Gig Harbor

A small picturesque town at the northwest corner of Pierce County, Gig Harbor is just the ideal place for a vacation. With Mount Rainer as its backdrop and surrounded by calm waters, Gig Harbor presents the best views in the Puget Sound region.  No wonder this Maritime Village of Washington is the focus of millions of postcards and posters. In spite of the urbanization, Gig Harbor - home to about 6000 people who for ages have been active in fishing, still has its conventional look and feel intact.

Extensive open spaces are the hallmark of Gig Harbor and the landscape is full of towering fir trees. There are no high-rise buildings to dilute the scenic effect. Gig Harbor’s extensive shoreline offers the ideal conditions for water sports like boating and kayaking. Scuba diving is another favorite sport in this region and visitors would enjoy the extraordinary scuba experiences. They can also choose between just sailing in the waters and going for a whale watching charter. Visitors can take time off at golf, walking through the scenic region or cycling. Shopping is a pleasure in the small but exquisite outlets lined on the waterfront.

For those who want to know about the history of Gig Harbor, then a History Walk would turn out to be enlightening. Brochures on this self guided walk are available at most of the heritage marker sites. All through the year, the art scene at Gig Harbor is bustling with either live music shows or art demonstrations.

Away from the rushed lifestyles of cities, nature’s bounty at Gig Harbor seems to bring time to a standstill. Ironically there is so much to do in this little village that you may just fall short of time!

• Websites: www.gigharborguide.com, http://gigharbor.com/