The cabin's local field guide
Conditions on the canal, the tides worth planning around, and the nearby places people may find useful, interesting, or worth checking before a stay.
A snapshot of the canal right now. Mock data for this first version — live weather, NOAA tides, and sun/moon data connect here later.
Weather · Thursday, July 9 · placeholder snapshot
68°F
Partly sunny, light marine haze
The tide right now
The tide is pulling back — a minus low around midday.
Future source: NOAA tide predictions for the nearest Hood Canal station.
Sun & moon
Bright nights on the flats this week.
Today's tides and the lows worth planning a morning around. Heights are placeholder numbers until NOAA data is connected.
Minus tide — the flats open at lunchtime.
Upcoming low tides
Upcoming high tides
Best low-tide window
July 10 · 11:30 AM – 1:45 PM
down to -2.3 ft
The best low of the week. Sand dollars past the point, moon snail collars everywhere.
Best low-tide window
July 11 · 12:15 – 2:30 PM
down to -2.0 ft
Nearly as good as Friday's, and usually quieter on the flats.
Low tide under moonlight
July 24 · 10:40 PM – midnight
down to -0.8 ft
Low tide under moonlight — bring the lantern and warm layers.
Historical tide and weather reference — a placeholder for now.
Eventually this section can show what the tide and weather were like during past stays, helping connect guestbook memories with the actual conditions of the canal — Aunt Carol's -2.1 ft morning, the windy weekend the Hendersons watched eagles, the full-moon low your mother wrote about.
Future sources
NOAA historical tide data for the nearest Hood Canal station · A historical weather archive, by date · Guestbook entries (tide & weather notes are already collected) · Family notes from previous stays
For planning visits — holidays, family dates, and the cabin's own calendar. Family dates are placeholders until admins add the real ones.
Seasonal reminders
Current grocery, waste, and medical essentials. Drive times are off-peak estimates from the cabin; open Directions for live routing from your phone.
Groceries, espresso & quick meals · about 6 min · 2.7 mi
“The closest stop for forgotten groceries, ice, espresso, beer and wine, bait, or a meal from Hansgrill.”
Full-size grocery · about 17 min · 8.6 mi
“The practical big-shop stop on the way to the cabin; pickup and delivery are also listed by the store.”
Trash and recycling · about 14 min · 6.2 mi
“There is no curbside collection at the cabin, so take everything with you or stop here.”
“Kitsap County lists free self-service recycling and 2026 garbage fees starting at $15 for the first 32-gallon can. Check accepted materials before loading the car.”
Walk-in urgent care · about 31 min · 16.3 mi
“For non-life-threatening illness or minor injury. Call 911 for anything serious or life-threatening.”
Hospital and 24-hour emergency care · about 43 min · 25.1 mi
“Drive time is an off-peak route estimate. In an emergency, call 911 instead of relying on the estimate.”
Nearby places people may find useful, interesting, or worth checking before a stay — restaurants, farms, beaches, and rainy-day options, listed plainly. Some have age or seasonal notes; none of this is an advertisement.
Restaurant · about 22 min · 11.1 mi
Good for: lunch or dinner · seafood · ferry-day stop
“A current option near the Kingston ferry with burgers, seafood, pasta, and a kids menu. This is a verified listing, not yet a family endorsement.”
Restaurant at White Horse Golf Club · about 24 min
Good for: lunch or dinner · weekend breakfast · views
“Open to the public; the official page lists weekend breakfast and daily happy hour. This is a verified listing, not yet a family endorsement.”
Restaurant at The Point · about 14 min
The restaurant permits guests under 21; the casino floor is 21+.
Good for: breakfast · lunch or dinner · groups
“A dining option inside The Point. Check the current menu and specials before going.”
Casino, hotel and dining · about 14 min
The casino is 21+. Guests under 21 are permitted in the restaurants.
Good for: rainy day · dining · events
“Listed as a nearby option, not a family endorsement. Check the official calendar for current dining and events.”
Beach, lighthouse and picnic stop · about 11 min · 3.9 mi
Good for: beach · walks · picnics · views
“Kitsap County reports the park is open after its shoreline repair; respect restoration fencing and posted signs.”
Lake, playground and picnic park · about 8 min
Seasonal: Restrooms and parking by the fishing pier are closed October 1–March 31; the general lot remains open.
Good for: kids · swimming · picnics · walks
“County park with a swimming area, playground, picnic shelter, sports courts, and access to the Hansville Greenway.”
The canal feeds this family — carefully. Rules change by marine area, season, species, closures, and biotoxins, so this section stores no rules as truth. It points at the official sources, every time.
Fishing, crabbing, and shellfish rules change often. Always check official Washington state rules, marine area regulations, emergency closures, and shellfish safety warnings before harvesting.
Official sources — always primary
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Seasons, species rules, and emergency rule changes.
Washington Department of Health
Check the beach status EVERY time before digging or gathering.
WDFW Licensing
Everyone harvesting needs the right license on them.
NOAA Tides & Currents
Official tide predictions for Hood Canal stations.
WDFW
The cabin's waters — area-specific seasons and closures.
Season: Placeholder — Hood Canal (Marine Area 12) salmon openings vary by year and species. Check current WDFW rules before every trip.
License: Saltwater or combination license required; catch record card for salmon.
Safety: Watch the emergency-rules page — in-season closures are common.
Official sources
“Dad keeps a spare rod in the shed. Ask before borrowing the good one.”
Season: Placeholder — summer seasons typically run on select days of the week; exact dates and areas change every year.
License: Shellfish license + crab endorsement and catch record card required.
Safety: Measure carefully, males only, and record your catch — the rules are enforced.
Official sources
“The pots and gauge are in the shed loft. The kids' favorite tradition on the canal.”
Season: Placeholder — beach-by-beach seasons; some Hood Canal beaches are open much of the year, others closed.
License: Shellfish/seaweed license required.
Safety: ALWAYS check the DOH biotoxin map for the specific beach the same day. When in doubt, don't dig.
Official sources
“Check shellfish safety before digging — house rule, no exceptions.”
Season: Placeholder — public tideland rules apply; harvest is typically shuck-on-the-beach, shells left where you found them.
License: Shellfish/seaweed license required.
Safety: Biotoxin closures apply to oysters too; summer heat raises vibrio risk — check DOH advisories.
Official sources
“Florine's rule stands: shells go back to the beach, below the tide line.”
Season: Placeholder — recreational geoduck digging is limited to specific beaches and very low tides.
License: Shellfish/seaweed license required.
Safety: Deep holes in soft sand — fill them back in, and never dig alone with kids near the water line.
Official sources
“Jim's 71st-birthday geoduck is family legend now. See the guestbook.”
Season: Placeholder — Hood Canal spot prawn season is famously short (a few days in May). Assume closed unless WDFW says otherwise.
License: Shellfish license + shrimp gear rules apply.
Safety: Season dates announce in spring — watch WDFW news releases.
Official sources
Season: Not a season — a same-day check. Closures can happen any time of year, fast.
License: No license needed to check the map. Everyone should know how.
Safety: Paralytic shellfish poisoning is serious. The DOH map is the source of truth; the beach can look perfect and still be closed.
Official sources
“Bookmark the map on your phone before you walk down.”