Where to live Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour - Southern Kitsap County, WA

The first stop on our tour, Gig Harbor, sits on the shores of the natural inlet of the same name, which has been used as a haven for small boats since 1840. The main street of this dockside city, Harborview Drive, is lined with restaurants and pubs, perfect places to grab refreshments after a long day out on the water.

A perfect example is the taproom of Gig Harbor Brewing, a local beermaker with dozens of delicious draughts. You can see it on your right side, in one of the blue buildings that make up the Boatyard. You can also see the Boatyard’s iconic snack bar, which operates out of an antique trolley car.

Just past the boatyard is Skansie Brothers Park, which is the central community space for Gig Harbor’s various events.

With its small-town charm, Gig Harbor is both a popular getaway spot and a great place to live for commuters to Tacoma. The town embraces its relaxed bayside identity, hosting tons of events throughout the year, especially in the summer. Outdoor movies and concerts by the water are the perfect way to cap off a sunny day on the Sound.

There’s also a weekly farmers’ market from June to September, featuring locally-grown produce from Kitsap and Pierce County’s best vendors.

As you continue down Harborview, go straight through the roundabout at Eddon Boat Park. a little farther down the road, you’ll find the Harbor History Museum on the right side of the road, which celebrates the town’s founding and growth.

The natural harbor that gives the town its name was first coined by one Captain Charles Wilkes in 1840, who was mapping the area then known as Oregon Territory. Though the harbor was too small to bring a full ship in, he sought shelter using a small boat, called a “gig”. When he published his map the following year, the inlet bore the same name it does today.

It was years later, in 1867, that the spot was first used by fishermen, including many Scandinavian and Balkan immigrants. It remained a small fishing town for three-quarters of a century when the completion of the original Tacoma Narrows bridge connected the western shore to the urban areas across the sound. With motor traffic now able to cross, the southern parts of the county were rapidly transformed into small suburban towns, and Gig Harbor was officially incorporated in 1946.

City planners in the 1950s elected to develop previously rural land into denser housing and commercial districts, allowing the downtown area to retain its charm in the face of sudden change.

That brief history lesson doesn't really do the town justice; if you want to learn more, the museum should be coming up on your right side right about now. It has plenty to say about the area, from its prehistoric history to the construction of the region’s first gasoline-powered motorboat.

Just across the street from the history museum, you’ll find a year-round Christmas store and a local favorite, the Gourmet Burger shop. The Burger shop is an area mainstay, serving baskets of fresh seafood alongside their classic burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Take a right turn onto North Harborview drive to continue along the water’s edge.

The northeastern edge of the harbor has its own row of shops and restaurants, with patio dining offering views along the entire length of the bay. The most noticeable landmark on this end of town is Finholm’s Market & Grocery, with a prominent sign that simply reads “Food”. Part grocery store, part deli, and part tavern, Finholm’s boasts a massive selection of beers and wines, as well as offering fun events like trivia and game nights.

Across the street you’ll find the Devoted Kiss Cafe, a popular spot for breakfast and lunch fare, Gig Harbor Thai Cuisine, serving authentic curries and noodle dishes, and Anthony’s, an upscale seafood restaurant with locations throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Continue on to take a right on Vernhardson street, and then a left on Crescent Valley Drive. You'll pass Crescent Creek Park on your left side, with a ship-themed playground, BMX track, and carved sculpture. Crescent Valley Drive will take you out of town and onward to our next location. Enjoy a tranquil drive through the forest – I’ll pick back up with you in Olalla.

Welcome to Olalla! This small residential community is our first stop across the county line, in Kitsap County. Go ahead and turn right up ahead onto Banner Road. As you do, note the Olalla Bay Market and Landing at the corner – this is one of the town’s few gathering spots, with the post office, grocery, gas station, and pub all contained within.

The Market’s future was in jeopardy due to its shutdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, but local author and historian Gregg Olsen purchased and renovated the spot, reopening it in 2022.Unfortunately, a fire in August of that year set back reopening considerably; at the time of this tour’s creation a GoFundMe has been set up to help rebuild.

Banner Street will take you up the hill – keep an eye out on the right side for a spectacular view over the Sound – on a clear day you can see Mount Rainier towering on the horizon. These stunning views are one of the main attractions of Olalla. While living here likely adds a few minutes to your commute and grocery runs, there’s nothing like seeing the sun rise over the water from the back porch.

Looking around you, you can probably tell that Olalla isn’t a particularly densely populated town. Its quiet, rural vibe belies its convenience – it’s only a half-hour’s drive to downtown Tacoma and a relatively quick ferry ride from Seattle.

From the loose collection of houses and forested acres, you may not guess that Olalla was once a bustling port town, the same size as Port Orchard, Kitsap’s county seat. The Colvos Passage, a narrow strip of water between Olalla and nearby Vashon (VAH- Shawn)Island, provided the area with a safe enough harbor to establish a landing at the mouth of Olalla creek. Settled largely by Norwegian immigrants, the area became known for logging, boat-building, and strawberry farming, goods that shipped out of Olalla via the steam-powered Mosquito Fleet. In 1934, a massive storm destroyed the last Mosquito steamboat in Olalla’s harbor, driving the final nail into the coffin of the town’s port status.

As you continue up Banner Road, keep an eye out on the right side of the road. Hidden behind a row of private properties you may be able to catch a glimpse of a unique Olalla landmark: a scale replica of the Washington Monument in D.C., hidden among the trees.

You’ll also see a sign for Anderson Point County Park, a great place to take a stroll through the woods and along the beach. The Anderson Point area is also home to Spin Cider, a craft cidery, and the Edgewater House, a beautiful event venue for parties and weddings along the shore of the Sound.

Well, that’s pretty much all there is to see in Olalla. Farther inland, along Olalla Valley Road, the town also features a local vineyard, community center, elementary school, and a small grocery store that serves the west side of town.

Continue along Banner toward our next stop, Manchester. Along the way, you’ll pass the road’s namesake on your left: the Banner Forest, 636 acres of preserved space crisscrossed with miles of hiking and equestrian trails.