Colorful, Victorian Port
Townsend, Washington Offers History and Recreation in a
Beautiful Setting
Cost of Living: Above the National
Average
Seafaring history permeates Port Townsend, and a
stroll through the waterfront section conjures up images of an
earlier time when boisterous saloons and busy brothels catered to
customers just in from months or years at sea. Today,
though, the area is quite civilized and home to trendy shops, art
galleries, coffeehouses and restaurants and pubs, many with
outdoor seating and water views. Water Street is the
heart of downtown, and here residents will find plenty to do and
see.
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This is a social place; neighbors seem to know
each other, and there always seems to be a festival or event
taking place. Keep in mind, too, that tourists have
discovered Port Townsend, so crowds swell in the summer, and
downtown traffic and parking can be a headache. This is not
a place to go to get away from it all, although things quiet down
during the winter months. Walking is a great way to stroll
through town, but there is a public transportation system (as well
as Victorian carriages for hire) for those less able to get around
on foot. |
We also found 21 churches and synagogues,
representing nearly all denominations, as well as 11 museums,
including military museums and historic homes open for tours.
For those needing big-city amenities occasionally, Seattle is 50
miles away by car and ferry, and for those seeking outdoor
pursuits, this area of the country is a recreation Paradise.
The Olympic Mountains are on one side of town. Access to
Puget Sound is on the other. Bicycling, hiking, camping,
fishing, sailing and kayaking are all options here. Port
Townsend also has two public golf courses, Discovery Bay Golf Club
(18 holes) and Port Townsend Golf Course (9 holes).
Both are open year-round.
When it comes to health care, Jefferson General
Hospital (800-244-8917) is the primary medical facility and Port
Townsend's only hospital. Jefferson General also sponsors
two medical clinics in town and provides home health care
services, as well as critical care and emergency care.
More comprehensive medical care is available in Seattle;
air-ambulance transportation is available though Jefferson
General.
A drawback to relocation here for some, aside from
the high real estate costs, might be the weather, although on
average the area only receives 17 inches of rain a year because it
is protected by the "rain shadow" of the Olympic
Mountains. Winter temperatures average in the 40s, and
summer temperatures are usually in the 60s and 70s. This is
not an area of extreme temperatures. Humidity ranges
from 90% in the early mornings to 60% during the day, and it is
cloudy 50% to 80% of the time, as is true in much of the
northwest. For those from sunny, warm climates, this could
be a difficult adjustment.
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