Many people, when they travel to the area, spend most of their time checking out the big destinations; Olympic National Park, the Hoh Rainforest, Lake Crescent and more. Not many focus on the fun and beautiful things Sequim offers. This itinerary will prove fun for visiting families and local families alike.
What you will need:
Hiking shoes
Bottled water
Sunscreen
Backpack
8AM - Breakfast at Oak Table Cafe
Oak Table Cafe in Sequim is one of our favorite breakfast restaurants in the area. With large portions, and good hearty food, starting your adventure with a meal from Oak Table will definitely keep you going for a long while. Their bacon is always cooked to perfection and their fresh squeezed Orange Juice is so very tasty. Their menu offers everything from German Pancakes and Crepes to Quiches and omelets. I cannot say enough about this place! If you are in the area, try it! You won't be disappointed!
10AM - Stop at Hardy's Market for a picnic lunch
On the way to your first leg of your adventure, you will find Hardy's Market on North Sequim Ave. They make fresh drinks, coffees, sandwiches and salads as well as being located in a market where you can pick up anything else you would like for your picnic lunch; chips, juice, soda, and more. Don't forget water and sunscreen if you left those behind!
10:30 - Olympic Game Farm
A short 10 minute drive from Hardy's Market will bring you to the Olympic Game Farm. Here you will get up close and personal with Yak, Zebra, Llamas, Elk, Bison and more. When you arrive, keep an eye out for peacocks, they love to welcome you before you even make it through the gate! At the ticket booth, make sure to purchase bread, we usually get a loaf per person. It goes quick and it's the most fun of the whole experience! You will then head off, driving through different sections of the park. You are able to feed all but the meat eating predators that are in cages, and don't stop in the Elk and Bison enclosure, they can get rather aggressive. The Olympic Game Farm is one of the most fun activities for families in the area!
12:30 - Dungeness Recreation Area
After enjoying your time with the animals, head to the Dungeness Recreation Area. Here you will find many day use areas with picnic tables overlooking the Straight as well as hiking trails. This is the perfect spot to stop and enjoy your picnic lunch before heading onto your next leg of adventure!
1:30 - Dungeness Wildlife Refuge
After enjoying your picnic lunch, keep heading down Voice of America Rd. The Dungeness Wildlife Refuge is located adjacent to the Dungeness Recreation Area. Driving through the Recreation Area will lead you to the parking lot for the Refuge. There is a small fee for families to enter so make sure to have a few dollars cash. The hike to the Refuge is about a mile long through beautiful woods. The path is paved until you get to the beach, but the last bit is at an incline. I would recommend using the restroom located in the parking lot prior to taking off on the hike. There are no restrooms at the beach, and the hike back can seem long when you need to go. The trail leads to 2 look out decks prior to arrival at the beach. Make sure to stop at each, the views are amazing! The kids love to look out of the binoculars and see if they can catch a glimpse of the lighthouse or a bald eagle. Continue past the lookouts and you will end at a beautiful beach. The beach is full of rocks and driftwood. At the very far end of the beach is the Dungeness Lighthouse. It is a good 5 mile hike to get there. If visiting the lighthouse was in your plans, make sure to plan your hike with the tides and go during low tide. My kids are too young to make it that far so we just visit to enjoy the beach. The kids love chasing the surf and building driftwood forts. It's a great beach for kids. They won't want to leave.
5:30 - Todesco's Italian Fresh
After enjoying the beach, relax until it's time to enjoy dinner. Our suggestion to top off your day would be Todesco's Italian Fresh. It is hands down our favorite restaurant in all of Sequim and Port Angeles combined! We have never had one thing that we have been disappointed with! Everything is phenomenal there! We love their Calamari Appetizer and never go there without ordering it! We usually also start with a Caesar Salad and their Garlic Kisses (in addition to their regular bread with oil and vinegar- yum). Don't forget to relax with a cocktail mom and dad! They make signature martinis and cocktails that are just heavenly! Make sure to ask about their daily specials, it's usually some delectable fresh fish. If their special isn't up your alley, their Shrimp Scampi and Chicken Marsala are two of our favorite dishes! Top off your meal with a slice of their Tiramisu or Creme Brulee!
If you have enjoyed any of these destinations or dined at any of these restaurants, please don't hesitate to comment with your thoughts! I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does!
Happy Adventuring!
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