Sequim - city in Clallam County, Washington, United States

Sequim is a small city on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington (state). Sequim's main claim to fame is that, because of the rain shadow created by the Olympic Mountains to the south, it is the sunniest place in Western Washington, receiving much less rain than even nearby Port Angeles. This unique climate makes it an exceptional place to grow lavender, surpassed only by Provence in France. You may want to bring a bucket to pick lavender, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Sequim is also famous for the flavorful native Dungeness crab.

Get in

By car

US Highway 101 is the main route into Sequim. Along 101, Sequim is 17 miles east of Port Angeles and 104 miles north of Olympia. From Port Townsend, take State Route 20 west for 13 miles, and then US Highway 101 west for 18 miles.

By bus

• From Port Angeles, take Clallam Transit Route 30 from Gateway Transit Center.
• Jefferson Transit, +1 360-385-4777, custserv@jeffersontransit.com. Provides the #8 bus to Sequim, from Haines Place Park and Ride in Port Townsend. $1.50
• From the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, Clallam Transit also offers Route 123, The Strait Shot, an express bus which is timed to connect with the ferry from Seattle. It runs twice a day Monday through Saturday, once on Sundays and holidays. Including the ferry ride, the total time from Seattle is 2 hours and 10 minutes.
• Dungeness Line, +1 360-417-0700. Provides service to Sequim from Seatac Airport, Seattle, Port Townsend, and Port Angeles. $10-42
• Rocket Transportation, +1 360-683-8087. Offers shuttles, by reservation only, from Tacoma, Seatac, and Seattle. $74.60 one way, $126.80 round trip; companions $52.20 one way, $88.80 round trip; children ages 2-14 37.30 one way, $63.40 round trip.

By bicycle

• Olympic Discovery Trail. A bicycle trail running all the way from Port Townsend, on Puget Sound to the east, to La Push, on the Pacific Ocean to the west. The portion from Port Townsend to Port Angeles is paved.

By air

• Sequim Valley Airport, 468 Dorothy Hunt Ln, +1 360-683-4444, sequimairport@gmail.com. General aviation airport.
• The nearest airport with commercial service is Paine Field in Everett. The nearest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

By sea

John Wayne Marina is nestled on the west side of Sequim Bay.

Get around

Sequim is rather sprawling, and a car is the best way to get around. Although the core town is so small that you could walk the length of town in under an hour, many of the highlights - such as the lavender farms - lie on the outskirts. So if you're without a car, you should at least bring - or rent - a bicycle. Washington Street, running east-west, is the main commercial street. There is a small, somewhat walkable downtown, centered around the intersection of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue.

By bicycle

• Ben's Bikes, 1251 W Washington St (at River Rd), 48.07703°, -123.13361°, +1 360-683-2666. Local bicycle shop which offers rentals.
• Pedego Electric Bikes, 213 E Washington St Ste 3 (at Sunnyside Ave), 48.07941°, -123.09996°, +1 360-683-0635, info@pedegosequim.com. Local outpost of an electric bicycle chain which offers rentals.

By bus

• Clallam Transit, +1 360-452-4511. Provides local bus service. Given the inconvenient routing and infrequent service, you'll probably get there faster by walking. $1
  • Sequim Transit Center, 190 W Cedar St (at 2nd Ave), 48.0808192°, -123.1046179°. All buses stop here.
  • Route 30 goes west from Sequim Transit Center, along Washington Street, continuing south on River Road, and then on to Highway 101 and eventually to Port Angeles. Runs every 45 minutes between 6:10AM and 9:36PM on weekdays, and hourly on Saturdays between 8:15AM and 7:55PM.
  • Route 40 goes almost everywhere in town, beginning at Sequim Transit Center and looping around to the south, east, north, west, and then north again, before returning to the transit center. Runs every 45 minutes between 8:35AM and 4:40PM, on weekdays only.

See

• Olympic National Park
• Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, 554 Voice of America Rd, 48.1631°, -123.1586°, +1 360-457-8451. 7AM to one half hour before sunset. The highlight of the refuge is the Dungeness Spit, a narrow strip of land extending 5 miles out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Wildlife viewing, hiking, boating, fishing are possible. $3 per family, children under 16 free
  • New Dungeness Lighthouse, 48.18175°, -123.11029°, +1 360-683-6638, scheduling@newdungenesslighthouse.com. 9AM-5PM. Lighthouse on the end of Dungeness Spit. Free
• Olympic Game Farm.
• Hurricane Ridge.
• Deer Park.
• San Juan Islands
• Strait of Juan de Fuca
• Jardin Du Soleil lavender farm.
• Purple Haze Organic Lavender Farm, 180 Bell Bottom Rd, +1 360-683-1714. Sequim is famous for its scenic lavender farms. Wander the fields at this certified organic lavender farm and browse its gift shop, which offers a variety of lavender products made from lavender oil distilled on-site.

Do

• Golfing

• Hiking

• Biking

• Beachcombing

• Ocean kayaking

• Windsurfing

• Berry picking

  • Graysmarsh Farm

• Powered paragliding

• 7 Cedars Casino

• Olympic National Forest Buckhorn Wilderness, +1 360-956-2401. 2020-12-20

Events

• Annual Irrigation Festival, +1 360-775-5814, info@irrigationfestival.com. Early May. Washington's oldest festival, celebrating the irrigation of Sequim using the waters of the Dungeness River, back in 1895. It consists of a parade through town, and various events near downtown.
• Sequim Lavender Festival, +1 360-681-3035. mid-July. Annual festival celebrating Sequim's best-known product.
• Tour de Lavender, +1 971-704-1156, info@tourdelavender.com. first Saturday in August. Annual group ride to visit the iconic lavender farms of the Sequim Dungeness Valley. adults $70, youth 12 and under $15, after-ride dinner $35, tent site reservation $20 2020-12-20

Buy

There are many small quaint shops in downtown Sequim. Lavender products are available at various lavender farm outlets (dead link: January 2023).

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• Jamestown S'Klallam Indian Art Gallery. Offers art & souvenirs.
• Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market, 152 W Cedar (at Sequim Ave), 48.080861°, -123.102755°, +1 360-582-6218, manager@sequimmarket.com. May-Oct Sa 9AM-2PM. 2020-12-20

Eat

• Oak Table Cafe, 292 W Bell St (at 3rd Ave), 48.07905°, -123.1075°, +1 360-683-2179, info@oaktablecafe.com. 7AM-3PM. Breakfast ranges from the basic - eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles, omelettes - to the fancy - eggs nicole, eggs benedict, Kijafa cherry crepes. Salads, sandwiches, burgers - plus quiche du jour, made with seasonal ingredients - are available for lunch. $9-17 2020-12-20
• Blondie's Plate, 134 S 2nd Ave (between Washington St and Bell St), 48.0791°, -123.10467°, +1 360-683-2233, joshuaa@blondiesplate.com. M-Th noon-7PM, F Sa noon-8PM, Su closed. Menu ranges from fried brussel sprouts with balsamic dressing to a Kobe beef burger topped with garlic aioli to the steak frite - a 16 ounce ribeye with a side of fries. Has a similarly eclectic cocktail menu. $8-39 2020-12-20
• David Family Taqueria, 300 E Washington St (between Sunnyside Ave and Govan Ave), 48.07997°, -123.09838°, +1 360-681-5124. 11AM-8PM. Tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, burritos, nachos, carne asada. $3-16 2020-12-21

Drink

• Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W Washington St (between Sequim Ave and 2nd Ave), 48.07955°, -123.10346°, +1 360-681-0690. Tasting room of local winery, with food and live music. 2020-12-20
• Hurricane Coffee Co, 104 W Washington St (at Sequim Ave), 48.07994°, -123.1026°, +1 360-681-6008. M-Sa 7AM-5PM, Su 8AM-4PM. $2-5 2020-12-20

Sleep

Many locally owned motels are available in the area as well a few large chains.

• George Washington Inn, 939 Finn Hall Rd, +1 360-452-5207. George Washington Inn is a bed & breakfast on the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Sequim and Port Angeles. $300-400
• The Farmhouse Vacation Rental at Purple Haze Lavender Farm, 180 Bell Bottom Rd (take the exit to John Wayne Marina (White Feather Way) and turn left on West Sequim Bay Road). Enjoy ogri-tourism, where you stay in a beautiful rural setting, and can watch firsthand the operations of a working Lavender Farm. The Farm House can comfortably accommodate 8 guests. $275 for 6 guests
• Sundowner Motel, 364 W Washington St (between 3rd Ave and 4th Ave), 48.07987°, -123.10992°, +1 360-683-5532. Clean, no frills motel. $53 2020-12-21
• Great House Motel, 740 E Washington St (at Brown Rd), 48.07899°, -123.09185°, +1 360-504-2629. Rustic, but clean motel. $50 2020-12-21
• Red Caboose Getaway, 24 Old Coyote Way (at Sequim Bay Rd), 48.07639°, -123.07871°. Bed and breakfast where each "room" is in a caboose, each with its own theme, on its own track, all of them situated around a duck pond. The interiors are quaint, even kitschy, but with all the amenities you would expect in a modern hotel. $222-242 2020-12-21

Go next

• Port Townsend
• Port Angeles - Gateway to Canada via ferry. Location of Fairchild International Airport.
• Olympic Loop - Take the Olympic Loop for a scenic drive back around the Olympics.