"Little Norway" or the "Viking City," either one is an apt description for charming Poulsbo. Plan to spend your day in the downtown historic district. This walkable Norwegian village has interesting museums, shopping, art galleries, restaurants and cafés all within a short walk of each other and located on a picturesque waterfront.

As you head into town, a giant Viking statue will catch your eye.  If you are a fan of Roadside America, which is an online guide to offbeat tourist attractions, you'll have to stop for a photo. "The Viking," sculpted by Mark Gale, is made of concrete and steel and weighs almost 6,000 pounds. The artist modeled the Viking's face after his own. For more information, visit roadsideamerica.com.

Plan to start your Poulsbo day early, especially if the sun is out as downtown parking will fill up on busy weekends. You can't be too early for Sluys Poulsbo Bakery, which opens at 4:30 a.m. every day. Currently run by Daniel Sluys, who has been working in the bakery since he was 8 years old. Bakery products are a mix of original recipes such as Daniel's Bread, Jalapeno cheese, Norwegian Black and many more as well as Old World recipes such as Julekake, and Stollen. Everything is handmade in small batches. The doughnuts are hand-cut and glazed with the bakery's unique glaze. The pie dough and Lefse are hand-rolled. It's a local favorite and a fun stop for a breakfast snack. 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., 18924 Front St. NE, Poulsbo, 360.779.2798, sluyspoulsbobakery.com

The Poulsbo Maritime Museum highlights the maritime history of Poulsbo and North Kitsap. Learn the rich, maritime history of the area from the mosquito fleet to the tour boats of today. Another museum to check out is the Martinson House Museum.  Experience what life was like for the early Poulsbo pioneers. The cabin is decked out with the tools for daily living in the late 1880s. For more information on the Poulsbo Historical Society Museums, visit poulsbohistory.com.

The shops and galleries in the historic district are well worth a visit, including Crimson Cove Smoked Specialties. The family-owned business specializes in smoked salmon, cheeses and nuts. Stop into the store for samples. The store also stocks local foods and wines from around the Kitsap Peninsula. The salmon is very high quality and smoked with a unique recipe using local apple and alder woods. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 18928 Front St. NE #100, Poulsbo, 360.697.1767, crimsoncove.com

If you happen to stop in the town on the second Saturday of the month, plan to stay for the Art Walk. Each month, local galleries launch new shows with area artists. The receptions provide the chance to meet the artists and learn about their work. Held from 5-8 p.m.

Poulsbo makes an interesting day trip from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord area. It's a little over an hour drive with weekends great for families and weekdays are fun to hit the shops with your pals.

For more information, visit poulsbo.com.