Itinerary
Family Beach Day
Driftwood forts, Puget Sound's oldest lighthouse, forest trails, and pizza. Kids sleep on the boat home.
- 10:25 AM
Drive off the ferry
Roll off in Kingston and you're 20 minutes from one of the best beaches on the Sound. Top off snacks and water in town before you head north — services get thin past Kingston.
Map ↗ - 10:30 AM
Picnic pickup at Borrowed Kitchen Bakery
Plenty of tasty sandwiches or pastry options to pack along for a picnic on a beach log.
Map ↗ - 11:05 AM
Point No Point County Park
A long driftwood-strewn beach with views across the shipping lanes — freighters, seals, and on a lucky day, orcas. The driftwood begs to be built into forts. Watch the tide if you spread a blanket low on the beach.
Map ↗ - 1:00 PM
Point No Point Lighthouse
The oldest lighthouse on Puget Sound, lighting the entrance to Admiralty Inlet since 1879. It's a short flat walk from the parking area, and the keeper's grounds are a great photo stop even when the tower itself is closed. Lighthouse keeper can be found here on Saturdays offering tours and historical info.
Map ↗ - 2:00 PM
Buck Lake Park and Hansville Greenway Trails
Playground, labeled community garden to practice native plant identification, and gorgeous second-growth forests with wide, kid-tolerant trails just a few minutes drive from the Lighthouse. A 45-minute loop burns off exactly the right amount of remaining energy.
Map ↗ - 3:15 PM
Books and treasures at Saltwater Bookshop
Back in Kingston, grab a book for the way home or some ferry memorabilia. They also have a fantastic kids section with games and gifts.
Map ↗ - 4:00 PM
Check on ferry line and get a boarding pass before deciding on snacks or food needed for the ride home.
Summer evenings eastbound can back up, especially Sundays and holidays. Check the Kingston terminal status before you commit to the line — and double check whether the boarding pass system is in effect. If it is, you'll grab a ticket near Lindvog Avenue before proceeding to the tollbooth and will most likely have time to pop back out to grab food to-go while you wait for the ferry.
Map ↗ - 4:30 PM
Grab food to go for the sail back!
Argentinian empanadas, crepes, pizza slices and more are all easy options to grab quickly from the ferry dock. Check our "Eat" tab to see what's open and close!
Before you head back
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