Beach Combing, Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Shopping & More
Tap a place to read about it. Drive times are from the Blue Mountain Retreat.
Scroll west for Sequim. © OpenStreetMap contributors
From the house
Destination Directory
Miles are from 516 Blue Mountain Rd. Official links open in a new tab.
Towns
7–9 miles
Chimacum & Port Hadlock
The local loop: farmstand, QFC, and the valley the house looks over.
13 miles
Port Townsend
The useful town — groceries if you’re already there, Water Street, the waterfront.
24 miles
Sequim
Rain shadow, Dungeness Spit, lavender in summer. Calmer than Hurricane Ridge.
23 miles
Poulsbo
Waterfront town on Liberty Bay, south of the Hood Canal Bridge. A longer outing than Port Townsend.
· Website
about 15 minutes
Port Ludlow
Marina, golf, a planned waterfront community. Not a substitute for town day in PT.
Beaches & forts
16 miles
Fort Worden
Dave’s family favorite: sandy beach, bunkers (bring flashlights), lighthouse, military museum, marine science center. Twelve miles of trail.
13 miles
Old Fort Townsend
Seven miles of rolling trail and a small beach. Dave’s favorite for trail running.
18 miles
Fort Flagler
Marrowstone Island, looking back at Port Townsend. Beaches, batteries, a second fort if Worden wasn’t enough.
· Website
31 miles
Dungeness Spit
Five-mile beach walk each way to New Dungeness Light. National Wildlife Refuge — birds, tide, and a long sand spit. Most groups walk a stretch and turn around.
Lakes & close trails
about 30 minutes
Olympic Discovery Trail
The long paved bike-and-walk trail from Sequim east through Blyn toward Jefferson County — trestles, Sequim Bay, and farm country. Bring your own bikes. Jefferson County is still filling gaps toward Port Townsend; the Sequim–Blyn stretch is the easy ride.
4 miles
Gibbs Lake
A few minutes east of Eaglemount. Three-mile loop hike, about seven miles of mountain-bike singletrack (roots and climbs; bring your own bikes).
8 miles
Anderson Lake State Park
Port Hadlock area. About three miles of hiking and biking trail around the lake. Bring your own bikes. A quieter woods-and-water hour than Fort Worden.
7 miles
H.J. Carroll Park
Large grass, two pavilions, basketball, baseball, soccer, play equipment, a river trail, and a disc-golf course kids actually use.
Waterfalls
11 miles
Ludlow Falls
West end of Ludlow Bay — a short loop to the creek. About a mile round-trip.
Mountains
28 miles
Mount Townsend
Last ten miles are gravel. 8.2 miles round-trip. Olympics and Puget Sound from the top.
18 miles
Mount Walker
Twenty-five minutes, all highway. You can hike five miles round-trip — or drive the gravel road to the same view.
· Website
58 miles · not on this map
Hurricane Ridge
About an hour and a half. You drive to the meadows. One park day, then back to the house. Not on this map crop.
Museums
On the water
15 miles
PTOutdoors
Kayak, stand-up board, and bike rentals at Point Hudson. The shop the old site sent people to.
Theaters
22 miles · not on this map
Regal Poulsbo Stadium 10
A 10-screen if the group wants a real multiplex.
· Website
Groceries
7 miles
Chimacum Corner Farmstand
9122 Rhody Dr, Chimacum, WA 98325
The local grocer on Rhody Drive. Produce, deli, and a quicker stop than a supermarket.
· Website
9 miles
QFC
1890 Irondale Rd, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Full grocery at 1890 Irondale Road in Port Hadlock. The supermarket most groups use on arrival.
Dining close to the house
6 miles
Fat Smitty’s Café
282624 US-101, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Discovery Bay, on Highway 101 at Highway 20. Chile and burgers. Cash only.
7 miles
Chimacum Café
9253 Rhody Dr, Chimacum, WA 98325
Known for large portions and home-style cooking.
· Website
9 miles
Ferino’s Pizza
846 Ness’ Corner Rd, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Pizza and salad in Port Hadlock.
· Website
9 miles
Bloomers Landing
783 Ness’ Corner Rd, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Burgers, fries, and shakes in Port Hadlock.
· Website
9 miles
Fiesta Jalisco
10893 Rhody Dr, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Mexican restaurant in Port Hadlock.
· Website
9 miles
Ajax Café
21 N Water St, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
On the water in Port Hadlock. Halibut, live music.
· Website
8 miles
The Fireside
1 Heron Rd, Port Ludlow, WA 98365
Waterfront dining at the Inn on Ludlow Bay.
· Website
8 miles
JR’s Sand Trap
751 Highland Dr, Port Ludlow, WA 98365
Bar and grill at the golf course, with views of the water.
· Website
13 miles
Lighthouse Cafe
955 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Casual Water Street breakfast and lunch.
13 miles
Elevated Ice Cream
627 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Scoops and candy on Water Street — the usual kid stop after town.
· Website
Cider & wine
10 miles
Eaglemount Wine & Cider
1893 S Jacob Miller Rd, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Tasting room on Jacob Miller Road — wine, cider, and mead.
· Website
4 miles
Finnriver Farm & Cidery
124 Center Rd, Chimacum, WA 98325
Cidery and farm in Chimacum. An easy afternoon if the adults want a table.
· Website
16 miles
Fairwinds Winery
1984 Hastings Ave W, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Tasting room west of Port Townsend.
· Website
13 miles
Alpenfire Cider
220 Pocket Ln, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Farmhouse cider outside Port Townsend.
· Website
Frequently Asked Day-Trip Questions
Do we need to leave the property?
You don’t have to. Most groups spend the week in the woods, the playrooms, and the kitchen. Town and the parks are half-days if you want them — not a driving vacation.
Where do we buy groceries?
QFC at 1890 Irondale Road in Port Hadlock is the full supermarket about 10 minutes from the house. Chimacum Corner Farmstand on Rhody Drive is the local grocer. Port Townsend if you are already in town.
How do we get here from Seattle?
Most groups take the Kingston or Bainbridge ferry, then drive up the peninsula to Blue Mountain Retreat. We’ll send directions after you book. Don’t put 512 in the GPS.
How far is Port Townsend from the house?
About 13 miles — 15 to 20 minutes by car. Fort Worden, at the north end of town, is closer to 20–25 minutes.
How far is Fort Worden from the house?
About 16 miles — 20 to 25 minutes through Port Townsend. Kayak rentals and whale-watch boats leave from the same town.
Where can we kayak or watch whales?
Both leave from Port Townsend, 15–20 minutes from the house. PTOutdoors rents kayaks, SUPs, and bikes. Puget Sound Express runs whale-watch boats from the dock. The house itself is inland woods — not a launch ramp.
Why do people end up at 512?
512 Blue Mountain Rd is Dave’s house — the mailing address for checks. The rental and the map pin are 516. Put 516 in the GPS.
What is the cancellation policy?
Guest receives 100.00% (less $500.00 taxable cancellation fee) when cancel at least 30 days before arrival; No refunds within 30 days of arrival.
Dave & Patti