The Best Things to Do in Gig Harbor This Summer (A Local's Honest Guide)
By Gwen Gilliam | Gig Harbor Real Estate
People ask me all the time what there is to do in Gig Harbor. And my honest answer is always the same: more than you think, and most of it is better than anywhere else! Gig Harbor is not a place that tries to impress you with a long list of attractions. It impresses you with the quality of what it offers, the waterfront, the trails, the community, and the unhurried pace that makes everything feel a little more special than it would somewhere else. Here is my honest local guide to making the most of summer in Gig Harbor.
Get Out on the Water
If you are in Gig Harbor in the summer and you are not spending time on the water, you are missing the best part. The Harbor itself is stunning, a protected inlet surrounded by trees, homes, and boats of every kind. Kayak rentals are available for those who want to explore at their own pace. If you have your own boat, the options are endless. Cruise out to Colvos Passage, anchor in a quiet cove, or make your way to one of the many destinations accessible only by water. For those who prefer to stay on land but still want to feel close to the water, the Jerisich Dock is a gathering spot that never gets old. Watch the boats come and go, catch a conversation with someone who has lived here for decades, and soak in everything that makes this Harbor so special.
Take a Walk Along the Waterfront
Walking along the waterfront in Gig Harbor is one of those experiences that locals never take for granted and visitors never forget. The path follows the shoreline of the Harbor, offering views of the water, the boats, and on clear days, the mountains beyond. It is the kind of walk that slows you down in the best possible way. You find yourself stopping more than you planned, looking at things you did not expect to notice, and arriving at the end feeling better than when you started. Along the way, you will pass several of the Harbor's most beloved spots, making it easy to build an entire afternoon around a walk, a coffee stop, a waterfront lunch, and a slow wander back.
Visit the Waterfront Farmers Market
The Gig Harbor Waterfront Farmers Market runs every Thursday afternoon from 1:00 to 6:00 PM through the summer at Skansie Brothers Park, and it is one of the community's most beloved traditions. Local growers, makers, and artisans gather each week to share what they have been working on. Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, handcrafted items, live music, and the kind of easy community conversation that reminds you why small towns matter. Even if you do not buy a thing, a Thursday afternoon at the farmers market gives you a genuine feel for who lives here and what they value. For people considering a move to Gig Harbor, it is one of the most telling experiences the community has to offer.
Have Lunch or Dinner on the Water
No visit to Gig Harbor is complete without a meal with a view of the Harbor. Tides Tavern has been a Gig Harbor institution for decades, and for good reason. Sitting on the water with a burger and a cold drink while boats drift past is one of those simple pleasures that somehow never gets old. It is unpretentious, genuinely local, and exactly the kind of experience that makes Gig Harbor feel different from everywhere else. There are other waterfront dining options as well, each with its own character and view. Summer evenings on the water in Gig Harbor are something you remember for a long time.
Spend a Morning at Skansie Brothers Park
Skansie Brothers Park sits right on the waterfront and is one of those spots that captures everything good about Gig Harbor in a single place. The historic net shed, the views of the Harbor, the quiet green space, and the sense of history that runs through the whole area make it a perfect spot for a morning walk or a peaceful hour with nowhere specific to be. It is beloved by locals and consistently one of the first places visitors fall in love with.
Day Trip to the Mountains or the Sound
Gig Harbor's location makes it an ideal base for summer day trips that would be significantly harder to pull off from Seattle. Mount Rainier National Park is roughly 90 minutes away. The Olympic Peninsula and Hurricane Ridge are accessible for a full-day adventure. Hood Canal and its oyster beds are a short drive. The possibilities for getting out into the extraordinary natural landscape of the Pacific Northwest are genuinely remarkable from right here. This is something buyers from out of the area consistently underestimate. You are not just getting Gig Harbor. You are getting a front door to some of the most spectacular outdoor destinations in the country.
Just Slow Down
Here is the thing about summer in Gig Harbor that does not make it onto any list. The best thing to do here is simply be here. Walk somewhere without a destination. Sit somewhere with a view. Let an afternoon go longer than you planned. Talk to someone you just met. That is what this place does to people! It slows them down in a way that feels like a gift. And for a lot of the buyers I work with, that is the moment they realize they are not just visiting anymore.
Thinking About Making Gig Harbor Home?
If a summer weekend here has you asking what it would actually take to live here, I would love to have that conversation. There is no better time to explore what this community has to offer, and no one who loves showing it off more than I do!
Reach out anytime.
Gwen Gilliam Gig Harbor Real Estate gwengilliamrealestate.com
Gwen Gilliam is a local Gig Harbor real estate expert specializing in waterfront and residential properties throughout the South Sound.