Know Everything About Sequim Washington

Sequim Washington

The Olympic Mountains dominate the landscape in Clallam County, where the city of Sequim Washington is situated. There has been a recent population boom, largely made up of retirees moving to the area. The city is known for its production of lavender, second in scale only to that of France. The Lavender Festival takes place every July with thousands of people attending. Its other claim to fame is its population of Dungeness Crab, considered to be gourmet food. Clam hunting is also a favorite activity. The city has a sister city arrangement with Shiso, Hyogo in Japan. The local High School fosters friendship with Shiso through a student exchange program.

Another attraction luring people to come to live here is its lack of rainfall. In fact, the area is so dry that it is borderline desert. Tourists are always keen to spot the Roosevelt Elk, otherwise known as the Olympic Elk. It lives in the rainforests of the Pacific North West and a herd seems quite at home in the surrounds of Sequim Washington.

The Museum and Arts Center has exhibits of cultural life and natural history. In addition to the permanent collection, there is a changing program of exhibitions of artwork and arts and crafts. The photography exhibition highlights the local history of the area and there is a replica Victorian room. The major attraction here is the remains of a dinosaur, called a Mastodon that was found locally. A video film shows the excavation of the pre-historic animal.

As it is so dry in this region, irrigation systems are essential to agriculture and livestock. Each May, the Irrigation Festival celebrates the building of irrigation ditches on the prairie. This festival has been running since 1895 in Sequim Washington and each one has a different theme. The 2007 event was very popular and had a Rock and Roll theme, complete with music, a car show and a logging show.

There is a community atmosphere at the weekly Sequim Open Aire Market, which has around 50 different stalls each week. Everyday items such as fruit and vegetables can be bought along with other farm produce. There are also plants, flowers and various arts and crafts. Local artists and craftspeople bring paintings, metalwork, woodwork and photographs of local scenes. There is also live music and entertainment. Sequim Washington prides itself on being as friendly as any small town even though the city is expanding.