Port Washington, WI

Port Washington is the county seat of Ozaukee County, set on Lake Michigan north of Milwaukee. Its harbor, historic downtown, and steep streets give it one of the more distinctive small-city settings on Wisconsin's lakeshore. European accounts of the area go back to 1679, when French explorers described stopping at a landing north of Milwaukee. Today Port Washington feels maritime and compact, with fishing boats, bluff views, old storefronts, and enough commuter access to stay tied to the Milwaukee region.