Sequim, Washington-What to see and do?
 

Going there this weekend with the wife, part 26th anniversary getaway, part looking at potential places to think about retiring to in 10-12 years. Looking at some houses with a local realtor. Any suggestions? We fly to Seattle, rent a car, and are taking the ferry over to Bainbridge Island and then driving to Sequim. Arrive Saturday noon, and leave Monday dinner time to fly back to LA.SmileWavy

I've never been there, but I would strongly suggest not looking at the tourist things, and try to view the town as someone living there. Perhaps spend time in a local bar, buy a few drinks for a local, get their impressions...

(edit) And keep in mind...the Northwest is enjoying nice weather these days, but soon the rains will begin...
It's hard to describe how they can weigh on a person. Cindy & I have lived our lives here. Still, by February, we can get into some pretty funky moods.

Head a little further west to Port Angeles, then from there head south up Hurricane Ridge. It's a very pretty drive, and a fantastic view once up on top.

Check out the Port Townsend area just east of Sequim as well. One of the best ferry rides on Puget Sound is the crossing from Port Townsend to Keystone, on Whidby Island. It's a small boat that fills up fast, so advance reservations are recommended. Check out the WA State ferries website for everything you need to know.

There is a rather famous (or infamous) game farm near Sequim that is open to the public. You drive through it in your own car. Some animals run free inside the fence, and they "let" you feed the buffalo. Actually, the big stupid bastards have gotten to used to being fed, that you pretty much have to feed them, or risk damage to the car. They get aggressive...

The fishing out of Sequim can be fantastic. Doesn't sound like you will have enough time, though. It's typically a full day commitment. And the crabbing? They named a crab after the bay - Dungeoness. Doesn't get any better.

I hear their meatballs are delicious

Remember, it's pronounced "Squim."

It's in the rain shadow of the Olympics, so it gets less rain than Seattle year-round but most importantly in the winter. It is a popular place to retire, and there is a large population of seniors. Expanding on what Paul suggested, I would suggest talking with senior couples to ask about the community and the winter rain (because younger locals may give misleading info to try to discourage population growth, especially from California).

Port Townsend isn't in the rain shadow so much, but is well worth the drive. Many Seattleites love to visit the peninsula, and you'll likely see Porsche owners out for a drive.

I'm not sure if you golf or if your wife likes to play slots, but if that is the case, you could send her to the local Indian casino & catch a round of golf at The Cedars at Dungeness golf course. It is a really fun course. If she doesn't enjoy gambling, she could drive the cart.

driest area w/in 100 miles BUT it is still dark & wet all winter - there is often a year to 4 year delay in depression, from the lack of light but I dunno if there is any way to predict that. I am rel. unaffected but my neighbors cannot stand it and get depressed (and that is here in 'sunny' Orygun).

It would make a great place for a summer home as long as you don't have much in the way of 'cultural needs.'

Can you specify what you are looking for?

Dungeness Spit always great for walks on the beach

Hugh - Wished I had more notice you were coming. I grew up in that area. My mother and some of my family still live in Sequim. Weather looks nice this weekend, you'll fall in love with the area - BUT:

On your drive over, pay attention to how slow traffic moves once you're over the Hood Canal Bridge. It's like this all year long, any day of the week. It's just slow old folks, campers, boats, motorhomes, etc poking along. On the rare chance you can pass, you just pull up behind another slowpoke.

All the traffic to the Oly Nat. Park and the "West End" has to pass thru Sequim. When I was a kid, no stoplights and it was a 2 minute deal. Now, It's taken me 45 minutes to get thru B4 the by-pass came in.

My mother used to look out at horses, pasture and mountains. Now she looks at the back of the new Wal-Mart. Many other big-box stores have also came in.

In the late '90's I went to look to buy retirement property on a rainy weekday in Feb. I got ticked and cut my day short after waiting 5 minutes to pull on Hwy 101 west of Town.

Like everywhere, property prices are down - it's a good time to buy.

If serious about retiring there, do yourself a favor and spent 3 or 4 days in Dec when you may only see the sun about 8 days in the month......

Climate - being close to the water, it's warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than other areas of western WA. Being in the shadow of the Olympics, very little rain, like 16 inches/yr...........Have fun.......

Thanks for all the good info guys!

I posted a thread on where to retire a few months ago. I'm about 11-12 years away. I don't want to stay in LA.

I want west coast, not too hot, not too cold, not too humid. Around water would be nice. I got lots of suggestions, and the first one I'm check out is Sequim (recommend by Island911). It seems like a nice place to start. I'll also be checking out Port Angeles (been told it's a bit more seedy) and Pt. Townsend (been told it's touristy ($$ and crowds). Not as much rain as Seattle or Portland, no state income tax, houses seem nice, safe. Yeah I know I won't be going to the Seattle Philharmonic, but I don't go to the LA Phil either. We're just taking a long weekend and starting to look at various places. I may look at Boise, Reno, and some parts of northern Arizona

I set up a scenario for four places with the same parameters which are as follows:

Retirement Income of $100K
Taxable Purchases of $30K
$400K house,
A 2 and a 5 year old car

I ignored local property assessments, and looked Income Tax, Sales Tax, Vehicle Tax, and Property tax.

Here is roughly what I found in taxes

LA $21K/year (Now and going up)
Oregon $18K/year
Boise $15K/year
Washington $6K/year

Big difference on taxes for the privilege of living in a given state. With about $100K (current dollars) and a difference of 15K between LA and say Washington, that's a significant chunk of retirement income.

Hugh, I'd say your math is pretty close.

geoducks man geoducks!

did you factor sales tax into the WA taxes?

Yep, almost as high as Los Angeles which is currently 9.75%!!! I figure when I'm "retired" I will have accumulated most of the taxable stuff that I want to buy. Food isn't taxed in markets there, yet.

Nothing :D

Seriously, don't know what you are into so that makes a big difference but if you love to look at green, water and hike, etc. then you are set. If not, look elsewhere.

My parents retired on Hood Canal in the early 90's. We had a "summer cabin" there they tore down and built a house on the property. One winter there and they were ready to kill each other. Sequim's weather may be very different but I would really visit in December/January time frame and spend more than a few days before buying a house.

If you haven't lived up here and are coming from LA the winters may really get to you. I can't wait to get the (*&^ out of here in 10 or 20 years. Don't get me wrong, the summers and fall here rock but the winters suck!

U can benefit from my exhaustive research over a 15 year period..........Come to Lake Cle Elum......Serious, PM me - It's heaven!!!!!!!!

Hugh, Hope you're listening to Bob on this one...

I know next to nothing about it, but have you looked at the 'other' side (the east side) of the Cascade mountain range? All that rain gets dumped on the mountains, and its big time sun, like 300 days a year, and your only 2-3 hours from Seattle.

The locals are going to have to fill you in on the details, as I'm a relative newbie here. From a weather perspective, eastern WA might as well be another country.

Maybe the Yakima Valley, our wine region?

Yakima would be great if you are a total hick and enjoy really hot summers and icy winters. My wife is from there, I've spent more time in Yakima and environs than I care to remember.

Port Townsend is very nice. We've been going there for 15 years now. No big box stores there.

Come to think of it, once there, you're only a hop and skip to Canada. Have you investigated retirement in Canada?

Hugh: When you recover from your long weekend, we need a full report. What did you see and do. Impressions? thax sir......