It's been said that most people who live on Bainbridge Island are there by design and not chance. The draw is some of the state's best schools; a savvy, highly educated population passionately involved at City Hall; a vibrant arts scene; and beautiful, waterfront homes. For islanders, all that outweighs what can be a longer commute to work, shopping and other necessities. One of the charms of the island is its funky downtown. Its main drag, Winslow Way, is nothing less than the island's living room, hosting the Grand Old Fourth celebration downtown, evening summer dances and outdoor movie showings. But living and raising a family on Bainbridge Island doesn't come cheap, The median price for a single-family home on Bainbridge Island is significantly higher than any other community in Kitsap.

The northern part of Mason County, centered around the community of Belfair, is synonymous with outdoor recreation and natural beauty. While no longer a haven for salmon fishermen, folks from around the state still come to Hood Canal for the annual "spot" shrimp season. Crabbing, recreational boating and kayaking are other attractions that draw visitors to Belfair and the six other small communities that comprise the area: Allyn, Grapeview, Victor, Union, Tahuya and Dewatto. More than 20,000 people make the North Mason area their home.

Bremerton, West Sound's largest city, had fallen upon hard times during the mid-1980s as retail stores fled downtown to the commercial area that built up around the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale. But a decades-long revitalization effort, which won a strong and effective advocate with Cary Bozeman's election as mayor in 2001, is taking root. Starting with the renovation of the Admiral Theatre, the new ferry terminal and transit center, continuing with the Kitsap Conference Center, the Norm Dicks Government Center and the Kitsap Credit Union headquarters, and now with the development of new condominiums along Bremerton's waterfront and a new waterfront park and the expanded marina, the city of 38,000 is turning heads and discovering new dynamism.

Founded in 1888, named after the captain's gig longboat used to explore small harbors during the 1841 expedition of Lt. Charles Wilkes, Gig Harbor boasts a picture postcard view of Mount Rainier looming over its waterfront. The Pierce County city at the base of the Kitsap Peninsula is booming as a shopping district and bedroom community for Tacoma and south Puget Sound, helped along by the completion of the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 2007. While the fishing fleet now is outnumbered by recreation vessels, Gig Harbor remains home to boating enthusiasts of all stripes.

Kingston, an unincorporated community of 1,500 and growing, is characterized by a fierce civic pride that drives several active citizen groups. Kingston serves as the western terminus of one of the busiest ferry runs on Puget Sound Ñ a 30-minute ferry ride from Edmonds Ñ and now is proud to host its own high school. Areas in and around downtown Kingston are primed for new buildings, destinations and parks. Downtown property owners are crafting plans to create a more walkable community, and work is under way with the county to create a central park and community center called Kingston Village Green. Antique shops, restaurants, cafes, a library and a community center line the town's main thoroughfare

Though the mill no longer stands, Port Gamble remains a privately owned mill town. Visiting the town, its historic general store, and its picturesque church, is a unique experience on the Kitsap Peninsula. The 120-acre town site was founded in 1853 as a home for millworkers and their families and modeled after the familiar New England towns where its founders originated. Port Gamble was the oldest continuously operating mill town in North America when the lumber mill ceased operations in 1995. Now, efforts are under way to redevelop the town site, with new housing and condos, while keeping its historic charm. The town hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including crafts shows and a medieval faire.

The city of Port Orchard, the urban heart of South Kitsap, has been working to boost the ambience of its downtown mainstreet, Bay Street, while also planning road improvements along the expanding Bethel Avenue retail corridor south of downtown. Home of Kitsap County government and the South Kitsap School District, Port Orchard enjoys a scenic waterfront across Sinclair Inlet from Bremerton. The city hosts special events and visitors from Puget Sound yacht clubs throughout the summer as well as a series of weekend car shows that culminate each August with The Cruz.

Once a bustling international port, Port Townsend boasts a colorful history. Timber and shipping were once thriving industries in Port Townsend, and the lofty ambitions of its residents were reflected in elegant public buildings and lavish homes. They expected their town to become the state's leading seaport and population center. But when Seattle was chosen as the terminus for the railroad, Port Townsend's fortunes plummeted. A gradual rebirth has occurred over the past 35 years, as artists and others charmed by the town's quaint atmosphere arrived to make their home in the little waterfront community. The city has reinvented itself with specialty shops, art galleries and Victorian bed-and-breakfast establishments.

Poulsbo is a fast-growing small city that embraces its Norwegian heritage while charging forward as an employment and residential hub of northern Kitsap County. Nestled along Liberty Bay with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop, this one-time timber and fishing village offers residents and tourists a community full of charm and history. Scandinavian-themed Front Street runs through the heart of downtown and sports a collection of antique shops, restaurants, cafes, gift stores, bookstores and clothing boutiques. But the city also is home to several high-tech businesses, including Paladin Data Systems and Boxlight, a supplier of digital projector systems.

No matter where people live in Kitsap County, they come to Silverdale on a regular basis to satisfy their basic shopping needs. Silverdale is the commercial hub of the county, with a mix of mall retailers, well-known hardware stores, wholesale shopping and speciality boutiques. Silverdale is also one of the county's fastest-growing population centers. But Silverdale is the largest unincorporated urban growth area in the state of Washington, and whether it will become a city, sooner or later, remains a point of community debate. In addition to its big-box chain stores, Silverdale also has small shops and restaurants in Old Town, two waterfront parks and the extensive Clear Creek Trail system.