When we find ourselves on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, we visit Marrowstone Island. This island is in an area important to the Chemakum and S'Klallam Tribes.

We visit Marrowstone Island because it’s special to my partner. Growing up, he spent meaningful time on Marrowstone with his dear mentor and friends.

Marrowstone holds beautiful natural spaces, a preserve, and three state parks. A small community also lives on Marrowstone. We visited this summer and winter.

After crossing two bridges, we drive onto Marrowstone’s south end, near where quiet Kinney Point State Park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail.

Next is the Chai-yahk-wh preserve, but we’ve not yet visited it because we only recently learned of it. Marrowstone is that quiet. We hardly hear a peep. It’s now on our radar for our next visit.

We always stop mid-island, at the community hub, the small town of Nordland. The few services available on Marrowstone Island are found in Nordland.

The Nordland Post Office opened in 1898. The Nordland General Store opened in 1922. They both still operate today.

After a recent fire, the Nordland General Store was carefully restored, keeping its old character intact. We pop in for coffee and snacks, plus browse local photos and art for sale.

Once a small trading post, Nordland sent island goods (and passengers) to Port Townsend and Seattle aboard the ferry Prosper. In exchange, animal feed and dry goods were returned.

We pause at Mystery Bay, an inlet just across from, and up past, Nordland, on the west side of Marrowstone Island. The inlet really is a sweet little bay.

Last, we head to Fort Flagler (where there are Friends of Fort Flagler), up on the northern tip of Marrowstone Island. It’s one of three forts that once protected the entrance to Puget Sound.

We walk to the water and look across the bay to Port Townsend.