Dungeness Spit Lighthouse
Everyone should visit the Dungeness Spit – the world’s longest natural sand spit – at least once in their lives. When you walk out along this narrow stretch of land, you feel like you are walking on water. Stretching almost five miles out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Dungeness Spit affords jaw-dropping views of the Olympic Mountains, which tower thousands of feet above sea level. The southern half of the Spit is a National Wildlife Refuge; sheltered from the rough waves and wind, its quiet bay and tide flats are a sanctuary for migrating shorebirds and a nursery for young salmon and steelhead.
Visitors must hike about a half a mile through peaceful woods to access the beach. Once there, you may settle down among the driftwood or head out towards the Lighthouse. Should you decide to walk the 4.5 miles out to the point, you will not be disappointed. The New Dungeness Light Station is one of the oldest lighthouses in the Northwest and has been in continuous operation since its completion in 1857.
As told in the Dungeness Spit website, “The Light Station is maintained and operated by the New Dungeness Light Station Association.” People from all over the country have become members, which grants them the opportunity to become lighthouse keepers. Keepers spend a week in the cottage by the lighthouse, help with maintenance, and give tours to the hardy few who make the trek out to it.
The Refuge is open daily from sunrise to sunset. It is a great place to visit any time of year, during the blustery days of winter or the sunny Sequim summer days.
Dungeness Spit Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Dungeness Spit, Dungeness Spit Lighthouse
A calm Sequim Bay acts as a nearly perfect mirror for a reflection of this gliding seagull.
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May 2009 will witness the 114th Irrigation Festival in Sequim. The oldest festival in the state of Washington celebrates the creation of the irrigation ditches throughout Sequim by D.R. “Crazy” Callan; without the water these ditches brought to the dry prairie land, Sequim would not have been able to thrive as it has.
Each year the Irrigation Festival brings together the Sequim community and reaches out to neighboring communities of the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound. This year, due to the closure of the Hood Canal Bridge on May 1, the local community will come out in force for the Grand Parade, the ultra-adorable Children’s Parade and new Family Picnic. It is always interesting to browse the Crafts Fair, and amazing to see the wide array of skilled artists in the Sequim Arts Juried Art Show. The Strong Man Competition, in honor of Sequim High Graduate and international strongman Jesse Marunda, is always fun: past highlights include the 900-pound tire flip and the arm-over-arm truck pull. The Northwest’s connection to logging is celebrated with the Logging Show, where participants may throw an axe, saw a log, climb a pole and pull a tractor.
No Irrigation Festival is complete without the arrival of
Carnival; children and adults alike delight in the crazy rides and the carnival food. The traveling carnival has deep roots across America, and stirs memories in older folks even as it creates them in young children. The Funtastic Carnival prides itself on being one of the safest and cleanest traveling carnivals in the states. In addition, it is involved with the communities it serves, notifying locals of employment opportunities, and most important, financially contributing to the Irrigation Festival itself.
So don’t sit this one out. Come to the 2009 Irrigation Festival and see why it’s been around for 114 years.
Sequim, Sequim Events Carnival, Craft Fair, Irrigation Festival, Parade
Glassy water of Sequim Bay reflecting boats and clouds.
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Beautiful photo of a young bald eagle in flight.
photo-blogging, wildlife birds, blue sky, photo, spring, tree
The historic lighthouse at Dungeness Spit, just north of Sequim on the strait of Juan de Fuca
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One of the signature moments for any visit to Sequim is an encounter with the resident Roosevelt Elk herd. Watch for the Elk Crossing sign east of town on Highway 101, and if it’s blinking, you might be in luck.
photo-blogging, Sequim, wildlife animals, elk, photo, Sequim
Fantastic widescreen HD video of Purple Haze Lavender Farm and their vacation rental farmhouse.
Hint: Once it’s playing, click the “HD” button to make sure you’re watching the high resolution version of the video.
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The Tour de Dung cycling race took place on March 8 in Sequim. The race was delayed due to icy road conditions, but as you can see it still took place!
Sequim Events cycling, events, outdoor activities, winter
Dungeness Spit, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Peninsula create a spectacular background for a silhouette.
Dungeness Spit, photo-blogging, Strait of Juan de Fuca Dungeness Spit, juandefuca, photo, sky
