(1 min video below)
Not only is Sequim (Skwim), Washington the lavender capitol of the world, it is also in, what is referred to, as the “rain shadow”. What does this mean? It gets half the 38″ of rain Seattle gets which is not far away. Sequim is nestled just a few miles inland off the Salish Sea on the northern part of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, or OP as they call it. It is green and lush but sees many more sunny days than its neighboring city of Seattle. Because it’s considered a coastal town it only averages 2 inches of snow a year. (Not bad!! We’re use to 40″+.)
The following two places are where we spent our time.
PURPLE HAZE LAVENDER FARM
- Lavender is cut twice a year – October and Summer
- There are over 15 varieties – this farm grew Grosso (fragrant), Melissa & Royal Velvet (for culinary uses)
- Ate their Lavender ice cream! It was delicious!
- If you cut and hang lavender upside down for 3 weeks the smell will last up to 3 years.
DUNGENESS SPIT
This place was so cool – even if it does sound like a wet (spit-filled) dungeon. 🙂
We learned a spit was a sand/gravel peninsula of sorts and this one juts out into the Salish Sea (off the Pacific Ocean) a mega 6 miles!
Dungeness Spit is a Recreation area and was free to enter. It takes about 15 minutes to walk through a groomed trail through fern-filled forest down the coastline. You are free to walk the 6 miles down the spit to a lighthouse, but most people meander a few hundred feet then turn around for a 10 min return hike to the parking lot.
This area is also known to be a wildlife refuge for animals and birds.