OWSA Forums

At the last general meeting, Carol McCreary proposed that OWSA facilitate a trip to the Wooden Boat Festival.  Since Carol is currently traveling, Gail Taylor has asked me to help get this project rolling. Some lodgings are already booked solid for this popular event.  Lodgings range anywhere from Hostel/Dormitory and Camping and up.  The festival tickets themselves are affordable.  The 2007 tickets were $24 for a three day pass, and $10 for a day pass.   Here is a link to last year's festival website.

http://www.woodenboat.org/festival/index.htm 

For right now, I would like to find out the interest level of the membership, and the type of lodging that I ought to seek out.

So please help me with the following information:

Expected number of people in my party (family and non-Owsa freinds):

Level of OWSA comradery: (10=OWSA comradery is the most important feature of the trip, 1=Heck no, just point me toward the boats) 

Nights I would like to stay: 

Would you be bringing your own lodging (boat/RV/tent)? 

My interest level (10=Absolutely certain, can't imagine anything else I'd rather do, 1= Well, maybe, if there is nothing to watch on cable):

Amount that I wish to pay for lodgings (per person,per night, before taxes) (Please provide a range.)

I am not asking for a commitment, I just want something to guide me in my search.

Thanks,

Mary Megrant 

Here is what I have learned so far regarding the availability of lodgings. The plus and minuses are just my initial impressions, based on my limited experience of Port Townsend

NOW BOOKING:
Aladdin Motor Inn:
$120+tax/night. (two queen beds, third floor)  I went ahead and reserved a room for myself.  If I keep it, I would like to find 3 (or more) roommates.   The clerk recommended I reserve the third floor for more quiet.  Pluses:Close to Park and Ride/Downtown Shuttle (runs every 20 minutes, during winter), No surcharges for extra bodies/or maximum occupancy.  First place I could reserve without cost.
Minuses:  Per room rate seems spendy (I was quoted the winter rate when reserving, but clerk called me back, and corrected her error (new employee), far end of Water street from downtown.  No elevator.

Fort Worden lodgings:

2 to 4 bedroom houses/apts available.
Pluses: Might have room to gather as a group.  Might be cool digs.
Minuses:  Policy states maximim occupancy strictly enforced.  First Night paid in advance, $25 per unit/night cancellation charge.  May need to transfer buses to festival grounds, Rather steep hill/to/from festival site.  Staff was unhelpful on phone.  Fort Worden (winter schedule) requires two buses to get closest to the fairgrounds, and Fort Worden bus runs hourly, with no evening service.

Fort Worden Campgrounds:

$38/ per night, 8 people max per site.  Less expensive for primitive.  I couldn't figure out whether there were spaces available or not (online reservations.) See Lodgings for +/-.

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NO VACANCY
The Waterstreet Hotel
They said that people generally make their reservations during the festival for the next year. 
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NOT BOOKING YET
The Palace Hotel (another downtown choice) will start taking reservations on January 1st.  However, they quoted rates of $169 per night for a double occupancy to $289 for a suite for 4 people.