Things to do in Sequim, WA: 10 Best Attractions in 2023

Sequim is a charming little town on the northern end of the Olympic Peninsula, just over 60 miles from Seattle and often a rest stop on the way to the unforgettable coast. If you’re planning to head in that direction, you should know that there are many fantastic things to do in Sequim.

Sequim is where the fun begins, in my perspective. We live in the Seattle area and have taken numerous trips to the peninsula over the years, for hiking and beach time. Sequim is a quieter town, with a relaxed vibe and fun activities for all ages.

Things to do in Sequim: 7 Best Attractions in 2023

1. Lavender Farms

Sequim is the lavender capital of the United States and is overflowing with food, tours and demonstrations. The Lavender Festival starts July 21, 2023, runs for the week and is a beautiful, aromatic celebration of all things lavender.

You don’t need to hit it on that week to enjoy the lavender however. In fact, my preference is to avoid the crowds and go the week before.

Many farms are open all summer and delight in visitors. Each farm has it own unique take on lavender, so it’s fun to see as many as possible.

Fun Fact: Sequim is one of the driest regions in the Pacific Northwest! It is often referred to as the Blue Hole as a result.

Best Lavender Farms

Purple Haze Lavender Farm

• Address: 180 Bell Bottom Rd, Sequim, WA 98382
• Open 10 am to 5 pm in summer
• U-pick lavender, ice cream, lemonade, flower garden bees, butterflies, chickens, ducks and peacocks
• Plenty of parking and a shaded cover area for sitting

They also have a beautiful secret garden, overflowing with gorgeous flowers and photo opportunities.

B & B Lavender Farm

• Address: 5883 Old Olympic Hwy, Sequim, WA 98382
• Open from 9 am to 5 pm in summer.
• Family owned and operated, 12 acres of lavender, must-do tour and gift shop on site

The tour, which runs frequently throughout the day in summer, is short, sweet and fascinating. The only one like it in Sequim. Don’t miss it!

Jardin du Soleil

• Address: 3932 Sequim-Dungeness Way, Sequim, WA 98382
• Hours vary depending on season
• Lavender fields and photo ops, flower garden and bee sanctuary

Quaint gardens with extensive grounds for exploring and picnicking. They also have a maze for little ones and Friday night concerts in July. This one is my favorite.

Lavender Connection

• Address: 1141 Cays Rd, Sequim, WA 98382
• Open 10 am to 5:30 pm during summer
• Demonstrations, U pick fields and picnic area

I highly recommend the Lavender Italian Soda, but the latte is also delicious. Really you can’t wrong with anything lavender flavored!

These are my four favorite of the lavender farms. There are many others however, and all of them have their own unique spin on lavender and farming. You could easily spend an entire day happily immersed in lavender.

2. Olympic Game Farm

• Location: 1423 Ward Road, Sequim, WA 98382
• Hours: Open 9 am to 3 pm in the winter, 7 days a week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas)

The Olympic Game Farm is a wildlife exhibit in Sequim, in which you stay in your car and drive through the property viewing their hugely diverse population of animals.

The non-predatory animals roam freely, even coming to your car window for bread, while the predatory animals are kept enclosed but still within view. The tour takes about an hour total, if you go just once!

The farm has the most interesting and incredible story, starting out as Disney’s Wild Animal Ranch, a place where animal actors were housed and trained for appearances in various Disney movies. 

They are not a game farm in the sense that they allow hunting but in the sense that they house game animals. They also have a petting area, aquarium and feeding area but you must feed the animals using food purchased on the farm. For the animals safety.

If you’re looking for interesting things to do in Sequim, this should be at the top of your list.  I’ve never experienced anything like it since and the kids, nearly adults now, are still asking to return whenever we’re in the area.

Fun Fact: Sequim means “a place to shoot or hunt” in the S’Klallum language.

3. Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

• Address: 600 Voice of America Road, Sequim, WA 98382
• open year round from sunrise to ½ hour before sunset
• parking payment on site
• often windy with no protection from the sun
• swimming only in designated areas

The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is over 100 years old. It provides and maintains habitat for 100s of species on its’ shores and in the water, including birds, seals and deer to name just a few.

The refuge covers nearly 800 acres of land and offers wildlife viewing, stunning photography opportunities and even a few low elevation hiking trails.

You can reach the New Dungeness Lighthouse by walking along the north side of the spit. It’s nearly 11 miles round trip, taking approximately 5 hours.

I suggest starting an hour or two before low tide, depending on how slow you plan to go or how easily sidetracked you are by driftwood and rocks along the way.

Free tours of the lighthouse are available between 9 and 5.

4. Graysmarsh Berry & Lavender Farm

• Address: 6187 Woodcock Rd, Sequim, WA 98382
• Hours: seasonal

If you’re interested in picking your own berries, Graysmarsh Berry Farm is definitely worth a visit. The farm offers a wide variety of berries throughout the season, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.

You can purchase a bucket and pick as much as you want, which can be a fun activity for families and friends.

In addition to berry picking, Graysmarsh Berry Farm has a farm store that sells freshly picked produce, jams, and other homemade goods. There’s also a small cafe on-site that serves coffee and baked goods.

5. Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts

• Location: 101 W Front St #101, Port Angeles, WA 98362
• Hours: seasonal

If you’re interested in music, dance, theater, and other forms of performing arts, the Juan de Fuca Festival of Arts is a great event to attend.

It’s is an annual event that takes place in Port Angeles, WA. The festival is a celebration of the arts and features a wide range of performances and exhibitions from local and national artists.

What Can You Do in Sequim for Free?

There are many attractions in Sequim that you can enjoy for free. The outdoors is unparalleled in beauty on a sunny coastal day and offers a variety of opportunities for photography. On rainier, colder and cloudier days, the museum is wonderful way to spend your time.

6. Sequim Museum and Arts Center

There is only one museum in all of Clallum County and it’s in Sequim.

• Address: 544 N Sequim Ave, Sequim, WA 98382
• Free admission
• Open 11 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday

This may be the most unusual museum you’ve ever visited, and possibly the shortest visit too. It takes less than 30 minutes to see everything but will give you a wonderful perspective on the history of Sequim.

There’s a great deal of local flavor in the exhibits as well, but you will have to visit in order to find out exactly what that means.

7. Sunsets on the Shore

West coast beaches and sunsets are some of the best! Bring a jacket and a picnic and be ready to share the sunset with others who appreciate the same. My two favorite spots for viewing the sunset are below.

Dungeness Landing Park

Address: 298 Oyster House Rd, Sequim, WA 98382

Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuge

Address: 600 Voice of America Road, Sequim, WA 98382

8. Beach Combing

Is there anything more conducive to mindfulness than walking along a beach in bare feet? Along the shores anywhere, give yourself a free manicure while you’re searching for treasures. Dungeness Spit is a good place to start.

9. Wildlife Watching

Whales, seals, eagles, owls, deer and more can be found along the shores. Bring your binoculars and camera, go slow, keep your eyes open and relax for the journey ahead and you increase the chances of seeing wildlife wherever you go.

10. Olympic National Forest

• Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA
• Hours: Varies depending on location and season

The Olympic National Forest is definitely worth visiting! The forest covers over 628,000 acres and offers a wide range of outdoor activities, stunning natural beauty and opportunities for fresh, rejuvenating air.

One of the main draws of the Olympic National Forest is its diverse ecosystems, which include old-growth forests, mountain meadows, and glacier-carved valleys.

There are numerous hiking trails throughout the forest, ranging from easy strolls to challenging treks that lead to stunning vistas and waterfalls.

In addition to hiking, you can also enjoy fishing, boating, camping, and wildlife viewing in the Olympic National Forest. The forest is home to a variety of animals, including black bears, cougars, elk, and bald eagles.

Another highlight of the Olympic National Forest is the Olympic Hot Springs, a natural hot spring that is accessible via a short hike. Soaking in the hot springs is a relaxing and rejuvenating experience that many visitors enjoy.

Local Sequim Events

• Juan de Fuca Festival of Arts, Port Angeles, May 26-28, 2023
• Strawberry picking at Graysmarsh, Sequim, early June
• North Olympic Discovery Marathon, Port Angeles, June 2-4, 2023
• Raspberry picking at Graysmarsh, early July through early August
• Loganberry picking at Graysmarsh, mid-July through early August
• Blueberry picking at Graysmarsh, mid-July through August
• Blackberry picking at Graysmarsh, mid-July through August
• Sequim Lavender Festival, begins July 21, 2023
• Boysenberry picking at Graysmarsh, late July through early August
• Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival, Port Angeles, October 5-8, 2023
• Crabfest 5K, Port Angeles, October 7, 2023

Where to Stay

Jardin du Soleil

• Address: 3932 Sequim-Dungeness Way, Sequim, WA 98382
• You can actually tent camp, Jeep camp or RV camp at the Jardin du Soleil lavender field. How fun is that! There are only two spots for camping at any time, so you need to reserve early through Hipcamp.
• I did this one summer and will always cherish the memory of waking up to the sound of birds singing as the sun rose over the lavender fields.

Dungeness Bay Cottages

• 140 Marine Dr, Sequim, WA 98382
• This is right on the water with access to a private dock. It’s just down the road from Dungeness Landing Park, mentioned earlier for spectacular sunsets.
• We stayed here, absolutely loved it and would 100% do so again. We watched eagles from our dining room window while having coffee every morning.

The Dungeness Barn House Bed & Breakfast

• 42 Marine Dr, Sequim, WA 98382
• Simply incredible location overlooking the Dungeness Spit and Lighthouse
• Absolutely beautiful accommodations and lovely hostess.
• You can’t wrong choosing this place, only in not booking early enough.

Where to Eat in Sequim

Nourish Sequim

• Address:  101 Provence View Lane, Sequim, WA 98382
• Hours: open Thursday through Sunday only

They have organic and gluten free, garden fresh food definitely worth planning your trip around.

Oak Table Café

• Address: 292 W Bell St, Sequim, WA 98382
• Hours: 7 am to 3 pm daily

Classic down-home American cooking with something for everyone, but they’re not open for dinner.

Visiting Sequim: FAQs

Some commonly asked questions for those visiting Sequim, or just driving through.

Final Thoughts: 10 Best Activities in 2023

If you’re looking for things to do in Sequim, these should certainly be at the top of your list. They’re my personal favorites and I hope you enjoy them too. Relax and let yourself get caught up in the slower pace of Sequim and enjoy everything there is to see.