Wine & Waterfalls: A Weekend to Love on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
Waterfalls and Wine: A Weekend to Love in Port Angeles on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
Grab someone you love spending time with and head to the Olympic Peninsula for a WEEKEND TO LOVE filled with hiking to gorgeous waterfalls and wine tasting at a handful of craft wineries throughout the Olympic Peninsula.
Hike to Waterfalls
There's nothing like a fun day of hiking especially when you end up at a gorgeous waterfall. Just outside of Port Angeles, both Marymere Falls and Madison Creek Falls trails offer a year-round scenic stroll to see some spectaculuar waterfalls.
Once the weather breaks, you can add Sol Duc Falls to your list. The trail to Sol Duc waterfall is about a 1.6-mile out and back hike on an easy trail. The Sol Duc Valley area is closed during the winter months until May. You can still access the falls during winter if you are willing to start hiking from Highway 101, which adds about 14-miles to your trek. It's also a nice spot to snowshoe if we have a fresh blanket of snow.
Remember to check Olympic National Park road conditions report before you head out to save you time and detours.
Wine Anytime: Boutique Wineries in Port Angeles
For year-round wine tasting, check out some of our craft, family-owned and operated Olympic Peninsula wineries in Port Angeles where they all have a good story to tell ...
Harbinger Winery: This locally-owned winery where "good things to come" is literally in the name, is where you can find good wine and conversation among a lively mix of visitors and locals. The owner and vintner, Sara Gagnon, can often be seen working and pouring for her customers. Sara began making wine at the age of 20 on the Gagnon land, which was homesteaded by her great grandparents at the turn of the last century. Today she still lives on a portion of the orchard where her family's roots began. Harbinger Winery was started in 2005 after Sara survived a small plane crash with her dear friend and now business partner, Tammi Hinkle. One year after the accident, they decided "dreams come first" and together pursued their life passions and opened Harbinger Winery.
The original tasting room and wine making facility, Harbinger Winery, is conveniently located near the Olympic Adventure Trail (OAT), an offshoot of the Olympic Discovery Trail and on the way to some of Port Angeles' best kayaking and tidepooling areas -- Freshwater Bay and Salt Creek Recreation Area. While the downtown Harbinger Wine Bar offers stunning views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Olympic Cellars: A heritage winery that's home to the "working girls", a woman-owned, family-operated winery where you can sip hand-crafted wine in a 1912 historic barn. Olympic Cellars is one of the longest running wineries in Washington state where the wine is made on original wine making equipment from the 1970s and the grapes are hand-selected from some of the most well-known vineyards in Washington like Sagemoor and Champoux. On summer nights, the barn is rocking with concerts and events that benefit local charities and non-profit organizations. Giving back and community runs through their wine-filled veins.
Camararderie Cellars: An opulent award-winning winery known for their reds where Don and Vickie Corson have been making wines meant to go with food for over 30 years. With grapes sourced from some of Eastern Washington's best vineyards, Camaraderie Cellars has expanded their wines from Cabernet Sauvignon to all five classic Bordeaux varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot) to Italian varieties (Sangiovese and Dolcetto), to Spanish Tempranillo and even a small amount of Syrah and Mouvedre. The name Camaraderie Cellars represents their philosophy of "sharing life’s best gifts . . . friendships, hearth, food and the world class wines we produce." You can experience their hospitality and fine wines first-hand at their tranquil tasting room with outdoor gardens, sculptures and soft music open for special events or by appointment.
PNWonderland Wine: As a woman-owned business rooted in Port Angeles and shaped by global experience in Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hospitality, Rachel Dorcy, the owner and sommlier of PNWonderland Wine, offers curated, sommelier-led experiences that invite visitors to slow down, discover new flavors, and connect with Port Angeles' coastal community. The tasting room is steps away from the Port Angeles waterfront and offers wine enthusiasts a variety of rotating themed-wine nights, food pairing events and more every month. When she's not busy pouring, Rachel has been busy hosting seasonal farm and wine dinners, bubbles paired brunches, as well as the annual PNW Mead Fest every November. Follow PNWonderland Wine's Facebook page for the latest events.
Honorable Mentions: Kokopelli, one of the top restaurants in Port Angeles, has an impressive wine selection and shop. Share a bottle while watching the Coho Ferry come and go from their second-story bar, or bring a bottle back to your room. Craving Italian with your wine? Reserve a table at Bella Italia for their scratch-made pasta dishes paired with a glass or bottle of vino. Their award-winning wine selection features over 400 varieties along with their house blend, Bella Italia Sangiovese.
Wine Events in Port Angeles
Red Wine, Cider, and Chocolates Event
Take a self-guided tour through some of the Olympic Peninsula's best wineries and cideries, but you'll want to also save the date for the annual Red Wine & Chocolate Festival. Participating wineries have special release wines, tasty food, and decadent chocolate samples. Check the Visit Port Angeles event calendar for more wine tasting and wine events.
Pillow Talk
Port Angeles has the largest selection of hotels, motels, B&Bs, Airbnbs, RV parks and camping on the Olympic Peninsula.
If it's just the two of you, try a stay in a modernized-yet-historic Victorian bed & breakfast only a few blocks up from downtown Port Angeles. Each room has its own bathroom, Olympic mountain or Strait of Juan de Fuca water views, and is appointed for the modern-day traveler. Make sure to stay for the daily gourmet breakfast and homebaked treats made by your host, Sydney Rubin. Poached pear brulées, hand pies, cinnamon rolls, pot pies, and seasonal crab cakes are just a few of the delicious items from a rotating seasonal menu. If romance is on your mind, add a professional massage at their on-site spa treatment room, a bouquet of fresh flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries, or an Ultimate Romance package to spice up your stay.
The Red Lion Hotel at the Port Angeles Harbor offers waterfront view rooms walking distance to downtown Port Angeles' shops and restaurants and activities. Borrow one of their cruiser bikes -- or rent an e-bike -- to ride for miles and miles along the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Find all your lodging options for planning your visit to the Olympic National Park and Olympic Peninsula on our lodging page.