Settled by Norwegian fishermen in the 1880s and still trading on its Scandinavian heritage, Poulsbo sits at the head of Liberty Bay on the north end of the Kitsap Peninsula. The waterfront downtown — three blocks of Front Street and a parallel boardwalk along the marina — has been touched up with Norwegian flag bunting, painted rosemaling and a small Sons of Norway hall, but underneath it is a working small town with a real fishing fleet and a thriving independent shopping street.
The signature stop is Sluys Bakery, which has been making fat loaves of poulsbo bread, kringle and lefse since 1966. Beyond it: kayaks for hire on the bay, the Marine Science Center on the dock, a handful of Norwegian-themed restaurants and pubs, and the Liberty Bay Waterfront Park with views across to Bainbridge. Time it for the Viking Fest in May or the Yule Log Festival in December.