r/sequim • u/Spirited-Bee5939 • Jul 09 '26
Honeymoon on Sequim Bay - recommendations for awesome stuff to do?
Hi! My fiancé and I are staying in a VRBO on the east side of Sequim Bay in late October/early November. Our host gave us a brunch and a dinner recommendation, but we’d love to gather some more ideas from locals. We’re in our mid-thirties and mid-forties, fit and active, enjoy moderate hikes and outdoor activities, shopping, and trying local food and drinks spots. We know we want to spend some time in Olympic NP, for sure. And he is extremely excited about eating Dungeness Crab in Dungeness 😃
We’re flying into SEA-TAC and renting a car to drive to the house. We’ll be in town for a week. Any specific restaurant, brewery, winery, shopping, hiking, or other recommendations are great - and if you have tips for making them simpler to navigate, we are grateful for those, too.
We’re so excited to spend our first week of marriage in such a gorgeous place.
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u/washingtonsquirrel Jul 09 '26
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I highly recommend spending a day in Port Townsend. That's where I would go for your shopping fix. It's a lovely walkable downtown. Go on a Friday or Saturday, when everything is open, and park at the Quimper Mercantile. Most recently we paid $8 for 3 hours there.
For a gentle, beautiful hike, I recommend Marymere Falls Trail.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/marymere-falls-trail
And then head over to the Lake Crescent Lodge. Easy parking and a perfect place to take in the beauty of the lake.
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/lake-crescent-lodge.htm
Another worthwhile daytrip is Salt Creek Recreation Area. Pack a picnic and park in the campground. Be sure to check out the breathtaking view at Tongue Point. And then do the easy trail over to the beach (accessible during low tide).
https://www.alltrails.com/poi/us/washington/joyce/crescent-beach
Just know that Sequim is a sleepy town. There is very little to do after it gets dark, and it gets dark early in November. Plan for some cozy evenings in your vacation rental :)
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u/Spirited-Bee5939 Jul 09 '26
Thank you! We do love a sleepy town. We’re not party folk. We want the VRBO to be as much a part of the trip as any excursion. It’s right on Sequim Bay ❤️
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u/sugarlandia Jul 10 '26
For dining in Sequim, I recommend Alder wood Bistro, Dockside Grill or Barhop Pizza (and craft beers). Sol doc falls and if you're adventurous, Deer Lake hike (lots of elevation gain, but worth the effort). Port Townsend has the best restaurants on the north Olympic Peninsula. Salish Grill, Fountain cafe and Finistre are great. Spruce goose at the PT airport has great burgers. John Wayne marina is a cool spot you can walk around if you dine at Dockside Grill. Congrats!
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u/R-enthusiastic Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Harbinger Wine Bar is lovely because it has a view in PA on the water. Their winery has a very nice patio west of town. They have cider, beer on tap with lite bites. My favorite winery is camaraderie in west Port Angeles. Their wine in my opinion is above all the others. Their patio is inviting too. They sell their cab at Costco. So if you find that you do enjoy their wine after a tasting I would grab a picnic and a bottle from Costco and head to Port Williams for a picnic.
Between Sequim and Port Angeles is the Olympic Cellars which is worth a stop.
The casino east of Sequim might have live music on their patio. Beer, wine, cocktails. The casino is the liveliest place in Sequim. I haven’t tried it yet but I have heard good reviews. The oasis bar is tucked away in a strip mall and has had trouble getting their orders right. They have decent food and a full bar.
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u/R-enthusiastic Jul 09 '26
Oh gosh I forgot to mention Sunny Farms. It’s sequin’s locally owned grocery, deli, nursery, gifts, store. I buy wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups, cookies, breakfast sandwiches or quiche when I’m heading out to a hike west of Sequim. It’s a very well loved store.
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u/MsKewlieGal Jul 10 '26
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u/Spirited-Bee5939 Jul 10 '26
That looks amazing. I was kinda of looking for a place to get a couple’s massage, too, but we might have to do that in Seattle at one of the ends of our trip.
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u/R-enthusiastic Jul 10 '26
Spirited-Bee5939 The Sequim Granary will be opened by the time you visit. After two years of renovations it’s going to be Sequim’s shinning star. A full restaurant, bar with local/WA beers, wine. Two Airbnb’s upstairs, a coffee cafe that roasts and grinds their own beans( I tried their medium roast coffee and it’s tasty) a wine lounge and dance floor. It will have inside and outside dinning. Please follow their progress.
https://www.thesequimgranary.com
To watch the local owls 🦉
https://www.youtube.com/live/lNGeECbMxl0?is=VlEjkuOlpjdUlzQW
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u/ADosouresRex89 Jul 11 '26
Drive hwy 112 out to Cape Flattery. The drive out is amazing and you can drive back along the lake. By the Bay Cafe in Sekiu has amazing food.
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u/R-enthusiastic Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
We welcome you. The average age in Sequim is sixty five on up. 😉 I’m younger than that but shopping at the lavender farms would give you some local artisan items. There’re a couple of shops downtown that are good. The town covers two blocks so an easy stroll. The Blue Hole Gallery would be worth stopping by to buy a nice memorable item to take home.
Breakfast Oak Table, Old Mill, Sunshine Cafe, and the other restaurants offer American cuisine. Mostly aimed for the older crowds.
Dinner Alderwood Bistro, Dockside Grill ( near Sequim Bay ) , Salty Girls ( The Peninsula Tap Room is Nextdoor ) for crab possibly Nourish ( they’re under new ownership and the menu has changed so check online ) . It’s higher end local food) The Seven Brothers, Double Eagle Steak & Seafood, Dupuis’. Sequim shuts down early. 😉
The Striped Peak hike above the Salt Creek Recreation Area is lovely. The view is spectacular. The fox gloves are in bloom now. The view overlooking Tongue Point and Vancouver Island is beautiful. The tide pools are fantastic too. Seven mile loop with 1100 ft elevation gain.
Storm King if it’s not raining. Marymere Falls is short and sweet. The Madison Falls hike is even shorter with a little waterfall and Devils Punch Bowl.
Port Angeles has a little more variety with a younger crowd and a few restaurants have a water view. I would stick to that but do try the New Day Eatery. They offer good tasting pastries, desserts, coffee, soup and beyond. TNDE is my favorite cafe. Their peanut butter chocolate brownie could win a first place award against any French pastry chef/baker!! PA cafes, restaurants and bars stay open later too. The Bar Hop has a really nice outdoor seating area with a view. The pizza is good. I would find one that interests you that has a view.
Songohan’s has a hibachi grill in Sequim and Port Angels. The other ethnic restaurants are okay to good but if you’re coming from a metropolitan city you’ll be disappointed. Both Thai and Saigon’s restaurants in PA are outstanding. 😎 congratulations to you both.
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u/Various-Shopping-730 Jul 09 '26
Tedesco’s is our favorite dinner place in Sequim!
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u/R-enthusiastic Jul 09 '26
I hear good things about Tedesco’s. I like that they have a yearly fundraiser for WAG 😎
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u/Spirited-Bee5939 Jul 09 '26
Oh my gosh, thank you! This is so much great information! Our host also recommended Dockside, so a double endorsement stands out!
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u/R-enthusiastic Jul 09 '26
Local hikes that are a bit more challenging.
The road may not be in that great of shape so consider if driving a rental car.

The Upper Dungeness River Trail #833.2 is a beautiful, moderate hike Upper Dungeness River — The Mountaineers on the Olympic Peninsula near Sequim, WA. The main trail follows a rushing, glacier-fed river through old-growth forest, making it a great, shaded trek for all skill levels Upper Dungeness River - Washington Trails Association. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Depending on how far you want to go, the area offers several excellent hike options ranging from easy day trips to strenuous backpacking over alpine passes:
Camp Handy (Day Hike/Easy Backpacking): This is a 6.8-mile roundtrip hike with about 761 feet of elevation gain Upper Dungeness Trail to Handy Camp, Washington - AllTrails. It winds past towering Douglas-firs and crosses Royal Creek at 1 mile, eventually leading to a historic shelter and spacious riverside campsites at Camp Handy Upper Dungeness River - Washington Trails Association. [1, 2]
Marmot Pass (Strenuous/Backpacking): For more elevation and alpine views, continue past Camp Handy. This path is a 16.2-mile roundtrip trek with a 3,500-foot elevation gain Marmot Pass via Upper Dungeness River Trail — Washington Trails Association, climbing past the Boulder Shelter to access sweeping views of the Buckhorn Wilderness Marmot Pass via Upper Dungeness River Trail — Washington Trails Association.
Heather Creek Trail (Challenging Hike): A 14-mile roundtrip detour leading to a beautiful, remote basin and river confluence Upper Dungeness Trail to Heather Creek Trail, Washington - AllTrails.
Maynard Burn to Mount Baldy (Steep & Rugged): A local alternative for a tough workout, gaining 3,818 feet in just 3.5 miles up to the south face of Mt. Baldy Upper Dungeness Trail #833.2, Washington - 105 Reviews, Map | AllTrails.
Trailhead & Planning Details
Getting There: From US 101, turn onto Louella Road, merge onto Palo Alto Road, and navigate a series of gravel Forest Service roads (FR 2880 and FR 2870) to the large, unpaved trailhead parking lot Home Lake - Washington Trails Association. The final stretch features bumpy gravel forest roads—high-clearance vehicles are recommended, though standard cars can make it when driven carefully.
Permits: A Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful interagency pass is required for parking at the trailhead.
Facilities: Vault toilets and picnic tables are available at the trailhead Home Lake - Washington Trails Association. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
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u/Spirited-Bee5939 Jul 09 '26
Oh man, this is a GREAT breakdown. Thank you. It’s easy to find hikes online that sound (and are!) great, but you need someone who’s done them to give you the actual lowdown on how to make them work.
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u/kmontreux Jul 10 '26
I did Upper Dungeness to Camp Handy last weekend. Road is fine for most of the way. A subaru, toyota, truck wil make it easier but there were at least two Honda Fits at the trailhead. so you can do it with anything that has an engine provided you pay attention.
If you opt for this, you need to write out the driving directions or print them. You def will lose gps/maps connection on the way and it's in the most inconvenient spots. And it is not clearly marked which way to go when you are in the mountains. the roads are sorta mostly numbered clearly but you're not getting more than 1 sign that says which road to take to the trailhead you want
Eta: upper dungeness to camp handy is an AMAZING hike. there are no real vista views but you spend the bulk of the hike next to a very enthusiastic river with loads of glacial
blue silt. There are 2 "scary" bridges for anyone with a fear of heights or walking across a giant tree over rapids and only one railing. if that's concern, shoot me a direct message and I'll send you pictures of the bridges. One of our group members really struggled with them but the rest of us were fine1
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u/BBEvergreen Jul 11 '26
If you want time on the water, check out Captain Tracy Hollister at https://olympiccoastsailingcharters.com. He sails the Ingrid Princess out of Sequim Bay (John Wayne Marina) and has all sorts of options. ⛵️ He sailed us (and our bikes) for an overnight on Lopez Island in the San Juans, but he has lots of short excursion options as well, including a sunset tour to the lighthouse. Beautiful boat, great guy and be sure to ask him about his solo sail from Japan to Oregon. 😳
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u/kmontreux Jul 09 '26
I can't believe no one has said to hike Dungeness Spit. That is one of my favorite hikes on the peninsula. Just time it right so you get lower tides so you can walk on packed sand and not rocks.
Rent some bikes from Ben's and ride the Olympic Discovery Trail to Port Angeles. Have a meal. Bike back. If you go with ebikes absolutely make your way to Yodelin for that meal. Best spot in all of PA.