Everyone loves our Bavarian village, Leavenworth. But some Washingtonians don’t know that we also have a little Norway right here in our state. That would be Poulsbo, a quiet and peaceful place located on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County. Our little Viking City will steal your heart.

Once the heartland of the Suquamish People, Poulsbo was eventually founded by Jorgen Eliason from Fordefjord, Norway.
Aram Kudurshian / Flickr
At the time (the late 1800s), the primary mode of travel was by boat, and getting supplies required an 18-mile trip from Seattle by rowboat, and later by steamboat.
These days, Poulsbo pays homage to its roots by maintaining a Norwegian look.
Historic Downtown Poulsbo Facebook
In fact, until World War II, when the military constructed 300 residential units to provide housing for workers in the nearby city of Bremerton, many Poulsbo residents retained Norwegian as their primary language.
Visit now and see what Poulsbo looks like as a winter wonderland...
Historic Downtown Poulsbo Facebook
...or head down in May for the annual Viking Fest celebration.
Historic Downtown Poulsbo Facebook
It's as amazing as it looks.
For a city of its size, Poulsbo has an impressive amount of restaurants with cuisine from across the world.
Sluys Poulsbo Bakery Facebook
If you're out exploring, stop by Sluys Poulsbo Bakery and try a delicious donut or pastry.
Poulsbo is truly a place of serenity and joy.
Historic Downtown Poulsbo Facebook
This pleasant place is often overlooked, but those who find it tend to love it.

Washington has plenty of charming waterfront towns, but our little Norway is definitely one of the best.

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