It isn’t easy to go off the grid these days—but luckily, Washington is a state that makes it pretty simple. Our hiking trails, quiet beaches, national parks, and abundance of nature means we’re all a few hours from a peaceful escape at any given time. However, eventually we head home to our screens, traffic, and busy, fast-paced lives.
Recently, Livability created a list of the 12 best places in America to live off the grid. We were surprised to see a local place on the list that wasn’t Stehekin, Point Roberts, or a rural community in Eastern Washington. But take a closer look at Gig Harbor and you’ll see that this Livability article makes a solid point.
Gig Harbor sits on Gig Harbor Bay in Puget Sound, in Pierce County.
Tom Collins / Flickr It’s considered one of the gateways to the Olympic Peninsula.
Despite the fact that it’s about an hour from Seattle and less than 30 minutes from Tacoma, this little city stays quiet and peaceful.
Chris Sawtelle / Flickr It does feel a bit isolated, and that’s just the way the locals like it. For most, the trek to Gig Harbor requires a trip over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. After that, you’ll feel like you’re in a different world.
Gig Harbor is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.
David Seibold / Flickr Its place at the foot of Mount Rainier means you’ll have an amazing view of the mountain, especially on a clear day.
Downtown Gig Harbor is delightfully charming, with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and other spots to explore.
David Seibold / Flickr That being said, it’s not a major shopping destination, and it’s not a hot spot for tourism.
With a population of about 10,000, Gig Harbor is a small town by most people’s definition… but it has all the amenities you’d find in a major city.
Tom Collins / Flickr This is the perfect place to put your phone away, relax by the water and watch the boats enter the harbor as you sip a cup of coffee, and relax. This entire town encourages you to unplug.
Not only is Gig Harbor gorgeous, it’s close to an abundance of breathtaking nature.
David Seibold / Flickr It really is quite possible to go off the grid here.
Where do you go in Washington when you need to unplug?
Tom Collins / Flickr
It’s considered one of the gateways to the Olympic Peninsula.
Chris Sawtelle / Flickr
It does feel a bit isolated, and that’s just the way the locals like it. For most, the trek to Gig Harbor requires a trip over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. After that, you’ll feel like you’re in a different world.
David Seibold / Flickr
Its place at the foot of Mount Rainier means you’ll have an amazing view of the mountain, especially on a clear day.
That being said, it’s not a major shopping destination, and it’s not a hot spot for tourism.
This is the perfect place to put your phone away, relax by the water and watch the boats enter the harbor as you sip a cup of coffee, and relax. This entire town encourages you to unplug.
It really is quite possible to go off the grid here.
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Address: Gig Harbor, WA, USA
