No matter the month, day, or time of year - there is always a new place to explore, cuisine to be savored, trails to be hiked, and festivals to enjoy in and around Port Townsend. Here are September's Top 5 Port Townsend (and beyond) activities.
Photo c/o Northwest Maritime Center
Wooden Boat Festival
The Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival is the largest wooden boat festival in the world. The 41st annual festival takes place the weekend of September 8th - 10th The festival features over 300 boats, over 120 presentations and demonstrations, interactive exhibits for children, live music, and local food and spirits. Sail on the Adventuress, enjoy a paddle boat or rowboat ride, or watch the festivities one one of the festival’s three pop-up bars.
Photo c/o National Park Service
Olympic National Park
September is one of the best months to view wildlife in the national park. In addition to viewing elk, birds, otters, salmon, and bobcats (!), September is the ideal time to view raging waterfalls. storm watch, and forage for mushrooms. Two of my favorite spots in the national forest are the Hoh Rainforest and Lake Crescent.
Photo c/o Washington State University
Jefferson County Farm Tour
Interested in checking out the local farms? With 19 farms to visit, The Jefferson County Farm Tour is the ideal outing to explore working farms and meet local farmers. The tour takes place the weekend of September 16th. The farms range from u-pick flowers, blueberries and pumpkins, to vineyards and orchards, to fiber farms and more. Some of the farms on the tour include Wilderbee Farm, Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Red Dog Farm, and Compass Rose Farm & The Dirt Rich School.
Photo c/o Puget Sound Express
Whale Watching
Observing whales in their natural habitat is a unique Pacific Northwest experience that is not to be missed. Whale watching expeditions run through October. Local tour company, Puget Sound Express, offers a guaranteed 4-hour whale watching tour in walking distance from the With These Rings studio. In addition to viewing majestic Orca whales, expect to see humpback and Minke whales, bald eagles, sea lions, seals, puffins, and other marine species.
Photo c/o Port Townsend Film Festival
Port Townsend Film Festival
From September 15th to September 17th sit under the stars and enjoy an outdoor movie including The Princess Bride, view documentaries and shorts, and meet some of the esteemed filmmakers at the 18th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival. The Port Townsend Film Festival is a dream for any movie aficionados. This year’s special guest is Morgan Neville. Neville won the Oscar in 2013 for Best Documentary Feature for 20 Feet From Stardom and his 2015 film The Music of Strangers, Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble will be show on Friday, September 15th.
