Olympic Peninsula, Washington 72-Hour Vacation

Nature Beckons Hidden Treasures of Washington's Olympic Peninsula By Deborah Ashin

Day 1 / Where to Stay Day 2 / Where to Eat Day 3 / What to See & Do

Snow-capped mountains

Majestic mountains, mystical rain forests, and rugged beaches make Washington's Olympic Peninsula an outdoor playground with spectacular scenery and opportunities for year-round wilderness adventures as well as tranquil nature hikes. With diverse terrains and several weather zones within a compact geographic area, the area offers a range of amazing activities easily experienced in just a few days.

The area's lush vegetation is a clue to its rainy personality. Winters here are mild and summers generally pleasant, making the peninsula visit-worthy in all seasons—provided you pack a raincoat or keep an umbrella handy. In fact, some areas receive less rain than one would expect, since they are sheltered from storms by the mountains which capture the rain clouds. The charming seaside hamlet of Port Townsend, for example, receives only half of the showers poured on Seattle.

Where else can you go snow skiing, kayaking, fishing and surfing but also visit lavender farms and take a relaxing dip in mineral springs? The Olympic Peninsula offers something for everyone and it's a family vacation paradise. Lodging options are diverse: you can camp out on the beach, relax in a rustic lodge with a gourmet restaurant, or stay in a beautifully restored Victorian mansion.

The Olympic Peninsula's culinary traditions are also turning the area into a foodie destination. Olympic Coast cuisine, with its focus on eating locally, the re-emergence of organic farms, and the slow food movement, are inspiring local chefs and delighting visitors seeking regional dining experiences. As tribal inhabitants have always known, this coastal area of the state is rich in oyster flats, clam beds and wild salmon runs making fresh seafood abundant and available. Organic farms, dairies, cheese producers, cideries and wineries, wild mushrooms and cranberry bogs, all contribute to the peninsula's distinctive cuisine. Several festivals celebrate the abundance: ShrimpFest in Brinnon held annually over Memorial Day, the CrabFest in Port Angeles held each October, the Red Wine & Chocolate Festival that happens every February, the Incredible Edible Festival in Sequim in September, and a Taste of the Peninsula in November, to name a few. Peninsula residents know how to enjoy and celebrate food.

Add local events of every size, shape and interest, and the opportunity for adventure, and the area's stunning natural beauty make it an ideal destination for the whole family. There's no better time than right now to pack your bags and head out to the Olympic Peninsula.

DAY 1

There are three ways to reach the Olympic Peninsula by land from the Seattle metro area: a combination of driving and the ferry, and now—a new option—by plane. Details for each option include:

1) Local airline Kenmore Air, collaborating with Alaska Airlines, now flies directly into Port Angeles' William R. Fairchild International Airport, which is located about two miles west of downtown Port Angeles. Take a guided excursion with All Points Charters & Tours, or rent a car to continue your peninsula journey.

2) If you're driving directly, take U.S. Interstate 5 through Olympia, the state capital, and head northwest on U.S. Highway 101 or State Route 112. If you prefer arriving by one of two ferry routes, which are fun and relatively inexpensive, pack the car and head for the nearest ferry terminal. Drive aboard one of the serene Washington State ferries that are part of the state-run ferry system—elegant white vessels with two-story double car decks, then stroll around the deck to enjoy beautiful water views. Both ferry routes have frequent departures, generally every hour, but check specific schedules at www.wsdot.wa.gov. One route leaves downtown Seattle and docks 30 minutes later at Bainbridge Island; a second leaves from Edmonds, 18 miles north of Seattle, and arrives 15 minutes later at Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Camp Cushman

3) The Winslow/Bainbridge Island Route follows Highway 305 north to Highway 3 to the Hood Canal Bridge. Cross the Hood Canal Bridge, spanning the Hood Canal, a long finger of water separating the Kitsap Peninsula from the Olympic Peninsula. Hood Canal is not a man-made canal. It's actually a fjord Mother Nature carved at the end of the Ice Age when the glaciers retreated from Puget Sound. Follow Highway 104 across the Canal until it joins Highway 101.

After crossing the Hood Canal Bridge, take the scenic US Highway 101 south along the Hood Canal all the way to Hoodsport. Be sure to stop at a turnout if the tide is low and watch the "pebbles" on the shore; they're likely to be oysters. Clams and mussels can also be found in abundance, with many beds along Hood Canal "farmed" by commercial or native Indian operations. Seafood in this part of the state doesn't get any fresher than that served at restaurants in Quilcene or Brinnon, known as Emerald Towns of the Olympic National Forest, for obvious reasons. All the seafood served is freshly harvested straight from the water outside their front doors. Try the Olympic Timber Restaurant and Lounge in Quilcene or the Geoduck Tavern in Brinnon. Both serve excellent local seafood and specialties. When browsing the menu at the Geoduck Tavern, look out for its somewhat infamous Hamburger Dip, a cross between a hamburger and a French dip sandwich.

While in the Brinnon area, stop and stretch your legs with a short walk to Rocky Brook Falls. The area has one of the richest marine environments in the world, supporting an intricate web of living creatures: over 200 kinds of fish, fourteen species of marine mammals, 31 species of waterfowl, 57 species of birds, hundreds of types of shellfish, anemones, sea stars, worms and other invertebrates, diverse communities of algae and eelgrass live here. The water in the area of the Hood Canal offers some of the best diving on the peninsula.

If you have time, head to Camp Cushman and Recreation Park from Hoodsport. An alternative excursion involves ascending Mount Walker on a mud road. The reward is a gorgeous view looking east to Seattle and the Cascade Mountains. For more spectacular scenery, Dosewallips State Park offers several breath-taking views of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains. There are freshwater and saltwater activities in the park, and in autumn, visitors can enjoy mushroom foraging.

Resort at Port Ludlow

Head north again on US Highway 101 as you cross the Hood Canal Floating Bridge to Port Ludlow and the Resort at Port Ludlow, a quiet recreational and retirement community popular with boaters and golfers, thanks to a 27-hole golf course. This residential and recreational community built up around the shores of Ludlow Bay offers myriad outdoor activities. Hike on wooded trails and paths, dig for clams and oysters along the beach, drive through scenic countryside, and cycle along scenic paths. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy sailing, power boating, fishing, windsurfing and kayaking at the marina. Stay at the Inn at Port Ludlow and enjoy the mountains or water views. In the evening, dine on Dungeness crab cakes, cold-water prawns, and pan-roasted salmon at the Fireside Restaurant. Enjoy the total tranquility of your comfortable room with windows opening onto seaside breezes. For a short walk in the area, be sure to stop by Ludlow Falls.

Continue to Day 2

* Mountain image by www.nps.gov/olym

(Updated: 09/12/11 SS)