Located on Liberty Bay, Poulsbo Washington, aka Little Norway, is a great all day or afternoon destination. There isn’t a direct ferry to Poulsbo but it’s a 25 minute drive from either the Bainbridge Island or Kingston ferry terminals.

A good first stop in Poulsbo is Fish Park. It’s not a challenging walk but it is a very peaceful and well designed trail along Dogfish Creek. Fish Park is also part of the annual Salmon Tour where “Salmon Stewards and Biologists will talk about the various types of salmon in Kitsap, the salmon life cycle, and healthy fish habitat.”

After Fish Park, you can head down to Poulsbo’s Front Street and check out the gift shops, bakeries, cafés, and restaurants.

• Coffee: Hot Shots Java or CUPS.
• Restaurants: The Loft (casual, w/ bar area and patio seating), JJ’s Fish House (seafood, very kid friendly), Burratta Bistro (Italian; ask for pricing on specials), Sogno di Vino (fine dining, seafood)
• Bakery: Sluys; not sure if another bakery is allowed in Poulsbo.
• Bar/Pub: The Loft, Tizley’s
• Dessert: Mora Ice Creamery

During the summer, head over to Poulsbo’s public dock & boat launch and visit Olympic Outdoor Center’s on-dock kayak and paddle board rental. Rent kayaks and paddle boards by the hour/day and check out some of the amazing view and waterfront homes around Liberty Bay.

On rainy days, or sunny, stop by and visit the very hands-on SEA Discovery Center. Operated by Western Washington University, SDC has been a favorite field trip for kids growing up in Kitsap County, including mine, who still call it the Marine Science Center. Be sure to plan ahead and check the Center’s days/hours of operation.

Lastly, no trip to Poulsbo would be complete without a final stop at Central Market. It’s so much more than a grocery store; Central Market is also a food court, a place to find locally grown & produced products, fresh seafood and much more.

Additional Info

• Map of Poulsbo Area Parks
• Walking Map of Downtown Poulsbo