The Olympic Peninsula and Washington Coast
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Olympic Peninsula and Washington Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Cape Disappointment State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)The cape, named in 1788 by Captain John Meares, an English fur trader who had been unable to find the Northwest Passage, and treacherous sandbar...
The cape, named in 1788 by Captain John Meares, an English fur trader who had been unable to find the Northwest Passage, and treacherous sandbar—the so-called graveyard of the Pacific—has been the scourge of sailors since the 1800s. More than 250 ships have sunk after running aground on its ever-shifting sands. The 1,882-acre park overlooking the cape was an active military installation until 1957. Emplacements for the guns that once guarded the Columbia's mouth remain, some of them hidden by dense vegetation. Trails lead to stunning beaches and eagles can sometimes be seen on the cliffs. All of the park's 220 campsites have stoves and tables; some have water, sewer, and electric hookups. The park also has three lightkeepers' residences (houses) available for rent, as well as 14 yurts and three cabins. Exhibits at the park's Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center tell the tale of the duo's 8,000-mile round-trip expedition. Displays include artwork, journal entries, and other items that elaborate on the Corps of Discovery, which left Illinois, in 1804, arrived at Cape Disappointment in 1805, and returned in 1806. A ½-mile-long path from the center leads to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. Built in 1856, it's the oldest lighthouse on the West Coast that's still in use.
Robert Gray Dr., Ilwaco, Washington, 98624, USA360-642–3029Sight Details
Day pass $10 per vehicle; annual Discovery Pass $30 (valid at all state parks); Interpretive center $5, campsites $21–$28 Day pass $10 per vehicle, annual Discovery Pass $30 (valid at all state parks); Interpretive center $5; lighthouse tours $2.50; campsites $20–$45 Rate Includes: Daily dawn–dusk; Interpretive center: daily 10–5 -
2. Makah Cultural and Research Center
Museum/GalleryThousands of Makah art pieces and artifacts, many eons old, fill a space done in low lights and rich timbers and divided into an easy route...
Thousands of Makah art pieces and artifacts, many eons old, fill a space done in low lights and rich timbers and divided into an easy route of intriguing exhibits. The centerpiece is a full-size cedar longhouse, complete with handwoven baskets, fur skins, cattail wool, grass mats on the bed planks, and a background of tribal music. Another section houses full-size whaling and seal-hunting canoes and weapons. Other areas show games, clothing, crafts, and relics from the ancient Ozette Village mudslide. The small shop stocks a collection of locally made art pieces, books, and crafts; plan to spend some time looking around.
1880 Bayview Ave., Neah Bay, Washington, 98357, USA360-645–2711Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Daily 10–5 (unless harsh weather forces closure) -
3. Aberdeen Museum of History
Museum/GalleryThe small museum has canoes from local tribes, as well as photographs that document Aberdeen's logging and shipping industries and exhibits...
The small museum has canoes from local tribes, as well as photographs that document Aberdeen's logging and shipping industries and exhibits portraying an old blacksmith shop and general store.
111 E. 3rd St., Aberdeen, Washington, 98520, USA360-533–1976Sight Details
Rate Includes: $2 for individuals, $5 for families, June–Labor Day, Wed.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. noon–4; day after Labor Day–May, weekends noon–4 -
4. Big Cedar
ForestThought to be the world's largest, this monumental cedar tree stands 178 feet tall and is 19 feet 5 inches in diameter. Area loggers left it...
Thought to be the world's largest, this monumental cedar tree stands 178 feet tall and is 19 feet 5 inches in diameter. Area loggers left it standing when they realized just how enormous it really was. The tree is off Nolan Creek Road. From U.S. 101, turn right onto Highway N1000 for 1.3 miles, then turn right onto N1100 for 2.4 miles. Turn right again onto N1112 for 0.4 miles, and then turn right once more for 0.1 miles.
Forks, Washington, 98331, USA -
5. Chetzemoka Park
City ParkA lovely gazebo is the hallmark of this gem of a city park, a perfect place to picnic perched atop a bluff overlooking Admiralty Inlet. The...
A lovely gazebo is the hallmark of this gem of a city park, a perfect place to picnic perched atop a bluff overlooking Admiralty Inlet. The 6 well-maintained acres also feature a pond, footbridge, swings, other playground equipment, and a whimsical, trellis-covered pathway that teems with blooms in spring. The Port Townsend Summer Band performs concerts in the park. Access the sliver of beach below via a short footpath.
Jackson and Blaine Sts., Port Townsend, Washington, USA360-379–5096-Public Works -
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6. Clallam Bay Spit
BeachThe former site of a Native American fishing village, where eagles and osprey can be found feeding on the sand, attracts beachcombers, fishers...
The former site of a Native American fishing village, where eagles and osprey can be found feeding on the sand, attracts beachcombers, fishers, and divers. The Pillar Point Fishing Camp to the east has campsites and a boat ramp. Dress warmly: Pysht Bay takes its name from a S'Klallam term meaning "where the wind blows from all directions." Amenities: toilets. Best for: walking; solitude; sunset.
Off Hwy. 112 at Clallam Bay and Pysht Bay, Sekiu, Washington, 98381, USA -
7. Clallam Historical Society's Museum at the Carnegie
Museum/GalleryThe region's past is preserved at this museum in a handsome 1919 building. Downstairs, historic photos and artifacts illustrate the lifestyles...
The region's past is preserved at this museum in a handsome 1919 building. Downstairs, historic photos and artifacts illustrate the lifestyles and history of the town's Native American and Anglo communities; rotating temporary exhibits are featured upstairs.
207 S. Lincoln St., Port Angeles, Washington, 98362, USA360-452–6779Sight Details
Rate Includes: Donations accepted, Wed.–Sat. 1–4 -
8. Coastal Interpretive Center
Museum/GalleryA great stormy-day educational spot for families, the center highlights the seaside environment, local history, and Native American traditions...
A great stormy-day educational spot for families, the center highlights the seaside environment, local history, and Native American traditions. Displays include tsunami debris, artifacts from the founding of the city, and Native American basketry. Reproduction seabirds, whale bones, and a vast shell collection let you examine the shoreline wildlife up close.
1033 Catala Ave. SE, Ocean Shores, Washington, 98569, USA360-289–4617Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Apr.–Sept., daily 11–4; Oct.–Mar., weekends 11–4, Closed weekdays Feb.–Apr. 1 -
9. Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum
Museum/GalleryDioramas and miniatures of Long Beach towns illustrate the history of southwestern Washington, and other displays cover Native Americans; the...
Dioramas and miniatures of Long Beach towns illustrate the history of southwestern Washington, and other displays cover Native Americans; the influx of traders, missionaries, and pioneers; and the contemporary workers of the fishing, agriculture, and forest industries. The original Ilwaco Freight Depot and a Pullman car from the Clamshell Railroad highlight rail history.
115 S.E. Lake St., off U.S. 101, Ilwaco, Washington, 98624, USA360-642–3446Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5; free on Thurs., Tues.–Sat. 10–4, Sun. noon–4, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
10. Cranberry Museum
Museum/GalleryHere, visitors can learn about more than a century of cranberry cultivation in this area, take a self-guided walking tour through the bogs,...
Here, visitors can learn about more than a century of cranberry cultivation in this area, take a self-guided walking tour through the bogs, try some cranberry tea, and buy cranberry products to take home.
2907 Pioneer Rd., Long Beach, Washington, 98631, USA360-642–5553Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Apr.–mid-Dec., daily 10–5, Museum closed mid-Dec.–Mar. Walking tours available all year. -
11. Discovery Trail
TrailCreated to memorialize Lewis and Clark's explorations here in 1805–06, the 8½-mile Discovery Trail traces the explorers' moccasin steps from...
Created to memorialize Lewis and Clark's explorations here in 1805–06, the 8½-mile Discovery Trail traces the explorers' moccasin steps from Ilwaco to north Long Beach, overlooking sandy dunes and beachfront. Access the trail from the beach parking lots on Sid Snyder Drive or Bolstad Street in Long Beach. Parking is also available at the Beard's Hollow lot in Cape Disappointment State Park.
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12. Feiro Marine Life Center
Educational InstitutionThis sea-life center has a perfect location right along the Port Angeles waterfront between the ferry dock (for Victoria, British Columbia,...
This sea-life center has a perfect location right along the Port Angeles waterfront between the ferry dock (for Victoria, British Columbia, in Canada) and a pristine stretch of beach. Murals decorate the outside; inside there are plenty of touch tanks for kids to explore. Educational programs are scheduled throughout the year.
Port Angeles City Pier, 315 N. Lincoln St., Port Angeles, Washington, 98362, USA360-417–6254Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5 -
13. Fire Bell Tower
Notable BuildingSet high along the bay-side bluffs, the tower is recognizable by its pyramid shape and red paint job. Built in 1890 to hold a 1,500-pound brass...
Set high along the bay-side bluffs, the tower is recognizable by its pyramid shape and red paint job. Built in 1890 to hold a 1,500-pound brass alarm bell, the 75-foot wooden structure was once the key alert center for local volunteer firemen. A century later it's considered one of the state's most valuable historic structures. Reach the tower by climbing the steep set of stairs behind Haller Fountain at the end of Taylor Street. The tenth-of-an-acre plot also holds a park bench and five parking spots.
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14. Fort Flagler State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)This fort, along with Fort Worden in Port Townsend and Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, was constructed as part of an "Iron Triangle" of defense...
This fort, along with Fort Worden in Port Townsend and Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, was constructed as part of an "Iron Triangle" of defense for Puget Sound. Take in sweeping views of Whidbey Island's magnificent bluffs and Port Townsend's Victorian skyline from what is now a 784-acre historical state park tucked on the northern tip of Marrowstone Island. Built in 1897 and surrounded by saltwater on three sides, Fort Flagler was a military training center through the world wars, and still has old gun emplacements overlooking its rocky, log- and driftwood-strewn beaches. The park has 55 campsites with full hook-ups, 3½ miles of coastline, and 5 miles of hiking and biking trails. Island inlets are great for paddling around; you can rent canoes and kayaks—and stock up on picnic items—at Nordland General Store (360/385–0777), the island's only grocery store.
10341 Flagler Rd., Nordland, Washington, 98358, USA360-385–1259Sight Details
Rate Includes: Day pass $10, annual Discovery Pass $30 (valid at all state parks), campsite $12–$42, Daily sunrise–sunset, Day pass $10, annual Discovery Pass $30 (valid at all state parks), campsite $12–$45 -
15. Fort Worden State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)With hiking trails, restored—and rentable—Victorian officers' houses, and pre–World War I-era bunkers, this historic 434-acre park provides...
With hiking trails, restored—and rentable—Victorian officers' houses, and pre–World War I-era bunkers, this historic 434-acre park provides myriad outdoor activities along with a step back in time. Built on Point Wilson in 1896 to guard the mouth of Puget Sound, the old fort is now a magical place for both children and adults to explore. A sandy beach leads to the graceful 1913 Point Wilson Lighthouse. Memory's Vault, hidden in the hill above the inlet, features works from local poet Sam Hamill as well as a place to contemplate. Touch tanks at Port Townsend Marine Science Center on the pier offer an up-close look at sea life. The fort also hosts kayaking tours, conferences, camping, an artillery museum, and music festivals in an old military balloon-hangar-turned-performing-arts-pavilion.
200 Battery Way, Port Townsend, Washington, 98368, USA360-385–4730Sight Details
Rate Includes: Day pass: $10 per vehicle; annual Discovery Pass $30 (valid at all state parks), Daily dawn–dusk -
16. Grays Harbor County Courthouse
Notable BuildingThe enormous, sandstone courthouse seems exceptionally grand for such a small town, but it was entirely appropriate at the time it was built...
The enormous, sandstone courthouse seems exceptionally grand for such a small town, but it was entirely appropriate at the time it was built, between 1909 and 1912, when Montesano was a prosperous railroad boomtown. Its clock tower soars above the classical, pillared entrance. The lobby has a marble staircase flanked by murals depicting Robert Gray in 1792, discovering the harbor that bears his name, and Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens negotiating with Native Americans at Cosmopolis in 1855. The murals inaccurately depict native people wearing feather headdresses and standing in front of tepees (neither was used by the local Chehalis). Information packets for self-guided tours around town are available in the room to the right of the Commissioner's Office.
102 W. Broadway, Montesano, Washington, 98563, USA360-249–3441Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Weekdays 8–5 -
17. Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
Nature Preserve/Wildlife RefugeIn fall and spring, this refuge, established in 1990, is a perfect place to observe the multitude of migrating shorebirds that visit the area...
In fall and spring, this refuge, established in 1990, is a perfect place to observe the multitude of migrating shorebirds that visit the area. Keep your binoculars handy as you stroll along the 1,800-foot-long boardwalk, and make sure to stop at the visitor center's shop and bookstore.
Airport Way, Hoquiam, Washington, 98550, USA360-753–9467Sight Details
Rate Includes: $3 per family, Park: daily dawn–dusk; visitor center: Wed.–Sun. 9–4, Free -
18. Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)You can hike or ride horses in this 364-acre marine park stretching more than a mile along both the Pacific Ocean and the Copalis River. A boardwalk...
You can hike or ride horses in this 364-acre marine park stretching more than a mile along both the Pacific Ocean and the Copalis River. A boardwalk crosses low dunes to the broad, flat beach. The Copalis Spit section of the park is a designated wildlife refuge for thousands of snowy plover and other birdlife. There is no camping at this park, but there's plenty of picnicking, bird-watching, mountain biking, fishing, clamming, kite flying, and beachcombing.
3119 Hwy. 109, Copalis Beach, Washington, 98569, USA360-902–8844Sight Details
Rate Includes: Day pass $10 per vehicle; annual Discovery Pass $30 (valid at all state parks), Daily dawn–dusk -
19. Jefferson County Historical Museum
Museum/GalleryThe 1892 City Hall building houses not only the museum but the basement cells of the old city jail, where author Jack London spent a night on...
The 1892 City Hall building houses not only the museum but the basement cells of the old city jail, where author Jack London spent a night on his way to the Klondike in the summer of 1879. On the way downstairs, walk through the old courtroom and fire hall, which houses a maritime exhibit, horse-drawn Victorian hearse, and the original Haller Fountain. (A replica stands at the base of the stairs at Taylor and Washington streets.) Here you'll also find exhibits of Native American artifacts, vintage photos of the Olympic Peninsula, and displays chronicling Port Townsend's past. The upstairs chambers are still used for weekly city council meetings.
540 Water St., Port Townsend, Washington, 98368, USA360-385–1003Sight Details
Rate Includes: $4, Mar.–Dec., daily 11–4; Jan. and Feb., weekends 11–4, $6, Closed weekdays Jan. and Feb. -
20. Kurt Cobain Memorial Park
City ParkThis pocket park, dedicated in 2011 along the muddy banks of the Wishkah River, pays homage to grunge legend and Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain...
This pocket park, dedicated in 2011 along the muddy banks of the Wishkah River, pays homage to grunge legend and Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, who grew up in a modest home two blocks from here. A guitar sculpture, lyrics to “Something in the Way,” and other remembrances—like an empty instrument-stand sculpture identified as the musician's air guitar—mark the quiet spot that fans still seek out more than 20 years after the rock star's death. Some leave messages on the park bench and picnic table as well as under the bridge.
E. 2nd St., under Young Street Bridge, Aberdeen, Washington, 98520, USA
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