Suquamish is a community of 4,100 people (2010) on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.
Suquamish, located on the Port Madison Indian Reservation, is home of the Suquamish tribe.
Suquamish means "place of clear salt water" in the Native Lushootseed language, and has been the primary home of the Suquamish people since ancient times. It sits on Agate Passage, and is the site of Old-Man-House village, the winter home of Chief Seattle, the heart of the Suquamish people and of Puget Sound.
One of the most influential leaders of the Northwest, Chief Seattle, lived here and he is buried at Suquamish Memorial Cemetery behind St. Peters Mission.
Chief Kitsap for which the county and the Peninsula are named also lived in the area and was an influential leader.
Visiting the areas forested hills, clear streams and endless clear salt water will give insight into why the original inhabitants of Puget Sound chose this region to call home and navigated these waters in well-designed cedar canoes. Today Suquamish is culturally and economically diverse area, with a mix of native and non-native residents that include artists, crafts people, local workers, commuters and retirees. Suquamish Tribal traditions are celebrated throughout the year and are a visible part of the Suquamish experience.
The Suquamish Dock, NE Pkwy. For thousands of years before European explorers came to the area the Suquamish people navigated the waters of Puget Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula utilizing well crafted wooden boats and they take their water travel pretty seriously. The Suquamish Dock is available for use by boaters but also has an important cultural function, making participation in canoe outings accessible to elderly and disabled tribal members. The public dock represents the Tribe's historical access and the town's connection to the water. The 526-foot dock is free to use for short-term for boaters to tie up to during the day to grab lunch, shop or explore Suquamish’s downtown core. Long-term or overnight moorage is limited to tribal vessels.
A free shuttle runs between the Bainbridge Island and Kingston ferry docks and the Suquamish resort.
The central area of Suquamish is accessible on foot from the central dock.
The Suquamish navigated these waters in well designed cedar canoes for thousands of years and much of the designs of modern sea kayaks owe some debt to these early designs. Suquamish is an excellent place to start a sea kayaking adventure exploring the many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate and scenic travel destinations, many of these trails follow the same paths that the Suquamish have used for thousands of years.
Suquamish is known for its highly rated casino and resort, but there are a few other places in town that offer coffee.
Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, 15347 Suquamish Way NE, 47.71229°, -122.57099°, +1 360 598-8700. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Although this resort is known for gambling, it also offers a Luxury Waterfront Hotel Resort with 85 rooms offering commanding views of Puget Sound, a zero entry pool, a spa, 4 different restaurants including Agate Pass Deli, all-you-can-eat Longhouse Buffet, Beach Rock Sport Lounge, and well known Cedar Steakhouse. If that is not enough to keep you busy they also have the White Horse Golf Club built on 456 acres and a long list of incoming bands and various performances.
Suquamish is across the Agate Pass Bridge from Bainbridge Island and near Poulsbo and Indianola.
Suquamish is centrally located on the Kitsap Peninsula. There are several marinas nearby including Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island and the public marinas in Poulsbo and Keyport.
If you are following the Kitsap Water Trails, Suquamish is centrally located on the Kingston leg and also offers easy access to Bainbridge Island.
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