Where is harstine island

We spent our final day on the island exploring Harstine Island State Park, where we discovered a microcosm of regional ecology. Lush ravine trails were crammed with moss-coated cedars and firs.

Locals told us that foxes are frequently seen, and while they remained hidden, mushrooms were flourishing. The park has a really good growing medium for mushrooms, especially for chanterelles, says Park Ranger Mischa Cowles. Cowles says the tidelands include public shellfish beds yielding oysters, butter clams, geoducks and horse clams. We busied ourselves beachcombing, clamoring over fallen trees, and looking for sand dollars and tiny crabs. Along a steep section of bluff, we discovered huge chunks of clay that had fallen onto the shore.

We broke off pieces and set to work molding them into little bowls and snakes. They were simple activities. Tickling the soft caps of mushrooms, overturning beach rocks and shaping the clay with our hands. But those simple acts were reminders of an uncomplicated world.

For a brief reprieve, we were consumed by natural joys of beach, seals, mossy trees and clay snakes. Harstine Island is about a two-hour drive from Seattle via Interstate 5 and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Highway 16 and other connecting routes. Fifty acres of upland forest and sandy beach were purchased from private owners through the Trust for Public Land, and rangers are offering early glimpses through organized community hikes.

The island is located west of Case Inlet in southern Puget Sound, 16 km 9. It has a land area of Pickering Passage, to the northwest, separates the island from mainland, while Case Inlet, to the east, separates it from Key Peninsula. Squaxin Island lies to the southwest, separated by Peale Passage. To the south, Harstine Island is separated from the mainland by Dana Passage. It is connected to the mainland via a bridge near the southern end of the Kitsap Peninsula.

Navy Lt. Charles Wilkes — explored much of the west coast including Puget Sound. The island was named by Lt. Harstine is endowed with 20 miles of rural roads, idyllic for biking or slow-paced country drives; and 25 miles of shoreline for kayakers to navigate, including overnighting possibilities at marine campgrounds.

Before crossing the bridge for your island getaway, make a pitstop on the mainland side at Olympic Bakery and Deli to stock up on its mouth-watering, homemade pastries including cream-filled rugalach, chocolate and almond croissants, fresh bagels and seasonal berry pies.

Check out the deli menu of fresh soups and sandwiches and the surprisingly well-stocked selection of wines, breads and cheeses. You can devour your feast inside or on the sunny deck. Or you can transport it over the bridge for an island picnic. In season, the on-island Harstine Acres U-Pick farm sells fresh fruits and vegetables to accompany your Olympic Bakery purchases.

The building also serves as the meeting and performance site for the Harstine Island Community Choir and Harstine Island Theatre Club, whose annual calendar of concerts and plays welcomes visitors. Jarrell and his wife, Philura, deeded some of their homestead to island residents as a public burying ground and are buried there surrounded by four foot Douglas fir trees planted by Philura. The cemetery has earned a place on the Mason County Historic Register.

The entrance to the acre Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington is a half mile south of the community club. In addition to Suri, Tabbi and Salem, 55 other big cats a total of 13 different species reside there. Among them are Bengal tigers, snow leopards, cougars, bobcats, lynx and servals. Wild Felid homes cats who make their way there from rehabilitation facilities, zoos and owners who could not care for them.

Located on the site of a former plant nursery and run entirely by dedicated volunteers and donations, the center offers educational tours that must be reserved in advance. A well-traveled international election observer and independent traveler, Ann Randall spends at least two months annually venturing to out-of-the-way locales, from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe. She has recently taken up travel sketching as a way to savor the journey in an attempt to see if pictures really do speak a thousand words.

A former educator, she Jarrell Cove State Park Marina Harstine History Harstine is the traditional land of the Squaxin Island Tribe, who gathered shellfish, hunted game and used its Pacific yew and red cedar trees to make bows, canoe paddles, clothing, baskets and mats. Jarrell Cove State Park grounds Local Foods Before crossing the bridge for your island getaway, make a pitstop on the mainland side at Olympic Bakery and Deli to stock up on its mouth-watering, homemade pastries including cream-filled rugalach, chocolate and almond croissants, fresh bagels and seasonal berry pies.

Places of Interest Olympic Bakery: olympicbakery. Tags: beach , camping , destinations , family fun , northwest , outdoors , parks , things to do , travel , trees , view , water , wildlife.

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