Port Angeles, The Authentic Northwest
Port Angeles
Mention the Northwest to someone and an image immediately begins to form. The Olympic Peninsula is considered the true Northwest by many, graced with majestic mountains and ancient glaciers that adorn the peaks of Olympic National Park. Then there are the lush, massive trees and the amazing array of the color green evident in the forests. Others are drawn to the relaxing view of a vessel plying the Strait of Juan de Fuca or a huge ship at anchor in the windswept harbor. Visual impressions are everywhere!
Port Angeles has a genuine downtown with a proud heritage. Ties to the past and Native American culture are evident in the murals and names used in the region. Being out on the water is one of the best ways to enjoy the Northwest and for many, the authentic Northwest is best appreciated on The Coho Ferry crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles and Victoria, BC, or paddling a kayak on one of the many rivers or bays. Visit and experience for yourself: Port Angeles, The Authentic Northwest. Download the Port Angeles Explorer Handbook today!
There is so much to do in Port Angeles! Savor the Crab Festival, then visit our galleries, the Fine Arts Center, restaurants, downtown shopping, Ediz Hook, head to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, and more! Our Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce has plenty of information for you.
Port Angeles Downtown Association
Port Angeles is the perfect place to stay when visiting Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula. It’s even a better place to live, work and raise a family. Downtown is the heart of the community where people come together to shop, dine, find essential services and have a great time close to home. Join us and find out why we say, “Everything is Waiting for You, Downtown”.
The members of the Port Angeles Downtown Association envision an exciting, attractive, and productive Downtown, providing employment and living opportunities, unique shopping, entertainment, cultural events, and recreational activities. Ultimately, Downtown is a destination for people, drawing visitors from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and around the world. www.portangelesdowntown.com
History and Underground Tour
Want to know more about Port Angeles and its history? There’s a wonderful guided tour of the downtown area including Port Angeles’ very own ‘underground’. Port Angeles Heritage Tours.
Olympic National Park
In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt issued a proclamation creating Mount Olympus National Monument to protect the summer range and breeding grounds of Olympic elk (better known today as Roosevelt elk). Olympic National Park was established on June 29, 1938. The coastal strip was added to the park in 1953. In 1976, Olympic National Park became a Man and the Biosphere Reserve and in 1981 it was designated a World Heritage Park.
Olympic National Park has three distinct major areas—the glaciated mountains and high country of the interior; the lush rainforest of the west-facing valleys; and the rugged wilderness coastline. The vastness of the park can seem daunting—you can drive completely around the park on Hwy. 101, yet no road goes all the way through the interior of the Peninsula.
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge, only minutes from the center of downtown Port Angeles, offers spectacular views of the high country and the Olympic Mountains. The 19-mile drive is breathtaking and you can stop at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center at the beginning of the drive and learn more about the mountains and the park.
Hoh Rain Forest
Moisture-laden air from the Pacific brings between 140 to 170 inches of annual rainfall to the Hoh Valley. This moisture has created one of the most lush rainforests in the world. Drive about two hours west from Port Angeles on Hwy. 101 to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is 19 miles inland from Hwy. 101.
Ocean Beaches
The rugged coastline of Olympic National Park can easily be explored at Rialto Beach and La Push. Take Hwy. 101 west from Port Angeles for about 90 minutes and turn west on State Hwy. 110. On the north side of the Quillayute River is Rialto Beach. On the south side of the Quillayute River is the Quileute Tribal reservation in the town of La Push.
More Park Information
Olympic National Park is open year round. Some roads and facilities are closed in winter. Entrance fees (valid for 7 consecutive days) are collected at various locations within the park from May through October and Hurricane Ridge year round. Cost is $25 per vehicle. Annual entrance passes can be obtained at entrance stations for $50, or ask about senior rates.
For visitor information, contact the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, (360) 565-3130 or visit www.nps.gov/olym.
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center and Webster’s Woods Art Park
Visit the changing exhibits of local artists’ work in the gallery, then wander through Webster’s Woods Art Park outside. Both are located at 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., about two miles south of downtown Port Angeles. www.pafac.org.
Dungeness River Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park
A beautiful natural history center located along the Dungeness River with many mounted specimens and knowledgeable folks to enhance your visit to the area. Located about 30 minutes east of downtown Port Angeles, at 2151 Hendrickson Road, Sequim. www.dungenessrivercenter.org
Feiro Marine Life Center
Located on City Pier, the Feiro provides visitors an opportunity to explore our marine environment with hands-on exhibits and activities (www.feiromarinelifecenter.org).
Olympic Discovery Center
Take a trip beneath the ocean without getting wet at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary’s Discovery Center, located adjacent to the City Pier on the second floor of The Landing Mall. The Olympic Coast Discovery Center is a great place to begin your learning adventures on the Olympic Coast. It has information for the whole family about marine conservation, the animals and habitats of the Olympic Coast, and the part you play in protecting our marine environment. Trained Discovery Center staff and dedicated volunteers will provide detailed information on where to hike, where to see whales, the best views or secluded beaches. You’ll get road distances and driving times, and tips for getting the most out of your visit. You will also learn about the history of exploration of the Olympic Coast and the many tools that researchers use to understand the underwater landscapes, living communities and ocean processes that make Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary the ecological treasure it is. Deep sea video is displayed in the Deep Worker Theater, a mockup interior of the DeepWorker submersible and wrap-around projection screen. The center is run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/visitor/discoverycenter/discoverycenter.html
Visit The Landing, right next to the Festival grounds for restaurants, art galleries, ATM machine and more.
