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Greetings, Friends! Who turned up the lights?
The orb in the sky seems to have brightened this week, as if someone realized how to work the dimmer switch....and oh, look! THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING IS ONLY THREE WEEKS AWAY! I have been watching what I call the 'winter palette' with keen interest these past few months. It reminds me when dating, you become friendly, then, then one day you look at this person you have grown to like... and realize that they are "special". The drive I have been doing for years without seeing it some days has become a rolling panoply of colors and textures. I have even redecorated my bedroom in - seriously - colors I call lichen, red branch and lake. With these new eyes, I can't hardly wait for spring to unfold into the 'spring palette'.
We are busy designing this year's Olympic Culinary Adventure for folks to experience. This farm-to-fork trend is changing the way I think about and how I spend around food. Here on the OP, we are blessed with a rich variety of seafoods, fungi and farms. Oh, and gifted chefs, too! Buying crab off the dock, salmon from the fisherman, and veggies from the farmer...mmm!
Healthy and happy and anticipating spring on the Olympic Peninsula. It just doesn't get any better! So, if you haven't requested our 2012 travel planner yet, what are you waiting for? 360-452-8552.
Diane Schostak, Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau
on behalf of Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission
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March Culinary Corner!
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The Olympic Peninsula offers a taste of its finest locally produced food and beverages at several small community grocery stores. Stop at these spots in Chimacum or Sequim to stock up for a picnic, provision yourself for a fine meal featuring the freshest foods, and to support regional farmers.
Chimacum Corner Farmstand is a small rural grocery located at the four-way stop in Chimacum, on the way to Port Townsend, featuring "FOOD FROM HERE" - scrumptious food grown or produced in the mountain rimmed fertile valleys of Washington State's Northeast Olympic Peninsula. By selling the finest local goods, the "farmstand" hopes to support the agricultural economy while providing its neighbors with the best in health, community, and eating pleasure.
The Red Rooster Grocery, "where we value food and the people who produce it," is located in the heart of downtown Sequim and provides regular access to a wide variety of locally-grown and locally-produced food products. Red Rooster supplements locally-available produce with high-quality, certified organic fruits and vegetables from the West Coast and Eastern Washington.
The new Nash's Farm Store in Sequim is now a complete grocery store featuring products from Nash's farm, as well as produce, eggs, meats, cheeses, dairy, baked goods and other products from other local producers. Additional grocery items include cereals, nuts, dried fruits, canned goods, paper products, coffees and mercantile items. All products are sourced from socially responsible and independently owned producers. Store managers have researched long and hard to find GMO-free and organic products for your health and well-being, as well as that of your family, the community, and the environment.
As you can see, we are serious about eating local. And, why not when it's as good as it gets? Stay tuned for information about the opening of Country Aire in Port Angeles in a new, big, remodeled retail space! |
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Have you met Sekiu?
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We've had such a great time with the Seattle Aquarium's naming contest for the new otter pup! And, the winning name is from the Olympic Peninsula. The adorable baby is named SEKIU! Pronounced like "C Q".
If you don't know about Sekiu, the location, here's a bit of info about Sekiu and the surrounding area! Check out their NEW website for useful information. Watch for the river otters in the video!
- The name "Sekiu" means Quiet Waters.
- Merrill & Ring Tree Farm, one of the largest employers in the area, is the oldest continuously family-owned forestry company in the state.
- The Old Schoolhouse in Sekiu is now a community center.
- Eagles and beachcombing are synonymous with Sekiu!
- Kayak, fish, dive or whale watch! You might see an OTTER!
- Lake Ozette, nearby, is the largest natural lake in the state.
- Tidepooling is one of the major interests around these waters. Check tide charts here.
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Olympic National Park Update for March
| Never mind that Whiskey Bend Road is closed! There are MILES of other trails below snow level to exercise those winter calves and thighs!
Whiskey Bend Road is closed for four weeks beginning February 28 as additional major repairs are needed. The 4.5-mile road that connects Olympic Hot Springs Roadto the Whiskey Bend trailhead, is closed to all public entry until approximately March 28. During this time, a portion of the road at milepost 1.7 will be removed and rebuilt and heavy trucks and machinery will be in use, necessitating a full closure to all vehicle and pedestrian entry to repair storm damage that occurred in early 2011. The public is reminded that all areas west (downhill) of the Whiskey Bend Road are closed due to dam removal activities.
Dam Removal
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March Things To Do on the Peninsula
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March 8
International Women's DayOlympic Cellars Winery
6-8PM * 360-452-0160
March 10-11 4th Annual Olympic Driftwood Sculptors ShowSequim Dungeness River Audubon Ctr. at Railroad Bridge Park
10AM-4PM * 360-681-2535 March 18
10th Annual Jefferson County Community Garage SalePort Townsend * Jefferson County Fairgrounds March 23-25
Victorian Heritage DaysPort Townsend and Fort Worden
360-379-2847 March 24-25
2nd Annual Rock, Gem & Jewelry Show Port Angeles * Vern Burton Community Center * 360-417-4550 March 30-Apr 1
Olympic Peninsula BirdFest Sequim |
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