After our canoe glide on the weekend, we drove into the little commercial fishing village of Gig Harbor for a picnic lunch.
It was a gorgeous sunny day, with many of the locals ambling down to the docks to check out the pleasure crafts.
Gig Harbor can sport some pretty fancy sailboats and cabin cruisers. Most of these boats looked so clean I wondered if any of them were really used.
A 30 minute parking limit for boats is the rule, so when we walked the boardwalk, most of the boat-owners were just sitting in their boats, drink in hand. It felt rather odd, like they were specimens, waiting to be viewed.
We were walking along Grandview Street, the main thoroughfare of Gig Harbor, and 'bumped into' our daughter-in-law, Annie. She joined us in our walk, and we took in the little shops, the boats, and the people. Annie and her husband Rue live in Gig Harbor with their daughter, Daisy, who is nine.
Gig Harbor is generally known as the "wealthy" hub of Pierce County, with a lot of gated communities and waterfront property. Commercial fishing and boat building dominated the economy in its early history, but now it is primarily a residential area adjacent to Tacoma via use of the Narrows Bridge. There is a Maritime Festival in early June, at which time there is a 'blessing of the fleet'.
Arbor Day was celebrated last weekend with a poetry contest, and the Farmer's Market lasts from now until October, with many local truck farmers bringing in flowers and produce.
Gig Harbor is known for its quaint, artsy charm. Galleries and shops are filled with the work of talented local artists and craftspeople. The natural splendor of the place has always attracted creative types, especially those working in the visual arts. For nearly a quarter century, the Peninsula Art League has sponsored exhibitions, workshops and classes for artists to learn and exhibit together. Membership includes about 180 people - sculptors, photographers, potters, jewelers, glass artists, fiber artists and painters who work in every imaginable medium.
Gig Harbor hosts a yearly Summer Art Festival that includes 162 booths hosted by the Peninsula Art League.
