• About Trudy
  • Contact
True Wind Healing Travel
Live & Travel Well for a Healing Journey...
  • Home
  • Destinations
  • Healing Travel
  • Wellness
  • Resources
  • Shop
  • 0
Tag:

sequim dungeness valley

    Lavender Field Sequim Washington
    Washington State Travel Destinations

    A Fabulous Day at Sequim, WA’s Lavender Festival and Dungeness Spit

    by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac February 1, 2025
    written by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac

    How wonderful as an American that we don’t need to travel all the way to France for splendid purple fields of lavender.  In Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, the Sequim-Dungeness Valley has blossomed into the Lavender Capital of North America.  Every July, the Sequim Lavender Festival celebrates this beautiful herb. And the extraordinary Dungeness Spit jets out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  I enjoyed my day in Sequim, going to both the lavender festival and spit.  Here are the highlights.

    IMG_5212

    Sequim is located in Washington state’s Olympic peninsula, along the Dungeness River and close to the Olympic Mountains.  It’s within the rain shadow, near the wettest temperate rainforest in the U.S. and therefore, called Sunny Sequim.    The unique climate is conducive for growing lavender, and therefore, Sequim celebrates the Lavender Festival every 3rd full weekend of July.  In addition, near the Dungeness Spit is Sequim on Strait of Juan de Fuca.  This unique spit is 5 miles (8km) long and the longest sand spit in the U.S.

    Sequim Directions:   From the Puget Sound area, take a Washington State Ferry, such as, Seattle/Bainbridge Island or Edmonds/Kingston.  Take Hwy 104 to Hwy 101 for 21 miles to Sequim.  Take the Washington Street, Sequim Ave. or River Road exits to Sequim.

    Sequim Lavender Festival

    IMG_5178

    In 1996 the first few farms brought their lavender from the Sequim prairies to the markets.  This was all part of a plan to revitalize the prairies with beautiful lavender, instead of losing them to commercial development.   Firstly, from 1995-8 there were 8 lavender farms.  Since then, more than 30 lavender farms have been established.  Over the past 25 years, this has progressed to the extraordinary status:  Lavender Capital of North America.  Even more, it’s said to rival France.   The Sequim-Dungeness Valley has become a prolific agricultural business, along with cultural and culinary tourism.  The spectacular annual Sequim Lavender Festival runs the third long weekend of July.   

    IMG_5283

    I enjoyed a morning at the Sequim Lavender Festival, embracing the multi-facets of this aromatic light purple herb.   Walking around, there are many exhibits to learn and discover the therapeutic and delicious properties of lavender.  Lavender has relaxing properties to reduce stress.  And its dried purple bundles are decorative.  Plus, not to leave out how wonderful it tastes.  I tasted Lavender treasures, such as, ice cream, cookies, chocolates and a latte.  Loving the taste of Lavender, I went all out and bought Lavender body lotion and chocolates for my takeaway treats. 

    IMG_5187

    Overall, it is a very relaxing ambience, harmonizing with the theme of this calming herb.  I walked through fields, barns and listened to musicians.  There was a photographer doing photos in the lavender fields, so I took advantage of this as a reminder of my beautiful day. 

    Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge – Dungeness Spit

    IMG_5298

    Fun Fact & Tip:   A spit is a beach extended out into sea and joined to the mainland from one end.  It is formed by consistent winds blowing at an angle to the coast, resulting in a longshore drift.   The best time to walk the spit is during low tide, because there’s more land to explore. 

    IMG_5350

    The Dungeness Spit is a must-see if you’re in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley.  Just 6 miles north of Sequim this is a wonderful place for a unique experience connecting with nature.   

    IMG_5310

    The Dungeness Spit is 5 miles long, extending into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  So, walking to the end and back is 10-11 miles.  Even more, it’s the longest spit in the U.S. and part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge.   The New Dungeness Lighthouse is at the tip, to help navigation of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  

    Interestingly, the spit grows 15 feet (4.6 m) per year.  It was very windy when I was there.  I wandered solo for hours, but never made it to the lighthouse.  Overall, it’s very invigorating to be engulfed by the refreshing sea winds and  gorgeous views from all directions.  There is fascinating driftwood and rocks of all shapes and sizes to explore along the sandy spit. 

    Overall, Sequim Lavender Festival and Dungeness Spit

    Mt. Ranier from Puget Sound
    Mt. Rainier on Puget Sound – Ferry Ride Home

    Naturally, you could see both the festival and spit in a day or stay a couple days.  There is so much to do in the area.  How wonderful that this trip takes you to the purple heart of agriculture and the maritime beauty of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  A wonderful way to experience the full spectrum of land and sea.


    Read More!
    Washington’s Spectacular Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Highlights
    Amazing 2-Day Olympic Coast Guide near Forks, WA at Beaches & Hoh Rainforest

    February 1, 2025 0 comments
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Load More Posts

About

About

Hello, Hola, Namaste, Ni hao, Ciao and Bonjour! My name is Trudy and I have been traveling like everyday is my last, over the last 10 years. I've visited 105 countries and still counting! As an Acupuncturist and traveler, I love sharing my experiences and tips on travel and wellness. Feel free to join below my community for coupons and latest travel guides.

Join my Community

Join True Wind Healing Travel to receive the latest wellness & travel guides.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Pinterest

@truewindhealingtravel

truewindtravel

Travel & Wellness Writer, Acupuncturist-at-Sea
🌎 100+ Countries & Counting
📹 YT: TrueWindHealingTravel
Travel/Wellness Content:

On the Vracar plateau, the Church of Saint Sava is On the Vracar plateau, the Church of Saint Sava is the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans and second largest in the world. Saint Sava is the founder of the Serbian Orthodox church. The church’s construction lasted from 1935 to 1989. It became delayed by WW II and the Yugoslavian communism, that didn’t allow for building churches. 

Shaped like a Greek Cross, the facade consists of white marble and granite in a Neo-Byzantine style. Its dome is one of the largest in the world. The mosaics are spectacular, with the central mosaic in the dome depicting the Ascension of Jesus.

To learn more about Belgrade, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/belgrade-serbia-top-attractions-in-2-days/

#belgrade #serbia #serbiatourism #churchesofinstagram #templeofsaintsava #balkans #europetravels #easterneurope #belgradephoto #belgradeserbia #travelblogger #wanderlust
Just 15 minutes from Mostar is the Blagaj Dervish Just 15 minutes from Mostar is the Blagaj Dervish Monastery. It sits at the source of the Buna River which flows out of a cave beneath a canyon wall. The beautiful tekke (lodge) displays Ottoman Sufi architecture from the 15th century. 

The white building reflects on the turquoise river. Inside you’ll find a small mosque, guest rooms and mausoleums. Dervishes of the Sufi orders stayed here for spiritual retreats over the centuries. Today, it is open for tourist of all faiths to learn about this sacred site and the Sufi tradition. 

We explored the riverside and view of Blagaj from across the river. Also, with our shoes off, we enjoyed an indoor tour of the monastery. 

To learn more about Mostar, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/mostar-tour-highlights/

#blagaj #dervish #monastery #mostar #bosniaandherzegovina #balkans #instatravelling #i̇nstatravel #easterneurope #europetravel #bosnia #traveladdict #retreat #wanderlust #solotraveling
Mostar is a gorgeous gem of the Balkans. Its uniqu Mostar is a gorgeous gem of the Balkans. Its unique blend of cultural diversity, riveting history and natural beauty offers an inspiring escape. I traveled solo in Mostar for 2 days, exploring the Old Town along with day trips. Mostar's main attraction is the bridge jumping tradition.

The iconic Stari Most is the symbol of Mostar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in Balkan Islamic architecture in the 16th century, its height is 24 m (78 ft 9 in). The bridge connects the two sides of the city divided by the Neretva River. During the Balkan War, the bridge was destroyed. However, it became rebuilt in 2004 with the stones from the original bridge. The bridge is steep and slippery with crowds often on it. So, wear good shoes and be aware when taking in its incredible views of the city and river.

The main attraction in Mostar is watching the tradition of locals jumping off the Stari Most into the river. This began in 1664 as a rite-of-passage for 16-year-old boys. Today, young men from the Mostar Diving Club take the plunge. Leading up to the plunge, assistants gather donations from the crowds.

To learn more, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/mostar-tour-highlights/

#mostar #mostarbridge #mostarbridgejump #mostarbosnia #bosniaandherzegovina #balkans #bridgejump #bridgejumping #instatravelling #instatravel #europetravels #easterneurope #wanderlusting #wanderlust #travelgirl #solotravel #travelblog #travelblogger #solotravel
After 3 days in Sarajevo, I wholeheartedly get why After 3 days in Sarajevo, I wholeheartedly get why National Geographic named it Top Destination for 2025. Here, east meets west with a fascinating blend of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian influences. However, wounds from the 90’s Bosnian War are still healing. Afterall, Sarajevo suffered the longest siege (almost 4 years) in modern warfare by the Bosnian Serbs. Thankfully, its citizens’ resilience prevailed otherwise.

To learn more, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/sarajevo-travel-destination-highlights/

Photos:
Abandoned Olympic Bobsleigh Track
Sarajevo '84 Winter Olympics
Tunnel of Hope during Sarajevo Siege
Sarajevo Rose Memorial (Where more than 3 people died in Siege)
Eternal Flame Monument - Honoring WW II victims
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Old Bazaar

#sarajevo #sarajevobosnia #bosnia #bosniaandherzegovina🇧🇦 #bosniatravel #europetravels #balkans #europedestinations #solotraveler #solofemaletravel #wanderlusting #wanderlust #travelbloggers #nationalgeographictopdestination2025 #nationalgeographic #instatravel #europehistory
The Plitvice Lakes National Park is located in cen The Plitvice Lakes National Park is located in central Croatia’s mountainous karst area. It’s the largest national park in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is world-famous for its 16 turquoise, tufa lakes connected by 90 cascades and waterfalls. A confluence of many rivers and subterranean karst rivers created these lakes. 

Check out my blog/video:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/plitvice-lakes-planning-tips/

#waterfallsofinstagram #croatiatravel #croatia #waterfalls #waterfall #adventuretravel #wanderlust #europetravels #cascade #travelingram #naturelovers #naturegrams #traveladdict #solofemaletravel #solotraveler
Follow on Instagram

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Flickr
  • Youtube
Footer Logo

© 2025 True Wind Healing Travel / All Rights Reserved

True Wind Healing Travel
  • Home
  • Destinations
  • Healing Travel
  • Wellness
  • Resources
  • Shop

Shopping Cart

Close

No products in the cart.

Close