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As we head into a new year, we think of resolutions and fresh starts. It’s exciting to have a clear palette of possibilities for what lies ahead in 2024. Hopefully dreams of travel top your list! Winter is often a favorite time to get away and here on the Olympic Peninsula, it’s a magical time of year. Higher elevations are shrouded in snow, our beaches are uncrowded, and our trails beckon to be explored—none more so than our beloved Olympic Discovery Trail.
Come and experience our slooow season. We look forward to welcoming you to the peninsula this year. Wishing you a healthy and Happy New Year!
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Photo by Olympic Hiking Co. | |
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Olympic Peninsula Insights – Runs, Races and Rides in 2024
- National Plan for Vacation Day
- Enter to Win a Trip to Explore the Olympic Peninsula!
- Upcoming Events
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MV Coho Ferry Schedule Notice
- Olympic National Park
- Olympic National Forest
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Olympic Peninsula Insights | |
Runs, Races and Rides in 2024 | |
The new year offers opportunities to participate in exciting events for runners, walkers and cyclists. Nearly every month throughout the year there are runs, races and rides to join. Lace up your favorite running shoes, pump up your bicycle tires, fill your water bottle, bring a friend (or many!) and get ready for a fabulous year of fun competition or simply great exercise. LEARN MORE | |
National Plan for Vacation Day | |
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Dreaming of someplace to go this year? National Plan for Vacation Day is an opportunity to get creative and plan a memorable vacation. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to not only begin dreaming, but to plan what you want to do and where you’d like to go.
Gather your family and friends together to organize calendars and make your reservations before things fill up. This is especially important for the summer months when popular places are booked well in advance. This month it’s time to bring those plans to life and plan to visit the Olympic Peninsula!
LEARN MORE
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Enter to Win a Trip to Explore the Olympic Peninsula | |
And hurry, the contest ends January 31! | |
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The coast is clear. And the slooow season has arrived. Get in sync with our quiet season … more nature, more space, and a slower pace on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
Enter to win a vacation to enjoy it all! You’ll find inspiring winter travel ideas and the contest entry form here.
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8th Annual Whodunnit in Sequim?
January 5
“The Case of the Sterling Reputation” mystery game is a fun-filled evening where visitors engage with suspects and collect clues at various venues to solve the crime.
Play the game for a chance to win a prize during the January 5 First Friday Art Walk in Sequim from 5 – 7:30 pm.
The story is set on New Year’s Day 1986. Something is afoot as revelers recover from a rocking celebration the night before and discover the wildly popular Kitty Sterling Sterling, of MTV groundbreaking edutainment specials, has been kidnapped for ransom.
LEARN MORE
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Tour the Mysterious and Captivating Underground
Port Angeles
Beginning January 6
Take a fascinating guided historical tour into Port Angeles’ past to hear about the secrets that lurk under Port Angeles’ sidewalks.
Explore Port Angeles’ underground with weekly tours beginning January 6, happening every Saturday at 1 pm during winter and spring.
The Port Angeles Underground & Heritage Tours tell about the great feats, secret scandals, and hidden history of the city. LEARN MORE
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Port Townsend Film Festival 2024 Focus Film Series
Port Townsend
January 17
6:30 pm
The Port Townsend Film Festival 2024 Focus Film Series kicks off the year with The Right to Read, a documentary film shares the stories of an activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success—the ability to read. LEARN MORE
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Elma Chamber’s 15th Annual Winter Wine Festival
WineDown HoeDown
Elma
January 20
Raise a glass for the Elma Chamber of Commerce’s 15th Annual Winter Wine Festival on Saturday, January 20 from noon to 9 pm. This event will take place at the Grays Harbor County Fair & Event Center in the Mike Murphy Pavilion, including musical guests Amanda Ransom at 1 pm, Jokers Wild at 4 pm, and Aaron Crawford at 7 pm. Tickets are available for sale online, or at the door. LEARN MORE
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FREE DAY
Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest, Washington State Parks
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 15
Monday, January 15 marks the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. In honor of this federal holiday, Washington State Parks, Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest will celebrate with a FREE DAY for entrance, making it easy for you, your family and friends to get outside and enjoy the stunning winter beauty of our parks.
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MV COHO Ferry Schedule Change | |
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Port Angeles - Victoria, BC
January 3 - February 7
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Please note that the MV Coho ferry will be out of service from January 3 through February 7 for its annual maintenance so travel from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC will not be available during that time.
From February 8 to May 15, there will be two sailings daily from Port Angeles, 8:20 am and 2:00 pm, increasing to four daily sailings through the summer months. LEARN MORE
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Thanks to a generous donation from Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF), both Hurricane Ridge webcams have been restored. These essential tools for winter trip planning and weather watching are live on Olympic National Park’s website here.
Hurricane Ridge Road is open to uphill traffic Friday through Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm, with weather and road conditions permitting. All vehicles are required to carry chains. To learn more about the winter recreation opportunities at Hurricane Ridge, visit here.
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Photo by Olympic Hiking Co. | |
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To make winter access easier, Hurricane Ridge Winter Shuttle Service operates on Saturdays and Sundays from January 6 to March 31, 2024, departing from Port Angeles Wharf at 8:30 am and returning around 3:30 pm. Advance online reservations are recommended. Learn more and book online here.
For winter travel in Olympic National Park, always plan ahead, hike smart, pack the 10 Essentials and have an emergency plan, especially during the winter months. Although many areas of the park remain accessible, some roads, campgrounds and other visitor facilities are closed or have reduced hours. Before you go, call the recorded road and weather line at 360-565-3131 and check the park website here.
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Stay Safe on Forest Service Roads this Winter
Between heavy rains, wind and low elevation snow, Forest Service roads can change drastically over the course of one day. Below are a few reminders from the Olympic National Forest to ensure everyone has a safe winter while enjoying our public lands and driving on Forest Service roads:
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First and foremost, avoid getting stuck. Forest roads are not plowed and can be difficult to drive when slick with ice and snow. When in doubt, be safe and turn around.
- Never let your braking distance exceed your line of sight. For instance, if you can’t see around a corner, take it slow so you have plenty of time to stop if there is road damage on the other side.
Always be prepared by carrying chains, shovel(s) and a tow chain. Remember cell service may be spotty or unavailable, so be sure someone knows where you are and when you’ll be back. Check the latest weather forecast since conditions can rapidly deteriorate in the mountains. Bring a map. Dress warmly and take extra dry clothes. Expect winter weather, including cold temperatures, snow, and wind.
Stay up to date on road conditions and closures at https://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic or call 360-956-2402.
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The new year holds promise for exciting new adventures and it’s a perfect time of year to get away. We invite you to come and explore the natural beauty and magnificence of the Olympic Peninsula. Doing so in a safe and sustainable manner is vital to everyone’s well-being, so we encourage you to know before you go.
If we can assist you with your travel planning, please contact us directly. We look forward to seeing you on the Olympic Peninsula this season!
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