Trying to plan a vacation around Olympic National Park next summer
December 28, 2023 7:56 AM Subscribe
Next June/early July my wife and I are attending a wedding at NatureBridge on Lake Crescent in Port Angeles, Washington. We're looking to extend our stay in the area and would like some help choosing some accommodations, locations and activities, likely in and around Olympic National Park.
Some additional details: We're in our mid to late 30s and in good shape. We'll be traveling with another couple. We'd like to do some light to moderate hikes and see the splendor of the region but want to stay in nicer lodging and get some relaxation and especially good food in, as well. We'll have a rental vehicle for transportation and are looking at spending around 5 days (after the wedding) before heading back to Seattle to fly home.
We're not tied to the Olympic National Park area but assume that makes the most sense to maximize our time. We're open to other suggestions that would require several hours of travel time, if we can be convinced it's worth it! For example, are San Juan and Orcas Island worth traveling for? Where would some sort of luxury hotel or resort be? What are the must-see locations in the park and surrounding areas?
Thank you!
Some additional details: We're in our mid to late 30s and in good shape. We'll be traveling with another couple. We'd like to do some light to moderate hikes and see the splendor of the region but want to stay in nicer lodging and get some relaxation and especially good food in, as well. We'll have a rental vehicle for transportation and are looking at spending around 5 days (after the wedding) before heading back to Seattle to fly home.
We're not tied to the Olympic National Park area but assume that makes the most sense to maximize our time. We're open to other suggestions that would require several hours of travel time, if we can be convinced it's worth it! For example, are San Juan and Orcas Island worth traveling for? Where would some sort of luxury hotel or resort be? What are the must-see locations in the park and surrounding areas?
Thank you!
Oh, and all sorts of gorgeous hiking opportunities on Vancouver and Salt Spring Islands as well.
posted by outfielder at 8:05 AM on December 28, 2023
posted by outfielder at 8:05 AM on December 28, 2023
The San Juan Islands are great, but the main ferry route is from Anacortes, which would require a ferry and drive north from Port Townsend. Victoria and Vancouver Island are fantastic and the ferry leaves from Port Angeles.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:31 AM on December 28, 2023
posted by bluedaisy at 9:31 AM on December 28, 2023
The Olympic peninsula is quite desolate, other than Port Angeles, Sequim (pronounced SKWIM), and Port Townsend. They're on the water, but not super "beach-y" towns. If you'd like to spend some time on the water, head to Hood Canal. The towns on the canal are more geared toward water sports. For an upscale vacation town, head to Gig Harbor. For more city-like atmosphere, check out Tacoma. For a unique hotel, check out the McMenamins in Centralia or Tacoma.
posted by hydra77 at 10:50 AM on December 28, 2023
posted by hydra77 at 10:50 AM on December 28, 2023
Tokeland Hotel
posted by matildaben at 11:43 AM on December 28, 2023
posted by matildaben at 11:43 AM on December 28, 2023
To clarify bluedaisy's reply re: the ferry situation, the Coho, a private ferry, runs from Port Angeles directly to Victoria. The Washington State Ferry run through the San Juans to (I think) Sidney, just outside of Victoria, runs from Anacortes, on the east side of Puget Sound, requiring a multi-hour drive and/or ferry ride from the peninsula.
There are multiple hiking opportunities along the coast and in the national park interior, and a leisurely drive circumnavigating the peninsula will will give you a lot of possible destinations. June and early July may still mean cloudy/rainy weather, especially along the coast, but the west side of the Sound lies in the Olympic rain shadow and may provide better weather.
posted by lhauser at 12:00 PM on December 28, 2023
There are multiple hiking opportunities along the coast and in the national park interior, and a leisurely drive circumnavigating the peninsula will will give you a lot of possible destinations. June and early July may still mean cloudy/rainy weather, especially along the coast, but the west side of the Sound lies in the Olympic rain shadow and may provide better weather.
posted by lhauser at 12:00 PM on December 28, 2023
I think the hardest part of the Olympic National Park trip you envision will be the food. There are a few good restaurants in Sequim, which has good access to Hurricane Ridge. Lake Quinault Lodge is quite lovely and a wonderful place to stay, but the restaurant is just okay IMO. There is a place called Salmon House Restaurant down the road that I like, but it is old school, salad bar-type dining. Alderbrook Resort and Spa is wonderful, and would give you access to the south side of the Park, if you did a loop. Don't miss the Hoh Rainforest!
posted by lizard music at 12:00 PM on December 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by lizard music at 12:00 PM on December 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Washington State Ferry run through the San Juans to (I think) Sidney, just outside of VictoriaThis ferry has been out of commission since COVID lockdowns and, honestly, isn’t likely to come back again.
As a resident of downtown Victoria I do see the ferry to Port Angeles everyday and am rather found of this chunk of the world if you’re willing to cross the border.
posted by mce at 12:40 PM on December 28, 2023
Port Townsend is a charming Victorian port town, worth a day or two.
Hurricane Ridge is the main portal into that end of Olympic National Park, but you should also check out the Hoh Rain Forest on the west side of the park. Rialto Beach is one of the many great wilderness beaches of the Olympic Coast. Neah Bay is a great hike, and when you are in town check out the Makah Tribal Museum and buy some smoked salmon from the little house with the hand-painted signs.
Forks is a dump.
Do you like cycling? You could rent bikes in Sequim or Port Angeles and ride some of the Olympic Discovery Trail. The section along Lake Crescent is particularly spectacular. There is also the single-track Olympic Adventure Trail.
Victoria BC is a great town; you take the Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles. Do a day trip or better yet spend a night.
posted by LarryC at 12:41 PM on December 28, 2023
Hurricane Ridge is the main portal into that end of Olympic National Park, but you should also check out the Hoh Rain Forest on the west side of the park. Rialto Beach is one of the many great wilderness beaches of the Olympic Coast. Neah Bay is a great hike, and when you are in town check out the Makah Tribal Museum and buy some smoked salmon from the little house with the hand-painted signs.
Forks is a dump.
Do you like cycling? You could rent bikes in Sequim or Port Angeles and ride some of the Olympic Discovery Trail. The section along Lake Crescent is particularly spectacular. There is also the single-track Olympic Adventure Trail.
Victoria BC is a great town; you take the Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles. Do a day trip or better yet spend a night.
posted by LarryC at 12:41 PM on December 28, 2023
You say you want "especially good food" and I say you've got to go to Where's The Frybread, in Forks. Not fancy -- it's frybread! -- but delicious.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:46 PM on December 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:46 PM on December 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
are San Juan and Orcas Island worth traveling for?
Absolutely! In my opinion, one of the most beautifully scenic regions in the entire PNW.
I've only ever stayed on Orcas Island, but it's a peach: gorgeous scenery (on a clear day, the view from atop Mt. Constitution is breathtaking) loads of outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, camping) and a quaint little village with a handful of cozy little restaurants and pubs.
For accommodations, I recommend Rosario Resort on Cascade Bay.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:22 PM on December 28, 2023
Absolutely! In my opinion, one of the most beautifully scenic regions in the entire PNW.
I've only ever stayed on Orcas Island, but it's a peach: gorgeous scenery (on a clear day, the view from atop Mt. Constitution is breathtaking) loads of outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, camping) and a quaint little village with a handful of cozy little restaurants and pubs.
For accommodations, I recommend Rosario Resort on Cascade Bay.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:22 PM on December 28, 2023
2nding where's the fry bread. forks had the most interesting food options for sure- even the random bar and grill place on the way out of town was excellent. we stayed in port angeles in a cabin at an RV park which had a little kitchen and made a lot of our own food (booked too close to the trip to get any other place) and did a lot of driving- still had a great time!
can't speak to the food, and it might be more family oriented than you're looking for but lake crescent lodge was a great place to stop for an afternoon of swimming (we were 2 adults your age no kids and had a blast!) and John's beach combing museum was spectacular.
posted by wowenthusiast at 6:50 AM on December 29, 2023
can't speak to the food, and it might be more family oriented than you're looking for but lake crescent lodge was a great place to stop for an afternoon of swimming (we were 2 adults your age no kids and had a blast!) and John's beach combing museum was spectacular.
posted by wowenthusiast at 6:50 AM on December 29, 2023
Warning about the Hall of Mosses, if you're planning on seeing it -- and it's gorgeous, I recommend it -- it can get very busy in the summer and people get stuck waiting to drive in to the parking lot. Show up at either the beginning or end of the day if you want to be able to cruise on in.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:01 PM on December 29, 2023
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:01 PM on December 29, 2023
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posted by outfielder at 8:04 AM on December 28, 2023 [3 favorites]