Manchester State Park

Manchester State Park is a place filled with American wartime history. This park initially housed torpedos for submarines during World War II, as it was initially built as a fort to protect the local shipyard at neighboring Bremerton. Middle Point Fort maintained an underwater minefield on the Washington coast throughout the war. 

If you and your family enjoy exploring old structures or are just a wartime buff in general, you can still check these structures out, albeit without the military hardware they used to house within them. Make sure to check with the Manchester State Park's main office before hiking into the old buildings as they're often rented out for weddings and other events. 

Speaking of hiking, you are your canine are welcome to explore 1.9 miles of paved trails that run through the park. The trails touch upon each landmark in the park and are a great way to ensure you do not end up missing out on all of the incredible views. If you do decide to bring your dog, make sure you bring along some plastic bags for clean up in case they leave a mess behind. 

Every canine is required to be on a leash no longer than six feet in length. Camping is another beautiful past time at Manchester State Park, with sites scattered throughout all of the park's 128 acres. These campsites are available for reservation up to six months in advance and are all stocked with fire pits, electrical hookups, and shaded pavilions. Campsites are available first come, first served between Sept. 16 - May 14.

These sites fill up rather quickly, so make your reservations as soon as you can. Dogs are permitted to be on any of these sites, and long as they stay restrained throughout their stay. Cliff diving has a popular following here as well, with several high peaks lining the ocean shore. This activity is not encouraged or watched over by the parks department. While not strictly illegal, visitors engage in this activity at their own risk.