Port Angeles Washington - The Center Of It All

We are all looking forward to sitting a round the table with our family and friends to enjoy a nice holiday meal. Unfortunately there will be many families that can’t afford that meal. So when you are out shopping for your big dinner pick up a few extra cans of food to donate to the food bank your area. Locally In one month the Port Angeles Food Bank served over 13,093 and this number continues to rise, so they really appreciate the help. Don’t forget pets are family too, so go out and make a donation to your local Humane Society. Thank you for your help and Happy Holidays!

All you shopping deal-seekers know that the truly huge discounts come just after Christmas. But this year it may pay to wait a few extra days. I just read about how many stores have gotten wise to the fact that consumers like to redeem gift cards a day or two directly after the holidays, so many stores have pushed off steeper discounts until later this week to maximize their profits. So I would wait for the real deals at the tail-end of the week when the stores want to rid their shelves of unsold holiday merchandise and make way for the New Year’s replacements. Remember we have some great local store that also have good discounts after the holidays so don’t get stuck in just the big stores. Good luck and happy shopping!

I just heard about the Peninsula Home Fund, What a great organization! If you are like me and had not heard of this it’s an organization that helps to provide hot meals for seniors, warm winter coats for kids, home repairs for the low income, needed prescription drugs, dental work, safe drug-free temporary housing and the list goes on and on. From Jan. 1 through Dec. 18, the Peninsula Home Fund has served 1,921 families, comprising about 3,643 individuals. And all of this is through Fundraising; I just wanted to tell every one involved to keep up the great work! If you would like to help out or have any questions about the fund, contact John Brewer, Peninsula Daily News editor and publisher, at 360-417-3500.

I grew up around a lot of mountains so moving to a place with the Olympic Mountains and water side by side is really cool to me. I’m always finding new thing I love to do here. One thing I have taken a liking to is walking the beach and looking for sea glass. It’s so calming, the smell of the salt and seaweed, the sound of crunching rocks and sand beneath your feet, the water lapping on the shore line then you look down at all the different colors of rock and shells but there is that one little something that catches your eye a peace of beach glass! It’s like you found a little treasure. I never knew that people are really in to looking for beach glass there are books and group and all kinds of things. I can see how it would get addicting. If you haven’t ever looked for it today would be a great day even if you don’t find any it’s nice to just get out. If you find anything neat I would love to here about it

National Geographic Traveler has a really great article “Around the Olympic peninsula” It takes you for a road trip stating in Seattle then going in a loop counterclockwise around the peninsula. Taking you through a few of the towns, beaches, lakes, and forests. It’s really well dune and worth taking the time to read. Check it out!

After reading something like this I feel lucky to live in such an amazing place. We have so many natural beauties around us from places like Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Neah Bay, The Hoh Rain forest and so many more, and the best part is how close everything is. You can make it a day trip or however long you want to go adventure.

It is time once again to ring in a New Year! If you have not yet made plans for tonight here are a few Ideas. Port Townsend is having First Night a fun filled night for the family. They will have games, songs and storytelling 6pm-9pm. At 9 p.m., which is midnight in New York City, Port Townsend will usher in 2010 with the raising of the illuminated anchor created by sculptor Thaddeus Jurczynski, followed by fireworks launched from Memorial Field. Admission is by donation. A $5 donation is suggested. Proceeds will benefit the Jefferson County Historical Society, which organized the event sponsored by First Federal. SEQUIM — The third annual New Year’s Eve Bash will be held at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St., at 8 p.m. tonight. PORT ANGELES — The Elks Naval Lodge is hosting a public party that is a fundraiser for Hilda’s Hope for Life, a local charity for AIDS orphans in Uganda. Tickets are $65 per person or $450 per table and include a full dinner, dessert and champagne at midnight.  And much more for all details go to the Peninsula Daily News. Have a safe and Happy New Years, Talk to you again next year!

I have driven by Lake Crescent a few times and have thought it was absolutely gorgeous but have not had the chance to walk around the lake till just the other day. I made a stop by Lake Crescent Lodge and walked along the shore line and through some of the forest area. It was such a nice place, I found out how much there is to do around this area whether it be kayaking/canoeing, or hiking/ biking. Needless to say I can’t wait to go back and next time I would like to hike to Marymere Falls I hear it’s beautiful. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE MEMORIES ABOUT LAKE CRESCENT?

Yes the time has come once again for a fun filled night of shopping. Tonight downtown shops and restaurants will be open late for the sixth annual “Shop ‘Til You Drop”. There will be sales, special discounts, drawings for door prizes and holiday candy at many of the stores for people who come in between 5pm and 8pm.

Santa will be there too! He will be seated with one of his elves at The Toggery, 105 E. First St. so parents bring your cameras. Hot cider will be served from First Street Haven’s Christmas Room, which is next to The Toggery. It’s going to be a lot of fun so I hope to see you around town! HAPPY HOLIDAY’S!

With the weather being so nice it is a perfect time to take a trip up to Hurricane Ridge for some fun winter activities like snowshoeing, cross country skiing, down hill skiing, and tubing for the kids eight years and younger. Being my first winter on the Olympic Peninsula I’m really excited to get up there and have some fun. I have been snowshoeing on the ridge before and had a blast it was my first time ever and what an amazing place to go for your first time. The views are absolutely breath taking; it was a clear day when I went so you could look out and see all the way to Victoria. I haven’t been cross country skiing before so I would like to try that this year. WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO GO FOR WINTER ACTIVITIES IN WASHINGTON?

Over the weekend some friends and I took a drive west of Port Angeles to Madison Falls just a short drive off of Highway 101. We got there early enough that the field at the start of the trail was frosted over and looked like a field of diamonds it was beautiful. On the first part of the trail there are the remains of a huge old tree. It was amazing to see how big these trees can get, keep walking and look up at the cliff wall to your right filled with moss, ferns, and trees growing out of the face of the wall. A little further you can see the river to your left and start to here the falls you turn a corner and there’s this amazing falls that cascade down a hundred feet. There are benches for you to stay and enjoy the falls and everything around you! I would strongly suggest this short hike to anyone the trail is paved for wheelchair use and makes for a nice walk for people of all ages. LET ME KNOW IF YOU GO AND WHAT YOU THINK OR IF YOU HAVE A TRAIL FOR ME TO TRY!