Ah, Seattle! Gateway to getaways! (Take it, Seattle tourism department, I give it to you free.)
Peninsula Daily News reports that the Port of Port Townsend has won a $1.3-million federal grant for construction of a new passenger ferry, to run between Port Townsend and Seattle. Best of all, it’s got to happen fairly quickly: “Sea trials must be finished by the summer of 2013 or the port will not be reimbursed for the construction of the vessel,” the newspaper quotes Port Director Larry Crockett as saying.
Regular readers of The SunBreak know our stance on this issue: Genius! Port Townsend is a lovely seaside village, with plenty of amusements (i.e., brewers and brewpubs). Also, there’s a castle. But as it takes some two-and-a-half hours to get there from Seattle by car, I haven’t been back since a trip via a temporary passenger ferry in 2008. With the new boat, the crossing should take about 75 minutes, says the Seattle Times. Better.
The Port of Port Townsend still needs a private company to operate the boat, which will likely sail more occasionally than a full-time ferry. (For one thing, there’s only the one boat, and it will need to be maintained and repaired.) “The initial plan is to run the service once or twice a day with a 49-passenger capacity, since a greater amount would require a larger crew and cost more to operate,” reports the PDN.
Even with suggested fares ranging from $20 to $25 one-way, the ferry would make only $1,225 per trip at the most. The idea is to keep the boat “no frills,” but already there’s been push back. What can’t ferry passengers live without? Coffee and Wi-Fi. Conflictedly, the Port of Port Townsend sees the ferry as primarily tourist-driven: 80 percent tourists and 20 percent commuters.
Not since Gilligan’s Island have tourists plumped for “no frills” when they’re considering what’s close to a three-hour tour by water. Instead of $40 to $50 round trip, tourists may be interested instead in Bremerton, the “Port Townsend that’s closer than Port Townsend,” especially once Bremerton, too, is served by passenger ferry. A trip to Bremerton is just over $7, round trip, since the run is operated by the Washington State Ferries.
That said, 2013 is a ways off yet, and Labor Day weekend is fast approaching. If you’re stalled on getaway ideas, Gogobot.com has a few Labor Day outings for you, in and out of town:
- Whidbey Island: Close to Seattle, but feels like another world, with top notch dining and shopping stops.
- NorthWest Outdoor Center: Kayak on Lake Union and check out the houseboat communities, a superb view of the space needle, and tie up to enjoy clams and chowder at Ivar’s.
- Rosario Resort & Spa: Grand hotel from the ‘30s and ‘40s, with gorgeous marina views, surrounding forests, and spa complete with indoor pool.
“Gateway to Getaways” beats “Metronatural” any day of the week.
I thought so too! :D
This cafe up in Port Townsend has the best curry mussels. This boat would be perfect. I would gladly pay $50 round trip as a pedestrian. I don’t want to have to drive up there and would spend a ton of cash.
Although, now that I think about it, that may ruin lil’ PT.
As Seattle native who lived on Bainbridge Island and now in Port Townsend for the last 13 years, I’m amused by the attitude that going to Port Townsend involves a major expedition. I make the run to Seattle at least twice a month to see friends or family, even just to go out to dinner. It’s only a little over an hour’s worth of actual driving; I take a book for the ferry line (in summer; in winter there’s usually no wait) and the half-hour ferry ride is a pleasure. And we don’t have your traffic jams. I’ve spent as long getting from the ferry terminal to Bellevue as I have getting back home from Kingston.