Go on a banana slug safari in the Hoh Rainforest, paddle a boat on Lake Crescent, soak in Sol Duc Hot Springs or explore low tide at Dungeness Spit. The Olympic Peninsula is a wonderland of natural beauty and full of adventures any time of year. Read on for 10 ways the Olympic Peninsula rocks (vampires not included).

Fort Worden Historical State Park

Bring sturdy shoes and a sense of adventure to this 19th century fort, which once guarded the entrance to Puget Sound. It's a warren of military buildings with batteries, gun turrets and bunkers for you and the kids to explore (great for playing hide-and-seek or flashlight tag!). But Fort Worden is not just for history buffs - there's a sandy beach with lots of shells, rocks and sea glass to be found. It's also a good spot for fishing and there are kayaks and rowboats for rent. Hikers will enjoy the 12 miles of hiking trails that run through the park - it's also great for mountain-biking (you can rent bikes if you left yours at home). You'll see the Point Wilson Lighthouse perched on the bluff - there's a 2.5 mile easy trail that leads to it and it's open for tours on summer Saturdays. Bring a picnic or visit The Cable House Canteen (offering burgers and a hot breakfast).

Overnight at the Barracks: There's so much to see and do at Fort Worden, it's definitely worth an overnight trip. There are two campsites (one on the beach), RV parking or you can SPLURGE on a historic officer's row house or non-commissioned officer's quarters.

Good to Know: A Discover Pass ($10) is required for vehicle access for day use (you don't need to buy one if you're staying overnight as it's included in your accommodation fee). Fort Worden is equipped with an automated pay station where you can buy your pass. If you'll be visiting a lot of Washington State Parks, we recommend the Annual Discover Pass ($30).

Fort Worden Historical State Park
200 Battery Way
Port Townsend, Wa 98368
360-344-4431
Online: parks.wa.gov/Fort-Worden or Map It

photo: Delanah Reudink 

What Olympic Peninsula adventures would you add to our list? Tell us in the Comments below.

— Helen Walker Green

Nothing brings out the life of Spring quite like the sounds of birds chirping. Waking up to the sun and a song from a flying friendly can be the best start to any day, and for those in the Sequim area, the day is about to get a whole lot better. The Olympic Birdfest is here, and everyone is getting a good long look at these gorgeous creatures. There’s something for everyone during this celebration, even for those night owls.

Patrick Hutchison of Seattle Magazine writes:

WHERE: Sequim, Washington.

WHY: For the Olympic BirdFest with the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society (3/30–4/1; times and prices vary. Dungeness River Audubon Society, 2151 W Hendrickson Road; 360.681.4076; olympicbirdfest.org). The annual celebration offers beginner and advanced birders the chance to search for such fine feathered friends as the yellow-rumped warbler and the elusive marbled godwit, plus classes and guided walks—including late-night “owl prowls.”

To read more about the Olympic BirdFest click here for the full Seattle Magazine article.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

It might be too soon to be sending your littlest ones off to camp this summer, but you can still have the summer camp experience – with the entire family! Family camp is a great option for families who would love to go camping, but don’t have all the necessary gear or want to spend time cooking on a campfire. At family camps, meals are included and cooked for you mess hall-style and lodging is provided in comfortable cabins. Try going with just your family or invite extended family, neighbors or friends from school along for what is be sure to become your newest summer tradition. Here are our picks for some of the best family camps in Washington state:

photo courtesy of Camp Orkila’s Facebook

Camp Orkila, Orcas Island, WA
Located in the gorgeous San Juan Islands, Camp Orkila offers something for every camper in your family. At the Family Camp, you can choose to rough it in one of the main cabins or pay a bit more to bunk in the Dederer Center that has running water, restrooms and electricity. During the day, enjoy activities as a family or as individuals (kids can explore with counselors!) – Orkila offers traditional camp fun such as archery, swimming (outdoor pool) and horseback riding, plus bonus activities that include an indoor rock climbing wall, kayaking in the Sound, and a ropes challenge course. Each night, the entire camp population comes together for a sunset campfire and all those camp songs that you remember from your own days at summer camp!
Cost: $103-298 per person, depending on dates and accommodations.
Dates: Mother’s Day Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Fourth of July Weekend and Labor Day Weekend.
Online: For registration details and contact information, visit their website.

Camp Seymour, Gig Harbor, WA
Voted one of the best kid’s camps in the Northwest, Camp Seymour offers family camps throughout the year. Favorites at Camp Seymour include exploring the beach for sand dollars, boat making and racing over Labor Day weekend, and taking a ride in oversized canoes out to Pirates Cove after nightfall. Your kids will love the teenage counselors that volunteer at the camp over the summer and you’ll love experiencing camp through their eyes.
Cost: $82-189 per person with kids under age three for free. All family camps have a $4.00 Limited Membership Fee, which applies to participants who are not members of the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties association.
Dates: Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend and Fall Family Camp in October.
Online: View the full summer camp brochure on the Camp Seymour website.

photo courtesy of Camp Seymour’s Facebook

Olympic National Park Family Learning Adventures, Port Angeles, WA
For families who would really like to immerse themselves in the outdoors this summer, but would also love the community and leadership that comes with going to family camp, an Olympic Park Family Learning Adventure may be for you! The camp is located on the gorgeous Olympic Peninsula on Lake Crescent and offers individual experiences for families to choose from, based on what you’re interested in — geology, trees, rivers and much more. Mom and Dad will love that there are workshops for the kids to attend with trained guides and counselors while you spend some time relaxing on the shores of the lake. Families stay in cabins with shared bathrooms.
Cost: Approximately $200-400, depending on the program you choose; children 4 and under are free
Dates: Family programs dates begin in July and run through October. See the website for date details.
Online: Visit their website for further information about the family programs.

Have you ever been to Family Camp? Share your experience with us in the comments section below!

— Katie Kavulla

Are you craving an escape from these cooler temperatures? Wondering when you’ll able to experience real, true summer? We hear you, Seattleites! Everyone deserves a moment (make that lots of moments) in the sun, so we’ve compiled a list of places where you might find yours. Catch your well-deserved rays while camping, exploring new places, or playing outside with the kiddos. Here’s hoping you’ll have a sun-filled time!

(Of course, sunshine is never a sure thing, so check weather forecasts before hitting the road.)

Head to the coastal sea town of Seabrook, WA. It’s the closest sandy beach on the Pacific Ocean (did somebody say sandcastles?) and a great place for bike riding and kite flying!

Find out why Lake Chelan (pictured) is called “nature’s playground.” There are tons of activities (on the lake and off) to wow the little ones and chances are the sun will greet you when you arrive.

Situated in the “rain shadow,” a frequently rain-free area, San Juan Island is the perfect sunny escape! Orca whale-watching season lasts from now until October 15, you can take any number of hikes (including one to a lighthouse), and there are all kinds of festivals going on all year round.

Intrigued by the San Juan Island area? You and the fam can enjoy a camping experience at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands. There are several types of camps to chose from, including a Family Camp. Picture a sunset campfire that doesn’t involve chilly children. Yep, sounds good to us, too.

Sure, you might associate Suncadia with wintertime, but don’t write it off just yet. There are lots of reasons to visit this resort and every chance that you’ll catch some sun if you do! Hike, bike, fish, or boat with the family. The resort even has pre-arranged Family Programs.

Get in touch with the great outdoors as part of the Olympic Park Institute Family Program. The camp offers seven individual experiences for families to choose from and is located on the gorgeous Olympic Peninsula on Lake Crescent. Though the area’s climate can be affected by the nearby mountains and sea, summers are usually fair to warm.

Bend & Sunriver has over 300 sunny days a year. We feel like that’s enough incentive to visit, but if you need more: there are museums, hikes, and a swim center just waiting for you to enjoy. And, if your idea of a sunny vacation doesn’t exclude snow, you can always enjoy skiing and other “winter” activities.

Spend some time at one of the best kids’ camps in the Northwest, Camp Seymour. Family camps are offered throughout the year, with lots of different vacation and recreation activities. The camp is located in Gig Harbor, where the Cascade Range and the Olympic Mountains serve as barriers to easterly and northerly weather systems and the weather is usually ideal.

Make a day-trip out of a visit to the Camano Island/Stanwood area. Though the population swells during summer months, the area still has an isolated feel to it. Camano Island’s protected location (offered by Saratoga Passage to the west, Skagit Bay to the north, and Port Susan to the east) offers less chills and more sunny thrills.

—Abigail Matsumoto