Poulsbo

Poulsbo is located on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Known as "Little Norway," Poulsbo was settled in 1892 by Norwegian loggers, farmers and fishermen who likened the fjord-cut landscape to their homeland.

Stroll down Front Street with its dozens of quaint and colorful shops offering Scandinavian gifts, fine art, fashions, antiques, etc. If shopping makes you a bit hungry, feast on handmade European chocolates, baked goods, fresh waffle cones, delicious smoked salmon or gourmet coffee in one of Poulsbo's fine restaurants and cafes.

If the great outdoors is your passion, rent a kayak and paddle scenic Liberty Bay, take a walking tour of the town, or simply relax along the boardwalk and look for seals, herons and eagles.

By car
Main highways to Poulsbo are WA Highway 3 from Shelton, north through the county to the Hood Canal Bridge near the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula. From Tacoma and Interstate 5, take WA Highway 16 north from Tacoma across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge until it combines with WA Highway 3 near Gorst.

By boat
Like most towns on the Kitsap Peninsula, Poulsbo was built around the harbor and had no roads so the town center is geared towards the piers.



By bus
The major bus stations in Poulsbo for Kitsap Transit are at the and the, north of town at Viking Way NW & Vetter. The Clallam Transit Rt #123 and Jefferson Transit Rt #7 stop at the North Viking Park & Ride while the Dungeness Line bus picks up and drops off at the Kingston Ferry Terminal and the Edmonds Ferry Terminal at the other side:
 * Clallam Transit Rt #123 The Clallam "Strait Shot" (#123) runs thrice daily (M-Sa) and twice on Sundays to Port Angeles from the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal via Suquamish Way and North Viking Transit Center/P&R in Poulsbo with limited stops in Sequim, Jamestown and Discovery Bay.
 * Jefferson Transit (JT) JT #7 connects Poulsbo to Port Townsend via Port Ludlow while the #14 bus goes up to Port Townsend from the Kingston Ferry Terminal.
 * Clallam Transit Rt #123 The Clallam "Strait Shot" (#123) runs thrice daily (M-Sa) and twice on Sundays to Port Angeles from the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal via Suquamish Way and North Viking Transit Center/P&R in Poulsbo with limited stops in Sequim, Jamestown and Discovery Bay.
 * Jefferson Transit (JT) JT #7 connects Poulsbo to Port Townsend via Port Ludlow while the #14 bus goes up to Port Townsend from the Kingston Ferry Terminal.

Get around
The charming core of Poulsbo is walkable on foot and is geared towards the harbor with easy access from the water.

See

 * Stroll down Front Street - all the shops and restaurants in Scandinavian decor and architecture

Beach combing
What Puget Sound beaches lack in white sand and warm water is more than made up for in the amazing scenery as the clear waters play against wild coastlines and snow peaked mountains scatter on the horizons. Nearby Kitsap Memorial State Park and Salsbury Point County Park are good places to start a beach combing adventure offering a mixture 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. Liberty Bay near Poulsbo is one of only a handful of areas named to the list.

Sea kayaking
Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the Liberty Bay near Poulsbo and helps to make Kitsap one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Poulsbo is one of the many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites and Liberty Bay offers views of nearby beach homes and other boaters.

Kayak trails
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate travel lengths and scenic travel destinations.



Eat

 * Sluys Poulsbo Bakery, 18924 Front St NE, +1 360 779–2798. Summer: 4:30am – 7:30pm Daily, closes an hour earlier Sun-Thursday during the Winter.  Handmade pastries and breads.  Famous for the Viking Cup and Poulsbo Bread.
 * Brass Kraken Pub. 18779 Front St NE, (360) 626-1042.
 * Green Light Dinner. 18820 Front St NE, (360) 697-3449.  50s diner styled.  Good breakfast food, does have okay lunch food.  Milkshakes with or without booze.
 * JJs Fish house
 * Sogno Di Vino. 18830 Front Street NE, [tel:(360)&#x20;697-8466 (360) 697-8466]. Italian food, wood fired pizzas.
 * That's-a-some Italian Restaurante. 18881 Front St NE
 * The Loft. 18779 Front St NE, 360-626-0224. American food.  Best views in town, very crowded in the summer.  Extensive outdoor seating.
 * That's-a-some Italian Restaurante. 18881 Front St NE
 * The Loft. 18779 Front St NE, 360-626-0224. American food.  Best views in town, very crowded in the summer.  Extensive outdoor seating.
 * That's-a-some Italian Restaurante. 18881 Front St NE
 * The Loft. 18779 Front St NE, 360-626-0224. American food.  Best views in town, very crowded in the summer.  Extensive outdoor seating.

Drink

 * Rainy Daze Brewery. 650 NW Bovela Ln #3, +1 360 692-1858.  Specializing in IPAs
 * Slippery Pig Brewery. 18801 Front Street NE, +1 360 394-1686.  Kid friendly until 11PM except on Fridays, 9:30PM.
 * Sound Brewery. 19815 Viking Ave NW, +1 360 930-8696.
 * Valholl Brewery. 18970 3rd Ave NE, +1 360 930-0172.  Dog friendly
 * Western Red Brewery. 19168 Jensen Way NE
 * Sound Brewery. 19815 Viking Ave NW, +1 360 930-8696.
 * Valholl Brewery. 18970 3rd Ave NE, +1 360 930-0172.  Dog friendly
 * Western Red Brewery. 19168 Jensen Way NE

By car
Poulsbo is centrally located on Kitsap Peninsula and offers nearby access to several other towns. Port Gamble and the Olympic Peninsula are to the north via highway 3 and the Hood Canal Bridge. Keyport is slightly to the south while Suquamish is to the west and offers further access to Bainbridge Island via the Agate Pass Bridge.

By boat
Poulsbo is located on the protected waters of Liberty Bay and is a fun area to explore by boat or sea kayak. Keyport is also located on Liberty Bay and has a newer marina which has nearby access to the Undersea Museum.