Most people miss this part of the Puget Sound
Many visitors only get as far as Bainbridge Island. What locals know is that beyond its ferry terminal lies a network of lesser-known communities scattered throughout the Puget Sound.
Explore our guide to the places most travelers miss, and discover the quieter side of the Pacific Northwest before everyone else does.
Poulsbo, Kitsap Peninsula
Disembark after the 35-minute ferry to Bainbridge Island, then drive 11 miles, over the Agate Pass Bridge to historic Poulsbo, affectionately known as “Little Norway.”
This quaint town on Liberty Bay is known for it’s unique shopping scene, local art, plenty of breweries and funky Norwegian vibe. Find the marina and walk up the wooden staircase overlooking the bay, settle in and enjoy your favorite meal at the Loft.
Eat: The Loft, Sogno-di-Vino
Sweets: Sluey’s
To Do: Poulsbo
Kingston, Kitsap Peninsula
Nicknamed the “Little City by the Sea,” Kingston sits along the shores of Apple Tree Cove, 40 minutes from Seattle by fast ferry or a short drive from Bainbridge Island.
This small town offers a relaxed, slow-paced atmosphere with a marina, walkable downtown, local shops, and waterfront restaurants. Be sure to stop at Sourdough Willy's, known for pizza crafted by a world-renowned master pizza maker.
Drink: Downpour Brew,The Lounge
Shop: Shopping in town
To Do: Golf, Salt Air Beach
Suquamish, Kitsap Peninsula
Nestled along the quiet shores of Port Madison, between Bainbridge Island and Kingston, this shoreline holds some of the most important layers of Pacific Northwest history.
This is where you find sites tied to Chief Seattle, including the area near Old Man House Beach, where shoreline, story, and heritage overlap in a way that still shapes the landscape today.
Visitors can walk the public dock, spend time at the waterfront park, and visit the local tribal museum to hear firsthand stories and history from the community itself. It is a quieter corner of the Sound, but one with deep roots and history.
To Do: Tribal History Museum
Eat: Sullys Bistro
Stay: Clearwater Casino
Hansville, Kitsap Peninsula
A sleepy coastal community located on the northern edge of the Kitsap Peninsula, known for white sand beaches, clear sunsets and the historic Point No Point Lighthouse.
With sweeping views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, watch cruise ships and marine traffic pass through against a backdrop of mountains and blue water. Hansville remains one of the Puget Sound’s quieter hidden destinations.
To Do: Whale Watching
Visit: Telve Vineyards
Port Gamble, Kitsap Peninsula
A historic mill town on the northern edge of the Kitsap Peninsula, founded in 1853 as one of the first major sawmill towns in the Pacific Northwest. Port Gamble is known for its remarkably preserved 19th-century New England-style architecture overlooking Hood Canal. Today, the town blends maritime history with local restaurants, artisan trinket shops, kayak rentals, and the Port Gamble Historical Museum.
To Do: Port Gamble
Eat: House 11 taproom
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Gig Harbor, South Puget Sound
An hour from Seattle, across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. A scenic sailors town known as the “Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula.” Explore waterfront dining, hillside parks, and a charming historic downtown filled with galleries and local art shops, or simply find any bench and watch the sun go down.
To Do: Gig Harbor
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Anderson Island, South Puget Sound
Often called the “Secret Island,” Anderson Island sits quietly at the southern end of the Puget Sound, approximately 30 minutes from Tacoma, 1.5 hours from Seattle, and about 2 hours from Portland.
With its classic Pacific Northwest character, forested landscapes, and comparatively affordable land prices, Anderson Island is well suited for a vacation retreat, recreational getaway, or long-term investment.
Accessed by a short and scenic state ferry departing from Steilacoom, the island offers a rare combination of privacy and natural beauty, that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in the Puget Sound.
To Do: Anderson Island
Eat: Lakeside Restaurant
Ferry: Pierce County Ferry
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