If you like chocolate and wine, you will love two upcoming events. Six Olympic Peninsula Wineries are joining together for two weekends of Wine and Chocolate on February 5-6 and 13-15, 2010.
You may purchase an event ticket and taste at all six wineries for $25 (and receive a wine glass) or visit individual wineries for $5. Each winery will add their own flair to pairing wine and chocolates. Some add spice, some make it fruity, and some infuse their wine into chocolate. It all sounds good to me.
You are sure to find at least one combination that transports you to another world.
Make a weekend of it. Travel between Port Angeles and Port Townsend, stopping in Sequim for a little sun on the way. You may want to hike down to the Dungeness Spit or stroll the beaches at Fort Worden in between tastings. There is no hurry. The weekend is yours.
olympic peninsula
Olympic Peninsula Wineries, Waashington State Wines
When seen on a map of the United States, the Olympic Peninsula is spectacularly out there on its own. A good portion of the peninsula is dedicated to National Park and National Forest – in fact, it is impossible to drive across most of the peninsula; roads circle around the Olympic National Park, running along the Pacific coast, the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and Hood Canal.
It should therefore come as no surprise that elk roam through Sequim from time to time. Sequim sits at the foot of the Olympic Mountains, on grassy fields that lead up to the Salish Sea. Roosevelt Elk, numbering about 5,000 in the Olympic National Park, are frequent visitors to the land in and around Sequim.
Sequim is a small city on the edge of northwest wilderness. It is well worth visiting.
Uncategorized, olympic peninsula
elk, Olympic National Park, Sequim
Views in the Pacific Northwest and, specifically, the Olympic Peninsula, are generally stellar. Puget Sound or the Strait of Juan de Fuca, two mountain ranges, volcanoes towering 10,000 to 14,000 feet above sea level… how can your jaws not drop in wonder?
The views from Sequim are spectacular – like the one above, seen from Bell Hill. Views from Sequim have all the elements listed above, plus the following: Vancouver Island, the San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island on the horizon; and the Olympic Mountains pressing at your back as you look out over lush flat fields to the Salish Sea.
If you haven’t yet experienced the beauty of Sequim, hurry.
olympic peninsula
Pacific Northwest, Puget Sound, Sequim, Strait of Juan de Fuca, volcanoes
When you are in Sequim, the wonders of the Olympic Peninsula and the Olympic National Park are close at hand. Lake Crescent is about 35 miles west of Sequim, and is a lovely place to spend an afternoon or a day. Twelve miles long, pressed up against the foothills of the Olympic Mountains, it is breathtakingly beautiful.
The water is clear, cold, and deep, so only the bravest individuals will want to linger in it. However, it is a great place to boat or fish. Hikers will enjoy several options, from the Pyramid Mountain trail, which affords great views of Lake Crescent, to the Spruce Railroad Trail along the north side of the lake. Picnic spots abound.
If you are more inclined to enjoy views of the lake while dining in a restaurant, you have two options: Lake Crescent Lodge (early May through mid October) and Log Cabin Resort. Even a slow, scenic drive along the lake shore is a worthwhile endeavor on a cool fall day.
olympic peninsula
Lake Crescent, Olympic Mountains, Olympic National Park
Spoon Creek Falls, curtesy of Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau
When you are in the Pacific Northwest, Sequim is a great place to be during the summer. It is usually sunny and warm, but not too warm. There are great restaurants, many lodging options, and fantastic views; in short, it is a good spot to use as a base while exploring the greater Olympic Peninsula.
The Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail is a relatively new creation. Well, the waterfalls aren’t new, but considering them as part of a larger system is. There are a number of waterfalls close to Sequim, making them ideal for a day trip or two. Start your day with a hearty breakfast, perhaps at the Oak Table, and then load up with picnic supplies. A stop at Bell Street Bakery is a good place to start, and Sunny Farms has great cheeses, fruits and drinks.
Madison Creek Falls, by the entrance to the Olympic National Park near Port Angeles, is wheelchair accessible and stunning. To see Wolf Creek Falls along the Elwa River requires a short but steep hike of less than half-a-mile, but those who are up for it will not be disappointed. Marymere Falls near Lake Crescent drop almost 90 feet down, and nearby stairs provide great views of the top portion of the falls.
There are many more waterfalls on the Olympic Peninsula – over 20 – and each one is worth visiting. You’ll certainly work up an appetite (even with the picnic), and be ready to dine at Alder Street Bistro or Cedar Creek when you return to your home base in Sequim.
olympic peninsula
Olympic Peninsual Waterfall Trail
Much of western Washington is hilly, which is one of the reasons the state is so beautiful and provides such amazing panoramic views. This is all well and good, but sometimes it is fun to ride a bike without constantly struggling up massive inclines. I mean, really.
Olympic Discovery Trail, Port Angeles
That’s what is so nice about the Olympic Discovery Trail on the Olympic Peninsula. Sure, there are still hills, but there are also long stretches of virtually flat trails through fields and along the water. So bring your bikes to Sequim, stay at an Olympic Peninsula bed and breakfast, and spend a few days riding in the sunshine.
Olympic Discovery Trail, Sequim
The Olympic Discovery Trail is slated to one day go from Port Townsend, on the tip of the Quimper Peninsula, to the Pacific Coast – over one hundred miles. Currently there are a few completed segment. In Port Angeles, the western most section of completed trail starts at the base of Edis Hook on the west end of town, follows the coast through town, and then runs bewteen the coast and the Highway 101 until it meets up with the Sequim segment. The trail meanders through Sequim until it reaches Sequim Bay, and it follows the bay from there.
There are thirty miles of trail completed, and thirty more miles have funding. The rest will have to wait for a while, but eventually the Olympic Discovery Trail will lead bikers from Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean on a nice, smooth path.
olympic peninsula
