Things To Do In Poulsbo Washington – The Perfect Day Trip (Little Norway)

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Things To Do In Poulsbo Washington For The Perfect Day Trip (Little Norway)

Did you know that there is a “Viking City” right here in the Pacific Northwest? The Historic Downtown area of Poulsbo Washington, is sometimes referred to as Little Norway, and it is a great town for a day trip, or to explore as part of a trip over the Kitsap Peninsula. We have put together a list here of things to do in Poulsbo Washington, to make it the perfect day or weekend trip!

Some of our family lives in the Kingston area, so we have made many trips into Poulsbo many times over the years. Things have really changed over the last few years with new restaurants and shops being added, and some dissappearing, but there really is something for everyone to enjoy here. It is a peaceful town, and one of the more popular destinations on the Kitsap Peninsula. We have visited it many times, and never get tired of exploring it. I am always finding more things to do in Poulsbo on each visit too.

If you want to make it a bigger trip than a day or two, be sure to check out our Kitspap Pennisula Road Trip Iteniary. It will highlight many more stops along the way, as well as recommendations for places to stay in the area too. If you plan to make it a day trip, but would like to add in just one more stop, I would recommend either stopping by Port Gamble (another historic town on the waterfront, but much smaller), or Hansville to enjoy the beach and the lighthouse.

Poulsbo itself is a small city, with the Poulsbo movie theater, a Walmart, grocery stores, and many businesses. When folks talk about taking a day trip to Poulsbo, they are often referring to the Historic Downtown area of Poulsbo. This is where we have spent most of our time exploring as well. Here are some tips, based on how my family loves to explore this town. Let us know your favorite things to do too.

Getting There:

If you are coming from the Seattle area, North Sound or South Sound, there are a few main routes to get to Poulsbo. You can either go over the Narrows Bridge, and take Highway 3 into Poulsbo. We come from the South Sound area, so this is our preferred way to get there. It is an easy drive generally speaking, if you miss the Tacoma area traffic. It is also a beautiful drive. There is a toll on the way back across the Tacoma Narrows bridge of $6 per car.

You can also take the Edmonds Ferry across to Kingston, and then drive to Poulsbo (about 15 to 20 minutes from the Kingston area). Or take the Ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge and drive to Poulsbo (approximately a 25 minute drive from there), or from Seattle to Bremerton and drive to Poulsbo (approximately a 30 minute drive).

Things To Do In Poulsbo Washington:

There are many spots that offer free parking in Poulsbo. The Historic Downtown area has a large lot down by the Marina, that you can generally find parking in, and then you are right in the heart of this area to explore. The weekends can get busy, and if that is the case you will also find street parking on the streets nearby, as well as other lot options.

Once you are in town, it is a walking town. Here are some things you can enjoy, all within walking distance of each other.

Shopping in Poulsbo

The streets are lined with stores to shop at, and spots to grab some coffee or a bite to eat. You will find everything from home decor, to skateboard supplies, clothing toys and beauty products in the shopping options here.

One of my favorite things to shop for in the area are antiques and repurposed items. They have a few stores I love, but the the Red Plantation has been my favorite now for a number of years. I always find a great buy in there. If you love things that are re-purposed, or the shabby chic look, I think this store has some great prices on some of those kinds of items. I have found a few steals, and it has become my new tradition to always find something there on a visit, to take home and add to my home decor.

Besides main street, be sure to head down to the stores that line the waterfront too, as they have added a few new fun ones in down there in recent years.

You will also find antique stores, jewelry shops, clothing, a book store, paper store, and so much more. The book store is a fun one to grab a cup of coffee or tea at, and let the kids look through the books.

Things to Do in Poulsbo – Beyond Shopping & Eating

There are plenty of things to do in Poulsbo Wa. beyond just shopping and eating. Here are some we love.

Enjoy the Waterfront and Marina area!

Explore the marina and waterfront park, including taking a stroll along the boardwalk to a local park area.

At the end of the waterfront park, there is this boardwalk that you can take a stroll out over the water on. It leads to another small park that is fun for the kids to play at. It is a simple park with swings, etc. but a fun walk to make.

If you like museums, and learning about the history or specifics of an area check out these spots (fun with kids):

• Poulsbo Maritime Museum
• Sea Discovery Center
• The Poulsbo Heritage Museum and Martison Cabin

Events in Poulsbo

Poulsbo has some fun festivities throughout the year. If you want lots to do during your visit, plan around these events. If you want to avoid the crowds, be sure to plan where there is not a festival happening. A few of the most popular events during the year include:

• The Viking Fest Poulsbo – generally happens in May each year.
• The Chief Seattle Days Celebration
• Farmers Martket Poulsbo

Check out the Poulsbo event schedule for more ideas. And you might also want to follow their Facebook page here, as they announce alot of their smaller events (as well as the larger ones) like book readings and more, on here.

And there are some fun photo opps that will keep all ages busy snapping shots!

If you want to sit down for a bit, and you have a crafty family, the Dancing Brush Studios is on Front Street, and you can make your own ceramic pieces (you paint them). This will run you around $20+ per person, so it can add up, but may be a fun splurge activity.

 

Poulsbo Restaurants & Eateries

There are a number of great Poulsbo restaurants. Once upon a time I think I had tried them all, but they have been adding many new ones to the area in the past few years. Here are some of my families favorites over the years, but this is just a sampling of Poulsbo restaurants to enjoy while you are in town.

JJ’s Fishhouse has been there for as long as we have been visiting, and is a fun spot to eat out on the deck when the weather warms up. I always like to grab a cup of clam chowder here, but they have fish and chips and alot more too.

If you are all about the view, then you might want to check out the Loft Poulsbo. It sits out over the water, and on a beautiful day it can be fun to eat on the deck. What we love about the Loft, beyond the waterfront views, is that the food is so fresh.

The Green Light Diner, is one my kids love for fries and milkshakes. It is a family fun environment with its classic diner theme and food.

Italian Restaurants Poulbo – 

Historic downtown Poulsbo has a couple of different options for Italian food, with one being budget friendly and the other a bit more upperscale.

If you are looking for a nicer spot for date night, or just because, check out Sogno Di Vino on Front street. The setting is quaint, the food good, but it is much less family friendly in my experience, so we save it for when we are dining without kids personally.

Is it just pizza you are looking for? Try the Poulsbo Woodfired Pizza House.

Looking for Mexican?

Casa Luna is our go to spot for that. I just love walking down the cute alley way before we even get to the food!

In addition to Poulsbo restaurants, some of our favorite treats in the area are – 

Mora’s Ice Cream – My kids cannot get enough of this ice cream. It is all made in house, in small batches, and you can really taste the difference. One of my girls gets the banana ice cream every time we visit, and said it is the most refreshing banana ice cream she has ever had. My husbands favorite is the Pistachio, and the rest of us try something new most days.

Sluys Bakery in Poulsbo is a must visit (but expect lines if it is a busy weekend). They are famous for their cinnamon rolls, but we love just about everything in there. One of my girls loves their gingerbread man maple donuts, with bacon buttons! I often grab a loaf of their cinnamon swirl bread to take home too.

Although Sluys Bakery is the most popular bakery in town, there are other Poulsbo bakeries to get your fill of treats at too.

If you don’t have kids with you, there are also wine tastings and breweries you can check out in the downtown area too.

Just Beyond Historic DownTown – More Things to Do In Poulsbo

The historic downtown area is perfect to park and get out and explore on foot. You will find so many things to do in Poulsbo Washington (the Historic Downtown area), but there are a few more fun things you might want to explore as well, while you are in town. They include:

• Check out the Clearwater Casino
• The Pump Bike Track
• Catch a movie at the Poulsbo Movie Theater
• Sawdust Hill Alpaca Farm

Find More Themed Washington Small Towns to Explore Here Too!