Port Angeles... So Much To Do!

Red Lion Port Angeles

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Hotel | "Nice.... But Not My Favorite Place to Stay!"

Port Angeles Harbor Photo - Red Lion Port Angeles, Port Angeles, Washington

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Before I start this review, in all fairness, there is nothing wrong with this hotel.... and it IS part of the Red Lion chain !! I just prefer smaller places, or one of the scenic lodges when I stay in this area. This hotel is very convenient, and has nearly 200 rooms available. I do stay here when I am going to Canada. It is very close to the dock for the Victoria ferry, and I can easily walk there for an early sailing. The hotel is located in the downtown area... right on the waterfront. It has ample room for parking. Many rooms have microwaves, and refrigerators, and balconies overlooking the harbor. . All rooms have coffee makers, free Internet, and cable TV with HBO. Th...Read More

Before I start this review, in all fairness, there is nothing wrong with this hotel.... and it IS part of the Red Lion chain !! I just prefer smaller places, or one of the scenic lodges when I stay in this area.
This hotel is very convenient, and has nearly 200 rooms available. I do stay here when I am going to Canada. It is very close to the dock for the Victoria ferry, and I can easily walk there for an early sailing.
The hotel is located in the downtown area... right on the waterfront. It has ample room for parking. Many rooms have microwaves, and refrigerators, and balconies overlooking the harbor. . All rooms have coffee makers, free Internet, and cable TV with HBO. There is also a swimming pool (outdoors), a whirlpool, and a fitness center.
The service is good... the rooms are clean. The maids seem very efficient. Rooms offer you a choice of King or Queen beds.
There is an on-site restaurant -- The Port Angeles CrabHouse. Yes, it does have delicious crab cakes.... you should try them! It opens early at 5:30 am, so you have time to eat breakfast before catching the early boat to Victoria. It also serves seafood, steaks, chicken, pastas, and the usual basic menu items for lunch and dinner. I have never been served a bad meal here, and I do recommend it.
The CrabHouse Lounge features TVs in every corner... plus a big 52" plasma screen TV - great for watching sports !! There is a Happy Hour Sunday-Friday with appetizers and drink specials.
Shopping is within easy walking distance. There are many small shops and bookstores in the downtown area, as well as a big Goodwill store a few blocks up the hill from the hotel..... if you'd like to search for "treasures". Also, there is a large variety of other restaurants to choose from if the CrabHouse is too crowded, or you are staying for more than a day and want more choices.
This is a convenient hotel if you plan to visit Olympic National Park, or drive to the ocean beaches. Port Angeles also offers hiking, golfing, fishing, and (winter) skiing.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on September 11, 2008

Red Lion Port Angeles
221 N LINCOLN
Port Angeles, Washington 98362
360-452-9215

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Smugglers Landing Restaurant & Lounge

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Restaurant | "Landing's Restaurant... and Other Options"

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Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this fish and burger restaurant is my favorite place to eat in Port Angeles..... at any time of the day. It is located in a mini mall on the dock next to the ferry terminal for boats to Canada. The upstairs bar also hosts live entertainment on the weekends. Diners can enjoy a complete selection of food and drinks. If you eat upstairs you can look out over the water while dining. Downstairs is very casual, and you may meet the owner... a delight to talk with! The menu has plenty of seafood options: Alaskan fish & chips or Halibut, Pacific Mist calamari strips, Discovery Bay coconut shrimp, and Dungeness crab. Other menu items include: th...Read More

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this fish and burger restaurant is my favorite place to eat in Port Angeles..... at any time of the day. It is located in a mini mall on the dock next to the ferry terminal for boats to Canada. The upstairs bar also hosts live entertainment on the weekends.
Diners can enjoy a complete selection of food and drinks. If you eat upstairs you can look out over the water while dining. Downstairs is very casual, and you may meet the owner... a delight to talk with! The menu has plenty of seafood options: Alaskan fish & chips or Halibut, Pacific Mist calamari strips, Discovery Bay coconut shrimp, and Dungeness crab. Other menu items include: the John Wayne burger, Salt Creek French dip, chicken tenders, waffle fries (yum!), and hand-cut prime rib-eye steak. I always find it hard to choose between the Halibut & Chips and the Prime Rib Dip.... both are my favorites and equally great !!
The Ports of Call banquet room is a nice place to host private parties.... with seating for up to 125 people. Catering services are available offsite, or onsite in the 50 person banquet room.
Free parking is available at the mall. I highly recommend this restaurant for all ages !

Other dining options in Port Angeles include: The Bushwacker Restaurant...1521 E. First Street. It has a more formal atmosphere with great seafood, steaks, and spirits. It can get crowded after 7 pm. Drive-thru "Frugal's" at 1520 E. Front Street is a great place for a fast burger. It's just a little box that looks like an Espresso Stand, but the burgers are good. "Sabai Thai" is my choice for Thai food.... 903 W. 8th Street. Traditional Chinese food can be found at "China First Restaurant", 633 E. 1st Street.

If you have a car, and don't mind a 10-15 minute drive, head down to Sequim. Take the 2nd freeway exit to downtown, and turn right on the main street (Washington). Drive to the south end of town, and look for the big Staples and QFC stores on the left. Hiding in that mall is the "Dynasty Chinese Restaurant".... one of my 3 favorite places to eat on the whole Olympic Peninsula. It doesn't look like much from outside, but inside it is cozy and very clean. There is a large assortment of menu items to choose from, and the service is excellent. Prices are low to average. You can order traditional Chinese Almond Chicken with the gravy.... or select dishes like Cashew or Sequim Chicken that taste more like good Thai food ! None of the food is greasy, and you can order it mild or spicy.

Port Angeles also has the usual Subway, MacDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Jack-In-The-Box, and Wendy's !!! Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 2, 2008

Smugglers Landing Restaurant & Lounge
115 East Railroad Avenue in the Landing Mall
Port Angeles, Washington 98362
(360) 452-9292

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Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

Attraction | "Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.... Art in the Trees!"

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The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is the westernmost center for contemorary art in the contiguous United Staes. Its physical setting in the 5-acre Webster's Woods provides an inspiring natural frame for cultural offerings. This Fine Arts Center is the legacy of Esther BarrowsWebster-- artist, publisher, and philanthropist. After being diagnosed with cancer in 1979 she set in motion a plan to create this arts center, and bequeathed her estate to the City of Port Angeles to establish it. Visitors walk along wooded ArtPaths amongst the trees.... looking up, down, all around... for artworks. You will find art you missed every time you walk the same path !! Works are added and rot...Read More

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is the westernmost center for contemorary art in the contiguous United Staes. Its physical setting in the 5-acre Webster's Woods provides an inspiring natural frame for cultural offerings.
This Fine Arts Center is the legacy of Esther BarrowsWebster-- artist, publisher, and philanthropist. After being diagnosed with cancer in 1979 she set in motion a plan to create this arts center, and bequeathed her estate to the City of Port Angeles to establish it.
Visitors walk along wooded ArtPaths amongst the trees.... looking up, down, all around... for artworks. You will find art you missed every time you walk the same path !! Works are added and rotated, with a major renewal every summer. Every time I visit some of my favorites are gone, but there are many more new ones to replace them.
Some exhibits that seem especially popular are: (1) The giant ball of twigs. The twigs are intertwined to resemble a giant ball of string. But the artist did not stop there.... they added old cell phones, computer monitors, CD players, etc throughout the work. It is taller than I am and probably about 6' across. (2) The Sweaters. They look like old wooly sweaters... all colors and patterns. The sweaters sit stiffly upright on the forest floor as if there were people inside. Most of the time I just look at them and wonder how anyone thought to make them... how odd... but I like the sweaters! On grey days when I visit they do have an eerie quality about them ( a little spooky!) that I don't feel on sunny days. (3) The trees.... This little grove of trees looks "dressed"... as if they are wearing little skirts. Cute idea. (4) The Silver Fern... It looks like it belongs there among the other real ferns. I like all the exhibits, but these are just a few of my favorites.
This "art in the woods" is so original and refreshing... an unexpected surprise for first-time visitors, I'm sure! I have never seen anything like it... something interesting every time you look around. I enjoy this place more each time I visit.
The ArtPaths are maintained, and should be easily walked by most people. Children love it here, too. Make a game of seeing who can find the most "art" hiding along the way!
There are also special indoor exhibits, and restrooms, in the crescent-shaped Webster House. This is a great place to get a sweeping vista of the city, its harbor, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
From Seattle it is a 2 1/2 hour trip via the Washington State Ferries and Highway 101. The Blackball Ferry line provides service for visitors from Canada (90 minute crossing). It is located on the hill near Peninsula College.
Admission is FREE.
Indoor gallery hours are Wednesday thru Sunday... March-October, 11-5.... November-February, 10-4. Webster's Woods and the ArtPaths are open daylight hours year round.

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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on August 24, 2008

Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
1203 East Lauridsen boulevard
Port Angeles, Washington
(360) 457-3532

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Hurricane Ridge/Olympic National Park

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Attraction | "Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park"

Hurricane Ridge Deer Photo - Hurricane Ridge/Olympic National Park, Olympic National Park, Washington

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Hurricane Ridge, in Olympic National Park.... Washington state..... is a popular destination year round. There is hiking and picnicking in the summer, and outdoor sports in the winter. This is the most popular tourist attraction in Port Angeles, and has over 3 million visitors a year! The visitor center is open seven days a week - April through October. During the winter months, it is open weather permitting.... usually the Lodge and Hurricane Ridge road are open on weekends and holidays during the ski season. Snowshoe trips are also conducted during the winter months.The lodge has a snack bar, ski rentals, and a gift shop. There are 2 easy hikes I have done in t...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on August 30, 2008

Hurricane Ridge/Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge Road, Off Mount Angeles Road
Port Angeles, Washington

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