Port Ludlow, WA

Tucked along the eastern shore of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Ludlow is a quiet waterfront community of about 3,000 people. Located just north of the Hood Canal Bridge and south of historic Port Townsend, it offers scenic views of Puget Sound and easy access to the surrounding evergreen forests. Much of the community revolves around outdoor recreation and neighborhood amenities, including a full-service marina, golf course, beach club, and miles of wooded walking trails.

ATTRBook edited and compiled by Alfred D. Bowen. The photos are uncredited. / Public domain

The area started in the mid-1800s as a busy logging and sawmill outpost before transforming into a planned residential community in the late 1960s. Today, it attracts boaters, retirees, and remote workers looking for a relaxed pace in the Pacific Northwest. While Port Ludlow itself stays peaceful and residential, local dining and arts in Port Townsend are only twenty minutes away, and the nearby bridge makes trips toward the Seattle area straightforward.