Escapees May June 2015 Demo

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| May/June 2015 |ESCAPEES .73
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.
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
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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.”