We’re kicking off our summer road trip series — Hit the Road — with an outdoor adventure-themed trip to Olympic National Park. With majestic mountains, shores, and an honest-to-goodness rainforest, this region that covers nearly a million acres in the Olympic Peninsula is a great destination for experienced adventurers + novice nature seekers alike.
Before you start packing your bags, here’s everything you need to know about the area + ourinsider recommendations.
Drive time: ~2.5 hours to the visitor center in Port Angeles
Est. population: 20,000 (Port Angeles)
Avg. high in June: 68°
Hoh is among the largest temperate rainforests in the US. | Photo by @jackdarlingphoto via Instagram
🥾Things to do
Hurricane Ridge | If you need to sneak a peak for the ‘Gram, there may be no better spot in the park than this mountain area + its ridgetop hiking trails, located 17 miles south of Port Angeles. The road up is accessible by car during the warmer months.
Hoh Rainforest | The lush landscape of this temperate rainforest will make you feel like you’re strolling through a fairy tale. If you want a really immersive experience, there are still a couple of Hoh campsites available in late June.
The tiny train cabin has outdoor grills + a pond nearby. | Photo via Vrbo
🍽️ Fuel up after hiking
First Street Haven, 107 E 1st St., Port Angeles | This diner is known for its cinnamon rolls, which may be worth the trek all on their own.
Salty Girls Seafood Co., 210 W. Washington St., Sequim | Snack on oysters at this playful, friendly joint that sources its seafood from sustainable local farms + fisheries.
🏕️ Cozy campsites + cabins
Caboose, outside Sequim | All aboard. Yup, this rental with three beds is in a converted, salmon pink train car, sitting on old railroad tracks. It even has WiFi.
Rialto Beach Club, Forks | For travelers who want to rough it (with a side of glamping) this first-come, first-serve RV campsite on private land near the coast has room to roam — and a sauna.
Looking for more recommendations? Head to the link below. Plus, stay tuned for the July installment of our Hit the Road series. We’ll be highlighting a 30-mile road trip.
“Bruce” | Wed., June 15 | 2 + 7:30 p.m. | Seattle Repertory Theatre | $23+ | A play based on the making of “Jaws,” Steven Spielberg invades the island off Cape Cod where he faces storms, hostile locals + a malfunctioning shark named Bruce. 🦈
Toni Mirosevich | Wed., June 15 | 7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Elliott Bay Book Company hosts this chat + reading with the author of “Spell Heaven,” a new book of linked, sea-faring tales. 📚
Thursday
Barenaked Ladies | Thurs., June 16 | 6 p.m. | Marymoor Park, Redmond | $45+ | The Canadian rock band has released 16 studio albums and had a Ben & Jerry’s flavor named after them. 🎸
Strawberry Jam | Thurs., June 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Mainstage Theatre at 12th Ave. Arts, 1620 12th Ave. | $12+ | This 15-day, director-driven festival features Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights + newbies. 🎭
Friday
Washington State Craft Beer | Fri., June 17 | 4-9 p.m. | Marymoor Park | $5+ | Celebrate Father’s Day weekend with local craft breweries, wine + cider tastings. 🍺
Summer Solstice Night Market | Fri., June 17 | 3-10 p.m. | 7440 Sand Point Way NE | $75+ | This annual event has over 100 vendors, food trucks, live music + interactive art.
Saturday
Fremont Fair | Sat., June 18 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | N. 34th + 35th Streets | Free | Grab your body paint — Fremont’s legendary, weekend-long solstice party is back this year, with a parade beginning at 1 p.m. 🎉
“Serene Cheer and Warm Sunshine” | Sat., June 18 | 2 p.m. | Benaroya Hall | $24+ | The Seattle Symphony performs Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2” — long considered the composer’s sunniest effort. 🎻
Plan Ahead
Vance Joy | Fri., March 3, 2023 | 8 p.m. | Paramount Theatre*
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Construction begins this week on downtown’s new Overlook Walk pedestrian bridge — an elevated park connecting Pike Place Market to the Waterfront. Plans for the $70 million project include a new cafe, play areas for children, public art + amphitheater-style seating, with an estimated finish date in 2025.
Better late than never. After more than three years of delays, a $140 million, two-building project in Bremerton is now scheduled to open in late summer. The towers at 280 Washington Ave. will house more than 200 apartment units + 7,600 sqft of commercial space. 🏗️ (Puget Sound Business Journal)
Coming Soon
Meat you there? After closing for renovations back in December, Capitol Hill’s Dick’s Drive-In location on E. Broadway will reopen on Thurs., June 23. Most of the upgrades focused on the restaurant’s interior — and to celebrate the refreshed look, Dick’s is giving away a $20 gift certificate. 🍔
Sports
Major League Soccer and Apple announced a 10-year partnership worth~$2.5 billion. Apple TV will broadcast all MLS games starting in 2023. Sounders fans will have to pay to watch next season’s matches, while season ticket holders to all MLS clubs will receive a free subscription.
Ranked
Bust out the microscopes.Seattle is No. 9 among the top research talent pools in the US for life sciences, according to a new study by commercial real estate firm CBRE. The study also noted that the number of area researchers in such fields grew 24% from 2015 to 2020 amid a major uptick nationwide. 🔬 (GeekWire)
Theater
Whoever’s in the mood for a whodunnit may want to head over to Greenwood this summer. The Taproot Theatre Company announced that it will stage a production of Agatha Christie’s “Black Coffee,” a murder mystery starring famed detective Hercule Poirot. The play runs from Wed., July 15–Sat., Aug. 13. (PhinneyWood)
Open
This city can never have enough phở — and West Seattle is getting the latest addition. Alki Phở & Bar recently opened at 2808 Alki Ave. SW, with several variations on the Vietnamese noodle soup (including one with oxtail). It’s open Sun.-Thurs., from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and until 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 🍜 (West Seattle Blog)
Outdoors
Seattle Parks and Recreation has started the planning process for a 1.6-acre property that late philanthropist Kay Bullitt left to the city. The area on Harvard Ave. E., south of St. Mark’s, is currently a community garden — but the city is seeking feedback on what a city park for wider use might look like. 🌺 (Capitol Hill Blog)
Shop
Be sure to pop on by the new Seattle Restored Market that opens today — part of the recently launched Seattle Restored storefront program. The collection of products at the 1505 5th Ave. shop includes beverages from Campfire Coffee, ceramics from Technicolor Dino + mid-century furniture from Rescue Vintage.
Announced
Last week, we asked you to submit your best dad joke for a chance to be featured on a t-shirt or mug sold in Six & Main, our online store. Congrats to readers Jeff M., Natalie J., Anne M., and Elizabeth C. for submitting winning dad jokes that will be featured on merch (just in time for Father’s Day). All winners have been contacted, and thanks to everyone who submitted. Shop the dad joke collection.
Eat
If getting organic poultry, grass-fed beef, heritage pork, wild game + more delivered straight from the farm to your dinner plate sounds like your foodie dream, D’Artagnan Foods can make it happen. Their small farms deliver overnight forguaranteed freshness. 🍽️*
A health message from our sponsor
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Look at these pups goooo. Amid a sports-filled week, we hope you didn’t miss the “Running of the Bulldogs” at Emerald Downs in Auburn on Sunday. The ridiculously adorable, second-annual event happened between thoroughbred horse races at the track — and a very good girl named Momo Miraculous took the top prize. Possible inspiration?
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Editor’s pick: Going out to the Olympic Peninsula has always been a favorite road trip for me and my wife. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous everywhere — but if you can time it right, hit Shi Shi Beach when the tide is out to access a picturesque shoreline trail.
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