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Quilcene
representing:
Unincorporated Clallam County
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Greetings, Friends!
New Year... new adventures! We hope 2015 adventurers will include trips to Washington's Olympic Peninsula, where we can help visitors discover something new and exciting. Word has it that 2014 was a banner year for visitation on the Olympic Peninsula. Congratulations to all who helped create good memories for our guests.
We have a New Year's resolution to support and promote tourism, and to help create better awareness of how important visitors are to our economy. How about you? Why not attend Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission's monthly meetings? We usually alternate meeting locations between Port Angeles and Sequim. The first Thursday of the month at 11am is the scheduled meeting date. Lunch is no-host. Please call the OPVB office to confirm date, location and time. 360-452-8552.
Mark your calendars: February 12, Wednesday, is the 5th Annual Washington Tourism Alliance Summit and Day in Olympia. Come join fellow business leaders and tourism partners to say "Tourism Matters" in Washington State. Registration is now open for this one-day gathering. There are overnight lodging discounts available For more information, please see the
Washington Tourism Alliance agenda.
Look forward to seeing you at one of these events.
Marsha Massey
On Behalf of the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission
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Lots to do this winter season!
|  Start the year out right in PORT TOWNSEND 11th Annual Strange Brewfest January 23 - 24, 2015
This has become a major winter event in Port Townsend with lodgings often selling out, so reserve your accommodations soon! Fort Worden will be offering a January Special--$100 off for a two bedroom house and $200 off for a four bedroom. This offer runs Jan 2-31. Reservations must be made by phone by calling 360.344.4400.
January 24, 2015 at the Port Angeles High School Auditorium. A favorite of locals and visitors alike.
Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby February 20 - 22, 2015 
Tickets are now on sale for the 2015 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby $10,000 Winter Blackmouth Classic.
Because the 2015 fishing season starts late in Marine Area 9, the event runs Feb. 20 - 22, instead of the traditional Presidents Day weekend. Even if you aren't fishing, check out the excitement of the Derby at the five launch ramps and weigh stations:
- Freshwater Bay
- Ediz Hook Boat Ramp (Port Angeles)
- John Wayne Marina (Sequim)
- Gardiner Boat Ramp
- Port Townsend Boat Haven
SAVE THE DATE! February 7 - 8 and 14-16 Red Wine & Chocolate |
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Did you know that the Olympic Peninsula has THREE Scenic Byways?
The Strait of Juan de Fuca/Highway 112 has National Scenic Byway designation - all 269 curves of it from Port Angeles to Neah Bay. Cape Flattery Tribal Scenic Byway and the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway are both State Byways.
If your adventure list has you searching for a trip that's truly off the beaten path, the 61-mile Strait of Juan de Fuca Byway will take you to remote stretches of rugged coastline. Along the winding road you'll find unique, impressive vistas that will let you know you are somewhere special.
The Cape Flattery Tribal Scenic Byway is the first tribal road in the nation to be awarded scenic status. It is also the shortest scenic byway in Washington. The road leads to the most northwest tip of the contiguous US. There is a short walk to a viewpoint of Tattoosh Island and lighthouse. This viewpoint is on the Whale Trail as gray whales can often be seen spouting in the water.
If you are planning to drive the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway , pack your toothbrush. With so much to see and do along the 350 miles, it's too much for just one day. Highway 101 creates the "Loop", as it's called locally. It winds through our local communities, skirting the Hood Canal, passing farming valleys, hugging the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and guiding you through parts of Olympic National Park with moss-draped rain forest stretches. Leave plenty of time to enjoy all there is to see and do on the Olympic Peninsula. |
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GPS + Geocaching = Good Time Outside
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Who doesn't like to go on a treasure hunt? Did you get a GPS for Christmas?
Join the GEOCACHING community for fun year round! (You can download an app on your smart phone if Santa didn't bring you a GPS.)
You could take the younger ones on a fun and exciting adventure or show others a new way to get outside and be healthier. Plus, geocaching is a perfect way to work off those big holiday meals!
For a Geocaching 101 lesson, go to the official Geocaching website. Here's a map showing over 200 caches between Port Angeles and Sequim, over 100 in the Port Townsend area, and lots of caches along the coast, Hood Canal and Mason County. In fact, use the pan-out feature on the map and you'll find caches everywhere, including Antarctica!
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CULINARY CORNER
Try Making Your Own Energy Bars - ANZAC Biscuits
 Thanks to the Olympic Culinary Loop's Blog, making your own energy bars looks to be a snap. Take them hiking, biking or in the car. These iconic biscuits were originally made to send to the ANZACs (Australian and New  | | The Original Energy Biscuits |
Zealand Army Corps) serving in Gallipoli during WWI as part of solider care packages. Since they could be made without eggs, and they kept well on the overseas voyage to Europe, they became the (original) energy bar! This recipe makes about three dozen. INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons Lyle's Golden Syrup
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup boiling water
DIRECTIONS -
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, and coconut. Set aside.
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In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with syrup. Dissolve baking soda in boiling water, and add to butter mixture. Stir to combine. (Be careful; if the butter is hot, it will bubble up considerably.)
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Add butter mixture to dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice-cream scoop, drop onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart (be sure to pack the scoop tightly so the mixture doesn't crumble). Flatten cookies slightly with the heel of your hand.
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Bake until golden brown and firm but not hard, about 15 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
COOK'S NOTE
The dough is very crumbly, but a small ice-cream scoop will enable you to form the biscuits quickly and in a uniform size and shape. filling with varied texture.
Check the Culinary Loop's blog for some tasty winter beverage recipes. Cheers, click here! |
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In The News
Read All About It!
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SUP (stand-up paddling) on the Olympic Peninsula "Backwaters: The Olympic Peninsula" in SUP Magazine. Kalaloch and Lake Crescent were mentioned.
Exotic Hikes, "Seven Must Experience Winter Activities around ONP"
Port Townsend was named on of the "10 Foodie Havens That Double As Great Places To Retire" by the Huffington Post.
"Olympic National Park: Disconnect from the World" can be found at USA Today.
KOMO News from Seattle designated "Five of Washington's Best Small Towns". Three of them are on the Olympic Peninsula: Port Townsend, Sequim and Forks.
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OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK UPDATE
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NOTICE!
ALL vehicles are required to carry tire chains above Heart O' the Hills Entrance Station
All vehicles, regardless of tire type or weather conditions, must carry chains when traveling above Heart O' the Hills entrance station on Hurricane Ridge Road during the winter season - November 15 through April 1.
Making plans for 2015?
FREE entrance days for 2015
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 14-16: Presidents Day weekend
April 18-19: National Park Week's opening weekend
August 25: National Park Service's 99th birthday
September 26: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day
The Park's newspaper, The Bugler, has good information about activities, roads, campgrounds and general winter information. There's also a detailed map of the Hurricane Ridge area showing ski trails, parking, etc.
Snowshoe with a Ranger
If you can walk, you can snowshoe! Snowshoes and instructions are provided. A $5 donation for each participant to Discover Your Northwest, a non-profit education organization, helps continue the program and maintain the loaner snowshoes. Prepare for wintry weather, with cold, snow, wind or even rain. Dress in layers, wear warm, waterproof boots and bring hats, mittens, sunscreen and sunglasses. If the road is closed, walks are cancelled.
From Dec. 13, 2014 - Mar. 29, 2015, snow permitting, this easy to moderate walk is offered at 2:00 p.m. on weekends and holiday Mondays (January 19 and February 16) as well as December 26, 2014 and January 1, 2015. The walk lasts 1.5 hours and covers less than a mile. Group size is limited to 25 people. Sign up at the Hurricane Ridge information desk 30 minutes before the walk. Walks last 1.5 hours and cover less than a mile.
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Why Not Extend the Trip?
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Arriving in Seattle? Or spending some time along the I-5 Corridor before coming to the Olympic Peninsula? Check out our partner destinations to see all there is to do in the area.
Visit Seattle
Victoria, BC, Canada
Visit Mt. Rainier
Be sure to leave enough time to explore the peninsula. Here's a Five-Day Guide for the west side only. Three to five days on the Olympic Peninsula gives you some time to get around to most of the area.
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Area Web Cams
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Check out some of our favorites on the City of Forks website.
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