Whether you are burned out from work, want a team building retreat or want to balance a vacation with the family while keeping up with work, Port Ludlow is a great choice for your next bleisure trip in Jefferson County. Planning a workcation is easy when there is so much to do within a short radius!
Port Ludlow Resort: Bleisure Travel Made Easy
All you have to do is look at the Andrews Suite to see why Port Ludlow Resort is perfect for your next business retreat or workcation. The Andrews Suite has a meeting table with a large screen, kitchen area, full bathroom, lounge area and a great balcony with killer views of the harbor that beat a city block any day! Next door, The Olympic Room has a large meeting space with multimedia at your fingertips and another balcony. Both balconies have chairs and gas fires. And they have two more epic meeting spaces allowing for groups up to 50.
But they don’t stop at just great meeting spaces. General Manager Dan Ratigan says they organize activities to help your team rest and recharge while connecting with each other. Your team can participate in a top chef competition, complete with a plaque to the winner, learn how to make cocktails, watch a cooking demonstration, or go on a scavenger hunt or geocaching adventure. “We have a long list of activities we can do,” shares Dan. “We have teams come back year after year, and we want them to be able to change it up if they choose.” Though Dan says the top chef competition is one of the favorites, many groups do it yearly. “They spend all day deep in serious meetings,” he adds, “and need to unwind with some fun.”
Not all groups that come for team building or bleisure trips to Port Ludlow are businesses. They have a group of 45 knitters that come every year to learn how to knit. Last year, Dan took groups of 15 knitters at a time, taught them about farm-to-table and then took them to a local farm. “We petted the goats that were milked to make the cheese we ate,” Dan explains. This is because the farm is one of the suppliers to The Fireside Restaurant at Port Ludlow Resort.
Where to Eat in Port Ludlow
Speaking of food – no matter what your work, rest, recharge stay looks like, it’s not complete without a delicious meal. Port Ludlow Resort makes it easy with The Fireside Restaurant. With this farm-to-table establishment, everything from the carrots and coffee to the bacon and fish comes from the immediate area. “I’ve bought fish that literally got off the boat and came here,” shares Dan, “That’s about as fresh as you can get.”
They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as Happy Hour on some days. Have an early morning Zoom meeting? Breakfast can be delivered to the Andrew Suite.
If you head out exploring, there are some other great options in the area! Check out Gear Head Deli for the best sandwich you will ever have – even with gluten-free bread! The current owners are retiring, but they are hoping someone will continue to make their sandwiches just like they do.
If you are looking for small bites and some adult beverage tasting, check out local cideries and wineries. Eaglemount Wine and Cider is open in the fall and winter on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. “We have ciders, meads, and wines all crafted at our farm,” shares owner Trudy Davis. “Ciders and meads are made with local, sustainably-grown Peninsula apples, pears, rhubarb, etc., from our farm and other small farms in the area. Award-winning wines are made with Washington-grown grapes.”
Finnriver Farm & Cidery’s Chimacum Cider Garden is an excellent cidery to visit, with events including music, paint & sips, happy hours and more year-round. They are open every day but Tuesday.
Alpenfire Cider is also a great stop. In fact, these three make a great tour of the Jefferson County countryside, showcasing the fruits of the land. Alpenfire was the first organic cider orchard in the West. Their tasting room is open seasonally on Saturdays only from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.
Bleisure Travel Activities in Port Ludlow Area
The point of bleisure travel is to unplug and spend some time doing activities you love. E-bikes are available to rent at Port Ludlow Resort, making it easy to pedal off on an adventure. If the water is calling you, the Port Ludlow Marina, located right next to the Resort, offers kayak, standup paddleboards and watercraft rentals.
Another option for e-bikes is The Broken Spoke in Port Townsend. From there, you can ride or drive your e-bike rental to the start of the Larry Scott Trail and follow the beach into the forest. Are you a Pacific Crest Trail fan? Then don’t miss the Olympic Discovery Trail; it’s part of the Rail-Trail initiative and will eventually connect to the Larry Scott Trail.
Hikers will love nearby trails, like the Port Ludlow Falls Interpretive Trail and Mount Walker. Be warned – Mount Walker is definitely for those in good shape – it’s a 2-mile 20% incline, but the view is incredible! During the summer months, when the gate is open, you can also drive to the viewpoint.
Looking to swing your club? Port Ludlow Resort has its own, world-class, 18-hole golf course just 1.5 miles from the Inn.
And, if your co-worker happens to have four legs, you’re in luck. Port Ludlow Resort is dog-friendly, complete with a doggie menu at the restaurant when you sit on the outdoor patio with your bud. Many other places are dog-friendly, including Eaglemount, the nearby trails, and Discovery Bay Golf Course! Dogs are actually allowed on the green at Discovery, so bring your furry co-worker on your next workcation trip.
Find more things to do in Port Ludlow on your bleisure trip in this article.
One last tip: Avoid crowds and construction by planning your trip in the fall and winter – Jefferson County really shines during these seasons. Even better, avoid traffic by planning a long week, Thursday to Monday or a mid-week bleisure trip, and your trip up the Hood Canal will be a breeze! To learn more about your next adventure, visit the Enjoy the Olympic Peninsula website.
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