Manette - Bremerton, WA

The city of Bremerton began its growth in the 1890s when it was determined to be the best site in the Pacific Northwest for a Navy shipyard. As the shipyard grew in size, Bremerton expanded outward, incorporating the surrounding communities. Bremerton has grown to be the largest city on the Kitsap Peninsula. The shipyard remains a major employer and cultural beacon for the city, and Bremerton proves uniquely diverse because of the Navy base. Manette was incorporated in the 1930s and connected to Bremerton by the original Manette bridge. The bridge has been rebuilt twice, including in 2011.

The city of Bremerton has seen tremendous development over time; downtown Bremerton now includes waterfront condos, a walkable downtown waterfront area and impressive public spaces. The Bremerton Blackberry festival takes place every year on the downtown waterfront and celebrates the wild blackberries that grow all over the Peninsula.

Despite being a small community, Manette spoils its residents when it comes to nightlife options. The waterfront area of this neighborhood plays host to restaurants and bars, from the upscale to the trendy.

If you desire Italian fare, La Fermata rates as the best choice on the peninsula. A white tablecloth atmosphere makes it the perfect place for an evening date or a trendy locale for cocktails and appetizers. The beet salad serves as a popular choice and shouldn't be missed. Indulge your taste buds with the seafood dishes; crab ravioli, salmon and scallops shine on the menu. Visitors claim the food tastes as traditional as a tiny café in Rome, an exciting statement for this small neighborhood joint.

If locals seek a more laid back approach to fresh seafood dishes, they head to The Boat Shed, a family friendly place right on the water. The large patio seating area bustles on summer afternoons, while inside, the restaurant stays busy year round. Fish and chips, fish tacos, and calamari act as the standouts, so grab a brew and position yourself on the patio. The view at the Boat Shed proves to be outstanding, and seats come at a premium.

For entertainment that lasts later into the evening, locals head to The Manette Saloon and Sidebar for live music, happy hour specials and local beers. The saloon can get loud on weekend evenings, so if you seek something calmer, hop over to the sidebar for quiet wine sipping. The Manette offers karaoke nights, pool and a large bar.

Manette remains a somewhat walkable neighborhood, as residents live within walking distance of the popular waterfront shopping district. Locals can walk across the Manette bridge to downtown Bremerton where they can walk onto the Bremerton-Seattle ferry. Most residents use a car for errands or drive to popular walking areas and park for the day.

Public transportation options prove limited but do exist as a means to bring residents of Manette across the bridge to downtown. Bremerton locals are well acquainted with the Washington State Ferry system, as the ferry grants walk-on and drive-on access to downtown Seattle. Once across the water, commuters can access public transportation to get them around the city.

Hailing a cab or using Uber in Bremerton do not exist as possibilities. One bike-friendly road serves Manette, but cyclists wishing to commute across the Manette bridge to get on the ferry can find multiple safe biking options in Seattle.

Accessing major Washington highways proves difficult from Bremerton; locals need to get on a ferry to Seattle or take highway 16 for access to I-5 in Tacoma. Both routes take more than an hour and are not optimal commuting options. Manette provides easy access to Highway 3, which leads north to Poulsbo or south to Olympia.

Manette provides ample access for outdoor entertainment, though residents have to travel across Manette Bridge to find parks. For locals looking to get away, Olympic National Park takes a 1.5-hour drive from Manette. The park opens year round and provides multiple ways to explore; a fee is required to enter this park.

For outdoor experiences closer to home, Ilahee State Park lies right across the water from Manette, complete with hiking trails, waterfront views and green space. Locals use the park to walk their dogs, jog and picnic but need a Washington State Discover Pass to enjoy the offerings.

Harborside Fountain Park near the ferry terminal in downtown Bremerton serves as the go-to place for local families around Kitsap for free summertime entertainment. The multiple fountains and wading pools prove popular with the kids, and the occasional dog, waiting to get soaked by the surprise water splashes. This park makes a great place to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July and hosts multiple Bremerton events, including the Kitsap Wine Festival.

Evergreen Park in Bremerton is a popular place for picnics, launching boats and sunny strolls. Families can rent gazebos, use the playgrounds and explore the seemingly endless grounds.

The cost of living in Bremerton rates slightly higher than living in the rest of the country but significantly lower than living in Seattle. The average rent for a one-bedroom home in Manette costs $683, compared to Seattle's skyrocketing housing rates. Using public transportation to Seattle costs walk-on passengers $8 each way and vehicles about $20. Riders on Kitsap Transit pay $2 one way for transportation on the peninsula. Beer at a local Manette pub costs between $4 and $5. Gas in Bremerton sits within 1 percent of the national average.

Residents of Manette have access to big box stores, such as Grocery Outlet, right in the neighborhood or within a short drive over the bridge to West Bremerton. If you want something a little more local, Island Flavors offers the convenience of a speciality grocery store and small Filipino restaurant all rolled into one. The Bremerton Farmer's Market operates two days a week from early summer into late fall at Evergreen Park. Offering goods from around the Peninsula, the farmers market acts as the most popular choice for local produce.

If locals are willing to drive, there exist opportunities for both name brand and boutique shopping on the Kitsap Peninsula. Kitsap Mall, a two-story shopping mall, sits in downtown Bremerton, but most locals prefer the wider variety of choices offered by South Kitsap Mall in Port Orchard, about 20 minutes south of Manette. For more in-depth trips, residents take the ferry to Seattle and enjoy the bountiful shopping opportunities the city provides.

Downtown Bremerton houses some unique stores and specialty shops, and because of the city's push to rejuvenate downtown, most shopping is localized and easily accessible on foot. Purpose Boutique, a crowd favorite, offers unique women's clothing and jewelry, personalized styling recommendations, and reasonable prices for brands not otherwise found on the Peninsula. Purpose also gives back to organizations that seek to empower women, so you can shop while making a difference.

Ish Vintage Clothing and Costumes delights customers with style from days passed. The store offers well-curated, gently used clothing to buy as well as costumes to rent for special events. Plan to spend some time browsing the racks of this store, and check back often, the merchandize is ever-changing.