Family Vacation in Sequim, Washington USA

Travel Activities for Kids and Adults in Northwest Olympic Peninsula

Jun 10, 2009

Sequim, Washington, offers affordable family travel adventure spring, summer and fall. Beachcombing, kayaking, hiking, swimming and biking are accessible by car and ferry

On the coast of Washington State, located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and bordering the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Sequim is known for its fields of lavender and berries, beaches, unusual animals, bays and biking trails. An easy day trip from Seattle, Washington, via the Bainbridge ferry and Victoria, British Columbia, via ferry, this sunny town offers many activities for children and parents.

Downtown Sequim’s Attractions, Museum, Recreation

Sequim (pronounced “skwim”) is one of the larger towns on U.S. Highway 101 on the northeastern side of Washington’s North Olympic Peninsula. The visitor center, at the east end of town, offers a self-guided tour of local attractions. Don’t miss the center’s scale model of a working water wheel. Find the five scenic murals along Washington Street.

The Museum and Arts Center on Cedar Street features memorabilia from Sequim’s pioneer days and area Native American life, from Victorian furniture to a S’Klallam longhouse. Kids of all ages will appreciate the mastodon exhibit, which displays bones of this prehistoric, elephant-like animal that roamed the North Olympic Peninsula nearly 14,000 years ago.

Visit the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC) to swim in the indoor Olympic-sized pool with a diving board, rope swing and 17-foot-high tubular water slide. Young children enjoy SARC’s shallow pool. A small gym is available for basketball, volleyball and aerobics.

Dungeness Spit and Wildlife Refuge for Hiking, Beachcombing

Jutting out from the northernmost reaches of Sequim, Dungeness Spit is the largest natural sand hook in the U.S. The first glimpse of the spit from a bluff overlooking the hook’s base sometimes reveals Washington’s Mount Baker in the distance. Seals can often be seen playing in the surf or basking in the sun.

The New Dungeness Lighthouse, the oldest beacon north of the Columbia River, is located at the end of Dungeness Spit. It’s a 10-mile round trip to the end of the spit, so plan to spend at least a half day hiking, allowing two hours or more each way and coordinating timing to coincide with low tide. Beachcombing along the spit is usually fruitful.

The Dungeness Wildlife Refuge, to the east of Dungeness Spit, includes beaches, spits and tidal ponds. Bald eagles, sea geese, Peregrine falcons, harbor seals, salmon, clams and Dungeness crab inhabit the refuge.

Olympic Game Farm for Viewing Exotic Animals

Just inland from the Dungeness Spit, the Olympic Game Farm is home to more than 20 different exotic, endangered and non-exotic animals. Tigers, a rare white rhinoceros and Kodiak bear are a few of the animals seen on the 45-minute driving tour. Llamas, buffalo, zebras and timber wolves are also stars of this tour.

Walk through the game farm’s studio barn and freshwater aquarium. In summer, knowledgeable guides conduct walking tours. The Olympic Game Farm is renowned for its humane animal training, especially its work with Walt Disney Studios. Visit the petting farm, gift shop and snack bar.

Lavender and Berry Farms for U-Pick

Sequim is the official lavender capital of the United States. The fragrant purple herb can be picked at 30 different farms from July until October. The Sequim Lavender Festival, held during the third weekend of July, features a street fair and tours of eight lavender farms.

Sequim is world renowned for its strawberry and raspberry crops. Five berry farms are open for U-pick from early June to August. Visit the Sequim Open Aire Market downtown each Saturday from May through October for farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, lavender products, arts and crafts.

The protected waters of Sequim Bay are ideal for kayaking. Rent kayaks in Sequim or nearby Port Angeles. A wooden walkway lines the edge of Sequim Bay, with views of John Wayne Marina, sailboats and the Pacific beyond.

Sequim Bay State Park offers a mile of hiking trails through woods of cedar, Douglas fir and hemlock. Beachcomb the 5,000 feet of easily accessible shoreline for sea shells or dig for crabs, mussels, clams and scallops. Take a swim at the saltwater swimming area. Picnic tables, a swingset, baseball field, basketball and tennis courts are available.

Olympic Discovery Trail for Biking

This bicycle trail through the Sequim Dungeness Valley is relatively flat and perfect for family rides. Bicycle rentals are available in Sequim and Port Angeles. On the Dungeness River near Sequim, the Railroad Bridge Park offers a place to stop and rest or have a picnic.

Sequim is a perfect Pacific Northwest family day trip, getaway or vacation spot that offers beachcombing, hiking, kayaking, swimming and bicycling adventures. Enjoy Sequim’s museum, aquatic center, game farm, lavender and berry farms. Explore Dungeness and Sequim Bay parks or nearby Port Angeles and Olympic National Park.

The copyright of the article Family Vacation in Sequim, Washington USA in Kid-Friendly Travel Destinations is owned by Susan Lynne Hamilton. Permission to republish Family Vacation in Sequim, Washington USA in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.