Port Angeles, Washington

During our two week stay in Sequim we set aside one day to visit the charming town of Port Angeles. Located on the furthest northwest corner of the country, and on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles is the gateway city of the Olympic National Park, and is a popular destination for the nearly 3.5 million people who visit this area each year. Situated at the center of the 130-mile Olympic Discovery Trail, recreational opportunities abound, including a vast network of trails, mountains, rivers, lakes, rain forests, beaches, and tide pools. You can also take the Coho Ferry to Victoria, Canada from Port Angeles.

We had no particular plan in mind for our visit, other than to walk around, take in the sights, take pictures, and enjoy the blue sky day and pristine weather. The downtown area was a mixture of restaurants, hotels, gift shops, art galleries, bookstores, among many other retail outlets, and throughout the streets were murals, sculptures, and other works of art depicting how Port Angeles today is tied to the past as an outpost in the Pacific Northwest, a former logging town, and home to Native Americans.

While we were admiring a wall of paintings hanging on the outside of a large building, we were lucky enough to meet two local artists who worked out of this building. They invited us inside to show us the many facets of the local talent, and fill us in on some Port Angeles history and lore. Afterwards they recommended a restaurant where we could get a good vegan lunch, which we did! It was an unexpected and serendipitous encounter, and one of the magical things about visiting new places that keep us forever tied to this way of life.

The Lavender Farms of Sequim, Washington

Named the Lavender Capital of North America, Sequim, Washington is known for its beautiful lavender farms and quality lavender products. The sunny dry climate in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley is similar to the south of France, making Sequim one of the best places in the country to grow this beautiful, fragrant herb, and there are now dozens of lavender farms spread across the valley. Even though we arrived late for the annual Sequim Lavender Festival (held in July each year), many of the lavender farms were still open for visits, tours, and “you-cut” harvesting. We took one day during our August 2017 stay to visit two of them -  Purple Haze and Jardin du Soleil. It was the end of the growing season, so we did not get to see the glorious full bloom. On the other hand, the tourists were also at a  minimum, allowing us to spend a few quiet hours among the beautiful gardens and lazy bees, enjoying the late summer crops and clipping some lavender to take back home.