Bremerton–Silverdale
Around Bremerton–Silverdale
Metro area · Washington · 281k people
Bremerton–Silverdale
Locals say Kitsap Peninsula
Bremerton · Silverdale · Port Orchard
Small towns, big water
Puget Sound cyanEvergreen forest greenNavy blue
Welcome to the Kitsap Peninsula, where the ferry is your lifeline to the city and the forests are your backyard. Whether you're here for the shipyard, the trails, or the fresh seafood, you'll find a laid-back pace and friendly faces.
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The room
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Marketplace
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Things to do
- USS Turner Joy Vietnam-era destroyer museum ship in Bremerton.
- Bloedel Reserve 150-acre former estate with woodland gardens and a Japanese garden.
- Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal Gateway to Seattle with stunning skyline views from the water.
- Point No Point Lighthouse Historic lighthouse on the northern tip of the peninsula.
- Port Gamble Historic Mill Town Preserved 19th-century mill town on the Hood Canal.
- Illahee State Park Beachfront park with trails, a pier, and picnic areas.
- Outdoors Hike Green Mountain
- Outdoors Kayak Liberty Bay
- With kids Visit the USS Turner Joy
- With kids Walk the Bremerton Boardwalk
- Evenings Catch a show at the Admiral Theatre
- Evenings Bar hop on Washington Ave
- Locals love Marinas
- Locals love Farmers markets
Through the year
- Kitsap County Fair & Rodeo August County fair with rodeo, livestock, and carnival rides.
- Bremerton Blackberry Festival August Weekend of blackberry treats, live music, and vendors on the boardwalk.
- Whaling Days July Silverdale's summer festival with a parade, music, and family activities.
- Bainbridge Island Studio Tour October Self-guided tour of artists' studios across the island.
- Port Orchard Summer Concert Series Summer Free outdoor concerts in the park on summer evenings.
Mild maritime climate with dry summers and rainy winters. Best time to be out is July-September. Best: July-September
Talk like a local
- “ferry”
- To take the ferry (as a verb)
- “Brem”
- Bremerton
- “the other side”
- Seattle (across the water)
Getaways
- Seattle Take the ferry for a day of city museums, sports, and dining.
- Olympia State capital with a vibrant waterfront and farmers market.
- Port Townsend Victorian seaport with galleries, forts, and a lively downtown.
- Oak Harbor Naval town on Whidbey Island with beaches and hiking.
Local flavour
Teams
- Kitsap BlueJackets West Coast League
- Kitsap Pumas USL League Two
Also rooting for Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Mariners (MLB), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), Seattle Kraken (NHL), Seattle Storm (WNBA), OL Reign (NWSL), Washington Huskies (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Dungeness crab Fresh from local waters, often served simply with melted butter.
- Oysters From nearby bays, served raw, grilled, or in stews.
- Salmon Wild-caught, smoked or grilled, a Pacific Northwest staple.
- Clam chowder Creamy and hearty, a ferry-ride comfort food.
- Fish and chips Often enjoyed at waterfront stands, with a view of the ferries.
- Huckleberry pie A sweet-tart treat from local berries.
Where people go
- Marinas Filled with sailboats and fishing vessels, the heart of waterfront life.
- Ferry terminals Gateways to Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula, bustling with commuters.
- State parks Forested trails, beaches, and picnic spots along the shore.
- Hiking trails From easy coastal walks to challenging mountain climbs.
- Waterfront boardwalks Perfect for a stroll, with views of the sound and passing ferries.
- Farmers markets Local produce, crafts, and community gathering spots.
- Small-town main streets Quaint shops, cafes, and historic buildings in places like Poulsbo and Port Orchard.
Heritage and traditions
Proud of its deep naval heritage, Scandinavian roots, and the laid-back island life that makes the Kitsap Peninsula feel like a world apart from Seattle.
This time of year in Bremerton–Silverdale
- Salmon runs fall Fall brings spawning salmon to local streams and hatcheries, a time for fishing and viewing.
Say it like a local: “The Sound” — Puget Sound, often referred to simply as 'the Sound'.
Festivals
- Poulsbo Viking Fest May A celebration of Scandinavian heritage with a parade, food, music, and a Viking-themed fun run.
- Chief Seattle Days August The Suquamish Tribe's annual gathering with a salmon bake, canoe races, and traditional dancing.
- Fathoms O' Fun July Port Orchard's summer festival featuring a grand parade, carnival rides, and a waterfront celebration.
- Bainbridge in Bloom April A garden tour and flower festival showcasing the island's private gardens and horticultural talent.
- Yulefest December A Scandinavian Christmas market in Poulsbo with crafts, treats, and a festive atmosphere.
Landmarks with a story
- Suquamish Museum and Old Man House The site of Chief Seattle's longhouse and a museum preserving Coast Salish culture and history.
- Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Commemorates the first Japanese Americans forcibly removed and interned during World War II.
- Fort Ward State Park A 19th-century military fort on Bainbridge Island with restored bunkers and a beach.
- Poulsbo's historic downtown Scandinavian-style architecture and storefronts that reflect the town's Norwegian heritage.
- Naval Undersea Museum In Keyport, showcases the history of submarines and undersea warfare.
Food traditions
- Scandinavian holiday baking In Poulsbo, families make lefse, krumkake, and sandbakkel for Christmas, a tradition from Norwegian and Swedish ancestors.
- Salmon bakes At Suquamish events like Chief Seattle Days, salmon is cooked over open alder fires, a Coast Salish tradition.
- Oyster shucking contests Celebrating the region's oyster farms, these contests are a fun part of local gatherings.
- Clam digging A family tradition on Hood Canal and local beaches, where razor clams and littlenecks are harvested at low tide.
- Huckleberry picking Foraging for wild huckleberries in the woods, then baking them into pies and jams.
Music and arts
- Scandinavian folk music and dance Poulsbo's heritage includes Norwegian and Swedish folk tunes, accordion music, and traditional dances.
- Coast Salish carving and weaving Suquamish artists create cedar carvings, baskets, and woven items that reflect tribal traditions.
- Maritime folk songs Sea shanties and naval ballads echo the region's shipyard and seafaring history.
- Bainbridge Island artist community A vibrant community of painters, sculptors, and craftspeople, with many studios open to the public.
A little history
- 1891 Bremerton founded as a naval shipyard
- 1780s Chief Seattle born on Blake Island and later lived at Suquamish
- 1942 Bainbridge Island's Japanese American residents forcibly removed and interned
- 1853 Port Gamble founded as a mill town
- 1970s Bangor Trident Base established, bringing nuclear submarines to the peninsula
- Game day High school football
- Game day Sailing regattas
- Outdoors Watch ferries from the Bremerton Boardwalk
- Outdoors Visit the Suquamish Museum
- With kids Ride the ferry to Seattle
- With kids Visit the Naval Undersea Museum
A laid-back Pacific Northwest English, with a touch of Scandinavian influence in Poulsbo and a few Chinook Jargon words like 'skookum' still in use. Locals refer to 'the Sound' and 'the ferry' as everyday shorthand.
Only here
- The largest naval shipyard on the West Coast sits in Bremerton.
- The Washington State Ferry system connects Kitsap to Seattle, a daily commute for many.
- Poulsbo is known as 'Little Norway' for its deep Scandinavian roots.
- The Suquamish Tribe's Old Man House site is a sacred place along the shore.
New here? A few tips
- Bring a good rain jacket; it rains often, even in summer.
- Learn the ferry schedule—it's the fastest way to Seattle and a beloved local ritual.
- Pronounce 'Poulsbo' as 'POHLZ-boh' and 'Bremerton' as 'BREM-er-tun'.
- Drive carefully on Highway 3; deer are common, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Try a Scandinavian pastry from a Poulsbo bakery—it's a local rite of passage.
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Part of Seattle area
Nearby
Every areaSeattleWashingtonMisty mornings, bold coffee, and mountain silhouettes.SheltonWashingtonOyster capital with a small-town soul.OlympiaWashingtonWhere the sound beginsPort TownsendWashingtonWhere the mountains meet the sea, and history sails on.Oak HarborWashingtonIsland calm, Pacific Northwest soulPort AngelesWashingtonWhere rainforest meets the seaSkagit ValleyWashingtonWhere tulips bloom and tides turn.CentraliaWashingtonWhere the pines meet the past
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.