As we shrug off winter and begin to embrace spring here on the Olympic Peninsula, there’s no shortage of fun things to do and see. Bright daffodils and white crocus are harbingers of the season, dotting the landscape. And birdsong at dawn is our new alarm clock, especially since it’s time for the spring migration, bringing clouds of birds to beaches and nearby fields.
This month we’re featuring Sequim with its Sunshine Festival at the beginning of the month and the newly reborn Dungeness River Nature Center. And on the west side of the peninsula, on the ancestral lands of the Quileute Tribe, we welcome the gray whales as they return to the Pacific Northwest.
We look forward to your visit this spring!
|
|
-
Olympic Peninsula Insights – Dungeness River Nature Center
-
Meet the People Who Make a Difference – Powell Jones
-
Take Flight! – It’s a great time of year to get involved with birding
- Upcoming Events
- Olympic Culinary Loop
- Olympic National Park
|
|
OLYMPIC PENINSULA INSIGHTS |
|
Dungeness River Nature Center |
|
From majestic albatrosses swooping and gliding over the ocean waves to Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches picking frozen insects from high mountain glaciers, the north Olympic Peninsula provides a tremendous opportunity to find birds. This area ranges from soggy rainforest to the driest areas of Western Washington, almost always leading the state during late winter and spring migration bird counts.
The Sequim Prairie, in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, was formerly a mosaic of wild native plants and camas fields. It still has large swaths of open space for over 400 species of birds, such as migratory Trumpeter Swans, finding food and shelter. The estuaries and tidelands provide habitat for numerous shorebirds. For example, over 40 species of geese and ducks can be found here, as well as 56 species of rails and shorebirds.
The Dungeness River Nature Center in Sequim is dedicated to inspiring respect, understanding and stewardship of these natural resources.
|
|
MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE |
|
Powell Jones – Dungeness River Nature Center
Director of Dungeness River Nature Center
Park Manager of Railroad Bridge Park
|
|
Powell Jones’ leadership has helped to transform the Dungeness River Nature Center into the remarkable resource it is today. It was brought to life because of the passion of a group of people for the Dungeness River with their focus on education about our environment, and so its location provides access to the perfect outdoor classroom.
The organization and its partners are dedicated to inspiring wonder about the natural and cultural resources of the Dungeness Watershed. The new center brings attention to these resources because the Dungeness River and surrounding area are the fabric of what makes this place distinct and special.
In Powell’s words, “The Dungeness River Nature Center is for everyone, serving every age, from preschool to retired community members. You are never too young or too old to start learning about the place you call home or a place you are visiting.” LEARN MORE
|
|
Take Flight!
It’s a great time of year to get involved with birding
|
|
Birding is exciting because birds help us connect to the natural world as the seasons change and birds come and go from the area. You get to know and love a common species you see every day, but when a flashy new bird ends up off course that’s normally found far away, your birding heart may skip a beat! Seeing a bird here on the Olympic Peninsula that’s normally found in Asia or eastern North America makes us marvel at how these small creatures can survive these miraculous journeys.
The wonders of nature beckon to us. Just the other day, someone said to me, “The north Olympic Peninsula is so nice because it has all these wild places.” Perhaps the best thing about birds and birding is it gets us off the couch and outside, where we can enjoy the wild places and wonders of nature. [Special thanks to Bob Boekelheide, former director of the Dungeness River Audubon Center, for these excerpts from a blog he wrote.] LEARN MORE
|
|
Illuminated Drone Show
at the Sunshine Festival
Sequim
March 3 and 4
You won’t want to miss this spectacular display of art and technology as 200 drones light up the sky over Sequim on Saturday, March 4 at 7 pm during the Sunshine Festival. The show caps off two days of family-friendly events designed to celebrate the near end of winter and the coming of the spring and summer seasons.
Register now for the Sun Fun Color Run, visit craft vendors at the Sunshine Market, take in the Interactive Light Experience, and put your creative energy to work by contributing to the Community Street Mural. Live music and good food round out the festival activities. LEARN MORE
|
|
Forever in Twilight
Forks
March 17 – 19
If you can't wait until September to come back to Forks...meet us on the Equinox at the Forever Twilight in Forks Equinox. This celebration will feature new, smaller and more intimate events, including a concert, Twilight tours, a movie-watching experience, Paint and Sip with the Cullens, and more. It’s a perfect time and place for you and your Twilight friends to gather together. We'll also be joined by the Dreaming in Twilight cast, in collaboration with the Miller Tree Inn, who will help bring the books to life. Come to rainy Forks this spring and see the story unfold in this immersive experience. LEARN MORE
|
|
Squatchcon
Port Angeles
March 30 – April 2
Squatchcon is Port Angeles' Comic & Arts Convention with a hairy little twist happening. If you are into comics, comic book making and trading, fandom, KPop, cosplay and the arts then you won't want to miss the second annual Squatchcon. Tickets start at $15 and kids 12 & under attend free. LEARN MORE
|
|
Welcoming the Whales
First Beach by Baseball Field, La Push
March 31 – 10am
The Quileute Tribe will welcome the annual migration of the gray whales with song and ceremony on March 31 at 10 am. The ceremony will be at the youth ballfield area at the Quileute Tribal School. It will include an address from elders, the annual feeding of the whales and whale and wolf songs. Please direct any questions to the events department: events@quileutetribe.com 360.640 3297.
|
|
RESCHEDULED Frosty Moss Relay
Port Angeles
NEW DATE – April 1
Experience the Green Season on the Olympic Peninsula by running through mossy, ferny forests with your pals. Towering evergreens, endless moss and ferns, miles of waterfront and snow-capped mountains are your cure for gray-season blues! Bring your best road and trail running buddies. The Full Moss is 80 miles and the Mini Moss at 30 miles. LEARN MORE
|
|
Ocean Shores Razor Clam and Seafood Festival
March 17 – 19
|
|
Come celebrate all things seafood! Razor clams, fresh whole Dungeness crab, clam chowder, an oyster bar, fish and chips, scallops, crab shooters, salmon, crab boil, smash burgers, Russian dumplings, funnel cakes and more! Again, this year the festival is partnering with the Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival hosted in Port Angeles in October. Come and enjoy a fresh Dungeness crab meal complete with herbed potatoes and coleslaw. Advanced tickets are recommended to guarantee your crab dinner. LEARN MORE
|
|
Early end to some winter visitor services
at the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge
|
|
Beginning on February 24, 2023, the Hurricane Ridge Mountain View Café, Gift Shop & Rental Shop, operated by Aramark Sports and Entertainment Service, will be closed in preparation for the upcoming rehabilitation of the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge. Until the end of the winter season on March 26, 2023, visitors to Hurricane Ridge should prepare for this change by bringing their own food and drink. Ski and snowshoe rentals will not be available; visitors must bring their own equipment.
The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge will remain open weekends and holiday Mondays until the end of the winter season. The Day Lodge will continue to provide a place for visitors to speak with a park ranger, find a restroom, and warm up. For more information on visitor services at Hurricane Ridge and operating hours, click here. Up-to-date information on winter access to Hurricane Ridge can be found on the Hurricane Ridge Winter Access Twitter page or by calling 360.565.3131.
|
|
Plan your next trip to the Olympic Peninsula this spring
and for year-round activities by requesting your
|
|
Spring inspires us to want to travel, to get away and play. Come and discover a new place or visit an old favorite. Explore our trails and beaches. Try your hand at harvesting oysters. Play in our spectacular parks, not to mention the show-stopper of them all—Olympic National Park, where you can even go snowshoeing. It’s a magical place to spark your senses and explore the natural beauty and magnificence of the area. Doing so in a safe and sustainable manner is vital to everyone’s well-being, so we encourage you to know before you go.
If we can assist you with your travel planning, please contact us directly. We look forward to seeing you on the Olympic Peninsula this season!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
