Olympic Peninsula Trip
August 26 - September 2, 2012
After a summer full of weekend get-aways, Kate and I decided to take a last-minute week off at the end of August.
We had been wanting to get back to Whidbey Island to visit our good friends, so we decided to explore some of the Olympic Peninsula on our way.
We didn't make reservations anywhere; we liked the idea of just playing it by ear, seeing what drew us. It worked out well that we started the trip on a Sunday and went to our friends' house on Friday, missing the Labor Day crowds and finding nice, quiet campgrounds during the week.
The weather could have been better, but when you're on the edge of a northwest rain forest, what can you expect? We found a couple of great campgrounds that we'd love to go back to, and there's so much more of the Olympic National Park to explore. National Parks are a little tricky with a dog, because canines are barred from trails. But they are okay in the National Forest, outside of the park. And fine within campgrounds.
Itinerary
- Twano State Park on Hood Canal. One rainy night at a nearly empty campground.
- Doswallips State Park. Two nights in a wonderful riverside campsite. Day hikes to nearby waterfalls, a stroll to the Hood Canal, and canoeing with seals.
- Port Townsend. Lunch in a wonderful historic port town.
- Log Cabin Resort at Lake Crescent. Two nights on a gorgeous lake. Day trips to Sol Duc Hot Springs and Falls. Canoeing on the lake.
- Whidbey Island, Washington. Wonderful visit with dear friends in their beautiful waterfront home.
