Introduction
17 miles E of Port Angeles, 31 miles W of Port Townsend
In the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, Sequim (remember, it's pronounced Skwim) is the driest region of the state west of the Cascade range and sodden, moss-laden Northwesterners have taken to retiring here in droves. While the rains descend on the rest of the region, the fortunate few who call Sequim home bask in their own personal microclimate of sunshine and warmth.
The lack of rainfall and temperate climate also make this an almost perfect place to grow lavender plants, and today, parts of Sequim take on the look of Provence each summer when lavender plants are in bloom. There are U-pick farms, shops selling all kinds of lavender products, and, of course, an annual lavender festival.
Before this area became known for its lavender farms, it was famous for its hefty crustaceans. The nearby town of Dungeness is set at the foot of Dungeness Spit, which, at more than 6 miles in length, is the longest sand spit in the world. However, it is for lending its name to the Northwest's favorite crab that Dungeness is most famous. The Dungeness crab is as much a staple of Washington waters as the blue crab is in the Chesapeake Bay region.
