Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2 Sequim & Dungeness Valley
17 miles E of Port Angeles, 31 miles W of Port Townsend
Located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, Sequim (remember, it's
pronounced
skwim
) is the driest region of the state west of the Cascade Range
and, consequently, sodden, moss-laden Northwesterners have taken to retiring
here in droves. While the rains descend on the rest of the region, the fortunate
few who call Sequim home bask in their own personal microclimate of sunshine
and warmth.
The lack of rainfall and temperate climate here also make this an almost per-
fect place to grow lavender plants and today, parts of Sequim take on the look
of Provence each summer when the lavender plants are in bloom. There are
U-pick farms, shops selling all manner of lavender products, and, of course, an
annual lavender festival.
Before this area became known for its lavender farms, it was famous for its
hefty crustaceans. The nearby town of Dungeness is set at the foot of Dungeness
Spit, which, at more than 6 miles in length, is the longest sand spit in the world.
However, it is for lending its name to the Northwest's favorite crab that Dunge-
ness is most famous. The Dungeness crab is as much a staple of Washington
waters as the blue crab is in the Chesapeake Bay region.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
The Sequim-Dungeness Valley lies to the north of
U.S. 101 between Port Townsend and Port Angeles.
Jefferson Transit
(
&
800/
371-0497
or 360/385-4777; www.jeffersontransit.com) has service from Port
Townsend to Sequim, and
Clallam Transit
(
&
800/858-3747
or 360/452-4511;
www.clallamtransit.com) operates west from Sequim and around the peninsula
to Lake Crescent, Neah Bay, La Push, and Forks.
VISITOR INFORMATION
For more information contact the
Sequim-
Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce,
1192 E. Washington St. (P.O. Box
907), Sequim, WA 98382-0907 (
&
800/737-8462
or 360/683-6197; www.
visitsun.com).
FESTIVALS
The
Irrigation Festival
(
&
800/737-8462
or 360/683-6197;
www.irrigationfestival.com), the oldest continuous festival in Washington, has
been going on for nearly 110 years and takes place in early May. In mid-July,
when the lavender gardens are in full bloom, the town observes the season with
its
Celebrate Lavender Festival
(
&
800/500-8401;
www.lavenderfestival.com).
EXPLORING THE AREA
Just east of Sequim on U.S. 101, you'll find the
7 Cedars Casino,
270756
U.S. 101 (
&
800/4-LUCKY-7
or 360/683-7777), which is operated by the
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and is designed to resemble a traditional longhouse,
with several large totem poles out front. Nearby, you can visit the tribe's
North-
west Native Expressions,
1033 Old Blyn Hwy. (
&
360/681-4640
), where
both quality and prices are high.
In downtown Sequim, you'll find the
Museum & Arts Center,
175 W. Cedar
St., Sequim (
&
360/683-8110;
www.sequimmuseum.org), which houses a pair
of mastodon tusks that were found near here in 1977. The mastodon had been
killed by human hunters, a discovery that helped establish the presence of
humans in this area 12,000 years ago. The museum also has an exhibit on the
much more recent culture of the region's Native Americans. Open Tuesday
through Saturday from 8am to 4pm; admission is free.
