Port Orchard, Rain or Shine
Some days (especially in spring) Kitsap county can go from sunshine to drizzle to a double rainbow and back to blue skies all in the same day.
Keep reading for a list of fun, family-friendly activities & things to do in Port Orchard, Washington, rain or shine!
what to do in Port Orchard when its’s raining.
GRAB A BITE or a drink
Stepping off the foot ferry from Bremerton into downtown Port Orchard there are several yummy restaurants, eateries, bars and cafes and grabbing something to eat is a great way to escape bad weather. Here’s a short list of walkable spots on the POrt Orchard waterfront to quench your thirst and grab a delicious meal.
Peninsula BevCo
Known for their huge tap list of craft beer and cider, a bottleshop to boot, Peninsula Bevco is also a favorite spot for comfort food, tacos, breakfast favorites and quinoa bowls. Conveniently located directly across from the Port Orchard / Bremerton foot ferry. When the weather IS good, the patio seating is delightful!
Khao Soi
Thai cuisine classics taken to another level with succulent meats and the freshest ingredients, Khao Soi has yummy food and a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere - perfect for warming up even the rainiest day!
Brickhouse 714
This family-friendly bar & restaurant serves pub fare with cozy and welcoming vibe. The big outdoor space has fire pits, plenty of seating and s small stage where live music can be heard during the summer months.
Blue Goose tavern
This long time local favorite does diner and pub fare classics in a friendly tavern overlooking the water. Bonus points for the billiard table and great service!
Whiskey Gulch
A little further down the waterfront but still walkable from Bay Street, Whiskey Gulch is a center of gravity for locals and visitors craving great food, a massive selection of whiskey and waterfront dining.
Holy Water, A Heavenly Lounge
Located in a converted historic church just off Bay St, Holy Water is a 21+ lounge with lush, comfy vibes, extremely yummy food.
Vintage Shopping
Downtown Port Orchard is known for some of the best antique, retro, and vintage shopping in all of Kitsap. Whether you love mid-century furnishings, antique glass, reclaimed country wares, or retro art and curiosities, you will find what you’re looking for in one of Port Orchard’s beloved waterfront shops!
Josephine’s Mercantile is a curated wonderland of incredible finds located in a converted roller rink. Vendors pick and present vintage and antique items from across the decades in this beautiful, thoughtfully designed space.
Gathered by Josephine’s - an extension of Josephine’s (but across the street) Gathered is the passion of Josephine’s owner, Sam Smith, to present her favorite vintage items and unique statement pieces.
Olde Central Antique Shop - you could legit get lost inside Olde Central Antiques. Its massive inventory of treasures from the past spans two floors and many, many decades.
Bay Street Vintage is a straight-up fun and funky shop, a stone’s throw from the water, featuring a quirky collection of retro items.
Buy A book & coffee at salmonberry books & good stuff grocery
Port Orchard Public Market
715 Bay Street
Salmonberry Books is a book lovers happy place on Bay St. - an escape from the ordinary into a world of story. Shop owner Lizzy does a fantastic job of creating a warm, welcoming space where bookworms can find their next favorite read.
Also inside the Port Orchard Public Market is Good Stuff Grocery - a light-filled bodega stocking healthy food & snack items including fresh baked sourdough, croissants and espresso. Owners Alaina and Andreas love Bay Street and it shows with how intentional and delicious their shop is!
Pinball + Pizza at damn fine pizza
A damn fine excuse to head indoors and hole up eating pizza and playing pinball…DFP is a big ol pizzeria with massive views of the water & mountains and a cult following for their pizza, salads, cocktails and vibes. When a rainy day is keeping you inside, Damn Fine Pizza is your friend with the food and fun. Lots of seating for large parties or small and a pinball room with new and vintage machines that you can disappear into for hours.
sidney art gallery + History museum
Located just a few feet up the hill from Bay Street in a handsome historic building is the Sidney Art Gallery & Museum. Filled with the creations of talented local artists with rotating selections and opportunities to purchase original art, the Gallery is a passion project for dedicated volunteers and artists. The museum gives a fascinating look at the life of Port Orchard residents in the not-so-distant past when the City relied on the Mosquito Fleet ferries and ships to bring food, passengers and news of the outside world.
what to do in Port Orchard when the sun is shining.
Explore the Port orchard Marina
Port Orchard Marina
707 Sidney Pkwy
A network of floating piers, the POrt Orchard Marina is open during business hours to visitors who wish to explore the docks and take in the views. The Marina is also the home of the Carlisle II historic foot ferry and the docking place of the Kitsap Transit passenger ferry with service to Bremerton. Guest moorage is available if you are sailing in. During the summer months you can often see the Lady Washington tallship, a sight to behold!
walk/scooter/skate the waterfront pathway
Winding from the dock at Port Orchard Blvd. along Bay St. and ending at the sandy beach in front of Damn Fine Pizza is a pedestrain only path/sidewalk/boardwalk that give folks on foot a great route to stroll leading through small parks and plenty of peaceful water access with several small sandy beaches along the way. Take advantage of picnic tables, benches, and the popular kids playground as you explore the waterfront!
Explore downtown shopping
A stroll down Bay Street take you on a shopping journey from skate boards to kids clothing. Unity Skate Shop is a small shop catering to skaters and roller skaters with boards, wheels, gear and more. Next to Gathered is Mainline Music, a specialty shop full of musical instruments of all shapes and sizes. Also on Bay Street is C-Side Records, a hole-in-the-wall record shop that LP lovers will want to spend hours in thumbing through albums. Crows Curiosities is a unique shop carrying a huge collection of unique jewelry, curiosities, candles, and whimsical gifts good for any occasion. Shopping for kiddos? LinzieJo and Co Children’s Boutique has a huge selection of kids clothing and apparel and Brick Ally is a Lego store that has an insane collection of rare, vintage bricks and sets.
Stick your toes in the sand in a pocket park
Along the pedestrian pathway that winds along the downtown Port Orchard shoreline are a series of small pocket parks with beach access and various sandy beaches. At the Waterfront Park there is a set of stairs descending into a small sandy beach…that may discapear at high tide. A little further down the path just beyond the children’s playground is sandy stretch next to the Soroptomist Overlook. A little further north is Rockwell Park with its picnic benches and quaint little pocket park with a sandy patch of beach. Finally, just beyond Damn Fine Pizza is a white sandy arch of beach that herons can often be seen looking for food in the tideflats.
