Key Center

Key Center is the largest town on the Key Peninsula which is a sub peninsula of the Kitsap Peninsula.



Understand
Key Center is not large by most peoples standards, however it is the largest town on the Key Peninsula. If you are heading south on your adventure this will be your last chance to visit a real grocery store.

By car
Located on the Key Peninsula Highway south west of Purdy.

By boat
Key Center is one of the few towns in the area not accessible by boat. The closest public access to Puget Sound is a small boat ramp directly west located on Vaughn Bay.

Get around
Once you are in town, everything is accessible by foot.

See




Beach combing
Nearby Penrose Point State Park and Joemma State Park are both excellent places to start a beach combing adventure offering miles of beaches from the rugged to the sandy smooth. Small crabs, moon snails, sea stars and sand dollars are common sites and tide pools can offer hours of exploration.

Be warned that sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed, however the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.

Birdwatching
The Kitsap Audubon Society has been actively meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders actively tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.

The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Penrose Point State Park is only one of only seven locations in the area named to be on the list.

Sleep
Camping and moorage is available at both Penrose Point State Park and Joemma State Park.

Go next
Key Center is one of the few towns in the area not directly accessible by boat, however located along the Key Peninsula Highway it does offer easy access to Purdy to the north and other areas such as Lakebay and Longbranch to the south.