Boating and Camping

Meet the Association:

Boating

Manchester sports a newly-renovated boat launch and public pier, where visitors are welcome to moor during the day while they walk along the beach or peruse our local shops. Overnight moorage is not allowed on Port of Manchester facilities, but if you choose to come to Manchester as part of a longer trip, convenient overnight moorage can be found at the Port Orchard Marina, the Port Orchard Yacht Club or at one of the scenic parks listed below.

Camping

Anyone interested in going on a picnic or camping in beautiful surroundings will love Manchester State Park, a large, wooded, waterfront park and campground, only ten or twenty minutes by bicycle from our village center. Have a kayak or a canoe? Come straight from the campground to our public pier, if you like. Hot dogs, marshmallows, ice and other campfire necessities can be easily attained at our grocery store.

Another state park, this one a 475 acre island, is also only a few minutes from downtown Manchester. Located in the center of Puget Sound, directly between our waterfront and the shores of West Seattle, Blake Island is home to a number of deer, birds, fish and other animals, as well as a lodge called Tillicum Village, where visitors can eat salmon dinners and watch Native American tribal dancing. If you have a private boat, we recommend Blake Island as another good camping option for people visiting Manchester.

Other outdoor recreation

South Kitsap Community Park, located on the corner of Jackson and Lund, is another major local park with a lot to offer visitors. This community park does not yet offer camping, but it does sport baseball fields, bicycle jumps, nature trails, covered picnic areas, and big toys for small children to play on. Visitors who arrive on a Wednesday between May and October can also check out the vendors of the Kitsap Regional Farmer's Market, who gather at the park to sell their wares.

For further information on the South Kitsap Community Park, please visit the South Kitsap Parks and Recreation District web site at http://www.skparks.org