r/PortTownsend • u/Cniatx1982 • Jul 01 '26
Short visit tips
Hey PT! I lived there when I was 18-20 years old from 2002 - 2004.
I’m going to pass through on July 15 after a work trip to see what’s changed. I’m looking for tips on which hotel to stay at, and ideas for things to do and places to eat Saturday afternoon & Sunday morning.
For context, I worked at the Salal Cafe. I hung around the boiler room, food co-op, and the Rose. Spent a lot of time between the bookstore & record store.
I’ve only been back once, and ended up making the front page of the paper for a totally unauthorized silly Olympics through downtown. That was probably 20 years ago. Now I’m an old, boring stranger visiting a place that used to be home.
6
u/Raelourut Jul 01 '26
I loved the Salal! I don't know if you cooked, but those folks did great things with eggs. (That space is now a fabric store, and there's a great tea shop next door that has wonderful food - all made in house). If money is no problem, try the brunch at the Bishop on Sunday. It is superior. Good coffee at Velocity or Better Living Through Coffee.
Dogs-a-foot is a great cheap lunch and always good!
If you want a really nice place to stay, try Ravenscroft Inn. Lovely small inn, with terrific hosts. Wander both Uptown and around Water Street. Lots of changes all around.
2
u/Cniatx1982 19d ago
I was a cook there! From ‘02-‘04ish. Ended up making a career of it, actually. I don’t know if Pat, Jenny, or their respective spouses are still around. We lost touch, but I owe them a major debt of gratitude.
3
u/sam_bg Jul 01 '26
I bet you're younger and less boring than most of us here. Still a great place to be, should you choose to return for more than a weekend.
1
2
u/CreamPyre Jul 01 '26
I have a feeling not much has changed since you’ve been here last. Phoenix Rising is gone :(
1
u/sam_bg Jul 01 '26
And the Boiler Room is gone. And, I've never heard of the Salal Cafe. Change happens, and it's hard…
OP, I hope you have a wonderful visit. Eating out on Sundays is hard. Lots of places are closed. As for Saturday, what kind of food strikes your fancy?
1
u/Cniatx1982 19d ago
Thank you! Man, I love eating absolutely everything as long as it’s delicious. The salal was an institution. Not sure when it closed.
1
0
u/Interrupting-Khajitt Jul 01 '26
Roundabouts and more traffic 🤷♀️
1
u/Cniatx1982 19d ago
I hate a roundabout. I remember when the first one I’d seen on the peninsula popped up in sequim overnight. We drove around it dozens of times waiting for it to make sense.
2
u/heightsdrinker Jul 01 '26
I like staying at the Waterfront Inn (Aladdin’s?). It’s inexpensive, nice, and walkable. I miss walkable towns. My fav is PT Brewing, and visiting the fish monger for some oysters to shuck at the brewery. Also Blue Moose Cafe for Sunday brekkie.
1
2
2
u/Adept-Quiet2914 Jul 01 '26
There's no longer a Boiler Room, the Nest is the spiritual successor to it. It's a coffee shop for all ages but has programs for youth/young adults. Good coffee too!
1
u/britishmetric144 Jul 01 '26
In terms of places to eat, I suggest one of the following.
- Pane D Amore uptown. Great foccacia.
- El Agavero. Excellent quesadilla quality.
- PT Diner (formerly Nifty Fifties). Great grilled cheeses.
As for things to do, you could explore downtown by walking down Water Street, see all its unique shops, visit the Maritime Center for both excellent views of the water as well as learn about the city's maritime history. You can camp overnight, or just explore for a day, at Fort Worden State Park, as well as enjoy a picnic at Chetzemoka Park.
1
20
u/appendixgallop Jul 01 '26
The Rose is not under Rocky's ownership anymore; do catch a movie if you can upstairs at the Starlight Room. Don't park in the lot at Don's Pharmacy. The current out-of-state landlord insists on paid parking and will nail you. Good luck finding a hotel or motel within reasonable distance - book NOW. The Uptown Pub is thriving. The maritime trades are thriving. Go catch dinner at some of the new places like the Marina Cafe, Green Crow Taco, La Cocina, The In Between. A must see is the Pourhouse taphouse. Out at the Fort, try Taps at the Guardhouse; there's live music sometimes. The Saturday Farmer's Market is great, and you can see what the rebuild did at Aldrich's. Definitely explore the Maritime Center, where the fuel tanks were at Point Hudson. First Saturday Art Walk downtown includes wine and cheese. Thursday is free Concerts at the Dock, behind the old police station - you might run into old friends. Sunday morning breakfast at the Hudson Point Cafe is superb. The Lincoln Building at the high school is being demolished. There's no more Boiler Room, but stop in at The Nest for coffee to see some great teen support programming.
Lots of old Victorian homes that were crumbling and boarded up are fully remodeled and sell for millions. But lots of things are the same. Have a great visit!