Olympic Peninsula Family Guide

Volunteers Calah & Andrew introduced themselves to their Love Box family  with a letter. It was during the pandemic, after all, and the Love Box had been matched and trained virtually.  Andrew and Calah gave this couple what we share with you now: a cheat sheet to some Olympic Peninsula Family Adventures. This wisdom was hard won and collected among their friends, each sharing with the other what they had learned about how to have a good time, for a little bit of money while raising little people in a very wet and often chilly corner of the world. 

The foster family that Calah & Andrew were matched with were very new. New to fostering. New to Port Townsend. New to parenting in general. Soon after being licensed, they were matched in the Love Box program, just as they brought two children into their home. 

Here's the letter Andrew & Calah crafted. We hope you find some inspiration for your adventures with the families you serve, your grandchildren, and any young people in your life!

Welcome
Let us introduce ourselves, we are Calah and Andrew, members of your Love Box team.  We moved to PT when our son was 3 and our daughter was a baby. Our son is now 16 and our daughter 13.   Our families of origin are in New England, so we had to figure things out and build our own support network in Port Townsend.  We have put together a guide of places, activities, and other things that we have learned along the way. Hopefully a few of these things will be helpful for you.

Prepared for Adventure
One of the things we learned from a local nanny was to carry an adventure “Go Bag”.   She always had a backpack with everything needed for adventure in Port Townsend.  We tried to replicate it with our own.  Here are a few things that we carried in it:

• Ouch pouch/boo boo kit (Small first aid kit, mostly any size and type of band-aid)
• Pocket knife
• Foldable kite with string (always a breeze in PT)
• Calories (bars, jellybeans, etc…  you never know where a kiddo may bonk and need an incentive to continue walking)
• Rope (parachute cord works well) You can use this to construct forts, pull driftwood boots, tie things to the backpack for transport home, and many other things.
• Flashlights (exploring bunkers, under troll bridges, or other dark spots of curiosity)
• A couple of large Ziploc bags
• Mason jar with a mesh lid (Specimen collection)
• Umbrella
• Hand warmers
• Plastic ponchos 
• Backpacking towel
• Wet Wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• As the kids got older, we used our cell phones for Pokemon Go or for maps for geocaching in town. This was a great way to get them outside and started when they were “balking up”.
• We also pre-pack our car for adventures. We have foldable chairs, a small picnic table in a bag, beach blankets,  frisbee and a bag with napkins/camp plates/utensils on the ready for a quick dinner at the beach, etc. After COVID, you will find that PT people love their potlucks, so having a “mess kit” prepared is useful.

We’re sure that you will have ideas too, you two sound pretty outdoorsy!

Adventure Ideas

• Low tide at Chetzemoka Park.  At low tide there is an enormous sand bar at the park.  Little ones may need a piggy-back across the near shore rocks, beyond the rocks is a fantastic sandbar to explore.  Prepare to be wet and sandy.
• Fort Worden beach.  In our experience, the locals typically stay to the right of the pier (closer to town side).  There is always lots to do and explore at the beach. Older kids sometimes jump off the pier.
• Froggy Bottoms.  There is a small marsh/pond in happy valley (see map below).  In the Spring this area is full of little frogs.  The frogs are spectacularly green, brown and combinations in between. We spent hours here hunting frogs.
• Cappy’s Woods.  There is a huge track of forest that can provide hours of exploration.  Best way to access is to park at the track near Blue Heron Middle School, and walk along the track, past the soccer field behind the track and the trail entrance is on the right. 
• Campfire at the Fort Worden beach shelter.  Fort Worden’s beach shelter is for rent, but when it is not rented there is a fabulous fire circle that we have used in the past.  Bring marshmallows and have a fun roasting them and sitting by the fire.
• Explore the bunkers at Fort Worden.  It is important to bring flashlights for this adventure.  There are bunkers scattered throughout the park, and some provide excellent picnic areas from the roof.  
• Old Fort Townsend provides a different type of beach experience, and there are some great forest trails, and large sheltered grassy areas.
• Berry picking at Finnriver Farm in Chimacum.  Contact Janet at the farm to get details about the berry collective.  This is the most amazing farm in the valley with abundant blueberries and raspberries, bonus is many times there are pigs and other animals to go see while you are there.  This adventure pairs well with stopping at the Finnriver Cidery in Chimacum for wood fired pizza, lawn games and a walk in the orchard to see the geese.
• A trip to see the wild swans in Chimacum.  In the late winter/early spring flocks of swans will stop in the valley fields.  This is best seen from the car on Big Valley Road.  
• Exploring the tide pools at North Beach.  During low tide you can find all kinds of fantastic creatures in the tide pools.
• When there is snow in PT everyone goes to the hill immediately behind the High School and slides down into the play fields.  
• A trip to Hurricane Ridge to play in the snow.  You will be surprised by how many people you recognize on any given weekend in the winter at Hurricane Ridge.  This is a nearby spot to go sliding, build a snow fort, go snow showing, and learn to ski.  It is very welcoming, and there is a sweet lodge run by the national parks.  Call in the morning before you leave PT for road conditions up the mountain.  Also, the lot can fill early during peak season.  It is nice that there is a limited amount of people up there… when you have a parking spot. 
• One thing that we love in PT is a good parade.  Be ready for lots of Parades post-COVID.  There are a few that are very kiddo-centric: The Rhody Festival Pet Parade, The Rhody Festival Kid Parade, and the Halloween Costume Parade.  These are very sweet small town events.
• For the young ones, there is a Santa parade float that sometime travels through Uptown in early December in the evenings.  When we lived on Lawrence St, our little ones found it extremely exciting.
• Saturday mornings at the Farmers Market are so special.  Starting in the Spring we would bring the kiddos to the market and give them a few dollars to get a treat.  We would set them loose and rely on the community to help them. There are vendors that have watched the kids in town grow from tikes to adults.  Susan at the bratwurst stand is a treasure and she has been a rock for our kids since they could talk.  Janet at Finn River Farm used to save the “Freak of the Week” vegetable for our daughter.  She knew she liked the crazy looking things that were not all that saleable.  Heidi and John the coffee gypsies are also super great with the kids.
• Going to Velocity Coffee at the Northwest Maritime Center for a coffee and Bob’s Bagel, and letting the kids explore the piers and beach nearby.  Joe and the team are the best, and tell the story behind the coffee.  This is a great outdoor adventure with the comforts of a great coffee and treat.
• Lunch counter at Don’s Pharmacy.  When we are not in the COVID craziness, sitting down at the lunch counter at Don’s harkens back to a simpler time.  Well worth the cozy old-fashioned experience, and kiddos enjoy the classic fare.
• An atypical experience is to go explore the courthouse (Clock tower building) and enormous Post Office.  There are neat and interesting areas in each of these buildings if you go looking.
• The Jefferson County Museum downtown, who does not have fun locking their sibling in the old jail cell?  
• Local swimming spots.  Believe it or not, there are warmish spots to swim in the ocean.  Check out Linger Longer in Quilcene, or the pier and beach on Marrowstone Island.  Although the water is warm enough to swim at these locations, we totally recommend collecting a few old wet suits from Goodwill or Ebay.   This was a game changer for us, and we can provide other trip ideas that are further afield that can be transformed with an old wetsuit.  
• Illahee Preserve in the Fall when the salmon are spawning.  It is impressive to see the return of the salmon.  This is something that shouldn’t be missed.
• The flight museum at the airport.  This is recommendation from a friend, she and her daughter were pleasantly surprised when they went to this museum.  
• Sather Park with flashlights on a dark and stormy night.  This is a recommendation from a friend, we have not tried this one out, but it sounds wild and crazy!
• Larry Scott Trail, any piece of the trail is fun, especially when you are learning to bike.
• Speaking of bikes, the people at the Recyclery totally rock and they help supply people with upcycled bikes and the knowledge to keep them rolling.  They also offer ladies-only classes for bike repair, and kid safety classes.  
• Explore all the hidden paths that criss-cross town.  There is a maze of paths that criss-cross town, how many can you find? Where do they go? Can you find short cuts?
• North Beach at sunset.  This is a great way to unwind.  The kiddos can play and explore, and we can get a little peace watching the sun drop below the horizon.
• Glass beach, this adventure will require some piggy backs for little ones.  Start at North Beach, and start hiking to the left (away from Fort Worden).  There is a mythical spot where you can find sea glass.  We found a few spots, and the treasure hunt is fun.  Bald Eagles can be viewed in this area too.  Warning…as an out-and-back hike going out feels way shorter than the return trip.  Also, the hiking is difficult at high tide, so plan accordingly.
• HJ Carroll Park.  There is a lot to explore at HJ.  There is a pump track/BMX bike track for all ages, local plant gardens, disc golf, soccer and softball fields, and a stone labyrinth. If you explore beyond the labyrinth, there is a creek with a log to cross over the water and you can make boats out of found things and sail them down the current.
• PT Marine Science Center.  This is located at the pier in Fort Worden.  This is so much fun with little kiddos, they have touching tanks with all kinds of local sea life.  They also offer summer camps, and volunteer opportunities for teens.
• Cheesy breadsticks from Pan d’Amore.  I think that every PT kid has memories of cheesy breadsticks from the bakery.  For my kids, these were an after-school snack with some regularity.
• Going to the park office in Quilcene to get a permit to go cut a Christmas tree up in the forest.  Our experience with this adventure ended with a family story similar to National Lampoons.  We ended up cutting a tree that filled up most of the living room after endless driving on the forest roads.  Our friends still recommend experiencing this adventure at least once.  Pro tip: download Alltrails or Avenza which will turn your phone into a GPS unit, that way you can know where you are at when there is no signal.  Also, bring a sled for sliding in the snow.
• Taking a tour at Wilderbee Farm, cutting lavender bouquets, patting the goats and climbing on the tractors.
• Graysmarsh U-pick berries in Sequim.  This is a quote from a friend of ours, “Just being a kid in those berries and eating them until your stomach hurts is pretty much the best thing ever.  On my first visit (during raspberry season) it was the first time in my life I knew on a cellular level: there are enough berries. I can eat all I want and there will still be berries.  (That’s a really good feeling – to shed a persistent sense of scarcity.)”
• Explore the parks and trails on Indian and Marrowstone Island.  On Indian Island the trails are on the right as you are heading towards Marrowstone.
• Exploring Port Gamble is a fun afternoon and stopping at the Butcher and Baker is a great way to stay energized with some great food.  Also, there are hundreds of acres of mountain bike trails behind Port Gamble. 
• A perfect end to many adventures can be found at Elevated, but we are sure you probably already found that treasure, or the Courtyard Café with homemade marshmallows on your hot chocolate.
• Getting a slice of pizza at Water Street.  Picking up a slice of pizza and sitting in the plaza after school was one of my son’s favorite things to do when he was younger.
• Catching a movie at the Rose.  Pro-tip: try the stairs just outside the doors to the large cinema.  They lead to a hidden balcony; it makes you feel like you are the only family in the cinema.
• Take a ferry ride.  You can take a round trip ferry ride over to Coupeville.  Our kiddos used to love the excitement of sitting on the deck.
• When traveling out of town, we highly recommend audio books.  Our kids still love listening to audio books as a family when we road trip.  Our local library has audiobooks that you can download, and audible.com has almost everything for a price.  Roald Dahl’s books held the interest of ours kid when they were younger for many a trip. Rick Riordan has also been a family favorite for listening.

Structured Activities and Support

• Port Townsend has a slightly underground network of unusually talented and educated adults, many of whom gladly share their time and talents if asked. If you have a child with a particular interest, and you are looking for an adult to support it, never hesitate to ask around to find someone. For instance, we easily found an adult who was an expert in archery willing to help our daughter pursue that interest. Our son has been doing one-on-one coaching with a retired pro soccer player in town for years.( On the topic of soccer, if either of you are interested in fun adult pick-up games, there is a strong group that plays regularly when COVID isn’t an issue.)
• CedarRoot School.  This is a unique Olympic Peninsula institution.  They offer great programs.  Our daughter spent hours in the woods after school on Wednesdays learning about the local flora and fauna.  She also learned how to build a fire out of nothing in the wet woods.  After all these experiences she feels comfortable and competent in the outdoors.
• Port Townsend School of the Arts.  Our kiddos took many of the weekly classes, and loved their time making fantastic works of art.
• Northwest Maritime Center Summer sailing camps.  Our kiddos learned to sail and be safe in the water.  They have a great program at a reasonable price.  Sign-up late winter, classes fill quickly.
• Jefferson County Library children’s librarian Martha and her story times.  
• Swan School.  We are sure that you have already heard about the special love and family of Swan School, this is a great place for kids to learn more than just reading, writing and arithmetic.  Our kids have fond memories of their time at Swan.
• There is a Waldorf School in Hadlock called Sunfield, K-8. We have many friends whose children thrived there.
• If you are looking for a religious community, we found that the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is very welcoming. Regardless of denomination or your personal beliefs, there is a place for you.  Beau oversees the kiddo education, and he is truly a treasure.  There are few times in life that you meet someone that emotes love, safety and inclusion to little ones like Beau.  This community also provides spaces for small groups to meet.We joined a parenting covenant group when we first moved to PT.  Not only was there childcare, but we had a place to get to know other parents and share insights, successes, and failures.  This group provided a lot of support, and we are still friends to this day.  Also, this was a good place to find babysitters.
•  The Benji Project.  This is a great organization in PT that helps teens “make friends with themselves”.  They help teens navigate emotional ups and downs with greater ease by offering stress management and resiliency training using mindfulness and self-compassion.
• Twisters offers gymnastics for all ages and abilities.  Both of our kids took classes at Twisters and enjoyed their time.  They are offering a lot of support and programming for families needing extra help during school shutdowns.
• Jefferson County Soccer Club.  We have volunteered for the club for years.  If the kiddos are interested in soccer, the JCSC is a great place to start.  They are all volunteers, and are very welcoming.
• If you have a child who is interested in riding horses, Christine Headley at Heron Pond Farm and Becky Cushman at Paradigm Sporthorses both offer great programs for beginners.
• The Jefferson County Rec Center has many intro sports programs.
• There is a private swim team that usually meets at the Mountain View pool during the school year, it is a great group of coaches and kids. There are also more basic swim lessons and open swim times available at that pool (post-COVID). Many PT families venture to the Sequim Y or Bainbridge Island pool for weekend adventures in a “fancier” pool setting.​