Why Sequim?

Sequim is located in the Northwestern region of Washington State on The Olympic Peninsula. So north, in fact that on a clear day you can look across the Strait of Juan DeFuca and see Victoria, Canada. Better news? With a Washington State Enhanced Drivers License you can drive 25 minutes West into Port Angeles and take a 90 minute ferry to Victoria and return the same day.

What is unique about Sequim is it’s location in the Rainshadow of the Olympic mountain range. Sequim averages about 16 inches of rain annually and enough sun to have earned the nickname, “Sunny Sequim.” I’d read about this Rainshadow effect with mild skepticism before experiencing it for myself.  It is not unusual to enter Sequim from several nearby destinations like Port Townsend, Poulsbo, Silverdale or Bainbridge Island and find yourself reaching for the windshield wipers-to turn them off! Don’t get me wrong, we experience rain in Sequim. But just enough to keep everything green while enjoying a lot of sunny days.

Photos taken in Bell Hill, a  Sequim subdivision that overlooks Sequim Bay

Another remarkable feature of Sequim is its astonishing natural beauty. It’s not uncommon to see cars pulling over so that amateur photographers like me can ambitiously try to capture the perfect scene. Whether it’s a sunrise, a deer, a rainbow or snow-capped mountain; many Sequim residents strive to be Ansel Adams with a smartphone. The Sequim Facebook page demonstrates this by the abundance of photos residents often  posts usually followed with several Likes. Think about it, what city-themed Facebook page exists almost entirely of jaw-droppingly gorgeous photos posted by its residents? There’s a certain amount of contentment derived from not only viewing such photos, but reading comments like, “Aren’t we lucky to live in such a beautiful place?” Indeed.

Railroad Bridge Park which runs along the Olympic Discovery Trail