Visit Poulsbo: This Charming Town Is Even Better in Winter

Velkommen til Poulsbo! Nestled right on Liberty Bay, equal distance from the Bainbridge Island and Kingston ferries, lies the historic town of Poulsbo, Washington. Often referred to as “Little Norway” or the “Viking City,” this charming town’s rich Norwegian heritage is evident as you wander downtown and explore the surrounding area. 

Fill a day or a weekend with wonderful local shopping, kid-friendly breweries and several notable museums. In December, witness Vikings deliver a solstice proclamation, pay a visit to a Nordic Father Christmas and enjoy holiday light displays adorning the downtown. I live here, yet still find myself “playing tourist” as Poulsbo has much to offer. Unique seasonal events make it even more of a worthwhile destination in winter. 

Explore Front Street for restaurants, shopping and art 

If you are like me and prefer to begin exploring a new town with a warm beverage in hand, Caffe Cocina is a great spot to start. Its expansive menu of food and beverages, including the Kitsap Peninsula’s famous vegan Dude’s Donuts, and ample indoor and outdoor seating make it a great place to fuel up. Next door, patisserie Ma Facon TR will leave your mouth watering with its wide selection of freshly baked sweet and savory selections. For a quintessential Poulsbo experience, enjoy a hot drink while you wait in line (there is usually a line) for an apple fritter from Sluys’ Poulsbo Bakery.

As you make your way down Front Street, kids may enjoy picking out a gift for a friend at The Curious Child or trying on Viking helmets outside Cat’s Meow. Indigo Plum has shoes for everyone in the family. A trip to Poulsbo isn’t complete without a stop at Nordiska for beautiful Nordic-inspired housewares, gifts, children’s clothing and toys. For book lovers, Poulsbo’s downtown boasts two independent bookstores, Away with Words and Liberty Bay Books; both are worth visiting for their curated children’s selections. 

For a sit-down meal, downtown Poulsbo offers several kid-friendly eateries. Paella Bar and Burrata Bistro share a coveted outdoor heated patio, and Juicy J’s Smoked Burgers is a destination stop for its 100-percent plant-based burgers. You can order just a slice or a full pie at Poulsbo Woodfired Pizza, or choose from the extensive “Little Amigos” menu at Casa Luna. 

As you wander, take note of the Viking ship adornments on street benches and count the many Viking-themed murals all over town. Don’t miss posing in front of the red phone booth at the corner of Front Street and Jensen Way. 

Stroll to a nearby playground 

If your in-town wandering leaves your legs wanting more of a stretch, stroll along the Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park to take in the gorgeous views of Liberty Bay. Head north, along the boardwalk and a short path, to American Legion Park to find a small playground structure and green space where kids can run. The larger Lions Park playground is less than 1 mile from downtown and makes for a lovely 15-minute walk along the water to the south. 

Visit a museum 

For a small town, Poulsbo, together with the surrounding area, offers an impressive collection of high-quality museums, most with free admission. Winter is a particularly great time to visit these indoor spaces, where your kids can captain a boat, touch sea stars, visit the gravesite of Seattle’s namesake or pretend to drive a submarine. As you take in the sights and sounds downtown, be sure to stop by: 

• SEA Discovery Center: The center offers kids a hands-on experience and a chance to learn about Salish Sea marine life. Stop in to meet Klahanie, our resident giant Pacific octopus, and complete a scavenger hunt for a prize. Check the website for special events. Open Fridays and Saturdays, by donation.
• Poulsbo Heritage Museum: The museum displays cultural artifacts with a focus on inclusive history and encourages (gentle) hands-on exploration. Open daily, by donation.
• Maritime Museum: Next door to the Heritage Museum, this museum has a small children’s room, a scavenger hunt game and a play boat in its “boatyard” that my kids love. The museum is open daily with free admission; donations are encouraged.

If you’re up for a short drive, find your way to:

• U.S. Naval Undersea Museum: Visitors have the chance to step inside a real submarine control room and learn about the Navy’s undersea history and technology. Open Wednesday–Monday, free admission.
• Suquamish Museum: The museum displays artifacts and shares the history of the Indigenous people of this region. Walk across the street to visit Chief Seattle’s gravesite and let your little ones stretch their legs at the Suquamish Shores Natural Play Area. Open Wednesday–Sunday, $6–$8 admission fee. 

Combine kid-friendly hiking with Legos and the best breakfast sandwich in the Northwest 

Poulsbo’s Fish Park boasts a 3-mile network of flat, easy trails that wind through forest and wetlands, and over several boardwalks. It’s a perfect spot for the kids to get a walk in and possibly spot wildlife. Following the trails under the bridge to the south will take you to a small nature play area and playground structure at Nelson Park. 

Two of my favorite places in Poulsbo are a short distance from Fish Park. My kids love to build a minifig and shop the new and used Lego collection at Viking City Bricks. From there, it is a quick walk or drive to Oxalis Kitchen for a coffee, house-made pastry or other scrumptious, locally sourced breakfast and lunch fare. 

Relax at a local family-friendly brewery or cidery 

Poulsbo has an extensive network of local breweries with two kid-friendly standouts. Echoes is a craft brewery and tap house with dedicated play spaces for kids, including giant Jenga, basketball and arcade games. You’ll usually find a food truck or two, and outside food is welcome. 

Bushel & Barrel Ciderhouse, located a few miles north of downtown, is great for the whole family, even in the cooler months. Kids can pet and feed the goats, alpaca, sheep, miniature donkeys and Scottish Highland cows. You’ll find heated tables outside, along with cornhole and disc golf, weather permitting. In the cozy indoor space, you can play board games and munch on snacks. 

Editor’s note: Bushel & Barrel Ciderhouse will be closed for a seasonal break from Dec. 15, 2025–Jan. 31, 2026.

If you don’t think you’ll get your animal fix at Bushel & Barrel, consider booking a visit (in advance!) with Sawdust Hill Alpaca Farm. Visitors must be 7 or older. Farm tours cost $50 for the first three people and $14.50 per person thereafter. 

Attend a seasonal holiday event 

There are few more charming places to visit than Poulsbo during the December holidays. Each weekend, beginning the weekend following Thanksgiving through Christmas, children can greet a Nordic Father Christmas and pose for a photo inside his cozy cottage. On these same weekends, you are likely to hear local carolers filling the air with holiday music throughout the day. Visit Poulsbo lists dates and times for all the seasonal activities. 

If you enjoy festive lights, the tree at the waterfront park will be alight starting the Friday after Thanksgiving. You can also sip hot cider and watch the boats cruise through Liberty Bay during the Lighted Ships Parade in early December. Clearwater Casino Resort has a beautiful display of waterside lights to enjoy, too. 

For a most memorable day, visit Poulsbo during its annual JuleFest. On the first Saturday in December from 10 a.m. to dusk, kids will love to see Vikings in full regalia all around town. They may enjoy tasting lefse (a thin potato pancake) dusted with cinnamon and sugar, and noshing on småkaker (cookies). Shop at the Nordic Market and plan to stay into the evening to marvel as the Lucia bride is escorted into town by boat to the giant solstice bonfire, where the Viking king delivers a solstice proclamation. Photos with Santa and Vikings often follow.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in October 2023, and was updated by the writer on Dec. 1, 2025, with a thorough fact-check and new things to do.