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May/June 2015

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ESCAPEES

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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

Continued

›››

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.”