Sequim: Vacation glimpses of Sequim summer 2012

Greetings to all our Sequim vacation friends. Yes, Sequim is currently in hibernation but that's a perfect time to snuggle up at your fireplace and remember with us all the wonderful adventures you had last summer vacation. Gabriele shares her outing to the Dungeness Lighthouse with all of you. Maybe it this will inspire some to planning new Sequim adventures for 2013.

 

Let's just start with a few of Gabriele's words she wrote with her text and photo submission to us:

"The Olympic Peninsula is so beautiful, and so varied in it's beauty! Of all the places we've visited in the Northwest, Jon and I keep coming back to this area. And Sequim is such a lovely base from which to explore.

We spent a lovely month in Sequim, with Heidi and Keoki, from mid-August to mid-September.

 

 

While staying in Sequim this past summer, we loved exploring the Olympic Peninsula. There is so much to see and enjoy, from Cape Flattery on the west to Port Townsend on the east. By staying at Heidi and Keoki’s vacation rental, we were centrally located to enjoy it all.

 

 

One of our favorite day trips was right in the Sequim area, the New Dungeness Light Station. The light house sits near the end of the Dungeness Spit, one of the world’s longest natural sand spits and part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. To reach the refuge, you first go through the Dungeness Recreation Area, a very lovely little county park. Make sure you walk along the bluffs overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It’s very beautiful, especially at sunset. We spent several evenings enjoying the view!

 

 To reach the spit, you park at the Wildlife Refuge (there’s a small fee) and walk down to the water. It’s a half mile through trees and along bluffs with some benches along the way to enjoy the view of the spit. You’ll appreciate the benches on the way back up! The beach is a mix of rock and sand with piles of driftwood; a typical Washington beach, I think.

 

 The walk to the New Dungeness Light Station is 10 miles round trip (11 total, back to the parking lot). They suggest planning for a leisurely 4-6 hours. We took 7 hours, requiring several rest stops and an enjoyable hour at the light station. The best part was, of course, the lighthouse! It’s staffed year-round by volunteers, staying at the station in week-long shifts. The two couples there at the time were wonderful hosts, full of information about what we were seeing. You can climb up to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy an amazing view. They even have little gifts for you, for making the trek to see them!

 

 

I’m glad we hiked to the lighthouse, and I’m sure we’ll do it again. Even if you don’t want to walk to the lighthouse, it’s worth visiting the Dungeness Recreation Area and the Wildlife Refuge. Especially at sunset!"

 

Thanks again Gabriele for your wonderful photos and words about your hike to the Dungeness Lighthouse. We are looking forward to seeing you and Jon this summer at 'Bell Hill View vacation rental.' Happy holidays for now.

A short update for all rental inquiries: 'Bell Hill View Sequim vacation rental' has a new email. Sequim summer vacation may be booked starting 1/1/2013.

 

Sequim Things To Do on Sequim Vacation

Dear Sequim vacation visitors,

Hope you found our recent visit to the Seattle Pike Street Market of interest for your Sequim vacation. Today, we decided to share with you Sequim and Sequim Area Web Cams, which we think is a great tool for getting a first impression about things to do on your Sequim vacation.

Let's start with a glimpse of Sequim town looking East. Must admit there are better views of the town, like Views from Bell Hill over Sequim town, Victoria and the Straits de Juan de Fuca with snow-covered Mt. Baker in the back. So don't let this Sequim town web cam view disappoint you.


We just recently wrote about the Sequim Lavender Festival with a Youtube video and had included a number of Purple Haze Lavender Farm photos on another post as an enticement to visit Sequim when the lavender is blooming. With a short 1 mile drive, Purple Haze Lavender Farm is just around the corner from downtown Sequim. Visit 10 acres of organic lavender fields!

Recently, the Sequim Dungeness Lighthouse celebrated its 150th anniversary. Unfortunately, we nearly forgot to mention it. It was a big Sequim town celebration with lots of food and entertainment and facts to hear about the history of the New Dungeness LighthouseThe Dungeness Lighthouse is at the end of the Dungeness Spit, the longest natural spit in the United States. When planning a beach walk (more a hike) to the lighthouse, be aware that it's 5.5 miles one way. So plan a day trip with food, water and lots of sunscreen & a hat.



We noticed that Port Angeles Harbor is not only visited by huge container ships but it's definitely a tourist meeting spot with lots of Olympic Peninsula events taking place and having food and gift stands all year round. Port Angeles Harbor is the docking point for the ferries to Victoria BC., the Coho and the Victoria Express. Our visit to Victoria and Butchart Gardens last year May (roses in full bloom!) was one of our most impressive weekend trips (3 nights). We plan to go back with our motor-home next time. No visit to Vancouver Island is complete without a visit to The Butchart Gardens.



Hurricane Ridge was our first adventure when we were on our Sequim vacation in September of 2005, before we made the final decision to move to Sequim to retire. Hurricane Ridge is a short drive into the Olympic National Park. We got surprised by the first snow of the season. Coming from Hawaii, we admired the snow flakes falling down. We did not last long though, as we were absolutely not dressed for the elevation of 5,000 ft and the snow! We were not the only visitors one could see that they were tourists. Some people even came in shorts and sandals. So be prepared when you go visit Hurricane Ridge. The weather at that elevation can change fast. Check the weather forecast for Olympics.



One of the nicest day trips when on your Sequim Vacation is a visit to Crescent Lake. Take you time, especially when driving the curvy road along the lake. Don't forget to stop occasionally at the lookout points. It's worthwhile it. You will be rewarded with the most peaceful panorama of the lake and the surrounding areas. You can have a wonderful lunch at Lake Crescent Lodge

and even spend the night at the hotel or the cabins. So far, we each time did a day trip, enjoying our own picnic while sitting on the Crescent Lake beach wooden chairs. Nothing can beat that. If you are not a big hiker, the walk (moderate) to Marymere Waterfalls is warmly recommend




Well, I think that will do with all the vacation recommendations when visiting Sequim. You will find a big guest folder in our Sequim vacation rental with all kinds of information, including Sequim restaurant menus, detailed fishing, hiking and biking maps and tons of Sequim activity flyers. No need to print the information out. First check here what we got for you. Have a wonderful Sequim vacation. Greetings from the Sequimers
p.s.
I guess a picked the last raspberries this week at Graysmarsh U-Pick berries but blueberries and blackberries are still in big demand. The wild blackberries are now everywhere! No need to pay!

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Sequim Lighthouse
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Tags: Sequim Vacation, Sequim Area Web Cams, Visit Sequim

Sequim Lighthouse

Sequim Lighthouse
As this blog is not just referring to our life in Sequim but also is supposed to tell Sequim visitors about things to do and places to go, we are starting a few Sequim Sightseeing posts.

One of our trips when on vacation in Sequim was a hike to the Dungeness Spit. It was quite foggy that day (at least by the ocean), so we were quite surprised to find other hikers and even kayakers taking off from the beach. We were not sure how many of the tourists who started their walk on the beach along the the Dungeness Spit in the direction to the Sequim Lighthouse ever made it. We are still planning on doing the 5-mile walk to the end of the Dungeness Spit and resting at the Lighthouse. Summer time will be the right time to go on the adventure.

For now, let's share some information on the Lighthouse. First of all, the Lighthouse is still working because of the New Dungeness Light Station Association. Association members pay a 'keeper's fee' for an opportunity to live and work at the historic lighthouse. Annual membership family membership is $30. The Dungeness Light Station is completely maintained by the volunteer keepers, many of whom stay a week at a time at the station. To find out more about the schedule openings, go to Dungeness Light Station Keepers.

The sound of waves softly rolling ashore and eagles soaring overhead are awaiting you. Serenity now! Have a fun vacation in Sequim. The Sequimers

Tags: Sequim Sights, Sequim Lighthouse, Sequim Vacation