Towns to Try – Everett, Edmonds, Bremerton & Bellingham

Connected to downtown Seattle by a one-hour ferry ride, Bremerton is located on one of the Puget Sound's many harbors and has been the home of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard since 1891. Several years ago, a new transportation center started a downtown renaissance and the Kitsap Convention Center, with adjacent lodging and dining, has livened up the waterfront.

The USS Turner Joy, a navy destroyer, now functions as a naval memorial museum. Other attractions include the Admiral Theater, the Bremerton Naval Museum and the Kitsap County Historical Society Museum. Bremerton's annual Armed Forces Festival in May, first celebrated in 1938, is the oldest event of its kind in the country.

Experience the stunning Harborside Fountain Park, featuring several dazzling fountains that light up the night. And don’t miss the arts district, which includes three museums, two performing art stages, numerous fine arts galleries, unique shops, eateries and clubs featuring jazz and other live music. For the avid golfer, tee up at any of the areas top-ranking public courses.

The Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound provide the perfect backdrop for the waterfront restaurants, bird watching, bistros, beaches and public art of Edmonds. Located 15 miles north of Seattle, this picturesque city displays the best of small-town Americana. Take a stroll downtown and browse the shops offering everything from best-seller books to the latest in clothing styles. Experience a sumptuous meal with eateries serving cuisine from all over the world. Displaying the area's proud past is the Edmonds Historical Museum, housed in a former Carnegie library, which is well worth a visit.

A trip to Edmonds is not complete without a stroll along its breathtaking waterfront. Visit one of four beachfront parks, including the 27-acre Underwater Diving Park, all within walking distance of downtown. Board a Washington State Ferry to Kingston, a gateway to Hood Canal and the Olympic Peninsula. Or simply sit and watch the boats come and go out of the bustling Edmonds Marina.

Celebrated as an arts community, Edmonds also provides a wealth of cultural events throughout the year. See a rousing performance at Edmonds Center for the Arts, which serves as home to a local symphony, ballet and chorus. Attend one of the colorful festivals including the Taste of Edmonds, the Waterfront Festival and Jazz Connection. And don’t miss their overwhelmingly popular Outdoor Market featuring local farmers and talented area artisans.

Home to the second-largest marina on the west coast and the largest building by volume in the world — at Boeing’s jumbo jet assembly plant — Everett is a business epicenter set in a majestic natural backdrop. See world-class performers on tour at the Everett Events Center. Add some local color to your visit by hearing the latest pieces from the Everett Symphony, or see live theater at the Everett Performing Arts Center. Kids can learn and play at the Imagine Children's Museum and visitors of all ages can enjoy the popular Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour. A few collections of natural wonders include the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens, the Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary and Nishiyama Garden, a traditional Japanese garden complete with wooden gates, gravel paths and a small stream.

Everett also boasts more than 40 parks spanning hundreds of acres, featuring golfing, skating, swimming, fishing, hockey, horseshoes, walking trails, boat launches, softball fields and more. A free ferry will take you to Jetty Island, a man-made island with large sandy beaches and warm water — relatively speaking. The Everett waterfront is also home to Naval Station Everett at the mouth of the Snohomish River on Possession Sound. In the summer, the marina hosts the Everett Farmer's Market and the Waterfront Concert Series.

Balancing tranquility and adventure, Bellingham is an ideal base camp for exploring Mount Baker to the east, Bellingham Bay to the west and the San Juan Islands beyond. Or hang around town to discover some unique culture and fine dining.

Swim, fish and stroll around Whatcom Falls Park, home to the Whatcom Creek Gorge and four sets of spectacular waterfalls. Or combine history and nature by hiking to the distinctive rocky coastlines of Larrabee Park, which in 1915 became Washington's very first state park.

Visit the Whatcom Museum of History and Art for an introduction to local and natural history, or stop by the Bellingham Railway Museum to see the model trains that illustrate the county’s rich history of railroads. For a hands-on treat for the kids, head to the Mindport Arts and Sciences Museum.

A day at Mount Baker offers skiing and snowboarding in the winter or camping and mountain biking in the summer. Plus, the waterfront offers yet another frontier to explore, with whale watching expeditions, boat launches and ferries to the San Juan Islands.