Bremerton_02

Go Big in Bremerton

Hike to the Big Tree in Bremerton at the Rhododendron Preserve

Heading south from Poulsbo, make your way to the largest city on the Kitsap Peninsula, Bremerton. Best known for its naval and maritime heritage, there’s also plenty of outdoors to explore, including a hidden treasure within the Puget Sound Basin: the Keta Legacy Foundation Rhododendron Preserve.

The heartland of the preserve has 70 acres of old-growth forest where there’s a marquee hike leading to a beloved big tree, known as … Big Tree! It’s an impressively tall and thick Douglas fir (over 30 feet in circumference). Hike to it on the aptly named Big Tree Trail.

It’s about 1.5 miles (round-trip) through mystical landscape with streams and greens, and trees cloaked in twisting branches enshrined in dewy moss. {April 2024 NOTE: Currently the route to the tree is marked with a detour/alternate trail to the tree. This doesn’t add a lot of extra time to the hike, but just be mindful that the detoured route does go to the tree, which is very obvious and set within a viewing platform.} Visit the preserve. No dogs.

Eat + Drink: Crazy Eric’s Drive-In is a Bremerton favorite. Belly up to the retro take-out window and place your order for a crispy chicken sandwich, big cheese + Canadian bacon burger basket, fish & chips, or a good old-fashioned hot dog! You’ve gotta have the fries or onion rings, too. It’s all about comfort food here, including absolutely delicious milkshakes in seasonal flavors like Harvest Peach or classics like Harvey’s Rum Batter.

For waterfront dining with a view of photogenic Manette Bridge, The Boat Shed has a beautiful deck over the water and a rustic upscale indoor setting. Its wide-ranging menu has something for everyone: Salmon Your Way, flat iron steak, chicken piccata, classic cheese burger, and specialty sandwiches like The Sloop (corned beef, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and a secret sauce!).

Picnic: Take a meal to Evergreen Rotary Park (map), a 10.3-acre waterside respite with pathways, picnic areas, a playground, and plenty more. There’s a Thursday farmers’ market from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., May through October. The poignant Kitsap 9/11 Memorial here includes limestone and steel remnants pulled from the Pentagon and World Trade Center. The park is dog-friendly.

Tip: On your way from Poulsbo to Bremerton you can opt for a short detour to a quick hike at Olympic View Park (map). The park is hidden within a community area. Ripe with foliage, ferns, and impressive trees, it’s a choose-your-own-fairy-trails among a few options: Main Trail, Fern Alley, Tall Trees Loop, and Huckleberry Loop. It’s also dog-friendly!

Visit Kitsap

Discover Bremerton

Visit Washington State

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Screaming Good Garden

    Combine a classic scary movie backdrop and life-size elephant garden sculptures in beautiful downtown Sonoma.

    View
  3. A Hike to the Past

    This 5.2-mile redwoods hike through El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space combines a relaxing stroll with unique geologic formations and historical artifacts.

    View
  4. Golden Mile

    Dubbed the Golden Mile, this car-free stretch of road in Golden Gate Park features rotating art installations of murals, sculptures, and abundant bright yellow Adirondack chairs for kicking back to relax. See Naga, the recent new addition here, an impressive sea serpent art installation at Golden Gate Park's Rainbow

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

    View
  2. Welcome to the Ice Age

    Only in LA can you stumble upon a lake of bubbling black goo right in the middle of the city—complete with a life-size family of mammoths frozen in time. Take a whiff and you’ll catch the unmistakable scent of asphalt: Yep, you’ve made it to the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Mulholland's Most Majestic

    Take a leisurely drive along Mulholland Drive to discover beautiful urban scenery and unexpected wild beauty, right in the middle of the city. 

    View