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. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

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. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    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. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View