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The Bremerton to Seattle Ferry

A low-cost harbor cruise with views of Seattle

Passengers on the Bremerton to Seattle Ferry angle for the perfect shot of the Seattle waterfront. Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

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The Washington State Ferry System is a vital transit system for many who work in the Seattle area or live on the many local islands in the Puget Sound. In off-peak times, and on weekends, a ferry trip can be a great discount harbor cruise. One of my favorites is the Bremerton to Seattle route. Its scenic path begins traveling from the Kitsap Peninsula, around Vashon Island, and ends with an epic view of Seattle as you approach the ferry terminal. You get to see the iconic Seattle waterfront including the Space Needle, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the two stadiums: CenturyLink Field and T-Mobile Park. This time of year, the cruise ships for the Alaska season are docked at the port of Seattle. The trip is only one hour long, making it perfect for an afternoon cruise.

Ferry fares are surprisingly reasonable when you compare the price to that of a Seattle harbor cruise. Insider Tip: Vehicle/driver-only fares are collected at Bremerton, while passenger and vehicle/driver fares are collected at Seattle. You have two options for your trip: you can travel one way and then drive home from Seattle or travel round trip, in which case you can go as a walk-on. The fares for a vehicle and driver one-way from Bremerton to Seattle are $12.05. Any passengers are no charge. If you decided to go roundtrip, park your car in Bremerton and walk on the ferry. Just note when you arrive you will need to get off the ferry, purchase tickets (you can purchase ahead to save time but you will still need to depart the ferry) and then board again. You will only pay a fare on the return trip at $8.50 per adult, $4.25 per child (6-18 years old), children 6 and younger are free.

If you decide to park your car, there are many parking lots near the Bremerton terminal. All are within a few blocks of the ferry terminal. There is a sign in each lot posting the time and costs. All of these lots offer 24-hour overnight and extended stay rates. Three blocks north of the terminal is the convention center with a parking garage available for parking. For more information, contact Impark Parking Services at 360.616.4808 or the City of Bremerton at bremertonwa.gov.

Bremerton has a very walkable downtown and beautiful waterfront with lots of fountains and public art. In the Harborside District, take the steps from the ferry terminal to Harborside Fountain Park. For the Navy buffs, make sure to visit the USS Turner Joy, which is a restored naval destroyer. At the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, you can visit the Puget Sound Navy Museum which focuses on the Navy's history in the region, and includes exhibits about the shipyard and the role it played. If you feel like taking a nice waterfront walk, you can do the Bridge-to-Bridge loop by utilizing the Warren Ave. and Manette Bridges to create a waterfront loop.

For more information on Bremerton, visit: visitkitsap.com/bremerton.

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