Tell me about Port Townsend and the San Juan Islands

[Plato]

How is life in either area? Or any places near to either of them.

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by Plato

How is life in either area? Or any places near to either of them.

Ahh, good question.

If have not been to Port Townsend it is worth the trip to visit for either relocation or for a day trip.

Living in the Port Townsend area brings you to a historical area with a downtown that is very picturesque with old brick buildings and store fronts that look to be from the early 1900's.

Port Townsends claim to fame comes from the movie "an officer and gentleman" from back in the late 70's. Parts of town and especially Fort Warden State Park where the outdoors military scenes were shot. Prior to visiting it's a good idea to see the movie. Not much has changed except the old hanger where they had the fight is now a performing arts center if I recall.

Ft. Warden is part of the "triangle of fire" (see my post about whidbey island for more info on that) and you can also visit Fort Flagler state park to see the 3rd part of the triangle. Yoiu can walk around the concrete bunkers and access to the beach is right there. From this vantage point you can see the cargo ships coming in.

Once outside the city you will find a very rural population.

If you are considering moving there, you need to consider the commute. To get to seattle you would plan to use the ferry, so life is centered around the ferry schedule. You also need to cross the Hoods Canal Bridge which is one of three floating bridges. Yes, the bridge floats. During high winds they will close the bridge down.

This is a wonderful area to visit or live in if you like history or rural living. There is less rain in the area so the terrain look different than in Seattle proper.

To the west of Port Townsend is Sequim and Port Angeles. this is one of the areas I have not been to in Washington , but I think that RodFarlee knows alot about it, so hopefully he can add to the conversation.

I will post a separate thread about the San Juan Islands in that they deserve a home of their own.

[WendyBG]

Port Townsend is a very pleasant place, both to visit and to live. It is located in the Olympic Mountains rain shadow, though it gets more rainfall than Sequim.

Google Answers: Reference, Meteorology (sp?)

The charm and uniqueness of Port Townsend is due to more than its well-preserved Victorian-age architecture and delightful homes and gardens (which have annual walking tours). Port Townsend attracted artists and hippies, in the 1960s, who formed the town's unusual culture.

Port Townsend's culture is creative, comfortable, and casual. It's common to see people strolling down the street in sandals, peace sign, and an artistic, handmade hat. Both men and women, of all ages, often wear long hair. Port Townsend has a new-agey, "I just feel like it" ambience, without the trendiness of CA. Nobody is out to impress anyone else. People do whatever feels good to them, and that's cool.

Port Townsend has many art galleries, including art glass, textiles and clothing, jewelry, and superb handmade furniture. Of course, it's on a smaller scale, than Seattle, but it's still very nice...and more casual, easier to see and get around. The Rose Theater plays foreign and art movies. There are plenty of nice bistros and restaurants.

In my 4 years, living on the Olympic Peninsula, I have only seen one pair of high-heeled shoes...and it wasn't in Port Townsend :-)!

If you are planning to visit Port Townsend, you might like to attend one of the music festivals, such as Centrum or the Olympic Music Festival.
Port Townsend Music Festivals and Musical Groups

If you are planning to move to Port Townsend, well...it's very, very nice. You will have to look carefully at the job situation (long commute, to Seattle, and relatively few local jobs) and the high cost of living.

You also asked about places near Port Townsend.

There are three towns, on the North Olympic Peninsula. From east to west, they are Port Townsend, Sequim, and Port Angeles. Each has a unique culture.

Sequim, in the heart of the Olympic rain shadow, is a home for retirees, many of whom are ex-professionals. Sequim is clean and well-kept, basically a bedroom community. It is more polished than the typical small western town.

The city council appears intent upon transforming Sequim into a shopping center. Many residents resent the high-handed way that the council is dealing with the resident elk herd, which wanders freely, along the edge of town. These elk are quite acclimated to local walkers (and our dogs), but they aren't compatible with new, suburban development.

Sequim is not as interesting as Port Townsend, but it is easier to get around (shopping, library, churches, banking, etc.), on a day-to-day basis. Sequim-ites are friendly, but you won't find many walking around in funny hats ;-). If you are a more conventional type, living in Sequim may be somewhat more compatible, with your lifestyle.

Sequim has a very nice, annual Lavender Festival.
2007 Lavender Festival in Sequim Washington

Port Angeles is a working town. Much of the town's architecture appears to date to the 1950s and 1960s. The cost of living is lower than the other towns. Recently, a Port Angeles resident wrote to the local newspaper (Peninsula Daily News) deploring that Sequim is becoming "plastic," and hoping that Port Angeles will stay "real." Sequim is unpretentious, compared with many other locales, but it's impossible to underdress in Port Angeles ;-).

Despite its funky appearance, Port Angeles has its share of culture. There is a nice art museum and sculpture park. The love of music is deep and remarkable, for a small town. There is a Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra. International acts perform, at the high school, including the Irish Tenors and the Harlem Gospel Choir, to sold-out audiences. Thousands came to see the Port Angeles High School production of "Fiddler on the Roof," a significant proportion of the entire population. There is a weekly column, in the local newspaper, dedicated to local musical performances.

All three of these towns are right on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which moderates the temperatures. All three are quite close to the Olympic Mountains, with plenty of hiking trails. The summer weather couldn't be more delightful. The scenery is often splendid, with views of the mountains and the Strait, in one vista.

I don't know anything about the San Juan Islands.
Wendy

[the dufferz]

wendy,

welcome! Glad to have you here. Are you from PT?

[WendyBG]

<Are you from PT?>

Nope, Sequim. But I think Port Townsend is a uniquely interesting and beautiful place.

Wendy

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by WendyBG

<Are you from PT?>

Nope, Sequim. But I think Port Townsend is a uniquely interesting and beautiful place.

Wendy

Got a call from the wife of an old friend who I used to work at. He died 2 years ago, and she remains living in Sequim. She loves it there, lives in either a mobile home or RV in a park there with lots of friends. It may not be exciting, but home is home where the heart is... and where the bill arrive

I have never been to Sequim because it is out of my companies territory, but I will make a point to visit the area next time I am in PT.

[jabm67]

I go to Port Townsend often, as one set of in-laws are there. We plan on retiring there. I've got a picture of Admiralty Inlet taken from their front door ... I need to cut it down to make it fit the size limits first.

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by jabm67

I go to Port Townsend often, as one set of in-laws are there. We plan on retiring there. I've got a picture of Admiralty Inlet taken from their front door ... I need to cut it down to make it fit the size limits first.

Originally Posted by WendyBG

<Are you from PT?>

Nope, Sequim. But I think Port Townsend is a uniquely interesting and beautiful place.

Wendy

hey hey, we got future neighbors aboard!