The Olympic peninsula is a different world altogether, even though it is so close to the hustle bustle of the Seattle city, 30 miles out and the silence of the forest takes over. The forests are just breathtaking, the peace and solace one can experience here are unmatched, in my opinion. I am sure there are many other places on my list that have similar healing qualities, but this one is so close to home.
Starting off the trip – In the past, I have visited the various beaches on the west coast of OP, so this time I wanted to go in deeper to see what lies in the heart of the Olympic peninsula. As you pass the city of Port Angeles – which in my opinion is a very cute little place and drive past the Elwha Valley, the old growth forests and the smell of red cedar, douglas fir, Sitka spruce trees welcome you.
Due to all the smoke from the Oregon wildfires, Seattle was covered in a blanket of smoke. We kept driving west in hopes of escaping the smoke, but OP wasn’t spared either. Fortunately, the clouds were moving in that evening, and it was going to rain in OP for the next 2 days of our trip. I can’t tell you how thrilled we were!
We continued to our first destination – Sol Duc or Soleduck Falls. But before that, we made a few stops at Lake Cresent.
The smokey weather quickly changed to a stormy one – gray clouds rolled in and the wind picked up speed carrying with it the smell of the cedar trees, leaves started to rustle and we were just so happy. The adventure, or the sense of it, had begun!
This 1.5 miles round trip hike is so refreshing. The different shades of green dulling and brightening up the forest at the same time. The sun rays trying hard to pierce through the canopy of trees. The dense vegetation, the silence, and the smell were a huge treat to my senses.
- leaves 8 times the size of my palm
- waterfall viewing deck
The hike was easy and relaxing after a 5-hour drive from Seattle. The drive was good along the lake however one needs to be careful of the falling rocks from cliffs near lake crescent. We had to stop for 20 mins and It was pin drop silent but I could hear a strange hum like I could feel the earth resonate.
Next day – We had an early start. It was cloudy and foggy, just the best weather for us. We skipped the traditional breakfast and decided to try the easy street cafe owned by Mac and his wife, Rainbow. Adorable place and ambiance. The owners of the place are super friendly and kind. The place is very peaceful, with beautiful paintings for sale on the wall and lovely piano music playing in the background. Perfect start to the day. People with good vibes, good food, and even better service. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Try the different variety of coffees or some of their sandwiches. I liked their egg salad on rye bread sandwich. It was quite filling and it put us in a great mood.
We explored the downtown a bit and then started off to our next destination – Cape Flattery. This 3-hour drive is very beautiful – It somewhat reminded me of Scotland’s back country. We drove through a Native American Reservation – The Makah reservation. The GPS took us from a rough road for 2 miles that added to the adventure. Thankfully the road had no potholes.
This place is quite cut off from the nearby city, but the vibe of the place is exceptional. It is pure and simple. It holds the essence of humanity, the generosity, and the kindness of its people is evident from the small but kind gestures that an observant eye will notice along the trail that leads to the cape flattery viewing decks. The natives had made hiking sticks with such creativity that despite me carrying my hiking poles, my husband wanted to use these. If you choose to buy one, simply put $5 in the box and pick one. There were music cd’s too for sale, but no salesman. They trust you to do the right thing.
- boarded walk
At the hike we met an old couple, they were nice to talk to and we shared some humor, regarding photography. I could see how easily people were able to suspend their inhibitions and express their awe of this place. This place truly brought the best in people I feel. The soft mist from the Pacific ocean, the roar, and thunder of the ocean waves under the sea caves, the tolling of the buoy bell, green forests and smiling faces, my goodness – am I in heaven? I thought to myself. SO MUCH BEAUTY!
In total there are 4 viewing decks – make sure to check out all of them. The trail is thin and boarded, and at times suspended in air, so accommodate the on coming traffic with caution.
- The waves roar and thunder as they pass through the caves
- Cormorants
We easily spent 2.5 hours here exploring the trail and taking pictures, plugging into nature’s WiFi.
It was only 4 pm – so we thought we can cover Hurrican ridge too, so we drove directly to it. It’s only 40 mins from Port Angeles. We have been to Hurrican Ridge before but to be there when it shrouded with clouds is a totally different experience and we wanted to see it for ourselves.
The drive was amazing –
- The Sun was a tease
- Friendly paws
After spending a couple hours admiring the beauty and walking the nature trail, we left for our hotel. The drive down was scary for me due to the thick fog and poor visibility but nonetheless enjoyable and mysterious.
For dinner – We tried the Strait Slice Pizza – This place has the best pizza in town. Must try! After dinner, we headed to the Ediz hook beach. The sun was about to set and we did not want to miss the sunset.
- View of the Canadian Rockies from the beach
Next Day we left for home – On the way, we made a couple quick stops. 1) Jardin du Soleil Lavender farm – Since this was off season there was not much o see here, but the drive was very scenic and 2) Poulsbo – A Norwegian Themed town. We did not know what to expect here but we were pleasantly surprised! Grabbed a quick cup of coffee at the CUPS Espresso cafe, walked the streets of Poulsbo and its beautiful Marina.
- Huge Viking Mural on the Wall
This indeed was a very memorable trip. One, so close to home and my heart.
Kindred Spirits of Cascades 