Sequim Winter

Yes, Sequim winter is here! Like the rest of the state of Washington, Sequim got its first snow of this 2008/2009 winter season. However, as we tell our blog visitors again and again, Sequim weather is special. From all the big announced winter storm with the coldest temperatures in 20 years and many inches of snow, we received maybe one inch of snow (our long driveway was 'licked' blank again by the sun within hours, the southern exposure helps, of course) and the coldest we had here at our house at night time was 26 F, whereas Bellingham got hit by a low of 5F. Brrrrr!

Remember the Carrie Blake Park photo from our last blog post about visiting Sequim for the holidays? Everything still looking green and in fall colors. Let's give you this Sequim photo update from yesterday, Sunday 12/14/2008. How is that for a Sequim winter photo? Actually, in 2006 during our first winter in Sequim, we experienced the first snow in November. See our photos in Sequim Winter Wonderland when we still lived in Sun Meadows.

What's new for this 2008 Christmas season in Sequim? Most houses are nicely decorated without going to the extreme. So, it's really fun to walk the neighborhood in the late afternoon when the Christmas lights inside and outside are already switched on. In addition, we exchange holiday visits with friends and neighbors while we listen to some traditional Christmas music and indulge in some special Christmas treats.

We had joined a very special Christmas party of our Hawaii expats in Port Angeles. Hawaiian pot luck, ukulele music and hula dances with teacher Mahina as the leader of the hula ladies from the Sequim Senior Center made this a great fun gathering and got us all in the spirit of the holidays.

As during the past 2 Christmases, we cut our own tree at the Lazy Tree Farm. Who has never done it, believe us, it's great fun. Just walking around between all the available trees, is kind of different compared to picking up a tree from one of the Christmas tree locations. One thing is for sure, the tree is definitely fresh and it's the one you selected. We love the shorter Blue Spruce trees and really like the one we've found...and the price was right: $15!



We also read in the Peninsula Daily News that one can get a permit for just $5 to cut a tree in the woods but as the tree cutting permits are not available at special locations (Quinault, Forks, Quilcene and Hoodsort) and Christmas tree cutting is only allowed at designated areas, the Lazy Tree Farm is as good as it gets. Enjoy the holiday season and peaceful hours with family and friends! Happy Holidays from Heidi and Keoki from Sequim


Tags: Sequim, Sequim vacation, Christmas in Sequim

Visit Sequim for the holiday season

Here is still some additional information on Hurricane Ridge Winter Season, which our Sequim visitors should know about. For the holidays, Hurricane Ridge will be open daily December 19 through January 4. Hurricane Ridge will also be open on January 19 for Martin Luther King Day and February 16 for Presidents Day. So plan your stay in Sequim for the holiday season ahead. There are plenty of things to do during the festive season. Get away from the big city and relax in Sequim town.

Here are Sequim Christmas traditions with holiday bazaars which we tried to arrange according to the dates they will happen:

Enjoy the 10th Annual Yoletide Bazaar Nov. 15th, 9a.m. - 3p.m. at Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church. Unique handmade gifts for the Season, Heavenly baked goods for the palate.

Annual Holiday Bazaar & Bake Sale Nov. 15th 9a.m. - 3p.m. at Sequim Elks Lodge

Raffle, Crafts, Bake Sale, Lunch

2nd Annual Holiday Nature Mart, Nov. 22, 10a.m. - 4p.m. at Dungeness River Audubon Center

Crafts for kids & adults, door prizes, bird carvings, music, refreshments and more.

Sequim Open Aire Market, Indoor Home Holiday, Nov. 29, 9a.m. -4 p.m. Boys and Girls Club

Great local vendors, Live music, good food, fresh produce.

Down Home Holiday Bazaar by Sequim High School, Nov. 29, 9a.m. - 3p.m. Sequim High School

Featuring handmade gifts and crafts.

Christmas Arts & Crafts Show, Dec. 6 & 7, 9a.m. - 5p.m., Vern Burton Community Center, P.A.

Over 50 Northwest artists and craft people offering: baskets, bath & body products, candles, Christmas, decorations, Jewelry, Pottery, Stained glass, table lines and more. Bake Sale!

30th Annual Handmade Christmas Fair, Dec. 6th, 9a.m. - 3p.m., Sequim Prairie Grange

How better can you enjoy the holiday season? Enjoy the great outdoors of Sequim wonderful surroundings, get a taste of Christmas and relax at SARC swimming pool, fitness, saunas and jacuzzi.

Here is just a short update on Sequim weather. The recent storm passed Sequim without getting hit by high winds. We had some rain but nothing compared to West Washington areas which were experiencing lots of flooding. Here are the uptodate numbers of Sequim precipitation of 2008.

Sequim residents and all those who consider moving here will love those rain numbers:
Port Angeles 16.81 inches YTD

Forks 76.98 inches

Seattle 25.11 inches

Port Townsend 11.40 inches

Sequim 8.32 inches!!!

Today Sequim enjoys blue skies and sunshine all over. Keoki is palying tennis on the courts at Sequim high school and I am off for a walk through wonderful Carrie Blake Park. Greetings from sunny Sequim.

Tags: Sequim, Sequim vacation, holidays in Sequim

Hurricane Ridge Road Reopened

This is great news for all our Sequim visitors who love outings to Hurricane Ridge at the Olympic National Park. Friday last week the completion of Hurricane Ridge - a $12 million road reconstruction project - was celebrated. To encourage visitors to visit Hurricane Ridge, no park entrance fee was charged. We never expected the project to be done so fast. Hurricane Road reconstruction was completed a year ahead of schedule. That's such good news for residents and visitors alike.


So let those visitors from Seattle and surrounding areas come for an extended weekend Sequim vacation. Trails and hikes at Hurricane Ridge offer magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and the open meadows of the ridge, before the winter snows cover it all. Hurricane Ridge is worthwhile a visit at all times of the year. Just get dressed warmly - even when Port Angeles and Sequim are bathed in sunshine - and bring a thermos with warm tea and some sandwiches. The snack bar will be also open for your convenience, if you are not into bringing your own snack.


Here is what you should know for visiting Hurricane Ridge during winter season. Winter season for the Ridge starts November 21. With exception of bad weather road closures, Hurricane Ridge Road will be open Fridays through Sundays from 9 a.am. to dusk through March 29.

Beginning December 13, the downhill ski tows will operate from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The ski and snowshoe rentals will be open as well. Tubing and sliding will be permitted at the Sunrise Family Snowplay area. There will be snowshoe walks offered at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The walks are 90 minutes round trip and cover a bit more than a mile.

This is very important to know: Winter season drivers to Hurricane Ridge are required to carry chains in their cars. For more information on Hurricane Ridge, visit their website
or phone the Park's hotline 360-565-3131. Sequim is worthwhile a visit during holiday season. We will tell you all about Christmas traditions and Sequim Holiday Bazaars in our next Sequim Vacation blog post.
p.s.
Don't miss our Lake Crescent photos taken by our guests from Texas during their 2008 fall vacation in Sequim.

Tags: Sequim, Sequim vacation, Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Best of Sequim

Lake Crescent Photos

Dear Sequim Vacation blog visitors,

After we made all these promises about starting a Sequim photo series , we must admit that we are running behind schedule. Well, economic situation has become top talking topic in Sequim as everywhere else. In addition, October has blessed all of the residents on the Olympic Peninsula with an amazing Indian summer. Who wants to sit at the computer and download Sequim vacation photos when the sun over the Olympic Mountains is sparkling and invites to hiking and biking the great outdoors?

Today, the skies were gray for the first time in 1 1/2 weeks and we even had some sprinkles. I went picking some more raspberries. Yes, believe it or not. It's a late kind. I even pick my raspberry bushes at the house when I walk to the mail box. The deer don't seem to eat the fruits on their nightly walks in the area but they like any new green sprouts coming up somewhere, including raspberry sprouts. Keoki's invention of 'hiding' the bushes behind a number of fishing lines don't seem to scare the deer too much.


Speaking of Indian summer. Sunday was a great time to enjoy the Olympic National Park and sharing the beauty of the Park with our good friends from Germany. One of our favorite spots, as said in the past, is an outing to magnificent Crescent Lake. How surprised were we that the Crescent Lake Lodge was already locked up for winter season and the parking area was totally empty. Well, we still parked there by the Lodge. I guess official parking is somewhere else, as we met quite a number of hikers on our walk to Marymere Waterfalls. First time that we had not taken a lunch picnic and had counted on having a delicious lunch at the Lake Crescent Lodge.

After we included a few of Ron's photos on the Sequim Dungeness post, we finally pick up our joint photo project with our guests Ron and Mary Nell.

Here is the Part 1 of our Sequim Vacation photos - Lake Crescent photos. Enjoy the views of this beautiful lake a short drive from Port Angeles.
p.s.
Photos of hike to Marymere Waterfall coming soon.

Tags: Sequim vacation, Sequim, travel, vacation, Sequim photos

Sequim Restaurant

The Dungeness River Festival was a great success for Sequim. Residents and Sequim visitors had a good time. What else is new in Sequim? Sequim Town blog just received this email from a favorite Sequim restaurant of ours, Cedar Creek located in 5th Avenue across from SARC.

Congratulations Cedar Creek to your 2nd anniversary. You made this restaurant a success with your commitment to Sequim town and the residents of Sequim! We decided to publish your entire email with the exciting news for us, people who live in Sequim, and the visitors who come with retirement thoughts in mind for a Sequim vacation.

"Hello all; well it is official, fall is here.
Beginning this week, Cedar Creek will now be offering 3 new price conscious promotions.

Monday is Locals Night: We will be offering a selection of premium Wines and Delicious Appetizers for half price 5-8 pm.

All You Can Eat Pizza and Pasta Wednesdays: Our chefs have put together a special menu featuring: Hand Cut Fresh Fettuccini with a choice of homemade meatballs & marinara, roast chicken Alfredo, or grilled vegetables with smoked tomato sauce plus a selection of white pie, Margharita, and pepperoni with roast garlic. Both the pasta and the pizzas by the slice are ALL YOU CAN EAT for $18.50. Additionally we will be offering a nice Italian red and white wine for $5.00 glass or $19.00 bottle. Bring a group or the whole family for this midweek feast. Served from 5-8 pm.

Old Fashioned Friday Night Fish Fry: If you have every ventured into a restaurant in the Midwest on a Friday, especially Northern Illinois where Chef Doug is from, you will find fish fry as that night’s special. We will be serving Wild Alaskan True Cod (simply broiled with lemon or lightly fried in our own freshly milled cornmeal batter) accompanied by potato pancakes, fresh sweet corn and a basket of Bell Street Bakery Bread. Includes a choice of mixed green salad or clam chowder for $18.50. Served from 5-9 pm. We hope to have a shipment of everyone’s favorite. Fresh! Never Frozen! Alaskan King Crab Legs very soon as well.

Saturday and Sunday Brunch: We are continuing our weekend brunch, featuring Traditional Eggs Benedict, Smoked Salmon Benedict, Autumn Vegetable Frittata, "Italian Toast," Fresh Scones, Mimosas and More. Served ala’ carte from 10-3 pm

End of The Open Aire Market: October 18 marks the last market for this year. A special thanks to everyone who came out to support us in this endeavor. As you all know we chose the market to showcase our upcoming Bell Street Bakery’s products and the response has been overwhelming. We have subsequently decided to make bread and pastries available Saturdays at Cedar Creek from 10-3 pm. We will not be at the October 11 market, and as a reminder our breads remain available at Sunny Farms every day except Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Bakery Update: Our deck oven is scheduled to arrive this Wednesday October 8^th; this means we are getting close! If you have driven by lately you have surely seen the progress. We are hoping to begin wholesale production by mid-November. The groundbreaking for the second retail building should be very soon. We anticipate its opening sometime in late winter/early spring.

Olympic Medical Center Gala: The restaurant will be closed Saturday October 11 as we cater for the 3 consecutive year the annual winemaker’s dinner at Sunland. All the proceeds go to support the Thomas Family Cancer Center here in Sequim.

Boy’s and Girl’s Club Auction: November 15th. This Year Cedar Creek will cater the annual auction at The Boy’s and Girl’s Club (menu attached). We look forward to making this the best year yet. The club plays a vital role in our community and we are honored to be involved. For tickets and or information please contact Stacy at 683-8095. The restaurant will be closed that day to prepare for the event. We will also be closed the following week from November 16 – 21 for kitchen maintenance. We will reopen Saturday the 22 at 5pm for dinner.

Happy Anniversary! Cedar Creek turns two Friday October 17 a special thanks to our local guests who have supported us and made this possible. We will be making a few seasonal changes to our menu next week including Wild Boar Osso Bucco, Game Bird Trilogy (Grilled Quail, Crispy Duck & Pheasant Sausage), and Butternut Squash Risotto.

Thanks again, we hope to see you soon. The Gang of Cedar Creek."

Next post, we will start our Sequim Photo project. Ron and Mary Nell from Texas are sharing lots of Sequim vacation photos with our Sequim Town blog visitors.

Tags: Sequim, travel, vacation, best restaurant

Dungeness River Festival

After our good news for potential Sequim residents that Sequim got listed as one of the Best Retirement Towns by the Water, let's see what is happening this weekend in Sequim. Everybody who visits Sequim or lives in Sequim as attracted by the Dungeness River. If you are around this September weekend 9/26 + 9/27/08, come and visit the Dungeness River Festival.

What is it what attracts us most to Dungeness River? The people of Clallam County community of Sequim, Carlsborg and Dungeness love the river, the wildlife and beautiful scenery around it. We love to walk along the Dungeness or just stop on the Railroad Bridge at Audubon Center to take in the beautiful scenery watching the running river and listening to nature before we continue on our walk or bike ride along the Olympic Discovery Trail.

The River Center, River Center Foundation Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society are hosting the event from 10am to 4pm Friday and Saturday at Railroad Bridge Park, Hendrickson Rd. Admission is free. The 2-day festival is not only celebrating nature and the great outdoors but educates and entertains visitors and residents of all ages. Come and join us at the Dungeness River. You might be lucky and spot some salmons in the river. See you at the River tomorrow. We will be there with our bikes!
p.s.
This Sequim blog post includes the first photos taken by our new friends, Ron and Mary Nell from Texas, on their recent Sequim Vacation. They fell in love at first sight with Sequim and its beautiful scenery of the Olympic Mountains and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Our blog visitors will get a chance to read and see what Ron and Mary Nell did on their Sequim vacation. Thanks guys for allowing us to use your photos!

If you plan a Sequim Vacation or buying real estate in the Sequim area because you want to move to Sequim, come back for more beautiful Sequim photos from Ron!

Tags: Sequim, Travel, Vacation, Olympic Peninsula, Olympic Discovery Trail

Best Retirement Towns by the Water

Just a short notice today that Sequim advances on list of best retirement towns! Our friends from Hawaii who follow our new life in Sequim on our Sequim Vacation blog, recently told us that Sequim is listed on Wallet Pop on their 'Road Map to Retirement 2008' as Number 3 of '6 Top Towns on the Water':

"Many baby boomers dream of retiring somewhere by the water. These half-dozen places are on a lake, a river or an ocean -- yet they won't sink your retirement budget." This is what their site is stating about our favorite retirement town Sequim:

Pros: Water, mountains, culture and a small town all at once.
Cons: The Pacific is a tad nippy for a swim.
Located two hours north of Seattle, Sequim (pronounced skwim) offers a lower cost of living and an easier pace than its burgeoning neighbor to the south. For about $300,000, you can get a three-bedroom house there. Read more about Sequim as a retirement option on their site.

Happy to share this information with everybody who put Sequim on their list of best retirement towns. Come and see for yourself. Enjoy a Sequim Vacation combined with house hunting and stay with us at our Sequim Vacation Rental.

p.s.

Speaking of house hunting. Remember our post about the Sequim house for sale auction in Sun Meadows. The winning bidder got the house for $205,000. Congratulations! That was one happy bidder!

Tags: Sequim, travel, vacation, best retirement town, vacation rental

Sequim Home for Sale Auction

We just made it back from a short vacation to the LA area to visit family, Keoki's sister and my niece and families. We had a great time but are happy to be back home again and picking up on our exercise and swimming routine after SARC was closed for maintenance for 2 weeks. It's time to follow-up on our Sequim Vacation blog.

Sequim visitors can get a little lost with our shopping options in Sequim, so my original plan was to write a few shopping tips for Sequim visitors on vacation. Well, that was my intention till I found this morning this advertising on craigslist Olympic Peninsula Homes for Sale '$100,000 Sun Meadows Real Estate Auction (Sequim)'

I actually did not believe my eyes when the Sun Meadows house which our friends had tried to sell for Sale by Owner at $279,000 for over a year - they got two offers for $250,000, which they did not accept - is now up for auction at $100,000. I know the home owners had to move on into an assisted living home and just let go of the house.

I could not resist and called the phone number with the craigslist Sequim Home auction ad. I reached Carl Reed at Connect Realty who gave us auction info by email. The address of the property is America Blvd. in Sun Meadows of Sequim. Interested buyers can inspect the home from 10:00am to 5:00pm both this Saturday and Sunday. The auction will be will be a 'round-robin auction' by phone.

To be honest we both never heard of such an auction. Anyways, everyone interested in the auction will need to leave an initial bid at the home, or by phone for those out of state, during the inspection period. The real estate company will be calling everyone who left an initial bid at 8:00pm on Sunday and giving them an opportunity to advance the high bid. This process will continue in round-robin fashion until only one bidder is left. That bidder will be given the opportunity to purchase the home at the high bid price.

I don't know whether this will turn out as the super deal for a cheap house in Sequim but we are very curious what the final price for this Sequim home will be. If you want to see the house online and lots of photos, we still have it on our website (second listing) Sequim Home for Sale by Owner, Sun Meadows, Near John Wayne Marina. Good luck, if you are entering this Sequim home for sale auction.

Last but not least, if you are looking for a unique upscale luxury Sequim house, don't miss our post Sequim Home. Again, we are not realtors but just regular people who love Sequim and like to help friends who are selling their Sequim home. For all those who look for real estate in Sequim, it's a buyer's market!

Tags: Sequim, Vacation, Travel, Real Estate, Sequim Home for Sale

Sequim Home

Ever since we have moved to Sequim, exploring this town and its splendid surroundings plus meeting new friends has been a top priority in our daily Sequim life. As we told our Sequim blog visitors, the easiest way to make new friends is at SARC Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center. First it's just saying hello and then it's more talk and finally, and after that, it's having the new friends over for dinner and playing some cards.

This is how we met Beate and Jesse several months ago, who had originally moved from California to Sequim. Recently, they told us that they miss their children and grandchildren, which are all still living in the CA area. Going back and forth does not seem to be an option for them anymore.


Now, their biggest project is letting go of and selling their beautiful Sequim house. As we did in the past with other Sequim Homes for Sale by Owner, we told them we are happy to help and share the house information with our Sequim town blog visitors. Most of Sequim visitors are looking for Sequim real estate as an investment for later or buying a house to retire in Sequim. So, Beate and Jesse invited us to a house tour...

Driving on a private country lane lead us into the large turnaround. The home welcomed us before we even entered it. Warm, old-fashioned with many flower baskets, yet modern, it made us admire the work of the Seattle architect who had designed it. We really wanted to settle into the hammock on the sunny porch and look at the mountains but our friends saw us, so we got ready for the house tour. We went inside and were surprised to find a formal entry hall as warm as any room. Light from everywhere. As ex-Hawaiians, we loved that! A fireplace can be lit right in the entry during the winter season.


From the house it's an easy walk to the Dungeness Spit, where committed hikers can approach the 5-mile hike to the Dungeness Lighthouse or paddle along the coast in a kayak. Jesse is a passionate fisherman and goes out with his 20ft boat to catch some big fish, as you can easily see from out photo. We were lucky as we got invited to a fresh catch dinner of King Salmon. What a treat! Jesse showed us his special place outside the house - pretty mosaic fish/vegetable cleaning trough - where he can prepare the fresh fish. Before having dinner, I went with Beate to pick some fresh berries from her organic garden for dinner dessert. So delicious! Keoki and Jesse played some pool downstairs in the guest quarters in the meantime.


My favorite place is the kitchen. Who minds having to cook while watching all that is going on outside through 3 large windows! Mt. Baker is an ever impressing sight with its snow-covered summit.

One sees the Dungeness lighthouse being dwarfed by humongous container vessels, and the cruise ships heading to Alaska which look like ghost ships all lit up when it gets dark. I liked the upstairs a lot also, but best of all coming down the elegant staircase made me feel like a queen. Yes, weird, but true.

And why would B & J want to move away from this? I guess dreams change, especially with the arrival of 3 grandkids too far away ...

Well, if you want to see more house photos, description in detail and all the inside and outside features of this Luxury Sequim Home go to Sequim Homes for Sale. For a house viewing appointment with Jesse and Beate, send us an email at Sequim Town blog and we happily connect you with them.

Related Sequim Real Estate Articles

Sequim Home for Sale in Sun Meadows

Sequim Home with a View

Sequim Home for Sale

Tags: Sequim, Real Estate, Sequim Home, Vacation, Sequim Home for Sale

Sequim Aquatic Center SARC is closed

For all those Sequim visitors who are still on extended weekend Labor Day vacation or plan a Sequim vacation for the next two weeks, here is the not so good news: our most popular meeting place for exercise, swimming and socializing SARC (Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center) is taking time off for annual maintenance and repair jobs from September 1 (tomorrow) - September 14.

We told our Sequim Vacation blog visitors in the past repeatedly that the great outdoors with hiking and biking, the small town living with big town amenities and the amazing scenery all around Sequim is what has attracted us and so many other retirees to this town on the Olympic Peninsula. One of the biggest attractions of all the above is SARC.

Keoki's Stretch class at SARC has really taken off and had become an integrated part in the fitness classes at SARC. Of course, anybody who is interested in Keoki's Easy Stretch video or DVD for home use or giving as a present to a friend or family member, just email us, and we let you know how you can obtain it.

OK I am not an instructor at SARC but I am a very committed member using crosstrainer and bike, stretch facility and my favorite part is the lappool for swimming between 12noon and 1pm. The best part comes afterwards with jacuzzi and sauna and chatting with friends. It's amazingly easy to make new friends at SARC. Just ask 'How long have you been living in Sequim?' and/or 'Where have you moved from?' and you will get a very lively conversation going and have a new friend for your next visit at SARC.

Now, you can imagine how tough it is for us addicted exerciser when SARC is not open. Here is what we recommend: go on vacation, enjoy the last days of summer for bike rides and hikes and pick blueberries till they come out of your ears. Actually, I have started this year to freeze my extras. The recommendation (by a SARC member!) to spread them on a tray, freeze for 24 hrs and then fill them in freezer bags worked well.

Last but not least, blackberry season has started. I picked the first ripe berries at sunny spots in the park. Enjoy blackberry season in Sequim. Naturally, visitors who stay with us for a month at our monthly Sequim Vacation rental will get a bucket for picking berries.

Tags: Sequim vacation

Plan ahead if taking Ferry on Labor Day weekend

Sequim enjoyed some nice summer weather during the months of July and August - actually on a few days it was warmer on the Olympic Peninsula than normally. Still we could count the days we had to switch the air on to feel comfortable in the house. When we looked at the weather map of the entire United States we noticed that not many states were that lucky and got struck be permanent heat waves.

Recently, we were asked at Sequim Vacation Blog what the weather will be like in September in Sequim. Well, it's now our third September here. The past two were very nice, so my assumption is that September in Sequim can be still counted as summer weather. The Olympic Peninsula, especially Sequim town and area, can expect quite a number of visitors for the extended Labor Day, ready to hike the Olympic Mountains, bike the Olympic Discovery Trail, Watch the Birds and pick berries.

Graysmarsh Berry Farm manager told us the other day this coming week might be the last week for the raspberries but guys, if you love blueberries there are still tons - bigger and better each day of sunshine - and the blackberries have just started.

Anyhow, when you plan your Sequim vacation for the Labor Day weekend, consider that our WA state ferry service is somewhat 'compromised' at the moment because a few of the older big car ferries were replaced by smaller ferries.We talked about the Port Townsend - Whidbey Ferry in May 2008. Plan ahead if you are taking the ferry on Labor Day or Labor Day weekend.


The state's ferry division expects the longest backups at ferry terminals the Friday before the holiday August 29 between 3 and 7pm. Other backups you might want to avoid are Sunday 8/31 in the afternoon and evening and the morning of Labor Day Sept 1st. Strongest returning traffic is predicted for 8/31 afternoon and evening and the morning of Labor Day.

As ferry officials expect many sailings to sell out, it's strongly recommended to make a ferry reservation ahead of the time. Only vehicle reservations are available. For Reservations call 888-808-7977or go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries The same heavy ferry traffic is expected for Port Townsend ferry for the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival September 5 - 7.

There is always the option the avoid the WA ferry dilemma all together and drive around through Tacoma. No waiting in line and easy driving for most of the part from Seattle to Sequim. Have a great Sequim vacation with no delays at the ferry terminals.

Tags: Sequim, travel, vacation, Sequim vacation, WA ferries

Bird Watching in Sequim

If you are not into heavy hiking the Olympic Mountain trails or biking the Olympic Discovery Trail and yet like being out in nature with a leisurely walk in the forest, then the Bird Walk at Railroad Bridge Park might be just for you, when on your Sequim vacation.

The walking tour begins at the Dungeness Audubon River Center at Railroad Bridge Park at about 8:30am on Wednesday mornings and takes about 2hrs. to complete. It's a leisurely walk. The peaceful sound of the Dungeness River and the birds singing in the forest makes this a wonderful experience for birdwatchers on vacation in the Sequim area.

Participants can bring their own binoculars but if you are from out of town, the Center will provide them for free. Remember morning hours in Sequim can be still a little chilly, so put on a jacket which you can take off when the sun comes out later. An average 15 - 20 people show up for the Sequim bird walks during the summer months July and August.

Have fun bird watching in Sequim for the rest of this summer. Tomorrow morning is another chance!

Tags: Sequim, vacation, travel, Sequim vacation, Olympic Discovery Trail

Free Concert in the Park

Most Sequim residents and regular visitors know of our free Sequim concert Tuesday nights during the summer months. Living next to Carrie Blake Park, we have all the advantages this wonderful park has to offer: walks and bike rides, watch Sequim the wild life like Canadian Geese, ducks, herons and of course, listening to the free concerts on Tuesdays. Even when we don't visit the concert, we can hear the music from the Park on our balcony.

Sequim Summer 2008 is slowly going to an end - right now it feels it has just arrived in Sequim with unusual high summer temperatures around 82 F - and with it the free concerts in the Park too. Concerts will continue through September in James Center bandshell just north of Carrie Blake Park. All ages are welcome. For all our Sequim visitors on vacation, here are the concerts which are still coming up for August and September:

August 19 - Kevin Magner and M'ellange mix original rock, folk and blues.

August 26 - Electric Blue Sun plays original jazz fusion. Followed by Move ' Over the Hedge'.

September 2 - Jubilee offers bluegrass and country

September 9 - The Stardust Big Band serves up swing.

You may park your car in the area around the stage. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket. It's a great place for a family picnic. Enjoy the fun. Even if you don't come prepared for a picnic, there is always a hot dog stand to help out. BTW, it's a great place for those who check out Sequim town as a place to retire to meet Sequim residents and hear what made them move to Sequim. There must be a good reason that so many people from Hawaii retire in Sequim!

Tags: Sequim, vacation, trip, travel, Sequim vacation

Hawaiian Party in Sequim

As everybody who has been following our Sequim vacation blog for some time knows by now, we moved from to sunny Sequim from sunny Hawaii Big island about 2 1/2 years ago. Within those years we've met quite a number of people who had moved from other Hawaiian Islands to the Olympic Peninsula with the main purpose to retire in Sequim, just like us.

We were happy to hear from our friend Margret - who is actually not from Hawaii but always liked and likes to vacation there - that those 'transplants' from Hawaii meet on a regular basis and that there will be a potluck Hawaiian luau in the Park close to the Dungeness Spit. All former Hawaiians and people in love with Hawaii were warmly invited to join the Hawaiian luau on Saturday 8/9/08.

When we arrived at noon in the Park by the Dungeness Spit, a big crowd had already gathered. Food was plentiful and mouthwatering. Even Hawaiian Poi, made from Taro root, was available. Here I must admit that in the many years of living in Hawaii, we both never got used to the Poi. I guess it's an acquired taste. But there was plenty of food and desserts to choose from.

First, the weather was a bit on the chilly and rainy side but it definitely did not 'chill' the aloha spirit and smiles of about 40 - 50 people. And when the hula dancers around their excellent teacher Mahina and Mike and Erma from Naki'i were ready to play their guitar and ukuleles and the hula, the sun broke through and warmed our hearts and spirits watching graceful hula ladies of all ages with happy smiles and listening to familiar Hawaiian tunes. It was amazing what a great job the dancers did after have practiced the hula only for 7 months with Mahina at The Senior Center in Sequim.

We all had a wonderful time with fond memories of our lives in Hawaii. We are definitely looking forward to our next Hawaiian luau reunion. The uke (ukulele) players and the hula dancers made this party really special. OK we did not roast a pig in an imu covered with T-leaves for 8 hours like at a traditional luau in Hawaii but that did not stop us from having a great time. Aloha (love) and ahui hou (till next time). Heidi (Pua) and Keoki

p.s.

If you want to learn how to hula, join Mahina and the other Sequim ladies at the Sequim Senior Center Thur 10am - 11am and Sat 10am. It's very spiritual plus gives you a great work-out.

Tags: Sequim, vacation, travel, best retirement town

August in Sequim

It's hot, hot summer all over the United States but there is one little corner in the Pacific Northwest, Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula which has pleasant temperatures for enjoying all outdoor activities, like biking the Discovery Trail, hiking the trails in the Olympic Mountains and pick berries at Sequim berry farms. If you are heading to Hurricane Ridge, read our recent article about traffic delays to Hurricane Ridge during the week.

It's now, beginning of August, that we recommend to come for a Sequim vacation to do all of the above. We are loving each of those Sequim fun activities and want to prove it with a few Sequim photos.

We bike regularly Carrie Blake Park, the Olympic Discovery Trail starting at Railroad Bridge or just bike to visit friends in Sun Meadows or Sunland, as we did yesterday. We looked at our friends' new Sunland home, which is very beautiful and peaceful. Together, we biked to the beach and explored more of the Sunland neighborhood by bike.

My favorite fruits are raspberries. I don't make jam or jello. I love to eat them fresh. Maybe this year, I will try to freeze some. Heard that a good way to do that is to spread the raspberries on a tray, freeze them and then put them in the freezer bags. I will give that a try. Our frozen blueberries worked well last year and lasted long over winter with adding them to our morning cereal. Right now is the best time to pick berries in Sequim. Not too many cherries, another favorite of ours, made it this year but again raspberry and blueberry bushes are full of delicious fruits.

I had a feeling that strawberry season was somewhat short this year but it seems a big blackberry harvest will reward us pretty soon. Blackberry bushes are covered with fruits. The first ones at sunny spots should be ready to pick in about 2 weeks. No need to pick them at the Berry Farms. They are growing plentiful everywhere. I would not recommend to pick them along the road as those areas get frequently sprayed for weed control.

Enjoy all the summer activities in August in Sequim, just as we do.

p.s.

For Sequim residents and visitors: The Sequim Senior Center has its 3rd Annual Benefit Sale coming up on Thursday August 7, 9am - 7pm and Friday August 8, 9am - 3pm. Great way to find something at a cheap price plus to support the community!

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Traffic Delays Hurricane Ridge

July and August are our high season for Sequim vacation. One of the biggest vacation highlights is a visit to Hurricane Ridge. We love to take visiting family and friends for an outing to Hurricane Ridge and Crescent Lake. Get some hiking done in the middle of the Olympic National Park - great exercise! - and enjoy the most stunning views. When we recently saw this beautiful photo of wild flowers in full bloom on Hurricane Ridge Trail, we decided it's time for a return visit in the middle of summer!

Good for us that we've found two days later in the Peninsula Daily News the article about 'Expect delays on Hurricane Ridge Rd - Crews work to install new conduits, rock walls, repave road'. Bottom line of the article is that visitors may expect delays of up to 40 - 50 minutes each way on Hurricane Ridge Road during construction. Here is an important notice for hikers in this part of the Olympic Mountains: The Switchback Trail parking area, which is about 3 miles north of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, will be closed beginning today, Monday 7/28/08. It will be closed for about 1 month to repair storm damaged sites.

New conduits have been installed and new rock walls are being completed. Construction crews have started the process of milling the old pavement and repaving Hurricane Ridge road. Flaggers and pilot cars will guide traffic. The road will stay open 24hrs a day. So far weekend work has not been scheduled. This might be the best chances for visitors and hikers to make it up to Hurricane Ridge without big delays. The crews are working hard to complete this road rehabilitation project my mid-November 2008.

Hurricane Ridge Rd will be closed to all traffic Monday through Thursday from September 15 - October 15. It will remain open Friday through Sunday, weather permitting. For more trail and hiking information, check the Olympic National Park website or call 360-565-3100 or call the Park hotline for additional information 360-565-3131.

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Cheap Sequim Vacation

For all those who have come to Sequim, not just for the Lavender Festival weekend but for an extended Sequim vacation, there is great news for saving money on gas when using the public bus service of Clallam County and Jefferson County. I could not believe it when I read the article on the Peninsula Daily News 'Peninsula public transportation scenic dropoffs'. A day pass for Clallam County bus transit costs $2.00 and for Jefferson County just $1.25 and best of all, the bus can take bikers or hikers close to some of the prettiest spots of the Olympic Peninsula, from waterfalls to wild beaches in La Push and stunning Crescent Lake.

When reading the complete article about using Clallam County bus for exploring some great sightseeing spots on the Olympic Peninsula and the Olympic National Park, we noticed that quite a number of Peninsula attractions which can be reached by public bus are our favorite destinations too, such as the trail to 90-foot Merymere Falls, Crescent Lake with Crescent Lake Lodge for refreshments (I love having a cocoa and sit out side on the wooden chairs watching the kayakers and the beautiful lake scenery) or First Beach at La Push. By the way, if you did not know it yet, Marymere Falls have an optical illusion: Stare at a ledge to the side, about the middle if the falls for about 1 minute and then look back at the falls, and you will see the falls go upwards. This is no joke!

Hey, hikers and bikers in the Sequim area, it gets even better. If you don't want to plan your sighseeing tour according to the Sequim bus schedule, you can plan your own schedule with 'Dial-a-Ride' from and to the Sequim Transit Center. Just make sure that you call 24hrs ahead to make your reservation.

The Dial-a-Ride' bus will take you out wherever you want to be in the Dungess Valley, including the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge's beach and other trails and points along the Olympic Discovery Trail such as the Dungeness River Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park, which is our favorite point for starting bike rides and easy walks with friends who visit us in Sequim. Believe it or not, Dial-A-Ride trips are covered by that $2 per person day pass. Children 6 and younger are free. That will save you and your family between $10-$40 depending on what car you drive.

Check bus schedule and route or make reservation for Dial-A-Ride online for Clallam County or call 360-452-4511 and for Jefferson County or call 360-385-4777. BTW, both bus systems offer a youth pass that covers unlimited rides all summer for $10. Again, when taking off on the regular bus route for a special area destination, tell the bus driver where you'd like to be dropped. Good planning is key for full success riding the public bus on vaction in Sequim.

Tags: Sequim, travel, vacation, Sequim vacation, best, Olympic Peninsula

Visit Sequim for Sequim Lavender Festival 2008

It's time to talk the talk about Sequim, it's lavender fields and the Sequim Lavender Festival. The 12th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival, the biggest highlight for our small town Sequim, is quickly approaching. It will take place July 18 - 20. When we were picking strawberries at the Cameron strawberry fields, this Japanese couple talked to us and asked us where they could see some lavender? Well, we said it's all around you, as there is hardly any private garden which does not grow at least a few bushes of lavender. Our own lavender bushes at home are in full bloom. We noticed though that lavender farms grow a later kind, which is also grown at the entrance to Carrie Blake Park.

Despite the cooler weather this spring, the lavender farm growers believe that their fields will be in full bloom by the festival. Everybody in Sequim who is in the lavender business is getting business ready for thousands of visitors, tending to their lavender fields and filling up their stores with their own lavender products.

Lavender Farm Tour tickets cost $15 for adults (children age 12 and under are free) and allow you admission to eight lavender farms for all three days of the festival with unlimited use of the farm tour buses.You can buy tickets at the Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce 1192 E. You may also go shopping at the online Lavender Store offering beautiful lavender posters, calendars and even a Lavender Festival Dinner by Cedar Creek restaurant.

If you are still looking for a place to stay during the Sequim Lavender Festival, our fully equipped 1Bd/1Ba 'Bell Hill View' Sequim Vacation Rental is still available. Please, email us with subject 'Sequim Rental Lavender Festival' for rate and reservation. Why not visit Sequim for the Sequim Lavender Festival!

Tags: Sequim, vacation, travel, Sequim vacation, Sequim Lavender Festival

Berry Season in Sequim

Dear Sequim visitors,
Those of you who follow our Sequim Vacation blog regularly, stay definitely in touch with the Sequim weather. We have friends in Hawaii who intend to move here and believe us, they check our Sequim weather logo as often as possible. We had a long, much colder spring than usual. When we believe the weather guys it was the coldest spring in 100 years. Whether this is true or not, it definitely felt great when summer started and the thermometer showed summer temperatures. For the last few days, it seemed actually a little bit too much with temperatures around 86 F. We even had to run the AC on two days.

Well, with spring being cold and not not as sunny as necessary for fruits, berries and vegetables growing nicely, the berry season in Sequim started really late. I'd say 2 - 3 weeks late. Last summer we were always picking something, starting with the strawberries at Graysmarsh, then cherries and blue berries at our private picking place, back to Graysmarsh for raspberries and closing the season with picking wild blackberries at our special picking spots.

When we decided on Sunday to go for our first strawberry picking to Graysmarsh, we were surprised to find the farm gates closed. They were sold out or picked out. No berries were left! We went back the way we came from, to Sequim Dungeness and just crossed the road there and followed the sign to the Cameron Strawberry Farm for about 3 miles on Woodcock. Cameron Strawberry Farm is on 899 West Hendrickson Road in Sequim. On our leisurely drive to the farm, we could not resist to take a few photos of the beautiful Olympic Mountain views!

When we arrived at the strawberry farm, we got welcomed by Dave the owner telling us where we'd find the best berries and handing us light styrofoam containers to keep the fruits from getting smashed. We joined the pickers in the fields and were amazed to find an abundance of ripe strawberries. Within half an hour, we both had picked the ripest and sweetest strawberries. For all those Sequim visitors who like to pick berries when on their Sequim vacation, both berry farms, Cameron and Graysmarsh, charge now $1.50 per pound for u-pick your own berries. Believe us these fruits are worthwhile the money and your picking effort.

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Biking the Oympic Discovery Trail

That's quite unusual that Keoki beats me to a post but I guess he must have really enjoyed his tennis at the Sequim High School tennis courts on Father's Day. His Sequim tennis post definitely shwos his love for Sequim and for tennis. Actually, everybody liked his article about Tennis in Sequim.

Anyhow, here is what I had in mind to write about and then it got postponed. When Keoki played tennis, I went for a bike ride, which we normally do together. We both love biking, in 'old' Hawaii and in 'new' Sequim.

I did a bike ride through Carrie Blake Park past the Canadian Geese with their babies, past the fish pond where the kiddos were fishing (they actually caught a fish!), past the dog park and up and down the new development of Willow Creek with the lots for sale signs by Welcome Home Realty (one said SOLD!) and past the Peninsula Driftwood Exhibition (lots of visitors). Finally, ending up at our favorite bench at the duck pond enjoying a warm sunny day in Sequim. It was wonderful!

As said above, Keoki and I loved to bike in Hawaii on Sunday mornings when traffic was down. We'd put our bikes on our bike rack on the car, drive to the coast and ride our bikes along the Hwy which leads all along the beautiful Kohala Coast in the direction to Hawi. We never made it to Hawi, which is the turning point for the triathletes at the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon but we definitely got our work-out up and down the hills with occasional stops to watch the whales during the 'winter' months. Our 24-mile round trip of biking made us feel like accomplished bikers.


Ever since we moved to Sequim in 2006, we 'discovered' the Olympic Discovery Trail for our biking ambitions. Well, we never made it all the way to Port Angeles - probably always did like 1/3 of the Discovery Trail distance. Unfortunately, our new house construction last year slowed down our biking ambition. It was just easier to go to SARC and get everything down right there: Biking or crosstrainer, Stretching, weights and swimming laps in the pool and not to forget, relax in the sauna and jacuzzi!


However, nothing beats being outside and bike through the beautiful countryside in Sequim with the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains with a few patches of snow. We have not started our Olympic Discovery Trail biking routine yet but we both started using the bikes from our house to SARC, which is a 10-min. ride each way. Actually, with gas prices rising daily, we expect more people in Sequim will pick up biking again, just like in the old days. It's healthy and saves money!

Let me tell you it's not that bad when you avoid Washington St. Cars yield and people wave to you, even high school kids who come from P.E. This is friendly Sequim. That's why we moved here. Last but not least, for those who come here for a Sequim vacation, check out Mike's Bikes for bike rentals and Olympic Peninsula biking trails. And here is good news for those who stay a month at our Sequim Vacation Rental, we are in the process of getting another bike (we already have one) for our guests to use for free. Biking in Sequim can't get any better.

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