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Attractions
The USS Turner Joy is a refurbished Vietnam-era destroyer that is now a floating museum operated by the Bremerton Historic Ships Association. Moored at the north end of the Bremerton Boardwalk, the ship can be explored topside and below decks. The tour also includes a Vietnam POW memorial. The ship is a popular location for group events, reunions and guided tours.
Bremerton Harborside and Louis Mentor Boardwalk
Stroll along the Louis Mentor Boardwalk to enjoy some of the best views in the county. The Harborside is located right next to the ferry terminal along beautiful Sinclair Inlet. You'll enjoy the playful fountains, wide plaza and relaxing gathering places as you watch ferries, sailboats and wildlife.
Elandan Gardens
Evergreen Children's Theater Aurora Valentinetti Puppet Museum
Kitsap County Historical Society Museum
The museum has one of the finest collections of historic photographs in the area. Museum exhibits include a model of a logging camp and scale models of typical early storefronts in the town. Rotating exhibits depict various aspects of the county's history and programs pertaining to local history. The museum shop offers unique books and gifts that are sure to please everyone on your gift list. In addition, the museum archives are available for historical research.
Suquamish Clearwater Casino
Gaming enthusiasts can find the fun and action of Las Vegas right in Kitsap County. Clearwater Casino offers slots, blackjack, tournaments, bingo and more. The facility will soon expand to include a fabulous resort hotel in the Spring of 2006. In addition, the Clearwater Cabaret offers live entertainment and you can grab a bite to eat at one of the fine restaurants or delis inside the casino.
There's no doubt that Bremerton and Kitsap County residents like to have a good time and enjoy family-oriented activities. That's why the community plays host to numerous fun activities including:
- Armed Forces Festival, coordinated by the Bremerton Chamber, is our special "thank you" to the hard-working men and women of our Armed Forces.
Bremerton has long had the distinction of coordinating the nation's largest and longest-running Armed Forces Day Parade on the third Saturday of May. The parade, which began in 1948 - two years before Armed Forces Day became a federally recognized holiday. People from all over the Puget Sound region come out every year to enjoy over 100 marching units, dozens of military entries and several marching bands. Stop by the Lions and Masonic Temple Pancake Breakfasts before the parade and the Puget Sound Energy Hero's Barbeque during and after the parade.
Other major events include the Armed Forces Festival Ambassadors Scholarship Program, Wells Fargo Bank Military Culinary Arts Competition at Olympic College, the Pepsi Armed Forces Golf Tournament at Gold Mountain Golf Complex and Kitsap HydroFest on Kitsap Lake.
Contact the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce at (360) 479-3579 for more information.
- First Friday Arts Walk, as the name implies, is held the first Friday of every month. Galleries, museums and businesses in downtown Bremerton and Manette stay open late to provide ample opportunity to enjoy Bremerton's culture and unique shops.
- St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Bremerton gives you a great reason to don your green garb and enjoy being Irish for the day. This annual gathering is coordinated by Bremerton Main Stream Association.
- All City Arts Walk is a popular event held annually on the first Saturday in June. People gather in downtown Bremerton to celebrate the arts by enjoying gallery exhibits, music, sidewalk sales and children's activities.
- Kitsap County Fair and Stampede Rodeo is our community's five-day fair at the end of August.
- Bremerton Blackberry Festival, coordinated by Bremerton Main Stream Association, signals the last celebration of the summer on Labor Day Weekend. Thousands of people come to the Boardwalk to take advantage of great weather, fun activities, live music and games for the kids. And don't forget to sample all the blackberry goodies for sale. Yum!
- Safe Trick-or-Treating Downtown is brought to you courtesy of the Downtown Bremerton Association. In addition to candy and gifts, train rides and storytelling are part of the fun. Include a visit to the USS Turner Joy, which is transformed into a "Haunted Ship" for the occasion.
- Winter Fest is highlighted by the arrival of Santa downtown and Frosty in Manette. It is held in conjunction with December's First Friday Arts Walk and is hosted by Bremerton Main Stream Association and the Downtown Bremerton Association. The kids will certainly have a great time at this old-fashioned holiday celebration.
- Lighted Boat Parade, presented by the Bremerton Yacht Club, takes place in mid-December. Sparkling lights are mirrored on the water as boats glide along the shoreline. Wave to Santa as he calls out to good boys and girls on the waterfront.
The Fairgrounds also hosts several other popular event including:
For more information on these and other exciting events, contact the Chamber at (360) 479-3579 or Bremerton Chamber.
Sports Hockey, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, BMX and many more activities for sports enthusiasts are found through-out Kitsap County. Spectators will also enjoy the variety of sports in the community including semi-pro, college and high school sports.
Many local high schools produce nationally and internationally acclaimed athletes ranging from swimming sensations Dana and Tara Kirk from Bremerton High School, Willie Bloomquist (South Kitsap High) with the Seattle Mariners to professional basketball's newest sensation Marvin Williams with the Atlanta Hawks who graduated from Bremerton High School in 2004.
Of course, one of the greatest fringe benefits of living in Kitsap County is the opportunity to attend a variety of professional sporting events without the transportation and parking hassles that face most metropolitan area fans.
Kitsap Blue Jackets Kitsap's very own BlueJackets will begin their second season in 2006. The baseball team is in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League, which showcases top collegiate baseball talent. This family-friendly activity is played at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds and features affordable packages and season tickets. Come on out on a warm summer night and root, root, root for the home team!
Ice Arena The premier ice skating facility is conveniently located right next to the YMCA. The facility offers open skating sessions, lessons, figure skating and youth hockey. In addition, they are the home of the Puget Sound Tomahawks, the 2004 Western Division Champions. The arena is also available for private rentals including birthday parties and corporate events.
Whether you're into inline skatees or are a traditional quad skater, you'll have a great time at Bremerton Skateland, just off of Waaga Way/Highway 303. The rink offers lots of open skate time, lessons and parties. The facility is also home to the Olympic View Skating Club, Hurricane Hockey team and the Bremerton Bullets Speed team.
Indoor soccer has come to Kitsap County! The Olympic Soccer and Sports Center features two playing fields plus party rooms and an outdoor deck. The facility, located at Pendergast Park, is ideal for games and practice as well as special events and conferences. Soccer enthusiasts can purchase top-notch equipment at the center as well.
A number of beautiful state and county parks can be found in close proximity to Bremerton in addition to the City's 600 acres of recreational land for baseball, softball, soccer, horseshoes and a host of other activities. The City of Bremerton also operates one of the top municipal golf courses in the nation, Gold Mountain Golf Complex, and many private, award-winning golf courses are just a few minutes drive from Bremerton.
The City's Parks and Recreation Department also maintains a municipal swimming pool and recreation center and offers a wide variety of leisure and fitness classes for all age groups. They can be reached at (360) 478-5305.
A scenic ferry ride and a short walk puts spectators at the turnstiles of Safeco Field, home to the Seattle Mariners baseball team. The Seattle Seahawks football is now being played at the state-of-the-art Qwest Stadium, again, just a relaxing ferry ride away. If you're a basketball fan, the Seattle Storm play at Key Arena, which is just north of the ferry terminal via Seattle famous monorail.
Golf
The mild climate in Western Washington is ideal for year-round golfing. The long, pleasant summer days draw golfers to the links at the crack of dawn until late in the evening. If you enjoy the challenge of a great course with breathtaking scenery, Kitsap County is the place for you!
The region boasts three of the top four golf courses in the state, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. No wonder the courses and their tournaments are so popular. Year after year, Bremerton and Kitsap County's courses rank at the top of the lists of premier facilities.
Gold Mountain Golf Complex
This complex draws golf enthusiasts from all over the Pacific Northwest. In fact, it has won more awards than any other course in Washington and in 2006 hosted the 81st Annual USGA Amateur Public Links Championship. They hosted the 2008 & 2010 NCAA Western Regionals.
Kitsap Golf & Country Club
This classic golf and country club has an exciting course and excellent country club facilities including an outdoor swimming pool. They also hold special events throughout the year for members.
McCormick Woods Golf Course & Restaurant
McCormick Woods offers a challenge for golfers in a breathtaking - and award-winning - setting and plays host to numerous golf tournaments throughout the year. Enjoy dinner in fabulous Mary Mac's after your game.
Trophy Lake Golf & Casting
One of Kitsap's newest award-winning facilities, Trophy Lake caters to golf enthusiasts and fly fishers. Visitors are greeted by a dramatic waterfall set just outside the clubhouse and restaurant with a traditional Northwest decor.
Galleries
Bremerton is one of only a handful of cities that has a designated arts district. Some of the most popular galleries are:
Amy Burnett Gallery
Art pieces created by the nationally-acclaimed owner of the gallery are featured along with sculpture, glass, pottery and a variety of mixed-media work by other local and regional artists.
Collective Visions - A Gallery of Art
This artists' cooperative is home to rotating exhibits by its two dozen members. A variety of styles and media can be found in Collective Visions. The gallery also hosts concerts throughout the year featuring a range of musical styles.
Performing Arts
Admiral Theatre
The Admiral Theatre is a 1940s movie house that was completely refurbished in 1997 into an elegant art deco performing arts venue. The Admiral offers table seating on the first level and row seating in the balcony. Its season includes an array of events that range from local productions to top-notch musical performers to lays with national runs.
Bremerton Community Theatre, Inc.
For more than 50 years, local thespians have entertained Kitsap County audiences with a full season of high quality plays. These volunteers have an impressive record of top-notch productions ranging from drama to comedy.
Olympic College
Olympic College presents at least three productions during the school year and sometimes adds a summer production. Plays are held in the college's campus theater and offer students the opportunity to hone their stage skills locally.
Peninsula Dance Theatre
Peninsula Dance Theater presents four memorable dance programs every year including the perennial holiday favorite "The Nutcracker", and the eclectic "Choreographer's Showcase". Performances are held in Bremerton High School's Performing Arts Center. Season tickets are available. For more information about local performing arts, contact the Chamber at (360) 479-3579 or visit www.bremertonchamber.org.
Shopping
Most Bremerton neighborhoods have convenient shopping nearby.
Wheaton Way/Highway 303 is a main commercial thoroughfare that extends from the Warren Avenue Bridge several miles north toward Silverdale. Small, independent shops as well as large retail stores along Wheaton Way offer a wide range of products and services. You'll also find medical services, financial services, hotels and restaurants on Wheaton Way.
Restaurants, accommodations and other businesses can also be found along Kitsap Way into the city from Highway 3. The Callow Avenue businesses district features several local retailers, service providers and unique restaurants.
Downtown Bremerton features a mix of galleries, specialty shops, cafes, banks and offices. Across the Manette Bridge is yet another eclectic mix of small shops and restaurants. The Manette area was recently proclaimed one of the best suburbs in Seattle partly because of this unique mix of shops.
The county's major shopping mall is the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale, which is less than 10 miles from Bremerton. For special shopping excursions, Seattle is only an hour away by ferry or automobile.
Saturday
Poulsbo Port Gamble
Silverdale
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