Kingston

With its peaceful cove and captivating mountain views, Kingston has long been a charming community on Puget Sound west of Seattle. Dubbed Little City by the Sea, Gateway to the Olympic Mountains, and Ferry Town, Kingston has an extensive history beyond its boating appeal. It was once a seasonal fishing and food gathering spot for indigenous people, a logging camp, and a planned location for a major resort. In the 1900s, it became a productive farming community, a smugglers' hideout, a strategic military site, an artists' haven, and a summer retreat for Seattle city dwellers. Today, as a major ferry port, Kingston is still a quaint village of about 2,500 people--with an hourly traffic jam. Approximately four million people pass through Kingston annually on the Washington State Ferries or stop in Kingston's delightful marina and nearby shops.