Sequim
Sequim is one of our favorite places to stay with kids on the Olympic Peninsula. In summer we rented a house on the beach. Every morning the tide was out, leaving treasures on the beach. In the long evenings, kids could play in driftwood until the sun set over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
More details, read our blog post: " Sunny gems: Sequim Washington "
Dungeness Spit - In the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (Dungeness County Park), hike through leafy green forests down to the beach and long narrow Dungeness Spit.
Take the dirt ("primitive trail") through Douglas fir trees and ferns, look for deer resting in the shade along the way.
The long sandy beach is the perfect place to build forts in the driftwood and make piles of smooth stones. Look for turkey vultures or majestic bald eagles soaring in the air, just a spectacular sight.
Teens can hike to the lighthouse at the end of the spit (it's about five miles each way).
Dungeness Spit is a wonderful place to while away a summer's afternoon.
Go biking - The bike trail, Olympic Discovery Trail, goes from Sequim to Port Angeles. Scenic and level,, bike through farms with ripening corn, over the Dungeness River bridge, past cows grazing and horses in the fields, Sequim Valley Airport (watch small planes taking off and landing), summer wildflowers blooming in yellow, blue and purple. Along the trail, stop at Robin Hill County Park for a picnic lunch.
Tip: We rented bikes at Ben's Bikes, close and easy to get to the trail.
Railroad Bridge Park -
Once a railroad bridge is now part of a lovely park, including bridge over the wide Dungeness River, covered picnic tables, and restrooms. The bike trail, Olympic Discovery Trail, goes over the bridge, stop to have lunch or visit the nature center.
Dungeness River Audubon Center - Stop into this nature center for an excellent collection of Olympic Peninsula wildlife. Along with birds such as bald eagle, trumpeter swan, and tufted puffin, kids will see an Olympic marmot (unique to the peninsula), river otter, gray wolf, mountain lion, black bear, and beaver. On the ceiling, look up to see a spotted owl about to pounce on the flying squirrel below. We learned that spotted owls hunt for flying squirrels that live in old-growth forests.
Dungeness River Bridge - In summer months, the river under the bridge a fun place for kids to wade and splash, when the water is low. Carrie Blake Park - Park has a large playground, covered picnic tables (bring your picnic on a drizzly day), and charming Japanese garden with pond and ducks.
U-pick berry farms - We spent a sunny August morning at Graymarsh Farm, picking raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. June and July, Graymarsh has strawberries and loganberries.
Two other farms, Cameron Berry Farm has u-pick strawberries (June to mid-July), blueberries at Dungeness Meadow Farm.
Sequim Farmers Market - Buy eggs from local chickens, organic fruits and vegetables, arts and crafts. Located in downtown Sequim at the corner of Washington St. and Sequim-Dungeness Way. Saturdays, May to October.
A vacation rental has lots of advantages for families - full kitchen and dining area so you don't need to eat all your meals in restaurants, washer and dryer, and more.
