Why We Went: Earlier this year, I had picked up a magazine at the airport highlighted the best adventure travel around the world. To my surprise, Hoh Rainforest was listed as a destination in the ‘Jungles’ category, so we decided we should check out this ‘jungle’ (ok, technically a temperate rainforest) in the U.S. and do some hiking. We’ve also always wanted to check out Seattle, so we’ve added an extra day on to the trip to allow us time to eat our way through the Emerald City.
When We Went: Fourth of July Weekend, 2019
What We Loved: Combining metropolitan Seattle with the Olympic Peninsula in the same trip gave us a chance to experience two wildly differently atmospheres- a bustling and modern city and serene and ancient rainforests. Truly the best of both worlds.
The Plan: Seattle & Olympic Peninsula
The Logistics
The Itinerary
- Coffee at Seattle Coffee Works
- Savor Seattle Pike Place Market Tour
- Sandwiches, Beer, and Oysters in Ballard
- Stroll through Seattle Center and Olympic Sculpture Garden
- Light Dinner at No Anchor
- Walk along the waterfront and sunset viewing near the Great Wheel
- Picked up rental car at SeaTac airport
- Toured coastal towns on Highway 101
- Explored Purple Haze lavender farm in Sequim
- Enjoyed 4th of July festivities in Port Angeles and ate lunch at Next Door Gastropub
- Walked Second Beach in LaPush
- Checked into Hoh Valley Cabins at Elk Meadows
- Day hike in Hoh Rainforest
- Explored Ruby Beach
- Dinner and chill night in our cabin
- Morning walk on Beach 2
- (Unsuccessful) detours to see the World's Largest Cedar
- Souvenir coffee at Olympia Roasters in Olympia
Top Experiences
- Hiking among giant trees in the Hoh Rainforest
- Walking along the pristine Second Beach in LaPush
- Having Beach 2 to ourselves on our last morning in the Olympic Peninsula
- Tasting our way through Pike Place Market
- Enjoying oysters at The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard
What To Plan For
- Prepare for limited eating options near the Hoh Rainforest. Book lodging with a kitchenette if possible to prepare your own food.
- Start both day hikes and overnight hikes in the Hoh Rainforest at the Visitors Center. Arrive early (before 9am or earlier if possible) as trails get crowded.
- Pack for cooler weather and bring layers, even in the summer. High temperatures hovered around the high 60’s in Seattle and lower along the coast.
- Skip the popular beaches (Ruby &Rialto Beach) along the coast
and head to the less crowded, but still beautiful, First, Second, and Third Beaches in La Push or Beaches 1-4 south of Ruby Beach. - Be aware of the 10% combined sales tax in Seattle, which makes an expensive city even pricier!
Maps & Resources
Additional Resources
Books:
- VisitSeattle.org- Transportation information
- The Ultimate 3-Day Olympic Peninsula Road Trip Guide from Valerie and Valise– A fellow blogger’s recommendations for Olympic Peninsula
- Eater Seattle
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