9 Supercool Tree Houses, Forts and Hobbit Houses Around Seattle to Explore With Kids

Location: 200 Battery Wy. E., Port Townsend

Parking: A Discover Pass is required to park in this and all state parks.

Stunning Fort Worden Historical State Park, once a military fort, boasts more than 2 miles of saltwater shoreline, historic buildings and miles of trails, some of which lead to battery structures. Set your young explorers loose on Artillery Hill’s trail system. 

Highlights include being able to walk the dank, unlit tunnels of 12 former batteries. These batteries served as emplacements for guns that once protected the entrance to Puget Sound and the naval shipyard at Bremerton.

“The Fort, along with Forts Casey and Flagler, were constructed between 1897 and 1905. The guns were removed from the forts beginning in World War I and never replaced. All three forts were decommissioned by 1953, having never fired a gun in anger,” said Tim Caldwell, Fort Worden’s guest services representative.

Trail maps are available at the Commons building on the Fort Worden campus. Use caution when climbing the stairs of the gun emplacements, since many lack banisters or handrails. Bring a flashlight to explore the fun but very dark and twisty tunnels. There are open areas in front of most of the gun emplacements that lead to the bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.

Nearby things to do: Memory’s Vault, an area on Artillery Hill, features pillars of poetry written by Sam Hamill; the poems speak of the fort’s sights, sounds, history and weather. The charming town of Port Townsend is always worth a visit. Or venture to Fort Flagler State Park on the other side of Port Townsend Bay on Marrowstone Island, about a 30-minute drive away. Fort Flagler also has gun emplacements to explore, along with a 1905 military hospital and plenty of beach for building forts.

Next stop: Treehouse Point