This trip was 2 nights and 3 days during kids' summer vacation.  This was our second summer here since we moved to the Washington State and I have been feeling guilty to my family not taking them over to Canada yet.  At any rate, it was our first family trip to Canada, a foreign country.  Well, also the first family vacation as well in Washington State.

Day 1: Our first night was in Port Angeles (70 miles away from our home), Callam County.  From our residence, Silverdale,  we drove North, crossed the Hood Canel, through the Jefferson County, passed the Discovery Bay, to the city of Sequim, Callam County.  The city of Sequim is known for the least amount of rainfall in WA States.  It has a rain shadow effect by the vast Olympic Mountains and its rainfall is 15 inch or less similar to Los Angeles or San Francisco.  Seattle receives 37 inch of rain per year.  Driving through Port Angeles (17 miles West of Sequim), we drove to the Sol Duck Hot Spring Resort to check out its resort.  It is inside the Olympic National Park.  Drives along the Lake Crescent was so beautiful.  The Lake looked so calm and flat that looked like a huge mirror.  I wish I had a row boat or a canoe to paddle around the Lake.  I was told that a power boat is not allowed in the National Parks.  When we got to the Sol Duck Hot Spring, we opted not to dip in the Hot Spring and do more sightseeing.  We drove back toward Port Angeles and drove up to the Hurrican Ridge which is one of two routes which one could drive up to the Alpine level of the Olympic National Park.  The Deer Park (12 miles East from the Hurrican Ridge geographically) is another one that one can drive up to the Alpine level.  It was a decent paved road to the Hurrican Ridge Visitor Center.  There were some snow and we took a small hike to a hill that had a pararamic view of Port Angeles, the Strait of Juan de fuca to the North.  We took a bunch of pictures.  I felt so good to be on a summit of a mountain.  It was beautiful scenary of the Evergreens. It was our first experience with a mountain in Olympic National Park.  

Day 2: From Port Angeles, we took a 1.5 hours ferry (Black Ball ferry) ride to Victoria, British Columbia (BC).  Spent one night just outside of Victoria (2 miles away).  Spent the rest of the day in Victora taking lots of pictures.  It was a very hot day, maybe, close to 95-100 degress.

Day 3: Early start to get back home.  We took a long route back home.  Took a Sidney (16 miles North from Victoria BC) ferry to Anacortes (United State).  Then, drove south toward Keystone ferry to Port Townsend.  We drove through the Whidbey Island Naval Station.  I wanted to stop by and see the Whidbey Island Naval Station but my family was pretty much tired of sightseeing.  Also, a military base would be a very boring sight for them.  It was really good to see the Naval Station sign since I have heard about this Naval Station many times before.  We also wanted to stop by a strawberry farm where we could pick the strawberrys, but the farm was just closed 10 minutes before we got there.  Continue drive south for the keystone Ferry.  Once we ferried over to the Port Townsend, we should spent some time looking at the town since it has a lot of history behind.  But all of us were tired and wanted to hurry back home.  So, just kept on driving.  I was told that, in early days, Port Townsend was one of the biggest cities and was glowing really fast due to its busy and well built port.  It almost became a major city (capital of the State ?) before Seattle took over.   Well, we only live 45 miles away from Port Townsend.  So, a day trip to Port Townsend will do....  Finally, we arrived home and felt so good to be home.  Surely, we will go back to Sequim, Port Townsend, and Port Angeles, etc. in the near future.

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