if we could create a West Puget Sound Island, bigger than Whidbey, bigger than either Bainbridge or Vashon — an island that would become a true Mecca for recreational boaters? And what if we could save the ecosystem of Hood Canal in the bargain? Forget “Big Bertha” and the ill-fated (so far) tunnel under […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
The Sentinel of Yesteryear Still Beckons Visitors
Long before American ports became a major part of a burgeoning transportation industry — and before roads became as common as Northwest rain — Puget Sound was a bustling maritime throughway. The gateway to Puget Sound for all the ships too large to enter Deception Pass was Admiralty Inlet, where the Point No Point shoal […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Best Friends Build Wherry for Good Cause
This beautiful wineglass wherry was built by Vaughn resident Frank Garratt and his friend, Buzz Bowman, of Annapolis, MD. The two high school friends decided to do a project together when they retired. The 14-foot, two-station, classic rowing skiff was designed by Pygmy Boats of Port Townsend. Many Key Peninsula residents helped out with the […]
Posted inBlog, Community News
Boat Rentals Open on the Gig Harbor Waterfront
Looking for a romantic date on the water? Rent a classic boat at the Gig Harbor BoatShop. The Small Craft Livery Service is open to the community every Saturday through September, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The boats available for rent are classic small-craft that have been restored at the BoatShop. Many of them […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, The Outdoors
Volunteers Needed for Beach Cleanup at New Harper Pier Site
The Harper Pier in Manchester was once a booming Mosquito Fleet destination. In the automobile era, the maritime traffic has dwindled, but the pier continued to be popular with boaters and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The historic pier had to be demolished last year because it became unsafe — but soon, the community will get its […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
Bremerton Marina Plans Busy Weekend to Mark National Marina Day
The Bremerton Marina will join other marinas from around the country on June 14 to celebrate National Marina Day. It’s a day to both celebrate boating and give nonboaters a sneak peek at the boating lifestyle. Because of the event’s success last year, this year organizers have extended it to start with Friday evening on […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Gig Harbor’s Net Sheds Harken Back to Yesteryear
Shortly after the first commercial fishermen began settling in Gig Harbor, net sheds started dotting the waterfront. These wood structures, built on pilings, were simple but their long, rectangular shape made them distinct. For the fishermen, the net sheds provided a convenient way for loading and unloading the heavy nets from their boats so they […]