Our favorite spots around Port Hadlock

Oak Bay County Park (about a 15-minute walk)

Our neighborhood park: beach access, a little ramp for kayaks and car-top boats, picnic tables, and a playground up top. We go for the walk, the birds and the tide pools. Low tide is the time to go, so check the NOAA tide table for Port Townsend first.

Spirits Bar & Grill at the Old Alcohol Plant (a couple of minutes by car)

Northwest dinners, good cocktails and bay views in the historic inn in Lower Hadlock. Book a table on their website.

Moon's Cafe (it used to be Metro Bagels; a few minutes away)

Bagels, breakfast sandwiches and espresso on Oak Bay Road. They're open weekday and Saturday mornings into early afternoon, and closed Sundays.

The Ajax Cafe (a few minutes away)

A Lower Hadlock favorite right on the water: Northwest food, craft cocktails, beer and wine. They call themselves "a little out of the way, but way out of the ordinary," and that's about right. Dinner is Thursday through Monday, 4 to 8 p.m. Book ahead.

QFC (Port Hadlock) (a few minutes away)

Where we stock up: a full grocery store, open 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day.

Henery Hardware (Port Hadlock) (a few minutes away)

Hardware store, and the place to grab a fishing license before you cast a line. They sell hunting licenses too.

Chimacum Corner Farmstand (5 to 10 minutes by car)

Everyone calls it the Corner. It's a grocery, farmstand, kitchen and nursery in one, stocked by farms and makers from just down the road. On Sundays from May 3 to October 25 this year, the Chimacum Farmers Market sets up next door.

Irondale Beach Park (5 to 10 minutes by car)

A beach walk past what's left of the old Irondale iron works, right by the Chimacum Creek tidelands. Open sunrise to sunset.

Chimacum Cafe (5 to 10 minutes by car)

An old-school country cafe at the Chimacum crossroads.

Finnriver Farm & Cidery (5 to 10 minutes by car)

An organic farm and cidery on a salmon stream in the Chimacum Valley, and one of our favorite afternoons. The Cider Garden is all-ages and open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). You can book a tasting tour of the orchard and cidery ahead of time.

Easy Times Espresso (in Port Hadlock)

Our drive-through coffee stop, with muffins and little pastries.

Red Dog Farm farmstand (5 to 10 minutes by car)

A certified organic farm on Center Road in Chimacum. Their self-serve stand is open every day of the year, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with whatever's in season: vegetables, berries, flowers, plant starts.

Port Townsend Aero Museum (about 10 minutes)

Restored vintage planes at the little Jefferson County International Airport, on the way to Port Townsend. Open Wednesday through Sunday.

Nordland General Store (Marrowstone Island) (about 10 minutes)

Marrowstone Island's co-op general store, with groceries, snacks, beer and wine, and things from local makers. It's right on the way to Fort Flagler. Check their hours before you go.

Fort Townsend Historical State Park (about 15 minutes)

Quiet wooded trails above Port Townsend Bay, open all year. You'll need a Discover Pass.

Eaglemount Wine & Cider (about 15 minutes)

The first cidery on the Olympic Peninsula, pouring wine, cider and mead. The tasting room just outside Port Townsend is open weekends, noon to 5 p.m., and by appointment other times.

Fort Flagler Historical State Park (Marrowstone Island) (about 20 minutes)

Beaches, bluff trails, old gun batteries, and views across the water to Port Townsend. The Beachcomber Cafe by the lower campground has food, espresso and soft-serve on weekends in April, May and September, and every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You'll need a Discover Pass.

Fort Worden Historical State Park (about 25 minutes)

Our other favorite old fort. Old batteries to poke around, beach walks, Point Wilson Lighthouse, and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center's aquarium and exhibits. Heads up: the Coast Artillery Museum closed for good on September 7, 2026. You'll need a Discover Pass.

Downtown and Uptown Port Townsend

Victorian buildings, shops, restaurants, theaters and a busy waterfront. The town's visitor site has the full rundown.

Northwest Maritime Center and Welcome Center

The visitor center on the water. Stop in for maps, and stay to look at the boats.

Elevated Ice Cream & Candy Shop

Handmade ice cream, Italian ice and candy on Water Street. Hard to walk past.

Port Townsend Farmers Market

Saturdays on Tyler Street. The main season runs through October 31 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), then shorter winter hours November 7 to December 19 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Port Townsend Aero Museum (see above)

Finnriver's Cider Garden (5 to 10 minutes by car)

When the weather turns, tasting tours move inside to the Cider Barn.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center

An aquarium and exhibits at Fort Worden, plus a gallery and store downtown. Open days change with the season, so check first.

Jefferson Museum of Art & History

Local history and art in downtown Port Townsend, open Thursday through Sunday, March through December.

The Rose Theatre

Port Townsend's independent movie house, right downtown.

At the cottage

There are games, puzzles, a few books and a TV, but honestly, watching the rain roll across the bay is the best show.

Hoh Rain Forest (Olympic National Park) (about three and a half hours each way)

Mossy old-growth forest on the far west side of the park. The visitor center closes for part of the winter (usually January to early March), but the area can still be open when the road is.

Hurricane Ridge (Olympic National Park) (an hour and a half to two hours each way)

Big mountain views above Port Angeles. In winter the road's only open some days and you'll need chains, so check conditions first.

Spring (March to May)

The farmers markets come back (Port Townsend in early April, Chimacum in May). The Rhododendron Festival takes over Port Townsend in mid-May (May 13 to 17 in 2026), and Fort Flagler's cafe starts weekend hours in April.

Summer (June to August)

Beach days, evenings at the fire pit (check for burn bans first), and the propane grill on the deck (May through September). The Jefferson County Fair is in mid-August (August 14 to 16 in 2026), and Fort Flagler's cafe is open every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Check burn bans and park alerts at parks.wa.gov.

Fall (September to November)

Fall is festival season: the Wooden Boat Festival (September 11 to 13 in 2026), the Port Townsend Film Festival (September 24 to 28) and the Kinetic Sculpture Race (October 2 to 4). And the beaches quiet down once the summer crowds head home.

Winter and the off-season (December to February)

Our quiet season. Fort Worden, Fort Flagler and Fort Townsend stay open all year, with winter hours of 8 a.m. to dusk. The Port Townsend market keeps winter hours through mid-December. The museums, the Aero Museum and the Rose Theatre are easy rainy-afternoon plans. A few things do close for the season: the Oak Bay campgrounds (November through March), Fort Flagler's cafe, and the Hoh visitor center for part of the winter.