The shores, wetlands, and forests around Puget Sound shape the landscape, along with museums and memorial sites that explore a range of historical themes. First, consider whether waterfront nature, forest landscapes, or history and culture will be the focus of your trip. This will help you choose the places to visit based on your interests.

Coastal Landscapes and Nature Experiences

Point No Point Lighthouse & Park includes nearly 60 acres of Puget Sound shoreline, wetlands, and wooded uplands surrounding the historic lighthouse. The park also has a sandy beach. Manchester State Park offers more than 3,400 feet of saltwater shoreline and wooded hiking trails. The sites offer different experiences: Point No Point brings together several landscape types around the lighthouse, while Manchester combines shoreline and forest trails.

At Scenic Beach State Park, nature highlights include maintained forest trails and beach access, with views of the Olympic Mountains. At the northern end of Bainbridge Island is Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre forest garden. If you’d like to include an activity on the water, you can go kayaking on Hood Canal.

Culture, History, and Memorials

Point No Point Light Station is listed on both the Washington State Heritage Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The historic site adds a distinct heritage focus to the shoreline landscape.

Founded in 1983, the Suquamish Museum collects, preserves, and shares the living culture and history of the Suquamish Tribe. It offers visitors a journey through Suquamish history, culture, and art. The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial is an outdoor exhibit commemorating the incarceration of Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island. Visitors can explore the memorial on self-guided walking tours.

Kitsap History Museum also connects history with a specific place: it is housed in a historic Art Deco building from the 1950s that was originally a Seattle First National Bank branch. Puget Sound Navy Museum collects, preserves, and shares the U.S. Navy’s maritime heritage in the Pacific Northwest. Illahee State Park has a monument featuring two large naval guns donated by the U.S.S. West Virginia. Kitsap Memorial State Park includes the Log Hall Heritage Area.

Plan Your Transportation and Accommodation

The Kitsap Peninsula and Bremerton can be reached by ferry from terminals in Seattle, Edmonds/Kingston, and West Seattle/Vashon Island/Southworth. Transportation arrangements may change, so check the schedule for your route before you travel. The memorial on Bainbridge Island can be reached by car, ferry, and shuttle bus. It’s also worth checking current information for these transportation connections before you set off.

When looking for hotels in Kitsap, you can start by weighing your priorities: coastal parks and forest trails, museums and heritage, or a mix of both. Check the location of a particular property against the places you plan to visit, and factor the ferry schedule into your plans if you’ll be traveling by ferry.

Discover more destinations: Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Silverdale, Parkwood, Skagit County, Kittitas County.

For the main travel overview: Washington.