Greetings to all our Sequim vacation friends. Yes, Sequim is currently in hibernation but that's a perfect time to snuggle up at your fireplace and remember with us all the wonderful adventures you had last summer vacation. Gabriele shares her outing to the Dungeness Lighthouse with all of you. Maybe it this will inspire some to planning new Sequim adventures for 2013.
Let's just start with a few of Gabriele's words she wrote with her text and photo submission to us:
"The Olympic Peninsula is so beautiful, and so varied in it's beauty! Of all the places we've visited in the Northwest, Jon and I keep coming back to this area. And Sequim is such a lovely base from which to explore.
We spent a lovely month in Sequim, with Heidi and Keoki, from mid-August to mid-September.
While staying in Sequim this past summer, we loved exploring the Olympic Peninsula. There is so much to see and enjoy, from Cape Flattery on the west to Port Townsend on the east. By staying at Heidi and Keoki’s vacation rental, we were centrally located to enjoy it all.
One of our favorite day trips was right in the Sequim area, the New Dungeness Light Station. The light house sits near the end of the Dungeness Spit, one of the world’s longest natural sand spits and part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. To reach the refuge, you first go through the Dungeness Recreation Area, a very lovely little county park. Make sure you walk along the bluffs overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It’s very beautiful, especially at sunset. We spent several evenings enjoying the view!
To reach the spit, you park at the Wildlife Refuge (there’s a small fee) and walk down to the water. It’s a half mile through trees and along bluffs with some benches along the way to enjoy the view of the spit. You’ll appreciate the benches on the way back up! The beach is a mix of rock and sand with piles of driftwood; a typical Washington beach, I think.
The walk to the New Dungeness Light Station is 10 miles round trip (11 total, back to the parking lot). They suggest planning for a leisurely 4-6 hours. We took 7 hours, requiring several rest stops and an enjoyable hour at the light station. The best part was, of course, the lighthouse! It’s staffed year-round by volunteers, staying at the station in week-long shifts. The two couples there at the time were wonderful hosts, full of information about what we were seeing. You can climb up to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy an amazing view. They even have little gifts for you, for making the trek to see them!
I’m glad we hiked to the lighthouse, and I’m sure we’ll do it again. Even if you don’t want to walk to the lighthouse, it’s worth visiting the Dungeness Recreation Area and the Wildlife Refuge. Especially at sunset!"
Thanks again Gabriele for your wonderful photos and words about your hike to the Dungeness Lighthouse. We are looking forward to seeing you and Jon this summer at 'Bell Hill View vacation rental.' Happy holidays for now.A short update for all rental inquiries: 'Bell Hill View Sequim vacation rental' has a new email. Sequim summer vacation may be booked starting 1/1/2013.
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