Bremerton
The ferry from Seattle rounds the point and suddenly there it is - an aircraft carrier, gray and massive, docked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Bremerton has been a Navy town since 1891, when William Bremer sold 190 acres to the U.S. Navy for what remains one of the Pacific Fleet's most important installations. The shipyard dominates the waterfront, but the city has worked to reclaim the edges, creating a walkable promenade where visitors can explore museums, fountains, and the retired destroyer USS Turner Joy while nuclear-powered vessels receive maintenance across the water.
The Shipyard Town
The Naval Shipyard has shaped Bremerton since the city's founding. During World War II, more than 40,000 workers arrived to support the war effort, and the population has risen and fallen with naval budgets ever since. Today the shipyard remains a major employer, its dry docks capable of handling the largest vessels in the fleet. The security perimeter extends into the water - a buffer zone surrounds Navy vessels and facilities, and recreational boaters learn to keep their distance.
The city's connection to naval history goes deeper than the shipyard. William Gates Sr., grandfather of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, served as treasurer of the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce in 1928. The downtown's museums cluster within a block of the ferry terminal, making maritime history accessible to day-trippers who arrive without cars.
The Ferry Connection
Washington State Ferries connects Bremerton to Seattle's downtown waterfront, an hour's journey each way. For commuters, the ferry offers a working crossing - time to read, work, or simply watch the water slide past. For visitors, it's a destination in itself, the vessel threading between islands with Mount Rainier visible on clear days.
The Bremerton terminal anchors a revitalized waterfront. Harborside Fountain Park offers dancing waters with the ferry landing as backdrop. The Kitsap Conference Center plaza adds more fountains, and the museums line up within walking distance. Foot ferries connect to Port Orchard across the narrow inlet, including the M.V. Carlisle II, a historic vessel from the Mosquito Fleet era that once provided the primary transportation across Puget Sound.
Cold Water Diving
Bremerton has become an unlikely destination for scuba divers drawn to the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Puget Sound. The diving here takes more gear and training than tropical destinations, but the rewards match the effort. Giant Pacific octopus hide in rocky crevices, intelligent enough to recognize individual divers. Wolf eels peer from dens. Colorful sponges, sea cucumbers, and soft corals cover rocky surfaces.
Two sea kayaking clubs make their home here, exploring the nearly 400 miles of Kitsap Peninsula coastline. Lions Park has been named to the Great Audubon Birding Trail, recognizing its importance along the migration flyway that stretches from Alaska to Patagonia. The combination of water access and wildlife makes Bremerton more than just a Navy town - though the Navy remains the heart of its identity.
Peninsula Gateway
Bremerton serves as the gateway to the Kitsap Peninsula, connected by highway to the Olympic Peninsula via the Hood Canal Bridge to the north or State Route 16 south to Tacoma. The routes open access to Olympic National Park, the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend, and the smaller communities scattered across the peninsula.
The city itself sprawls across several commercial sections, requiring a car to navigate between them. But the waterfront core rewards walking - the museums, the fountains, the historic ships, and the views across to the shipyard where the Navy's vessels receive the care that keeps them operational. It's a working waterfront in every sense, the industrial purpose visible alongside the tourist amenities.
From the Air
Located at 47.57N, 122.65W on the Kitsap Peninsula, across Puget Sound from Seattle. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard dominates the waterfront and is clearly visible from altitude - look for gray naval vessels including aircraft carriers in the dry docks. Washington State Ferries run between the downtown terminal and Seattle. The city sits at the eastern edge of the Kitsap Peninsula; the Hood Canal Bridge is visible to the north, connecting to the Olympic Peninsula. State Route 16 leads south to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Seattle is approximately 15 miles east across the water.