Revisiting Gig Harbor and Beyond: Part 2

Welcome to the second part of our two-part series on our adventures in and around Gig Harbor. Buckle up for more fun, food, and family time!

Breakfast at 5 Point Cafe

We kicked things off by picking up Marie after her cruise and heading straight to 5 Point Cafe for breakfast. This 24-hour bar was a bit sketchy but didn’t disappoint in terms of food. The bartender boasted that they’ve been serving breakfast for many years, and it’s definitely a unique experience. Not what you’d expect from a bar, but hey, we were pleasantly surprised!

Exploring Chinatown and Seattle

After breakfast, we picked up Allison and Talia, who were visiting Rachel, Allison's best friend who recently moved from Texas to Seattle. We joined them for a day trip to Chinatown in downtown Seattle. We snapped the obligatory pic at the Historic Chinatown Gate, grabbed some coffee, and headed to Kobe Terrace Park. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as well-maintained as we’d hoped, but it was still a nice stroll.

Next, we ventured to Uwajimaya, a well-known market in the International District. The selection of international foods was incredible, and the food court looked amazing, though we didn’t sample anything this time.

Pier 54 and The Fisherman’s Restaurant

After Chinatown, we headed back to Pier 54 to explore more tourist shops and restaurants. We enjoyed an outdoor happy hour on the rooftop patio at The Fisherman’s Restaurant. The view was great, but the heat was intense, and with no indoor seating, we moved on to another spot that was so bad it’s not worth remembering. Trust us, you’re not missing anything!

Olympic National Park and Victoria, BC

A few days later, Hunter and Grace joined us, and we set out to explore Olympic National Park and Victoria, BC. Our first stop was the Olympic National Park Visitors Center in Port Angeles to get the lay of the land. We hiked the trails to Madison Falls and Marymere Falls on our way to Crescent Lake. The views were spectacular, and the company was great.

Lunch in Port Angeles was at Kokopelli Grill. The food was good, but the service was a bit of a mess with multiple issues regarding the timing and accuracy of our order.

We then boarded a ferry to Victoria, BC, to spend the night and see the sights of Canada. Shelly found a fantastic Airbnb with a view of the city, an outdoor hot tub, and a spa-like bath. It was the perfect spot to relax after a day of hiking.

Dinner at Fishhook was a highlight. This Indian-French influenced sustainable seafood restaurant was amazing. Dairy-free and gluten-free options were plentiful, and every dish we tried was outstanding. The staff were incredible, making it a must-visit if you’re in town. We ate so much that we could have rolled out of there!

Carnival Cruise

After all these land adventures, we topped off the trip with a Carnival Cruise to Alaska with our good friends, Davin and Andrea. This cruise was similar to last year’s but on a different ship, with an additional stop in Ketchikan. Having our travel buddies along made it even more special.

This was Davin and Andrea’s first cruise, and we made sure they experienced all the things we love about cruising—lots of food, card games, excursions, and a bit of casino fun!

Reflections

This trip reaffirmed why we love Gig Harbor and the surrounding areas so much. Despite the cooler and wetter weather this time around, we had an amazing experience. The blend of natural beauty, local charm, and the joy of spending time with family and friends made it special. We’re already looking forward to our next visit, hopefully in a warmer month like July.

Until next time, keep spinning the wheel of adventure!

Happy RVing!

2KidsatHeart 🚐💨