Gig Harbor

[dohenyboy]

I am thinking of summering in Gig Harbor, probably in a mid-sized trawler. How is it for a family? Interesting or boring? Crowded? Pros and cons?


Why can't things remain where i carelessly left them?

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by dohenyboy

I am thinking of summering in Gig Harbor, probably in a mid-sized trawler. How is it for a family? Interesting or boring? Crowded? Pros and cons?


Why can't things remain where i carelessly left them?

It's kind of a sleepy little bedroom community. I think it would probably get boring for a family after several weeks, unless this was intended as a jumping off point for exploring the south end of Puget Sound.

I assume you would take a marina berth. I've anchored there a number of times with a small boat and generally it was a bit tight, the more so for the big tides meaning more scope.

[dilligaf]

Great little anchorage, Very hard sandy bottom but well protected. Might move there one day

[TacomaSailor]

Spent many years there. It is a near perfect location for a summer or MANY summers. You will be hard pressed to find a better place to keep your boat.

Kept our 40' cutter there 1997- 2000 and 2004-2006. Lived across the Tacoma Narrows from "the Harbor" for 20+ years. Almost died in a dinghy sailing accident there in 1968 in a snow storm that also contained a thunder storm and associated squall.

The Harbor has everything you will need as a cruising family:
- good grocery shopping
- major big box shopping (home depot, Walmart, Target)
- modern new hospital
- West Marine
- NAPA auto parts
- many great restaurants
- the Tides Tavern (best family bar in Puget Sound) with 100' of free dockage
- several very nice Marinas (we stayed in Murphys)
- free 2-night city dock just a 1/2 block from the heart of town
- many reasonable hotels/motels within several miles
- just 10-miles from the ferry to Seattle
- just 6-miles from everything you need in downtown Tacoma
- 6-miles from the nicest AAA baseball stadium in America
- spectacular bicycle riding (but very hilly)

Hundreds of wonderful anchorages within 20-miles
The San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands are only 60 - 80 miles north

Fantastic fishing just a mile outside the harbor entrance

The nicest city park (Pt Defiance) is just across the Tacoma Narrows

Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics (5000' and fantastic scenery) is only 2-hours NW

Mt Rainier (Paradise) is only 2-hours away

Some of the best hiking in North America (Cascades and Olympics) is within 90-minutes

Guest Docks in downtown Tacoma are 6-mile east. Those docks are adjacent to the Museum of Glass, Washington History Museum, Washington Art Museum, and hundreds of great urban restaurants and bars. There is a free Trolley from the top of steps leading up from the guest dock that will take you all over downtown Tacoma.

The Old Town Tacoma guest dock is just 5-miles east... same as above

I can go on forever

Gig Harbor is one of the most fantastic destinations I have visited in 40-years of sailing from Alaska to Mexico

[Terra Nova]

Gig Harbor is a nice, small town, set among the trees by the water, just past the west side of the Tacoma Narrows bridge, in a protected harbor. It is well located in the bottom of the sound, with easy enough access to points of interest by car, boat, ferry (excellent way to get around) and air. The town has a number of artists whose work you'll find in local shops.

Except for the town, itself, the land side area looks like one giant forest, with blackberries growing wild alongside the road, in many places, and sometimes a view of Mount Ranier. Picturesque.

TS--good post.

[TacomaSailor]

Picture of Salmon Beach - just across the Tacoma Narrows from the Gig Harbor Entrance - 60-year old fisherman cabins that have been yuppified and require a 200- step climb to get back to the parking lot

Picture of the Gig Harbor Public dock from the public picnic and concert area. In the heart of downtown GH

[dohenyboy]

Thank you very much. I plan to make a visit in the next few months and scope it out, and look for a good boat in the area.


Why can't things remain where i carelessly left them?

[roverhi]

Checked on anchoring there a few years back. Was told part of the harbor is city controlled and restricted for long term anchoring. It's been awhile so can't remember what the cities idea of restricted meant but it was definitely short term. The other part of the harbor was either County or State responsibility and long term anchoring was possible. From what I heard there had been intermittent boats hanging on a hook for months in the non city side.