The Whale's Tale Puget Sound Waterfront | Eagles, Orcas & Mt. Rainier Views

  • Backyard firepit w/Mt. Rainier behind
    Backyard firepit w/Mt. Rainier behind
  • Dining and kitchen w/ views of water & Mt. Rainier
    Dining and kitchen w/ views of water & Mt. Rainier
  • Kitchen and dining
    Kitchen and dining
  • drone shot from above house
    drone shot from above house
  • Outdoor dining with water views
    Outdoor dining with water views
  • Lush garden and backyard set up
    Lush garden and backyard set up
  • Living room
    Living room
  • Master bedroom
    Master bedroom
  • Orcas behind the house
    Orcas behind the house
  • Main living room
    Main living room
  • Backyard hammocks and outdoor seating
    Backyard hammocks and outdoor seating
  • Kitchen view of Mt. Rainier
    Kitchen view of Mt. Rainier
  • Main living room
    Main living room
  • Main living room
    Main living room
  • Main living room w/electric fireplace
    Main living room w/electric fireplace
  • Front of the house
    Front of the house
  • Upper Back patio
    Upper Back patio
  • Main living room
    Main living room
  • Eagles at Minter Creek
    Eagles at Minter Creek
  • Dining and living room
    Dining and living room
  • Mt. Rainier & Puget sound
    Mt. Rainier & Puget sound
  • Main level
    Main level
  • Kitchen & Bay window
    Kitchen & Bay window
  • Kitchen and bay window
    Kitchen and bay window
  • humpbacks behind the house
    humpbacks behind the house
  • Half bath main level
    Half bath main level
  • Master bedroom
    Master bedroom
  • Master bed private patio
    Master bed private patio
  • Master bath
    Master bath
  • Mt Rainer from back yard
    Mt Rainer from back yard
  • Master shower
    Master shower
  • King guest - upstairs
    King guest - upstairs
  • King guest upstairs
    King guest upstairs
  • Guest bath upstairs
    Guest bath upstairs
  • Olympic mountains behind house
    Olympic mountains behind house
  • Guest bath upstairs
    Guest bath upstairs
  • Office w/queen sleeper
    Office w/queen sleeper
  • Queen sleeper sofa
    Queen sleeper sofa
  • Lower Level w/gym
    Lower Level w/gym
  • Eagles on beach
    Eagles on beach
  • Lower level living room & gym
    Lower level living room & gym
  • Lower level living room view
    Lower level living room view
  • Reclining couch
    Reclining couch
  • Kayak views
    Kayak views
  • Gym
    Gym
  • Eagle flying
    Eagle flying
  • Lower level queen
    Lower level queen
  • Lower level queen
    Lower level queen
  • Lower level bathroom
    Lower level bathroom
  • Lower level bathroom
    Lower level bathroom
  • Backyard
    Backyard
  • Backyard
    Backyard
  • Pergola with dining table
    Pergola with dining table
  • Firepit & pergola
    Firepit & pergola
  • Firepit & pergola
    Firepit & pergola
  • Pergola dining views
    Pergola dining views
  • Shade garden
    Shade garden
  • Firepit & pergola
    Firepit & pergola
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$900-2,000/night
4 Bedrooms • 4 Baths (3 full, 1 half) • Sleeps 1-9
Internet Fireplace Oceanfront Mountain (more...)

There's a moment right after you step outside onto the deck here — coffee in hand, salt air coming off the Sound, an eagle riding a thermal above the tree line — where whatever you were stressed about genuinely stops mattering. That's The Whale's Tale.

Sitting above Henderson Bay on Puget Sound, this 3,400 sq ft waterfront home was designed for people who want space — space to gather, space to be quiet, and space to actually look up from their phones. Mt. Rainier anchors the view to the east. Raft Island sits just offshore. On a clear morning, the reflection off the water is almost unreasonable.

What You'll See From the Deck
Bald eagles are daily visitors — not an occasional sighting, a daily one. Harbor seals and harbor porpoises make regular appearances in the bay. Orca sightings happen multiple times a year. If you've ever wanted that classic Pacific Northwest wildlife experience without driving to a trailhead, this is it.

The House
Four bedrooms sleep nine comfortably — two king suites, one queen bedroom, and a private office with a queen sleeper sofa. Three full bathrooms and a half bath mean no one's waiting. The open living area has hardwood floors, oversized windows facing the water, a cozy window bay seat, and an electric fireplace. Real beds, real privacy, no air mattresses.

The Kitchen
A large island, induction cooktop, and granite counters make this a kitchen you'll actually want to cook in. Stocked for real meals — not just coffee and takeout containers, though we have those covered too.

The Coffee Setup (Yes, We Take This Seriously)
A fully equipped espresso machine with QR code instructions, single-serve brewer, French press, Vietnamese phin filter, and pour-over kit. Every brewing method is here. There's no excuse for a bad cup of coffee.

Outside
The deck and balcony look out over a lush cottage garden — Japanese maples, climbing hydrangea, hostas — and down to the bay. A pergola with outdoor dining seats the whole group. The fire pit with Adirondack chairs is where evenings tend to end up. The property's private neighborhood beach access is about a 5-minute walk.

Right Down the Road
Minterbrook Oyster Co. is less than a mile away — fresh oysters, crab, mussels, clams, bought direct. Minter Creek Hatchery is a low-key nature stop worth the five-minute drive. Downtown Gig Harbor has restaurants, shops, a distillery, harbor tours, and ice cream. It's the kind of downtown that feels like a real place, not a tourist trap.

Location
About an hour from Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and the trailheads of Olympic National Forest. Close enough to everything, far enough away to actually feel like a vacation.

A Note on Beach Access
The property sits above its own private beach on Puget Sound — the property staircase is currently undergoing permitted reconstruction (expected completion late 2026). In the meantime, the neighborhood beach access point is a pleasant 5-minute walk and fully accessible. 80 feet of bluff means the views are spectacular in either direction.

Good to Know
This home has multiple levels and quite a few stairs — it's not the right fit for guests with significant mobility limitations. There are two owners-only closets and some locked laundry cabinets; everything else is yours for the stay.

Cancellation Policy: Ninety-seven percent (97.00%) of the total booking charges will be refunded if the cancellation is made more than 21 days prior to the arrival date of the reservation. Fifty percent (50.00%) of the total booking charges will be refunded if the cancellation is made more than 14 days prior to the arrival date of the reservation. Twenty-five percent (25.00%) of the total booking charges will be refunded if the cancellation is made more than 7 days prior to the arrival date of the reservation. For cancellations made within 7 days prior to the arrival date, no refund will be issued.

About Shoreside Sanctuaries: After years of working corporate jobs in the city, where we rarely had time to truly enjoy family, friends, or life, we decided to uproot our lives and embark on a new adventure in the Pacific Northwest. While we bounced around before landing, we were determined to find a sanctuary—a place where, regardless of our jobs or the stresses of life, we could find relief and peace as soon as we walked through the door. That place became The Whale's Tale. Living in this beautiful shoreside sanctuary inspired us to purchase another waterfront property, which we now share with family, friends, and guests like you. Although we still have jobs outside of our vacation rentals, Shoreside Sanctuaries is our passion. We love creating spaces where people can gather, relax, heal, and create lasting memories OR their own "Whale of a Tale" if you will. I know some of you were thinking we just misspelt that. ;) We hope you experience the same sense of peace that we do here and invite you to visit our other property in Westport, WA as well. If anything is amiss during your stay, please let us know immediately so we can make it right. Come see us—we think you'll love it here.

Gig Harbor, Washington

Property Type House
Accommodation Entire Home
Check-In Smart lock
House Rules
  • Maximum occupancy: 9
  • Children welcome
  • Infants welcome
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Wheelchair inaccessible
  • Minimum age of primary renter: 26
  • Pets not allowed
Setting & View
  • Water View
  • Mountain View
  • Beach
  • Ocean
  • Beachfront
  • Beach View
  • Mountain
  • Near Ocean
  • Oceanfront
  • Ocean View
  • Waterfront
  • Bay View
  • Harbor View
  • Sea View
  • Shared Beach Access
General
  • Internet
  • Fireplace
  • Air Conditioning
  • Central Heating
  • Linens Provided
  • Towels Provided
  • Washing Machine
  • Clothes Dryer
  • Hot Water
  • Private Living Room
  • Fitness Room/Equipment
  • Hair Dryer
  • Iron & Board
  • Firewood Provided
  • Wifi
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Laptop Friendly Workspace
  • Basic Soaps
  • Paper Towels
  • Shampoo
  • Toilet Paper
  • Hangers
  • Private Entrance
  • Lock On Bedroom Door
  • Extra Pillows & Blankets
  • Free Internet
  • Body Soap
  • Hair Conditioner
  • Bidet
  • Rain Shower
  • Shower Gel
  • Clothing Storage (closet or wardrobe)
  • Portable Fans
Kitchen
  • Kitchen
  • Refrigerator
  • Stove
  • Oven
  • Microwave
  • Dishwasher
  • Dishes & Utensils
  • Spices/Pantry Items
  • Coffee Maker
  • Toaster
  • Ice Maker
  • Freezer
  • Blender
  • Kettle
  • Pots & Pans
  • Kitchen Island
  • Dining Table
  • Baking Sheet
  • Barbeque/Grill Utensils
  • Coffee
  • Rice Maker
  • Wine Glasses
Bathrooms 4 Baths (3 full, 1 half)
  • Master Ensuite – Bidet, Shower, Toilet
  • Upper Level Guest Bath – Bidet, Combination Tub/Shower, Toilet
  • Lower level Bathroom – Bidet, Shower, Toilet
  • Main Level Powder Room – Bidet, Toilet
Sleeping Arrangements 4 Bedrooms, sleeps 1-9
  • Master Bedroom – 1 King Bed
  • Lower Level Guest Room – 1 Queen Bed
  • Upper Level Guest Room – 1 King Bed
  • Bedroom/Office – 1 Sleeper Sofa
This Bedroom/Office has a built in closet space, desk, 2 monitors, printer, ergonomic desk chair, adjustable laptop stand and sleeper sofa that folds out into a Queen sized bed.
Entertainment
  • Television
  • Satellite/Cable
  • DVD Player
  • Video Library
  • Stereo
  • Games/Board Games
  • Books
  • Smart TV
  • Sound System
  • Exercise Equipment
Family
  • Children's Dinnerware
  • Outlet Covers
  • Pack N Play/Travel Crib
  • Children's Books & Toys
Outdoor
  • Outdoor Grill
  • Deck/Patio (uncovered)
  • Lanai/Gazebo (covered)
  • Balcony/Terrace
  • Lawn/Garden
  • Beach Essentials
  • Private Yard
  • Fire Pit
  • Fenced Yard
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Outdoor Seating
  • Hammock
Vehicles
  • Parking
  • Free Parking
  • EV Charger
  • Free Parking On Premises
Other
  • Massage
  • Private Chef
Theme
  • Adventure
  • Family
  • Romantic
  • Tourist Attractions
Attractions
  • Bay/Sound
  • Health/Beauty Spa
  • Marina
  • Museums
  • Winery Tours
  • Zoo
Leisure
  • Antiquing
  • Bird Watching
  • Eco Tourism
  • Gambling/Casinos
  • Paddle Boating
  • Whale Watching
  • Boating
  • Shopping
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Water Sports
Sports & Adventure
  • Cycling
  • Fishing
  • Bay/Sound Fishing
  • Fly Fishing
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Surf Fishing
  • Golf
  • Hiking
  • Jet Skiing
  • Kayaking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Mountain Climbing
  • Mountaineering
  • Pier Fishing
  • Sailing
  • Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
  • Skiing
  • Water Skiing
  • Snorkeling/Diving
  • Wind Surfing
Safety
  • Fire Emergency Contact
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • First Aid Kit
  • Medical Emergency Contact
  • Exterior Lighting
  • Police Emergency Contact
  • Smoke Detector
  • Cleaning Disinfection
  • Common Surface Disinfectant Cleaned
  • Linens High Temp Wash
  • Cleaning Products
Expectations
  • Requires Stairs
  • Cameras/Surveillance
  • Near Lake, River, or Water Body
Check Out Tasks
  • Return Keys
  • Throw Away Trash
  • Lock Up
  • Additional Requests