Sequim

Sequim is a small city on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington (state). Sequim is the sunniest place in Western Washington, because of the rain shadow created by the Olympic Mountains to the south, receiving much less rain than even nearby Port Angeles. This unique climate makes it an exceptional place to grow lavender, surpassed only by Provence in France. You may want to bring a bucket to pick lavender, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Sequim is also famous for the flavorful native Dungeness crab. The city's name is pronounced SKWIM, as one syllable. == Get in == === By car === US Highway 101 is the main route into Sequim. Sequim is 17 miles (27 km) east of Port Angeles and 104 miles (167 km) north of Olympia. From Port Townsend, take State Route 20 west for 13 miles (21 km), and then US-101 west for 18 miles (29 km). === By bus === From Port Angeles, take Clallam Transit Route 30 or 123 from Gateway Transit Center. From the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, Clallam Transit also offers Route 123, The Strait Shot, an express bus which is timed to connect with the ferry from Seattle. It runs twice a day Monday through Saturday, once on Sundays and holidays. Including the ferry ride, the total time from Seattle is 2 hours and 10 minutes. Jefferson Transit Rt 8, ☏ +1 360-385-4777, toll-free: +1 800-371-0497, custserv@jeffersontransit.com. Provides the #8 bus to Sequim, from Haines Place Park and Ride in Port Townsend. $1.50. Dungeness Line (Greyhound Connector), (bus stop) JCPenney's at 651 W Washigton St, ☏ +1 360-417-0700. Provides service to Sequim from Seatac Airport, Seattle, Port Townsend, and Port Angeles. $10-42. Rocket Transportation, ☏ +1 360-683-8087, toll-free: +1 877-697-6258. Offers shuttles, by reservation only, from Tacoma, Seatac, and Seattle. $74.60 one way, $126.80 round trip; companions $52.20 one way, $88.80 round trip; children ages 2-14 37.30 one way, $63.40 round trip. === By bicycle === Olympic Discovery Trail. A bicycle trail running all the way from Port Townsend, on Puget Sound to the east, to La Push, on the Pacific Ocean to the west. The portion from Port Townsend to Port Angeles is paved. === By air === Sequim Valley Airport, 468 Dorothy Hunt Ln, ☏ +1 360-683-4444, sequimairport@gmail.com. General aviation airport. The nearest airport with commercial service is Paine Field in Everett. The nearest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. === By sea === John Wayne Marina is nestled on the west side of Sequim Bay. == Get around == Sequim is rather sprawling, and a car is the best way to get around. Although the core town is so small that you could walk the length of town in under an hour, many of the highlights - such as the lavender farms - lie on the outskirts. So if you're without a car, you should at least bring - or rent - a bicycle. Washington Street, running east-west, is the main commercial street. There is a small, somewhat walkable downtown, centered around the intersection of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue. === By bicycle === 1 Ben's Bikes, 1251 W Washington St (at River Rd), ☏ +1 360-683-2666. Local bicycle shop which offers rentals. 2 Pedego Electric Bikes, 213 E Washington St Ste 3 (at Sunnyside Ave), ☏ +1 360-683-0635, info@pedegosequim.com. Local outpost of an electric bicycle chain which offers rentals. === By bus === Clallam Transit, ☏ +1 360-452-4511, toll-free: +1 800-858-3747. Provides local bus service. Given the inconvenient routing and infrequent service, you'll probably get there faster by walking. $1. 3 Sequim Transit Center, 190 W Cedar St (at 2nd Ave). All buses stop here. Route 30 goes west from Sequim Transit Center, along Washington Street, continuing south on River Road, and then on to Highway 101 and eventually to Port Angeles. Runs every 45 minutes between 6:10AM and 9:36PM on weekdays, and hourly on Saturdays between 8:15AM and 7:55PM. Clallam Transit Interlink. On-demand transportation that allows customers to book a shared trip. This replaces route 40. (updated Dec 2024) == See == 1 Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, 554 Voice of America Rd, ☏ +1 360-457-8451. 7AM to one half hour before sunset. The highlight of the refuge is the Dungeness Spit, a narrow strip of land extending 5 miles (8.0 km) out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Wildlife viewing, hiking, boating, fishing are possible. $3 per family, children under 16 free. 2 New Dungeness Lighthouse, ☏ +1 360-683-6638, scheduling@newdungenesslighthouse.com. 9AM-5PM. Lighthouse on the end of Dungeness Spit. Free. 3 Olympic Game Farm, 1423 Ward Rd, ☏ +1 360-683-4295, toll-free: +1-800-778-4295. Features 200 animals including the African lion, American bison, American black bear, bobcat, llama, peacock, sika deer, and zebra. Visitors drive through the game farm to see the animals. Sequim is famous for its scenic lavender farms: 4 Jardin Du Soleil Lavender Farm, 3932 Sequim Dungeness Way, ☏ +1 360-582-1185. 5 Purple Haze Organic Lavender Farm, 180 Bell Bottom Rd, ☏ +1 360-809-9615. Wander the fields at this certified organic lavender farm and browse its gift shop, which offers a variety of lavender products made from lavender oil distilled on-site. == Do == Golfing Hiking Biking Beachcombing Ocean kayaking Windsurfing Powered paragliding 1 Graysmarsh Farm, 6187 Woodcock Rd. U-Pick berry farm open during the Summer (updated Dec 2024) 2 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 Hwy 101. (updated Dec 2024) Olympic National Forest Buckhorn Wilderness, ☏ +1 360-956-2401. (updated Dec 2020) === Events === Annual Irrigation Festival, ☏ +1 360-775-5814, info@irrigationfestival.com. Early May. Washington's oldest festival, celebrating the irrigation of Sequim using the waters of the Dungeness River, back in 1895. It consists of a parade through town, and various events near downtown. Sequim Lavender Festival, ☏ +1 360-681-3035. mid-July. Annual festival celebrating Sequim's best-known product. Tour de Lavender, ☏ +1 971-704-1156, info@tourdelavender.com. first Saturday in August. Annual group ride to visit the iconic lavender farms of the Sequim Dungeness Valley. adults $70, youth 12 and under $15, after-ride dinner $35, tent site reservation $20. (updated Dec 2020) == Buy == There are many small quaint shops in downtown Sequim. Lavender products are available at various lavender farm outlets. Jamestown S'Klallam Indian Art Gallery (at Sequim Bay). Offers art & souvenirs. 1 Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market, 152 W Cedar (at Sequim Ave), ☏ +1 360-582-6218, manager@sequimmarket.com. May-Oct Sa 9AM-2PM. (updated Dec 2020) == Eat == 1 Oak Table Cafe, 292 W Bell St (at 3rd Ave), ☏ +1 360-683-2179, info@oaktablecafe.com. 7AM-3PM. Breakfast ranges from the basic - eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles, omelettes - to the fancy - eggs nicole, eggs benedict, Kijafa cherry crepes. Salads, sandwiches, burgers - plus quiche du jour, made with seasonal ingredients - are available for lunch. $9-17. (updated Dec 2020) 2 David Family Taqueria, 300 E Washington St (between Sunnyside Ave and Govan Ave), ☏ +1 360-681-5124. 11AM-8PM. Tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, burritos, nachos, carne asada. $3-16. (updated Dec 2020) == Drink == 1 Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W Washington St (between Sequim Ave and 2nd Ave), ☏ +1 360-681-0690. Tasting room of local winery, with food and live music. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Hurricane Coffee Co, 104 W Washington St (at Sequim Ave), ☏ +1 360-681-6008. M-Sa 7AM-5PM, Su 8AM-4PM. $2-5. (updated Dec 2020) == Sleep == Many locally owned motels are available in the area as well a few large chains. George Washington Inn, 939 Finn Hall Rd, ☏ +1 360-452-5207. George Washington Inn is a bed & breakfast on the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Sequim and Port Angeles. $300-400. The Farmhouse Vacation Rental at Purple Haze Lavender Farm, 180 Bell Bottom Rd (take the exit to John Wayne Marina (White Feather Way) and turn left on West Sequim Bay Road), ☏ +1 360-809-9615, toll-free: +1-888-852-6560. Enjoy ogri-tourism, where you stay in a beautiful rural setting, and can watch firsthand the operations of a working Lavender Farm. The Farm House can comfortably accommodate 8 guests. $275 for 6 guests. 1 Sundowner Motel, 364 W Washington St (between 3rd Ave and 4th Ave), ☏ +1 360-683-5532. Clean, no frills motel. $53. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Great House Motel, 740 E Washington St (at Brown Rd), ☏ +1 360-504-2629. Rustic, but clean motel. $50. (updated Dec 2020) 3 Olympic Railway Inn, 24 Old Coyote Way (at Sequim Bay Rd), ☏ +1 206-880-1917. Bed and breakfast where each "room" is in a caboose, each with its own theme, on its own track, all of them situated around a duck pond. The interiors are quaint, even kitschy, but with all the amenities you would expect in a modern hotel. == Go next == Take the Olympic Loop for a scenic drive back around the peninsula: Port Angeles — the largest city in the Olympic Peninsula Olympic National Park — wild beaches and some of the lushest temperate rain forests in the contiguous U.S. Explore the islands and waterways of the Salish Sea: Port Townsend Whidbey Island San Juan Islands