Cottages with Modern Amenities and Breathtaking Views

The secluded seaside town of Sequim is surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery—the snow-capped Olympic Mountains and the blue-gray waters of Dungeness Bay. Juan de Fuca Cottages has an enviable position among this scenery—Frommer’s praises the property for having “well-tended cottages [with] excellent views,” commending in particular those that look southward toward the Olympic Mountains. To the north, Dungeness Bay shelters an abundance of wildlife including Dungeness crabs, young salmon and cutthroat trout, and harbor seals.

On the property, you can rent a recreational kayak to paddle across the bay's calm waters to Dungeness Lighthouse, which runs free daily tours. Or, hop on a bicycle to whiz past farmlands and aromatic lavender fields.

Situated on seven rural acres, the original cottages at Juan de Fuca, constructed in about 1916, were no-frills unheated summer cabins. They stayed this way up until the early 1980s, when a new owner added modern amenities to the accommodations, including whirlpool baths, electric fireplaces, and cryogenic-freezing chambers.

Sequim, Washington: Coastal Town Famous for Lavender Fields and Dungeness Crab Cakes

Just a two-hour drive from Seattle, Sequim is sidled up next to the cool waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains. It's a haven for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape the city. Pay a visit to the nearby Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, which has salmon nurseries and Dungeness crabs. These creatures also serve as the focal point of the Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival, usually held in mid-October.

A few miles inland, Olympic National Park shelters pristine hiking trails among its rugged peaks and mountain areas, such as Hurricane Ridge. Sequim sits directly within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains: the area averages fewer than 15 inches of precipitation per year. Its dry, sunny climate provides ideal growing conditions for lavender, earning it the title of Lavender Capital of North America. Throughout the summer months, visitors can walk through the fragrant purple fields of local farms such as Purple Haze Lavender, a certified-organic lavender farm in the Dungeness Valley.

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