it's pronounced "skwim" · the sunny corner
lavender capital of americaThe peninsula's sunny corner thanks to a rain shadow that gives this town more blue sky days than anywhere else in western Washington. Lavender farms in summer, the longest natural sand spit in the country, and the best berry picking on the peninsula.
Best for
Lavender, sand spit, sunshine, berry picking
Drive from Port Angeles
17 min · 17 mi east on 101
Stay at least
A full day · longer in lavender season
Best time
July (lavender peak) · year-round sunny
getting your bearings
First, the name. It's pronounced "skwim" like swim with a K. Not "see-kwim." The locals will know you're a tourist if you don't say it right and they'll be nice about it but they will absolutely correct you.
Sequim sits in a rain shadow created by the Olympic Mountains. Storms moving in from the Pacific drop most of their water on the west side of the peninsula and run dry by the time they reach Sequim. The result: about 16 inches of rain a year here, compared to 140+ inches in the rainforests just 50 miles away. Sequim averages more sunny days than almost anywhere in western Washington. The dry climate is also why the Sequim-Dungeness Valley grew into the lavender capital of North America starting in the 1990s when struggling dairy farms switched crops.
The valley has a cluster of working lavender farms, the longest natural sand spit in the United States (Dungeness Spit), an inland nature center, and a small downtown with shops and good food. Most families do this as a half-day or full-day stop on the way in or out of the peninsula. If you're here in July, plan two full days. Lavender peak is mid-July and worth the extra time.
getting in & getting around
Sequim is right on Highway 101, easy to reach from any direction. The lavender farms are spread across the valley so plan to drive between them.
17 miles east on Highway 101. About 17 minutes. Wide road, easy drive, one big elevation change at Morse Creek. No park entry fees needed for Sequim itself since most of it is outside Olympic National Park.
About 2.5 hours via the Bainbridge ferry, or 3 hours overland. Take Highway 101 west across the Hood Canal Bridge. Sequim is the first major peninsula town you hit. Many visitors use it as a base for both Port Angeles and Port Townsend day trips.
Most farms are within a 10-minute drive of each other in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley. The North Loop (B&B Family Farm, Lavender Connection, Victor's Lavender, Jardin du Soleil) is a clustered group good for hitting 3-4 farms in a single morning.
From downtown Sequim, take Sequim-Dungeness Way north for about 5 miles to the Dungeness Recreation Area. Free parking, then a half-mile walk down to the spit trailhead. Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge entry: $3 per family (good for a week).
Highway 101 through Sequim is fine for any rig. Most lavender farms have generous parking but some smaller ones get tight in peak season. The Dungeness Recreation Area campground (county-run) accommodates rigs up to 35 feet.
Sequim sits in the Olympic rain shadow, so the same mountains that soak the rainforest 50 miles west leave this valley dry and sunny. About 16 inches of rain a year, close to what Los Angeles gets, which is why the lavender grows the way it does. Ask the kids why one side of a mountain can be a rainforest and the other a near-desert.
It's the kind of thing we built a whole region unit around. Real lessons your kids do right where they're standing.
See the curriculum →the must-sees
Walk a lavender farm. Even if you're not into flowers, walking through 12 acres of lavender in full bloom is something else. B&B Family Lavender Farm is the largest organic farm and free to visit. Lavender Connection has 40+ varieties for u-cut. Purple Haze has lavender ice cream and lemonade. Jardin du Soleil is the prettiest one. The farms are open all summer, not just during festival weekend.
Hike the Dungeness Spit. The longest natural sand spit in the United States, stretching 5+ miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The full hike to the historic 1857 New Dungeness Lighthouse is 11 miles round trip on sand and gravel. Most families walk a couple of miles out, beach-comb, and turn back. Time it with low tide for the best walking and tide pools. The spit is part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge.
Olympic Game Farm. A drive-through wildlife park where you stay in your car and feed bears, buffalo, llamas, and elk who walk right up to your window. Famously, the bears wave for treats. It's old-school, slightly weird, and kids absolutely love it. About $25 per adult, kids a little less. You can't bring outside food for the animals anymore (it's a USDA rule now), so buy their vet-approved bread at the ticket office, $5 a loaf, and get at least two. No reservations, first come first served, last entry 4:15 in summer.
Dungeness River Nature Center at Railroad Bridge Park. A free nature center with interactive exhibits about the river ecosystem. The historic trestle bridge across the Dungeness River is part of the Olympic Discovery Trail. Easy paved walking, good for strollers, surprisingly engaging for kids.
Berry picking at Graysmarsh Farm. A working family farm since 1897. U-pick raspberries, blueberries, loganberries, and strawberries through summer. Bring containers. Eat half of what you pick. Reasonable pricing per pound.
kids pick
Drive through Olympic Game Farm in the morning while kids feed bears from their hands. Then head to Purple Haze Lavender Farm for lavender ice cream and lemonade. Animals you can touch in the morning, dessert in a flower field after lunch. They will talk about it forever.
smaller spots most guides miss
The big-name farms and the spit get all the attention. The valley has more if you wander.
The largest organic lavender farm in Sequim. Always free to visit, even during festival weekend when other farms charge. Free guided tours every 30 minutes. The 1920s drying barn smells like lavender heaven. Best for visitors who want a quiet, real farm experience.
A smaller, less-visited spit just east of Dungeness Spit. Public access at Cline Spit County Park. Tide pools, beach combing, views of the bay. Hardly any tourists, mostly locals walking dogs. Bring water shoes for tide pool exploration.
The actor anchored his yacht in Sequim Bay for years and his family donated the land for this marina. A small beach, picnic tables, boats coming and going, and Dockside Grill right there for lunch. Kids can throw rocks in the bay while you watch the sailboats.
Most people walk the spit at any tide. Time it with extreme low tide and the entire experience changes. More beach to walk, more tide pools, more sea creatures, fewer people. Check NOAA tide charts. Aim for tides under 1 foot.
U-pick raspberries, blueberries, and loganberries on a 4th-generation family farm. Open July through August typically. Reasonable per-pound prices. Bring your own containers. The strawberry season ends in early July so call ahead.
About 30 minutes west toward Port Angeles. Some of the best tide pools on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sea stars, anemones, crabs at low tide. Plus a WWII bunker complex (Camp Hayden) above the bluff. Worth the drive even from Sequim.
An aromatic tasting bar with 18 different lavender essential oils. You can smell each one and learn how they differ. 40+ lavender varieties on the property, most available for u-cut. The kind of small detail that makes one farm visit memorable.
If you don't have time for a farm visit, the downtown Sequim store has every product. Lavender lace cookies are the must-buy. One of the oldest lavender and herb farms in Washington state. Convenient last-minute stop on the way back to Highway 101.
trails worth doing
All distances are round trip. Sequim is more about flat coastal walks and farm strolls than serious hiking. For mountain hikes, head west to Hurricane Ridge.
Railroad Bridge Park loop
Paved · stroller friendly · nature center
Olympic Discovery Trail (Sequim section)
Paved · bike or walk · runs through downtown
Cline Spit County Park
Beach walk · tide pools · less crowded than Dungeness
Dungeness Spit (partial)
Sand and gravel · tide-dependent · scenic
Dungeness Spit to Lighthouse
Full spit · sand walking · time with low tide
Upper Dungeness River Trail
Forest hike · old growth · river crossings · ages 8+
Mount Townsend
Big climb · panoramic top · serious day hike
Walking 11 miles on shifting sand is way more tiring than 11 miles on a trail. Plan all day for the full lighthouse round trip. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, layers, and a tide chart. The spit can become impassable at extreme high tides. If you're with kids under 8, walk the first 2 miles, beach-comb, and turn back. That's plenty.
when you need a break
Sequim is naturally a slow place. These are the things to do when you don't feel like driving.
Downtown Sequim shopping
Boutique shops, art galleries, lavender stores. Cedarbrook Lavender's downtown shop has the famous lavender lace cookies. Walking distance, easy to spend an hour or three.
Sequim Lavender Festival weekend
Third weekend of July every year. Multiple farms host events. Live music, food, vendors, demos. Buy festival passes online to save money. Plan for crowds.
Carrie Blake Park
The town's main park with a Japanese garden, a pond, walking trails, and a big playground. Free. Good for a low-key afternoon. Festival's street fair happens here.
Bell Street Bakery
The local bakery everyone in town goes to. Lavender lemon scones, croissants, sandwiches. Get there before 11 AM or the popular stuff sells out. Worth the stop.
Kayaking Dungeness Bay
Calm protected water for beginners and families. Multiple rental shops in town. Half-day rental is plenty. The bay is sheltered and easier than open Strait paddling.
Sequim Farmer's Market
Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM, May through October. Civic Center Plaza in downtown. Local produce, baked goods, lavender, crafts. Smaller than Port Angeles but very local.
food, by meal
Sequim has a real food scene for a small town. Lavender shows up on a lot of menus and it's not gimmicky, it tastes good. These are the spots my family goes back to.
Breakfast
The local move is Bell Street BakeryQuick. Lavender lemon scones, croissants, breakfast sandwiches. Get there before 11 AM or the popular stuff sells out. Walk-up counter, easy with kids.
If you want a sit-down breakfast, Sunshine CafeCasual on West Washington Street is the local diner everyone keeps recommending. Big portions, friendly, fast. The biscuits and gravy alone are worth it.
Lunch
For a real lunch, Dockside GrillCasual at John Wayne Marina has fresh seafood and a water view. Fish and chips, chowder, salads. About 10 minutes from downtown. Outdoor seating in summer.
If you're already at a lavender farm, Purple HazeQuick serves lavender lemonade, lavender ice cream, and light snacks. Eat in the field. Hard to beat.
Picnic mode: pick up sandwiches at Hi-Way 101 DinerQuick (closed Sundays) or grab deli items from the Sequim Safeway or Costco, then head to Carrie Blake Park or the Dungeness Recreation Area. We do this all the time.
Dinner
For everyday family dinner, Toga's Soup House Deli & Gourmet CateringCasual is small but consistently good. Soups, sandwiches, comfort food. Closes early so plan an early dinner.
If you want something heartier, Sergio's HaciendaCasual for Mexican is a longtime local favorite. Big portions, kid-friendly, easy on the wallet.
Nourish SequimNicer
The nicest restaurant in town for a real grown-up dinner. Farm-to-table, seasonal menu, garden patio in summer. Lavender shows up here in dishes you wouldn't expect. Reservations smart on weekends and during festival weekend. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Alder Wood BistroNicer
Wood-fired oven, locally sourced ingredients, great wine list. The pizzas are excellent. Smaller dining room so reservations recommended in summer. A real date-night spot if you have a sitter.
Treats: Purple Haze lavender ice cream is the kid favorite. Cedarbrook Lavender's lace cookies for adults. Bell Street Bakery's lavender lemon scones for everyone.
where to spread the blanket
Carrie Blake Park. Shaded tables, a Japanese garden, a pond, and a big playground so the kids run while you set up. The easy downtown choice, five minutes from every grocery deli in town.
Dungeness Recreation Area. Bluff-top tables with the Strait of Juan de Fuca spread out below and the spit stretching into it. The best view-per-sandwich ratio in the valley. Eat first, then walk it off on the spit.
Railroad Bridge Park. Tables along the river under the historic trestle. Shade, water sounds, and the free nature center right there for after. Stroller-easy the whole way.
Cline Spit County Park. The locals' spot. No crowds, tide pools below, and the bay in front of you. Bring water shoes and let lunch turn into two hours of poking around rocks.
The lavender farms. Most farms have picnic areas and welcome it in summer. Purple Haze with lavender lemonade in hand is the version your kids will ask to repeat.
This is the one area of the peninsula where the picnic is zero effort: Costco, Safeway, and the bakeries are all within ten minutes of every spot on this list. Load the cooler, pick a view.
amy's check
Good news: Sequim is the supply town for the whole peninsula. This is the last easy everything before the wild parts start.
All distances from downtown Sequim. The only Costco on the peninsula lives here, and it has gas.
Costco
Right in Sequim · about 5 min · gas too
Target
Silverdale · about 1 hr 15 min east
Trader Joe's
Silverdale · about 1 hr 15 min east
Chick-fil-A
Bremerton · about 1 hr 30 min east · the closest one
If you're headed west toward Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, or Forks, this is your stock-up stop. Everything past Port Angeles gets smaller and pricier, so the Sequim Costco run is a peninsula tradition for a reason. Coming from Seattle, do Silverdale for Target and Trader Joe's on the drive in, then top off here.
gas, water & van basics
Sequim is where van families reset. Gas, groceries, real stores, real signal. Do it all here because your options shrink every mile west.
Costco, Safeway, QFC, and Walmart are all on or just off 101. The local gem is Sunny Farms Country Store on 101 west of town, a big red farm market with produce, a butcher, and a bakery. Half errand, half attraction. Stock deep here if you're headed west.
Everywhere, and Costco gas is usually the cheapest tank on the peninsula. Fill up before heading west. Past Port Angeles, stations get scarce and prices climb.
Easy town, no planning needed. Carrie Blake Park and Railroad Bridge Park have restrooms, and the Dungeness Recreation Area has them at the trailhead.
RV parks along 101 in town handle dumps, with Rainbow's End RV Park the closest to downtown. Take care of it here before heading west, where the options thin out fast.
Treat Sequim as errand day and it stops feeling like a chore. Costco gas, cooler restock, download offline maps and the kids' shows while you have real signal. Then Game Farm or a lavender farm in the afternoon so the day still counts as vacation.
hotels, cottages & camp
Sequim works two ways: a one-night stop on your way deeper into the peninsula, or a sunny base for day trips in every direction. Either way, July changes all the math.
Budget · county campground rates
Bluff-top sites · walk to the spit trailhead
A county campground on the bluff above the strait, with the Dungeness Spit trailhead a short walk from your site. Sites sit in coastal forest with water views from the day-use areas. Books through Clallam County, and summer weekends go early. Falling asleep to waves for campground prices is the deal of the valley.
Mid-range · $150-$190/night
Newer build · pool · breakfast included
The reliable family pick. Newer, clean, easy on and off 101, with a pool for the end of the day and breakfast handled before you head out. Nothing romantic about it, and after a day of lavender fields and bear slobber, nothing needs to be.
Splurge · $230-$340/night
On the water · strait views · books out fast in July
Cottages right on the water near Dungeness Bay, with the strait out the window and the spit down the road. Kitchens in the units, quiet at night, sunrise over the water with your whole crew still in pajamas. For festival week, this is the one to grab the day your dates firm up.
Van life · hookups + bluff camping
Full hookups on 101 · or Dungeness Rec Area up to 35 ft
Rainbow's End RV Park on 101 has full hookups and the easiest in-and-out for errand day. For the pretty night, the Dungeness Recreation Area takes rigs up to 35 feet on the bluff. Do one night of each and you've covered both needs.
Where you can't sleep: no overnighting at the refuge trailhead, the county parks, or the lavender farms. Sequim is small-town Washington; the campgrounds are cheap enough to keep it simple.
Festival weekend (third weekend of July): lodging books out 6-9 months ahead. This is the hardest weekend on the peninsula to wing.
Regular July: 3-4 months ahead for the cottages and waterfront spots. Hotels are easier.
The campground: reserve through Clallam County as soon as summer dates are firm. Bluff sites go first.
Everything else: outside July, Sequim is one of the easiest bookings on the peninsula. The rain shadow means even off-season stays are often sunny.