II am ashamed to say that in the 18 years I’ve lived in Washington state, this is my first year exploring the magnificent Olympic Peninsula. The mountain views, ocean smell, outdoor activities, and charming marine towns are enchanting, and one particular marine town hooked my heart forever — Poulsbo in Kitsap county, Washington. A new…
Tucked away on the north end of Bainbridge Island, a pristine estate sits atop the high banks looking north over Puget Sound. A fairytale setting come to life, the enchanted woods, sweeping meadows and romantic 18th century French-inspired villa that make up The Bloedel Reserve gives visitors a personal glimpse into one of Washington’s more…
Twenty-seven minutes to paradise. That is it. Twenty-seven minutes. Okay, it’s Blake Island Marine State Park, but to us, it’s a local paradise. Your arrival at the island puts you directly into another world. You will be greeted with grazing deer, possibly a bald eagle, the sounds of birds chirping and the waves crashing over…
Hugging the shores of Liberty Bay, Poulsbo’s downtown corridor is adorned with gingerbread house facades and Scandinavian-themed murals. Much like Leavenworth, its more famous cousin, Poulsbo is a European-styled village designed for tourists. Kitsch and quality collide in Poulsbo. The locals lean into their Scandinavian heritage, so there’s no shortage of t-shirts with pithy puns…
Traveling Northbound on Highway 3 towards the Hood Canal Bridge, a large brown sign stands on the shoulder reading “National Historic Landmark straight ahead.” Passing the bridge exit on my left, Highway 3 becomes Highway 104 East as it quickly narrows and slows to a cautious 25 mph. Entering a large thicket of Evergreens the…
You may have heard of The Brothers Greenhouses before. They have been featured on King 5 Evening, Kitsap Sun, Atlas Obsura, Insider Travel and another handful and a half journalistic outlets. But what is it about this seemingly ordinary retail garden center that attracts thousands of patrons from all over the country per year? Can…
This post was originally posted here, but with permission from Valerie we are sharing it here. If you want to escape the burbs, or the busy life around Seattle, head to Silverdale! This lovely town is centrally located on the Kitsap Peninsula. I’ve explored the area from top to bottom, and side to side, ha!…
Founded by Ole Stubb, a Norwegian immigrant in 1875, Poulsbo is often referred to as “Little Norway,” with good reason. Throughout history this portion of land in the North Kitsap County has been used for fishing and trapping by Europeans and Native Americans alike. The First Norwegian Ole Stubb came to America with his family,…
