331 Things to Do in Port Angeles – #78 Wine & Waterfalls: 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 was started in 2005 after Sara survived a small plane crash with her dear friend and now business partner, Tammi Hinkle, who also owns and operates an adventure tour company in Port Angeles. One year after the accident, they decided “dreams come first” and together pursued their life passions and opened Harbinger Winery.
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 25 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.
Honorable Mention: 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.
Wine Events in Port Angeles
Wine, Cider and Cheese Tour Event
Every April, there’s a Wine, Cider and Cheese Tour that pairs together fine wine, ciders and locally-made artisan cheeses into one tasty tour. All of Port Angeles’ wineries — Harbinger Winery, Olympic Cellars, and Camaraderie Cellars — participate in this annual wine tasting event on the Olympic Peninsula.
Red Wine, Cider and Chocolates Event
Take a self-guided tour through some of the Olympic Peninsula’s best wineries and cideries over two weekends in February at the annual Red Wine, Cider & Chocolates event. Participating wineries and cideries have special release wines, tasty food, and decadent chocolate samples at every stop. Buy your ticket online for $40. Tickets include a souvenir tasting glass and entry into a contest to win a love-inspired gift basket.
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 from Sound Bikes & Kayaks in downtown — to ride for miles and 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.
Photo Credits (top to bottom): Michael Matti (top two), Nate Wyeth, M. Krueger Photography and Lynnette Braillard
