Escapees May June 2015 Demo

Fort Worden State Park Fort Worden State Park is a 434-acre multi-use park with over two miles of saltwater shoreline, two campgrounds and a wide variety of services and facilities. Over 100 buildings from the early 1900s remain on the fort, which houses four museums (be sure to visit the Coast Artillery Museum), a gift shop, theater, various businesses and provides convention center facilities. The 80 campsites are generous in size, and most are level. The up- per campground, in a forested area, includes water, electricity and a dump station nearby. It has easy access to over six-and-a-half miles of trails up to Artillery Hill where you can see the Straits of Juan de Fuca from the massive concrete gun emplacements built into the bluff. The beach camp- ground is tucked between the bluffs and the beaches of Point Wilson and it Continued ›››

The area has the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Straits of Juan de Fuca to the north and the Hood Canal complex of waterways to the east. The rugged Olym- pic Mountain range forms the spine of this wonderful land. The mountains are so steep and complex that no highway has been built to cross them. US High- way 101 actually circles the entire peninsula.

some that are now bed-and-breakfasts. However, it is the downtown water- front area that has the juiciest history with most of the buildings dating back to the late 1800s. The Belmont Hotel is a great place to dine during your exploration (try the hot crab sandwich). If the weather is right, you can eat on the water- front deck. Touring downtown is not without its hazards with its numerous shops of both local goods as well as tourist bait. Be sure to wander through the Northwest Wooden Boat Center. See visitjeffersoncountywa/port- townsend.com for area information.

Pacific Coast Side Due to the prevailing westerlies, the Pacific Coast side of the peninsula measures its rainfall in hundreds of inches, but the mountains provide what we call a “rain shadow” for the area to the east of those peaks, so rain there is minimal, more on the order of 18 inches annually. Summers are mostly warm, dry and pleasant with cool evenings. Drive up the Hoh River to the end of the road and walk into the rain forest, where you will discover old-growth forest festooned with mosses. Nurse logs, a downed tree that has trees growing out of its rotting trunk, are plentiful. You’ll want to visit Salt Creek County Park, where water-and-electric campsites look out over the Straits of Juan de Fuca with all of its shipping. Then, take a drive to the Cape Flattery trailhead, then do a short, easy hike to the farthest northwest corner of the country while enjoying fantastic scenery. View the Olympic Mountain Range from high up on Hurricane Ridge. Fishing and boating opportunities are almost everywhere, and you have a choice of fresh or salt water. Low-tide clam digging is possible (ask the locals for a hot location), but be sure you have the appropriate license. Hiking and bi- cycling trails are commonly available. Whale watching, R/C model flying, beach walking and tide pool exploring are all there for your pleasure. Port Townsend Port Townsend is a travel destination on its own. It likes to refer to itself as a Victorian seaport, and it truly is. There is a walking tour, conducted by Victorian-costumed members of the historical society, of “uptown” with its many Victorian homes, including

“May through October provides almost continuous special events ranging from symphonic presentations to the Sequim Lavender Festival to the end-of-season craziness of the Kinetic Skulpture Race.”

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