Poulsbo With Kids: 10 Best Family-Friendly Things to Do

Poulsbo is called Little Norway, which my kids assume means there will be Vikings. There are, in fact, occasional Vikings. There is also ice cream, which they consider the far more important discovery. Here is how to spend a great family day in Kitsap’s most charming waterfront town, from the aquarium and the boardwalk to alpacas, kayaks, and the most famous bakery on the peninsula.

What is in this guide

• The best things to do with kids
• The waterfront and downtown
• Rainy-day and history stops
• Make a day of it
• Annual family events
• Getting there and parking
• FAQ

The best things to do in Poulsbo with kids

SEA Discovery Center

Find it: 18743 Front St NE  |  Rating: free, $2 donation appreciated

A small but excellent public aquarium right downtown with a touch pond, local sea life, and wonderful volunteers. Best for a rainy hour or a curious toddler.

What locals say: reviewers say both “kids and grownups” love the touch pond and hands on tanks.

Poulsbo Fish Park

Find it: 288 NW Lindvig Way

Over twenty acres of boardwalk, trails, and viewing platforms where kids can spot salmon in season. Best for burning energy and a nature walk that does not feel like a forced march.

Bushel and Barrel Ciderhouse

Find it: 201 NW Beaver Ridge Lane  |  Rating: 4.7 stars

Part cidery, part working farm just north of town, where kids can feed goats, alpacas, donkeys, a pony, and Scottish Highland cows while parents enjoy a seat and a drink with lawn games. Best for a grown up break that keeps the kids happy.

What locals say: a favorite described as “part cidery, part farm, part community gathering spot.”

Sawdust Hill Alpaca Farm

Find it: 25432 Port Gamble Rd NE

A 15 acre working farm just outside town where you can take a tour, pet the alpacas, get a llama kiss, and shop the farm store. Tours run about $14.50 per person by reservation. Best for animal loving kids.

Liberty Bay kayaking

Find it: 18971 Front St NE

The Olympic Outdoor Center on the waterfront rents kayaks and paddleboards and runs guided tours on calm Liberty Bay, where you might share the water with harbor seals, herons, and bald eagles. Best for older kids and teens on a sunny day.

The waterfront and downtown

Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park

Find it: 18809 Front St NE

An easy walk from downtown, this bayfront park has a boardwalk, a picnic shelter, free restrooms, and a statue of King Olaf, with the Olympic Mountains across the water. Kids love spotting seals, seagulls, and jellyfish from the rail. Best for a golden hour wind down.

Sluys Poulsbo Bakery

Find it: 18924 Front St NE  |  Rating: 4.6 stars

You cannot visit Little Norway without Sluys. This landmark Front Street bakery is famous for its Poulsbo bread, doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls, and the case alone is worth the trip for the kids. Best for a sweet start or a treat before the boardwalk.

While you are downtown, stroll Front Street and try on Viking helmets outside the Cat’s Meow, browse the children’s shelves at Liberty Bay Books, then grab a cone at Island Cool Ice Cream and walk the boardwalk that hugs Liberty Bay with the marina and Olympics behind you.

Rainy-day and history stops

When the weather turns, duck into the SEA Discovery Center or the Poulsbo Heritage Museum, where kids can see how the town’s early Norwegian immigrants lived through original artifacts, clothing, and photos. The downtown bookstores and family friendly tasting rooms are easy indoor stops too, and the second Saturday of each month brings the downtown Artwalk.

Make a day of it

Here is an easy flow for a family day. Start with doughnuts at Sluys and a walk through Fish Park to burn off energy, then head downtown late morning for the aquarium, the shops, and lunch on Front Street. Spend the afternoon on the Waterfront Park boardwalk watching for seals, or drive a few minutes out to feed the animals at Bushel and Barrel. Finish with ice cream and the marina at golden hour.

Annual family events in Little Norway

Time your visit around a festival if you can. Viking Fest each May is the town’s biggest party, with a parade, a carnival, and Scandinavian treats. The Third of July celebration brings a street fair and fireworks over Liberty Bay, and Julefest in December turns downtown into a cozy Scandinavian Christmas with a tree lighting and a lutefisk dinner for the brave.

Getting there and parking

Downtown is easy to walk once you arrive, with free public parking near the waterfront and along Front Street that fills up fast on sunny weekends and festival days, so come early. From Seattle, the quickest routes are the Bainbridge or Kingston ferries and then a short drive. Strollers roll easily along the boardwalk and most of downtown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are free things to do in Poulsbo with kids?

Poulsbo Fish Park, Waterfront Park and its boardwalk, and the Front Street stroll are all free. The SEA Discovery Center runs on a small suggested donation.

What is there to do on a rainy day?

Duck into the SEA Discovery Center, the Poulsbo Heritage Museum, the downtown bookstores, or a family friendly tasting room, and grab treats at Sluys Bakery.

Can you go kayaking on Liberty Bay?

Yes. The Olympic Outdoor Center on the waterfront rents kayaks and paddleboards and runs guided tours on calm Liberty Bay.

Is Poulsbo good for toddlers?

Very. The aquarium, the flat boardwalk, the ice cream, and the animals at Bushel and Barrel and Sawdust Hill are all toddler favorites.

A photographer’s note on Little Norway

I photograph a lot of families and couples here for one simple reason: that boardwalk at golden hour, with the marina and mountains behind you, is one of the prettiest backdrops in the county. If your family day gives you the itch to make it permanent, as your Kitsap family photographer I know exactly where to stand and when the light is best. reach out and we will plan a session in Little Norway.