Small Home – Big Yard

Welcome to Sunny Sequim, in the “blue-hole” of the Olympic Peninsula.  Positioned in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, most Pacific rain falls on the windward side as storms drop their moisture due to the elevation increase.  Left dry, the storms over Sequim produce only about 16 inches of rain per year, as compared to the Hoh Rain Forest only 40 miles to the southwest and drenched with over 12 FEET of rain annually. Mispronouncing Sequim is common, most often “see’quim” – but the correct way is “skwim”.

We’re parked at John Wayne’s Waterfront Resort, just a few miles east of downtown Sequim.  The real John Wayne, the Duke, spent many summers navigating the waters around Sequim, the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound.  The RV resort is still owned by John Wayne Enterprises, headed by Wayne’s youngest son Ethan.  And, the land for the John Wayne Marina across the street was originally donated by the family.  We’re in site #42, the second to the last site in the far back row.  With 4 rows of RV’s, the back row probably has the narrowest view of the marina and Sequim Bay, but provides nice tall trees and is fairly private and quiet.  The front row undoubtedly has the best views, but also suffers from some traffic noise along Sequim Bay Road.

With a full weekend and a Monday afternoon in Sequim, we explored as much as possible – Dungeness Spit and Campground, Port Angeles and into Olympic National Park along Hurricane Ridge, shopping for delicious Pacific Northwest seafood, produce and beautiful Sequim lavender products plus a relaxing afternoon along the waterfront in Port Townsend. In Dungeness Recreation Area Campground, site #8 is probably the optimal non-reservation site and #49, #51 & #53 are best reservation sites.  All of these sites back to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and offer some degree of viewing across the water.   All sites are dry, with water and a dump station within the campground.

Sequim and the northern Olympic Peninsula is a “must return soon” destination – there’s so much more to do!  Thanks to our awesome tour guides, G & D – we’d never have managed to see as much without you guys!