BREMERTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - KITSAP COUNTY, WA

Attractions

There's simply so much to see and do in the Bremerton area, it would be impossible to list them all. Here's just a partial sample of the wonderful attractions that await you:

USS Turner Joy
The USS Turner Joy is a refurbished Vietnam-era destroyer that is now a floating museum operated by the Bremerton Historic Ships Association. Moored at the north end of the Bremerton Boardwalk, the ship can be explored topside and below decks. The tour also includes a Vietnam POW memorial. The ship is a popular location for group events, reunions and guided tours.

Bremerton Harborside and Louis Mentor Boardwalk
Stroll along the Louis Mentor Boardwalk to enjoy some of the best views in the county. The Harborside is located right next to the ferry terminal along beautiful Sinclair Inlet. You'll enjoy the playful fountains, wide plaza and relaxing gathering places as you watch ferries, sailboats and wildlife.

Elandan Gardens
The simple pleasure of Bonsai trees over one thousand years old await you at Elandan Gardens. The spectacular gardens also feature more than two acres of rhododendrons and Japanese maples along the shores of Puget Sound. Elandan Gardens offers a serene setting in which to view nature's wonders. Don't forget to stop by the eclectic gift shop full of antiques and worldly treasures. You may also catch a glimpse of a bald eagle floating gracefully overhead.

Evergreen Children's Theater Aurora Valentinetti Puppet Museum
Are you looking for a fun place to take the kids? Pop in to discover a venue designed for young folks and the young at heart. Get up close and personal with every type of puppet imaginable - and some you simply couldn't have imagined! The theater has many shows throughout the year and the museum has loads of hands-on activities and festivities to keep the little ones enthralled.

Kitsap County Historical Society Museum
The museum has one of the finest collections of historic photographs in the area. Museum exhibits include a model of a logging camp and scale models of typical early storefronts in the town. Rotating exhibits depict various aspects of the county's history and programs pertaining to local history. The museum shop offers unique books and gifts that are sure to please everyone on your gift list. In addition, the museum archives are available for historical research.

Suquamish Clearwater Casino
Gaming enthusiasts can find the fun and action of Las Vegas right in Kitsap County. Clearwater Casino offers slots, blackjack, tournaments, bingo and more. The facility will soon expand to include a fabulous resort hotel in the Spring of 2006. In addition, the Clearwater Cabaret offers live entertainment and you can grab a bite to eat at one of the fine restaurants or delis inside the casino.

Celebrations

There's no doubt that Bremerton and Kitsap County residents like to have a good time and enjoy family-oriented activities. That's why the community plays host to numerous fun activities including:

- First Friday Arts Walk, as the name implies, is held the first Friday of every month. Galleries, museums and businesses in downtown Bremerton and Manette stay open late to provide ample opportunity to enjoy Bremerton's culture and unique shops.

- St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Bremerton gives you a great reason to don your green garb and enjoy being Irish for the day. This annual gathering is coordinated by Bremerton Main Stream Association.

- Armed Forces Festival, coordinated by the Bremerton Chamber, is our special "thank you" to the hard-working men and women of our Armed Forces.

Bremerton has long had the distinction of coordinating the nation's largest and longest-running Armed Forces Day Parade on the third Saturday of May. The parade, which is sponsored by Dignity Memorial, began in 1948 - two years before Armed Forces Day became a federally recognized holiday. People from all over the Puget Sound region come out every year to enjoy over 100 marching units, dozens of military entries and several marching bands. Stop by the Lions Pancake Breakfast before the parade and the arts and crafts fair and car show afterwards.

Other major events include the Puget Sound Energy Armed Forces Festival Ambassadors Scholarship Program, the Pepsi Armed Forces Golf Tournament at Gold Mountain Golf Complex, Kitsap HydroFest on Kitsap Lake and the Military Culinary Arts Competition at Olympic College.

Contact the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce at (360) 479-3579 or Bremerton Chamber for more information.

- All City Arts Walk is a popular event held annually on the first Saturday in June. People gather in downtown Bremerton to celebrate the arts by enjoying gallery exhibits, music, sidewalk sales and children's activities.

- Kitsap County Fair and Stampede Rodeo is our community's five-day fair at the end of August. Attendees are treated to dozens of toe-tapping musical acts, farm animals galore and plenty of food. Cowboys consistently rate the Stampede Rodeo, as one of the best rodeos in the nation!

- Bremerton Blackberry Festival, coordinated by Bremerton Main Stream Association, signals the last celebration of the summer on Labor Day Weekend. Thousands of people come to the Boardwalk to take advantage of great weather, fun activities, live music and games for the kids. And don't forget to sample all the blackberry goodies for sale. Yum!

- Safe Trick-or-Treating Downtown is brought to you courtesy of the Downtown Bremerton Association. In addition to candy and gifts, train rides and storytelling are part of the fun. Include a visit to the USS Turner Joy, which is transformed into a "Haunted Ship" for the occasion.

- Winter Fest is highlighted by the arrival of Santa downtown and Frosty in Manette. It is held in conjunction with December's First Friday Arts Walk and is hosted by Bremerton Main Stream Association and the Downtown Bremerton Association. The kids will certainly have a great time at this old-fashioned holiday celebration.

- Lighted Boat Parade, presented by the Bremerton Yacht Club, takes place in mid-December. Sparkling lights are mirrored on the water as boats glide along the shoreline. Wave to Santa as he calls out to good boys and girls on the waterfront.

The Fairgrounds also hosts several other popular event including:

March - Home Builders' Association's Annual Home Show November - Festival of Trees, Harrison Medical Center Fund-raiser
December - Toys for Tots Christmas Party

For more information on these and other exciting events, contact the Chamber at (360) 479-3579 or Bremerton Chamber

Sports

Hockey, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, BMX and many more activities for sports enthusiasts are found through-out Kitsap County. Spectators will also enjoy the variety of sports in the community including semi-pro, college and high school sports.

Many local high schools produce nationally and internationally acclaimed athletes ranging from swimming sensations Dana and Tara Kirk from Bremerton High School, Willie Bloomquist (South Kitsap High) with the Seattle Mariners to professional basketball's newest sensation Marvin Williams with the Atlanta Hawks who graduated from Bremerton High School in 2004.

Of course, one of the greatest fringe benefits of living in Kitsap County is the opportunity to attend a variety of professional sporting events without the transportation and parking hassles that face most metropolitan area fans.

Kitsap Blue Jackets
(360) 479-0123
BlueJackets
Kitsap's very own BlueJackets will begin their second season in 2006. The baseball team is in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League, which showcases top collegiate baseball talent. This family-friendly activity is played at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds and features affordable packages and season tickets.
Come on out on a warm summer night and root, root, root for the home team!

Bremerton Ice Arena
1950 Homer Jones Road
(360) 479-7465
Ice Arena
The premier ice skating facility is conveniently located right next to the YMCA. The facility offers open skating sessions, lessons, figure skating and youth hockey. In addition, they are the home of the Puget Sound Tomahawks, the 2004 Western Division Champions. The arena is also available for private rentals including birthday parties and corporate events.

Bremerton Skateland
1740 NE Fuson Road
(360) 373-2162
Whether you're into inline skatees or are a traditional quad skater, you'll have a great time at Bremerton Skateland, just off of Waaga Way/Highway 303. The rink offers lots of open skate time, lessons and parties. The facility is also home to the Olympic View Skating Club, Hurricane Hockey team and the Bremerton Bullets Speed team.

Kitsap Family YMCA
60 Magnuson Way
(360) 377-3741
The YMCA
The YMCA is the place to be for fun activities. Fitness classes for kids, teens and adults, swimming lessons and open swim, teen late night activities - you name it, the YMCA's got it! Make sure to drop by the "Y" the third Saturday of the month for "Splash & Jam". The whole family will enjoy swimming, arts and crafts, a G-rated movie and lots more.

Olympic Soccer and Sports Center
1199 Union Avenue West
(360) 479-8388
SOCCER
Indoor soccer has come to Kitsap County! The Olympic Soccer and Sports Center features two playing fields plus party rooms and an outdoor deck. The facility, located at Pendergast Park, is ideal for games and practice as well as special events and conferences. Soccer enthusiasts can purchase top-notch equipment at the center as well.

Community Sports

With hundreds of miles of shoreline, our community offers virtually unlimited opportunities for boating, fishing, sailing and water skiing.

A number of beautiful state and county parks can be found in close proximity to Bremerton in addition to the City's 600 acres of recreational land for baseball, softball, soccer, horseshoes and a host of other activities. The City of Bremerton also operates one of the top municipal golf courses in the nation, Gold Mountain Golf Complex, and many private, award-winning golf courses are just a few minutes drive from Bremerton.

The City's Parks and Recreation Department also maintains a municipal swimming pool and recreation center and offers a wide variety of leisure and fitness classes for all age groups. They can be reached at (360) 478-5305.

The nearby Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges provide unparalleled oppoertunities for hiking camping and nature appreciation. The Cascades are also internationally renowned for their challenging slopes for skiing and snowboarding.
Washington State Parks

Professional Sports

A scenic ferry ride and a short walk puts spectators at the turnstiles of Safeco Field, home to the Seattle Mariners baseball team. The Seattle Seahawks football is now being played at the state-of-the-art Qwest Stadium, again, just a relaxing ferry ride away. If you're a basketball fan, the Seattle Sonics play at Key Arena, which is just north of the ferry terminal via Seattle famous monorail.

For more information about sports activities in Kitsap County, contact the Chamber at (360) 479-3579 or visit Bremerton Chamber.

Golf

The mild climate in Western Washington is ideal for year-round golfing. The long, pleasant summer days draw golfers to the links at the crack of dawn until late in the evening. If you enjoy the challenge of a great course with breathtaking scenery, Kitsap County is the place for you!

The region boasts three of the top four golf courses in the state, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. No wonder the courses and their tournaments are so popular. Year after year, Bremerton and Kitsap County's courses rank at the top of the lists of premier facilities.

Gold Mountain Golf Complex
City of Bremerton 7263 West Belfair Valley Road
(360) 415-6870
Gold Mountain Golf
This complex draws golf enthusiasts from all over the Pacific Northwest. In fact, it has won more awards than any other course in Washington and in 2006 will host the 81st Annual USGA Amateur Public Links Championship.

Kitsap Golf & Country Club
3885 NW Golf Club Hill Road
(360) 377-0166
KG&CC
This classic golf and country club has an exciting course and excellent country club facilities including an outdoor swimming pool. They also hold special events throughout the year for members.

McCormick Woods Golf Course & Restaurant
5155 McCormick Woods Drive SW, Port Orchard
(360) 895-0130
McCormick woods
McCormick Woods offers a challenge for golfers in a breathtaking - and award-winning - setting and plays host to numerous golf tournaments throughout the year. Enjoy dinner in fabulous Mary Mac's after your game.

Trophy Lake Golf & Casting
3900 SW Lake Flora Road, Port Orchard
(360) 874-8337
Trophy Lake
One of Kitsap's newest award-winning facilities, Trophy Lake caters to golf enthusiasts and fly fishers. Visitors are greeted by a dramatic waterfall set just outside the clubhouse and restaurant with a traditional Northwest d'cor.

Galleries

Bremerton is one of only a handful of cities that has a designated arts district. Some of the most popular galleries are:

Amy Burnett Gallery
402 Pacific Avenue
(360) 373 - 3187
Burnett Gallery
Art pieces created by the nationally-acclaimed owner of the gallery are featured along with sculpture, glass, pottery and a variety of mixed-media work by other local and regional artists.

Collective Visions - A Gallery of Art
331 Pacific Avenue
(360) 377 -8327
This artists' cooperative is home to rotating exhibits by its two dozen members. A variety of styles and media can be found in Collective Visions. The gallery also hosts concerts throughout the year featuring a range of musical styles.

First Friday Arts Walk
The first Friday of every month, galleries, museums, and shops in Bremerton's downtown & Manette shopping area open their doors to host an incredible evening of culture.

The monthly event features open houses, exhibit openings, readings, music and refreshments. Contact Collective Visions at (360) 377 - 8327 for more information.

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