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Olympic Peninsula
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Jutting out toward the Pacific Ocean and bounded by waterways on three sides, the Olympic Peninsula remains a slice of remote wilderness despite its proximity to Washington's major metropolitan areas. Much of its mass is preserved as Olympic National Park, a recreational mother lode of glaciated mountains, mossy forests and isolated lakes and waterfalls. At the center of the park stand the mighty Olympics; rising nearly 8000 feet, Mount Olympus is suitably named after the haven of the Greek gods. These craggy monoliths wring voluminous amounts of moisture from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in North America's only temperate rainforest. Dense, old-growth conifers carpet their lower slopes, towering over glacial lakes and descending to driftwood-strewn beaches where seals and otters cavort around surreal sea stacks. Visitors will find a dozen well-equipped campgrounds and two lodges within the park. Sections of the coast are still inhabited by Native American tribes like the Makah, whose ancestral culture is presented in an excellent museum at Neah Bay. Ferries access the peninsula via Bainbridge Island, Port Angeles and Port Townsend, an impressive enclave of Victorian architecture.
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Daniel C. Schechter has contributed chapters to ten Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the Mexico, Caribbean Islands, and Pacific Northwest guides.
Daniel C. Schechter has contributed chapters to ten Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the Mexico, Caribbean Islands, and Pacific Northwest guides.
Interests
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Activities
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Olympic Peninsula Facts
- Location:
- Western Washington state bounded by both the Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean
- Wikitravel:
- Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula Must See/Do
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Olympic Peninsula See It Next Time
- Ocean Shores
- Aberdeen (Kurt Cobain birthplace)
- Port Angeles
- Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
- Clam digging at Dungeness Spit
When to Visit Olympic Peninsula
May to October for hiking and rafting, December to March for skiing and snowshoeing
Discover Great Trips
Olympic Peninsula Videos
Search Fares
Olympic Peninsula Maps
Olympic Peninsula Events
- Feb. Northwest Flower & Garden Show
- Apr - Sep. Kitsap Destruction Derby (Saturdays)
- Apr - Oct. Olympia Farmers' Market
- Aug. Tibet Fest
- July- Lavender Festival (Sequim)
- Feb. Seattle Festival of Improvisational Theater
- Aug - Sep. Olympia Harbor Days & Tugboat Races
More Olympic Peninsula Info
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More Destinations
- In Washington:
- Similar Destinations:
Three Sisters Wilderness (Oregon), Crater Lake National Park (Oregon), Mt Hood, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Columbia River Gorge & Mt. Hood, North Cascades National Park
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