Savor the sea in Gig Harbor
Founded by Croatian fishermen, Gig Harbor may be the quintessential Puget Sound fishing town. Commercial fishing remains one of the biggest industries in the area, but visitors will find plenty of seaside charm and maritime heritage during a stay in the area.
Begin at the Harbor History Museum, a new heritage center that opened in 2010. The museum tells the stories of Gig Harbor’s fishermen founders and introduces visitors to topics such as maritime navigation and the ecological life of the Puget Sound.
This year, the museum also hired a shipwright, who undertook the restoration of a historic fishing vessel called the Shenandoah. This 65-foot purse seiner was donated to the museum by a local who had used it during his 58-year fishing career. Group programs give visitors a chance to help with some hands-on aspects of the restoration. Additional participation opportunities at Gig Harbor Boat Works allow visitors to help professionals restore sporting boats of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
Gig Harbor’s two-mile Waterfront Walk offers guests a more leisurely way to enjoy the area’s maritime culture with beautiful views and heritage markers along the way that tell about the city’s history. Groups can also explore the waters of the area with Destiny Harbor Tours, a company that takes visitors on sightseeing cruises all the way to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
www.gigharborguide.com
Go wild on the Kitsap Peninsula
Nature lovers will find a wet and wooded paradise of possibilities on the Kitsap Peninsula, an area of the Puget Sound noted for its outdoor activities. From leisurely whale-watching cruises to kayaking tours and other more active options, there are attractions for all sorts of interests.
Three pods of orca whales make their home in the waters of the Puget Sound near the peninsula. In addition, pods of gray whales make their way to the area each spring during their annual migration from Mexico to Alaska. Whale-watching cruises give groups great opportunities to see these majestic creatures up close.
Puget Sound is also known for its population of salmon, who migrate to the streams and rivers in the area each year to spawn. Groups can watch the salmon migration and see wild salmon at numerous parks and nature habitats on the Kitsap Peninsula, or they can see farm-raised salmon at one of the area’s hatcheries.
More than 350 miles of saltwater shoreline, along with numerous bays and inlets, make scenic settings for kayaking and paddle trips. Options range from a several-hours expedition with an outfitter to multiday kayaking tours. Several dozen parks and attractions throughout the peninsula provide visitors with kayaking equipment, along with experienced guides and naturalists.
