Naval Base Kitsap | Out and About | HARBORSIDE

Bremerton Harborside District

The Bremerton Harborside District opened in August of 2004. I wasn’t here for the Grand-Opening ceremony but I was still so very excited. The Harborside District is a combination of past and present Boardwalk projects. Now being all tied together and called the Haborside District.

The Harborside District is one in which you can spend a couple hours to several hours. There are things “to do” such as touring the USS Turner Joy or you can just sit on a bench and watch the sailboats or ferries glide by. You can visit a “water-park” or browse thur a museum. The Harborside District is my favorite spot in Bremerton and with the continued revitalization of the downtown hub and the Boardwalk expansion project it will be one to enjoy for many years.

USS TURNER JOY

Whenever we transferred to a new location we turn into “tourists”. We call it our new “Navy” vacation. How many families get to live all over the country and “vacation” without leaving home? The first year at a new duty station we spend most of our free time searching out the local area attractions. However, that isn’t the case with the USS Turner Joy, a destroyer from the Vietnam Era; we visited the USS Turner Joy prior to leaving Bremerton the first time. In fact I think it was a “Saturday Date”. I had never been around the Navy and so I was very excited to be going on a “ship”. I hope you have the time to head down to the Bremerton Boardwalk some day and visit this very unique historical Navy “museum”. Self tours are always the best in my opinion and that is how they have designed the tour of the USS Turner Joy.

May 1^st to September 30^th
Open Daily 10:00-16:00
October 1^st to April 30^th
Open Friday thru Sunday
10:00 – 16:00

Call for the current admission prices.
360-792-2457

Admission
Adults: $8.00
Seniors 62+: $7.00
Children 5-12: $6.00
Under 5: Free
(Verified 10/28/07)

The USS Turner Joy is closed on Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Bremerton Boardwalk

On quiet days you can sit on a bench and watch the ferries come and go, on others days you can participate in local activities such as the Blackberry Festival or the summer Concert series, either way it is a fun place to be. The Blackberry Festival is held over Labor Day weekend and the “Concerts on the Boardwalk” series are held on Fridays starting in July. My husband and I have spent the 4th of July there watching the fireworks.

Located at the Boardwalk is the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Memorial Plaza commemorating 100 years (1891-1991) of service. The memorial consists of symbolic work by Washington artist Larry Anderson and there are thousands of personalized bricks which were purchased by the community for the celebration.

There are also “pillars” with special tiles inserted – it is always fun to read these. Onmy last trip I found a very interesting tile. it was for the USS Midway – put there by the Reunion Association located in Pennsylvania. It was of interest to me because I have been on the USS Midway on a visit to San Diego. The USS Midway is an Aircraft Carrier Museum.

Bremerton Boardwalk
2nd Street and Washington

2 acres
840 linear feet of shoreline
12 park benches
Restroom
Water fountains

Harborside Fountain Park

Bremerton’s newest park addition – and all I can say is WOW!!

I had read a little about the park which opened in May of 2007 but had yet to visit. Harborside Fountain Park is at the other side of the Boardwalk. I was able to walk up the stairs to the ferry terminal and cross over. I stood up above and looked down at this amazing park. The vegetation, the stone sculptures and the copper fountains – AMAZING!!

There are these five copper fountains that “burst” water into the air at different times and different intervals. I had no idea. I was watching the water fall down the sides when all of a sudden “burst” and with this loud swishing water sound out came this large stream of water. I was so caught off guard that I screamed!! I was the only one in the park so that made me laugh!!

I know this is a place that people can “play” in the fountains and I also had read that people are debating whether the copper fountains are designed after volcanoes or whale spouts. I guess either could be right since we are on a whale “run” and so close to a volcano. When the water isn’t “spurting” they remind me of submarine sails. Guess that is the Navy spouse in me. These fountains where designed by the same company that designed the fountains out front of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas – so you can only imagine they are amazing!

I can hardly wait until spring when every plant comes alive!! I will be spending some time at this park – it is like I said – AMAZING!!

BREMERTON NAVAL MUSEUM

The oldest building located on the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard site was relocated by the US Navy to Harborside Fountain Park to become the new home of the Naval Memorial Museum of the Pacific. The new location along with the opening of the museum was dedicated this past August.

This majestic 100 year old building is the perfect place to showcase moments of the Navy and the history of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Attached to the museum is the Harborside Fountain Room which overlooks the fountain park with a full glass wall. This room can also be scheduled for weddings, parties and special events.

While I was there someone was inquiring about a naval commissioning event to take place in the social room. I started into the museum, first to the gift shop and chatted briefly with the salesperson. The museum is free and staffed solely by volunteers so please if you can drop a donation in the jar in the hall.

I decided I wanted to wait to view the museum with my husband when he comes home on leave so I left the museum and wondered around to the front of the building. Once the construction on the street is finished this will be an amazing attraction to drive by.

402 Pacific Avenue

Hope you are enjoying all the articles so far. If you have missed any articles you can check out the article that introduced the Naval Base Kitsap Online Relocation Package by clicking on this link Naval Base Kitsap |Online Relocation Package | IT’S YOUR PCS which is updated after every new article.

Later this week I will post an article about a couple of parks in the area that I enjoy that you can be at in minutes from your home.

UNTIL THEN….HAVE A FINE NAVY DAY!!