Kitsap County and the entire Kitsap Peninsula offer a number of
cultural events. The KitsapSun newpaper lists these events in a
weekly supplement. The Olympic Peninsula also hosts a number of events all year
around that you'll want to investigate.
Area attractions include Seattle
Center, featuring the Pacific Science Center, Key Arena, Space Needle, and Art
Museums. The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is located in downtown Seattle.
The Air and Space Museum at Boeing Field is popular with airplane
enthusiasts. The Seattle waterfront is a popular place to visit,
featuring restaurants, shops and the Seattle Aquarium. Uphill from the
waterfront is the famous Pike Place Market featuring the "flying salmon," fresh
produce, fresh seafood, and many unique shops and stalls with a wide variety of
arts and crafts for sale.
Kitsap County has several
communities worth exploring any time of the year. Poulsbo is a
picturesque waterfront town that treasures its Scandinavian
heritage. Best explored on foot, the two main tourist goals are the
main street lined with gift and speciality shops, and the waterfront.
Bremerton's waterfront includes the retired destroyer USS Turner Joy
which is open for tours, harbor tour boats take visitors past the Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard, the foot ferry to Port Orchard makes the trip across Sinclair
Inlet easy, where visitors can browse in many shops, antique malls, and
restaurants.
Other places to visit in Kitsap County include
Suquamish, site of the grave of Chief Sealth (also known as Chief Seattle) and
the Suquamish Museum, the only museum in the area devoted to historical and
cultural materials of the Puget Sound Salish Indian
culture. Bainbridge Island is the site of Bainbridge Island
winery and is home to many shops and galleries and is a one half hour
ferry ride away from Seattle.
The Puget Sound region abounds
with recreational activities for everyone. Fishing, hunting, hiking,
camping, boating, swimming, and mountain climbing are just some of the
activities you will find here. The base MWR has an outstanding
program of recreational activities year round. Two National parks
(Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park) are within two hours' drive from the
base. Skiing is available within an hour and a half. Many
state and county parks are available for camping, hiking, picnics, and
swimming.
Naval Base Kitsap - , Bangor has a Morale, Welfare and
Recreation program that strives to meet the needs of the Sailors, Marines, and
families assigned to the base. A wide-range of programs, services and
facilities exist on the base. Facilities are open to all active duty,
retirees, DoD civilians, and their guests.
Information on current
activities may be found in the base newspaper, "Northwest Navigator," a weekly
publication for Puget Sound Naval bases. The local parks and
recreation departments sponsor events for kids of all ages. The
NBK-Bangor youth center, "City Limits," offers trips, sports, dances, and many
other activities throughout the year. For a directory of Youth and
Teen services,"The 2004 Youth Yellow Pages," contact the Naval Base Kitsap -
Bangor Fleet & Family Support Programs at (360) 396-4115 or
1-800-542-3301. Youth religious education program is available at the
Subase Chapel. Program offers classes, trips, "lock-ins" and
more! Be sure you connect with the Information, Trips and Tours
Department at both Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor and Bremerton to purchase discount
tickets for many of these adventures!
Developing personal interests,
making friends, and getting enough exercise are important to mental and physical
health. Organized creative and physical activities are a fun way
relax, develop new skills, and make lasting friendships with people who like to
do the same things.
Recreation and Sports programs are available through
various county organizations.