Is Poulsbo a Walkable Community?
It wasn’t so long ago that cars were almost entirely for getting from home to work and long-distance trips. Towns used to be designed so that residents were within walking distance of everything they needed, and kids could walk to school.
As suburbs have grown in size, this has become relatively rare. Nowadays, most people can’t even walk to the local park, much less the grocery store or theater. Aside from their commute to work, most people spend hours in their car every week, limiting the amount of exercise they get while adding to the amount they have to spend on gas.
That’s why you’ll often hear residents of Poulsbo talk about how much they love the fact that their city caters to walking. While most residents still own cares, the walkability of Poulsbo means they’re not the only option for getting around.
Locals Love How Easy It Is to Walk Around Beautiful Poulsbo
One of the reasons residents love living in Poulsbo so much is its small-town feel. Though larger cities like Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Silverdale are short drives away, Poulsbo maintains a distinctly charming community where everyone feels like they belong.
It helps that the entire city is only about five square miles. While there is still plenty of space – like the parks we’ll cover in a moment – Poulsbo’s size caters to this strong sense of community.
It’s also why so many people get around Poulsbo on foot.
If you wanted to, it wouldn’t be extremely challenging to walk from one side of this beautiful city to the other.
However, most locals are satisfied with merely being able to walk around their neighborhoods or even downtown. You don’t see a lot of vehicular traffic in Poulsbo. Thanks to the mild Pacific Northwest climate, many residents elect to walk whenever possible all year long.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Poulsbo is surrounded by gorgeous scenery, which often includes sightings of Liberty Bay and even the Olympic mountain ranges to the west. Don’t be surprised if you become a fan of morning walks to watch the fog slowly roll off the Puget Sound.
And don’t be surprised if you start walking more often, too. According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, of the 88 percent of Americans who are “very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of life in their communities…51 percent of those people believe that the walkability of their neighborhood contributes to that quality of life.”
It’s not just because walking is excellent exercise. It’s also a form of exercise you can easily do with your loved ones and makes it easy to interact with your neighbors regularly.
So, while there are countless reasons to love living in Poulsbo, the ease with which you can walk from one spot to another is one of the biggest for many residents.
Whatever You Need in Poulsbo Is Within Walking Distance
Unlike many small towns, residents don’t need to leave Poulsbo for necessary amenities regularly. The city has more than ten grocery stores, even more restaurants, and plenty of medical facilities, including urgent and emergency care.
Here are four examples of locations in Poulsbo that you can quickly get to on foot.
1. The Public Library
The Kitsap Regional Library in Poulsbo is much more than just a place locals visit to restock their reading lists.
It also doubles as a community center where residents regularly congregate for everything from reading hours for young children of all ages (from babies to toddlers) to film groups and art classes.
This library’s interior is gorgeous, as well. Visitors to the town often stop in simply because they’ve heard so much about it. The distinctly Pacific-Northwest feel is complemented by the library’s amazing “Scandinavian Collection,” which reflects the city’s immigrant roots. Along with more than 100 novels by Scandinavian authors, artwork, and history books on the region, the library often hosts experts on the topic of Scandinavian culture, as well.
Fortunately, it’s easy to find this incredible place. It’s located right on the corner of NE Lincoln Road and NE Iverson Street. So, while there is ample parking, the lot is rarely full, as residents can easily take the sidewalks that lead to it from every direction.
2. Historic Downtown Poulsbo
Poulsbo may be one of the most charming cities in all of Washington. It has a unique personality all its own, much of which is a direct result of a history that stretches back to the 1880s.
This charm is on full display all over historic downtown Poulsbo. The area is another example of a significant tourist attraction that residents regularly visit, as well. You’ll never get tired of being surrounded by traditional architecture from the city’s past while Poulsbo First Lutheran Church towers over you from its perch on 4th Ave NE.
If you want to get acquainted with this charming area quickly, you can even sign up for a walking tour of historic downtown Poulsbo. During the hour-long excursion, a guide from the Poulsbo Historical Society will introduce you to many of the local sites and explain a bit about the city’s fascinating past.
Of course, you’ll also regularly visit downtown Poulsbo for shopping. Imagine living in a house that’s just a short walk away from more than 100 different stores.
Need to update your wardrobe? Head on over to Indigo Plum or try Beachside Boutique.
Want to update your haircut, too? There’s Alan Salon, Apollo Salon, Bayside Barbershop, and more.
You’ll find bookstores, banks, the post office, garden shops, law firms, and just about any other business you could ever need in the downtown area of Poulsbo. Even if you live on the northside of the city, it’s only three miles away.
3. Poulsbo’s Many Restaurants
You can also choose from more than a dozen restaurants in downtown Poulsbo. No matter what your palate prefers, you’re just a short walk away from restaurants like:
• Burrata Bistro
• Casa Luna Mexican Food
• JJ's Fish House
• Poulsbo Woodfired Pizza
• Sogno di Vino
• That's a Some Italian
• Tizley's EuroPub
• Westside Pizza
Many of these are located on Front St. NE, so you can walk to your restaurant of choice while also enjoying views of Liberty Bay. There are also plenty of homes available on Front Street NE, as well, which makes for an even shorter walk.
There are several other restaurants in the city, too. No matter where you live, you’ll have options within walking distance like:
• Taste Wei Chinese and Japanese Restaurant toward the north of the city
• 2 Brothers Deli across the bay from downtown
• Punjab Indian Cuisine in the southeast
• Envy Bar and Grill in the southwest
Fast-food staples like Wendy’s and McDonald’s are also sprinkled throughout the city.
4. The Liberty Bay Waterfront
Finally, you can’t talk about Poulsbo without mentioning Liberty Bay.
Even if you have no interest in ever owning a boat, you’ll love walking along its waterfront all year long. Liberty Bay looks like something out of a painting. You may even catch sight of the occasional seal, otter, or blue heron.
The local SEA Discovery Center even hosts two low-tide beach walks every summer for those who are especially curious about the animals and plants that call the bay and waterfront home.
Many shops and restaurants are easily accessible right from the waterfront, as well. For example, you could quickly grab a hot cup of coffee at Poulsbohemian Coffeehouse on Front Street NE before walking down to the beach and heading south or north along Liberty Bay.
Your Kids Can Walk to School Every Day in Poulsbo
Parents love Poulsbo because it offers excellent schools.
However, they also love that so many subdivisions are right next door to them, so their children can walk to school.
This gives parents who have to commute to work a little extra time in the morning because they don’t have to drive their kids to school or wait to make sure they caught the bus.
It’s also another example of Poulsbo’s old-fashioned charm. Back when cities used to be a lot smaller, school buses were rare. The vast majority of children would join their friends in walking to school.
In Poulsbo, you can easily walk from one school to the next. North Kitsap High School is located near the center of town, not far from downtown. Across the street is the middle school, which is also right next to the public indoor pool. The elementary school is only a couple of blocks from there.
It’s quite heartwarming to see how many big brothers and sisters will leave the high school and walk by the two others to pick up their younger siblings for the walk home. While Poulsbo is full of modern amenities, these kinds of sights are a reminder of how much the city still embraces simpler times.
Poulsbo’s Many Parks Are Great for Walking
So, as you can see, if you love traveling on foot, you’ll love living in Poulsbo.
We haven’t even touched on the city’s generous park system, either. If you enjoy walking as a form of exercise and a great way to be out in nature, you’ll appreciate how many parks here offer plenty of acreage to do both.
Given Poulsbo’s size, it’s hard to believe that the city has nearly 140 acres of land designated for these parks:
• American Legion Park
• Centennial Park
• Lions Park
• Forest Rock Hills Park
• Frank Raab Park
• Island Lake Park
• Kitsap Memorial State Park
• Ned Shed Park
• Oyster Plant Park
• Poulsbo Wilderness Trail
• Wilderness Park
There’s something for everyone. Whether you want to walk around a loop while your children play in the nearby playground or you’d rather wander through a wooded area, you’ll never be far from the perfect park when you live in Poulsbo.
Here are three of the most popular options for people who enjoy a pleasant walk:
• Fish Park – This is one of the most popular parks among nature lovers who enjoy feeling as though they are far from the more modern features of Poulsbo. The 40-acre park offers 1.5 miles of walking trails, including a boardwalk that provides numerous viewing platforms. Not long after you begin your walk, you’ll be engulfed by ancient trees and lush vegetation. You’ll also walk along Dogfish Creek, as the park is located right on the Liberty Bay Estuary. Salmon return to this waterway every year, so you may even see one from time-to-time during your walks. Fish Park is also a favorite among locals who like to birdwatch while they take their strolls.
• Liberty Bay Waterfront Park – As the name suggests, this park is located right on Liberty Bay, which makes it a great place to meet with your walking group before beginning a stroll along the waterfront. From the park, you can walk onto the wooden bridge that hugs the coastline while providing sturdy footing throughout the year.
• Frank Raab Park – At 21 acres in size, Frank Raab Park offers walkers lots of room to roam. Parents love it because it also features a playground and skatepark. It even includes Poulsbo’s only off-leash dog park for your four-legged friends. The fenced-in area is a great place to meet other dog owners while your buddy makes friends, too.
And, again, no matter where you live in Poulsbo, you’ll have multiple parks within walking distance of your home. This is especially advantageous if you’re looking for a home to raise small children.
Other Options for Walking in Poulsbo
On days when the weather in Poulsbo isn't cooperative, but you still have the itch to get in some walking, you can head to Snap Fitness or Poulsbo Athletic Club. If your exercise routine involves more than just walking, Poulsbo also has HOBO Yoga, Olympic Pilates, Kitsap Cross Fit, and plenty of other options.
You could also buy a home that offers enough space for a treadmill. Many such homes even come with views of Liberty Bay or the mountains off in the distance, so you don’t necessarily have to be outside to get in a workout while you enjoy the natural beauty of Kitsap County.
Plenty of Houses Are Available in Poulsbo’s Walkable Neighborhoods
Poulsbo’s housing market is incredibly diverse, giving potential owners a wide selection from which to choose.
If walkability is a priority, you’ll probably want to live in one of the city’s many suburbs. Unlike most throughout the country, these are nearby schools, parks, restaurants, and other businesses. So, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of living in a close-knit neighborhood without having to get in your car every time you want to run an errand or pick up dinner to-go.
Most of the houses in these suburbs have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but they get much bigger, too.
If you’d rather live on a bit more land, Poulsbo is still a great choice. Even in the more rural parts of town, you’re still just a short walk from many amenities. It’s the perfect setup for people who want to be surrounded by nature without giving up the highlights of modern living.
You can find some very large houses in these parts of Poulsbo with equally impressive acreage. Many of these have at least four rooms and as many bathrooms. There are also a few empty lots left, too, for anyone who wants to build their dream home just walking distance from downtown.
Looking for a Home in Poulsbo?
There aren’t many towns like Poulsbo left in Washington or even the rest of the country, for that matter.
“Little Norway” is full of authentic character, endless options for recreation and dining, excellent schools, and it’s effortless to get around on foot.
I would love to show you all of these aspects firsthand. As a real estate broker, I’ve enjoyed introducing people to this one-of-a-kind city and helping them discover the perfect house for more than 15 years.
Call me today at 425-495-0394 or drop me an email with any questions you have or to schedule a tour of the town’s real estate market.
