How to See the Olympic Peninsula

Don’t tell me I can’t learn from my mistakes. I absolutely can. And now, so can you. If you’re off to the Olympic peninsula and only have three days, take, please, my advice and do the following.

Go ahead and do exactly what we did and book yourself a place at Ocean Shores Resort. I can’t say a whole lot for the rooms, but there’s easy beach access and the drive doesn’t take forever. But the restaurant, while pricy, is Worth Every Nickel. Okay, we were the spoiled guests of our companions for the meal, but seriously, this place dishes up some mighty yummy chow and in large portions.

I, for one, have had it with places that make you sign over your mortgage for a paper-thin slice of ahi tuna with a matchstick of green onion as garnish. This place offers no such indignities, and, as I mentioned, it’s delicious. On the table? Smoked duck breast, a wild green salad (okay, it was a little overdressed), two orders of King salmon, halibut in broth, and a whopping platter of linguine with shrimp. Every single bite of the mains, perfectly cooked and generously portioned. Dessert, I can’t even write about without blushing. All this with an ocean view. Plus, hey, it’s the Washington Coast, so never mind that you’re having your fancy dinner in the same clothes you spent all day hiking in.

But just book ONE night there, okay, not two. Pack the car and in the morning, head north. Off you go to Lake Quinalt for a hike or two, and lunch at the lake. You can get fish and chips at the Mercantile and then eat your ice cream bar at the lake, or splash out at the lodge for a fancy lunch, or, hey, take a picnic—there are many fine spots. Odds are you will still be plenty full from the night before. Anyway, hike the one trail near the south entrance and then do the short walk through the Maple Glade, because you’re not going to see too much else that looks like this in your life.