Vacation on Hood Canal Blog

Article in the Port Townsend Leader

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:02:00 GMT

Article in the Port Townsend Leader January 20, 2010

Check out our fabulous fjord

Surrounded by the emerald green of majestic forests, the communities of Quilcene and Brinnon are located along the north end of Hood Canal, Washington's only fjord.

Hood Canal towns are famous for quiet rural living and outdoor activities such as hiking and boating. Fresh shellfish are also a big attraction. Oysters from Quilcene and Dabob bays are shipped to the finest restaurants throughout world.

Three rivers tumble out of the Olympic Mountains in South Jefferson County, pouring through a landscape of towering firs and beautiful meadows. The Big Quilcene, the Dosewallips and the Duckabush empty into the salt water of Hood Canal and offer numerous recreational opportunities.

The U.S. Forest Service's Quilcene Ranger Station is where visitors can get information about the Olympic Mountains, fishing, hiking, viewpoints, backpacking and where to cut your own Christmas tree.

Brinnon's ShrimpFest is the flavorful May event for the Emerald Towns, while Quilcene celebrates its Heritage Days in April.

Elwell P. Brinnon built the first homestead along the Duckabush River about six miles south of present-day Brinnon. Later he moved his wife, a sister to S'Klallam Indian Chief Chetzemoka, to the present site of Brinnon along the Dosewallips River.

While Brinnon remained a small community, Quilcene city leaders hoped their town might grow into a major port during the 1890s, when Port Townsend speculators began building a railroad to Olympia and on to Portland. Quilcene would have been its first major stop, but extending the line across 2,730-foot Mount Walker just south of town proved too costly and brought railroad plans to an end.

In the next century, Quilcene's town leaders turned their aspirations to mining, but the Tubal Cain Copper and Manganese Mining Co. never hit a big enough payload to compensate for the inaccessibility of the sites. The mines closed in the 1920s.

Logging is the only trade that sustained both communities until the latter part of the 20th century.

Destinations

Quilcene National Fish Hatchery: Open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the hatchery is located two miles south of Quilcene along Highway 101. The hatchery raises three of the five species of Pacific salmon - chinook chum and silver salmon. For more information, call 360-765-3334.

Mount Walker Viewpoint: Puget Sound and mountain scenery stretches out before visitors to the Mount Walker viewpoint after ascending a 3.1-mile, fairly steep gravel road or a two-mile hike. If you drive to the top, leave your travel trailer behind.

Pleasant Harbor: On the county's southern edge, the marina offers great facilities for boaters and travelers. Just south is the public boat launch at Triton Cove.

Dosewallips State Park: For hiking and camping enthusiasts, enjoy the park and its many offerings.

Other attractions: Take a day trip to Whitney Gardens in Brinnon, or try a visit to Rocky Brook Falls about three miles from Highway 101 on Dosewallips River Road.

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Nature Trails by Anna Gardner, Brinnon

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:35:00 GMT

Nature Trails By Anna Gardner, Brinnon, WA

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Ice on the Hood Canal - King5 News.

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:38:00 GMT

Ice on the Hood Canal, King5 Dec 10, 2010.

Video: Ice on the Hood Canal, Brinnon.

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Salmon run in Hood Canal

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:37:00 GMT

The silvers are in Hood Canal and reports say they are averaging about 10 pounds. The run started out rather slow but it's picking up momentum so head on over and stay a spell.

Our winter rates are in effect so plan a great fishing weekend and bring the whole gang.

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CRAB OPENS..........l

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:02:00 GMT

Get READY.......

Crab opens on July 29, at 7am in our area. Get your gear and licenses and head to Hood Canal.

Crab is open Wednesday through Saturdays only, all fishing gear must be removed from the water by one hour after sunset on the last day of any fishing period.

The weekend of July 17 is the Lavender Festival in Sequim. Be sure to visit this beautiful event with lots of good lavender stuff including lavender ice cream.

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Shrimpfest is coming to town!

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:03:00 GMT

Blackmouth fishing is open, YAH!

Shrimpfest planning is underway so that means it's time to plan a springtime or summer getaway.

May is shrimp season, not sure of the dates yet, but Shrimpfest is Memorial Day weekend. It's great fun for all with lots of vendors, music and beltsander races. Yes, beltsander races....they are a hoot!!

Emerald Towns Alliance, non profit organization, puts on Shrimpfest donating proceeds going back into the communities of Brinnon & Quilcene. Check out their website at www.emeraldtowns.org.

Our summer weekly rates start May 15. Some houses will be offered by the week, and some will be two night minimum. We will have specials selling any open weekends or week days. So plan your vacation on Hood Canal today. Plan to dig clams and shuck oysters....The best seafood ever!

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Vacation on Hood Canal

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:31:00 GMT

Summer is in full swing around here. Meaning that we are experiencing many DOT delays. The department of transportation is making life a little stressed these days by having so many projects in just a short amount of miles going on at one time. It took me 50 minutes to go 11 miles the other day. So put on your patience cap when driving on Highway 101.

That is the extent of the stress around here. Although lately just figuring out what time to go pull your crab pot seems to be the next big stress. But once again patience pays off with some fantastic size crab! Very good eating too!

Our rentals are full for the most part. We have a new house up for rent so that will help out. All our visitors seem to enjoy the great seafood and beaches.

So if you haven't been here yet, nows a great time to see it all.

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Low Tides on Hood Canal.....

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:04:00 GMT

Since ShrimpFest the town has been bustling with activity. The very low tides have brought out all shellfish enthusiasts. People are getting nice size geoduck along with clams and oysters. July 4th weekend will be another round of low tides so come join us. Rent a place or camp at the many campgrounds open in the Brinnon area. We also have a couple of RV parks and a new one on the Dosewallips River.

We have a little bit of road construction going on near Dosewallips State Park. The state is putting in a new bridge and have installed a stop light. So now we can say we have a stop light in Brinnon. What is this world coming to. Don't be impatient though, speeding through there will net you a hefty fine. Slow down to 25 mph speed limit. It will only take you a few minutes to get through.

Lastly, July 4th weekend is full at our vacation houses. I'm excited when I get calls asking me how to dig an oyster. That means we'll have lots of new folks learning how to handle the shellfish. Once you try it you will be coming back for more.

Weather is rainy, misty and some days this past week down right wintery. At least I don't have to water my garden.

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Low tides mean great fresh Oysters!

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:26:00 GMT

My favorite seafood has got to be the Oyster. Lately they have been so plump and cold that I could eat them every day. Clams are also one of our best kept secrets here on the canal. We get to go shrimping on May 3 so we'll be eating those Hood Canal Spotted shrimp. I can't wait!!!

Join us on the canal for all this great seafood. Weather has been sun breaks and rain. Which means there is enough time in between showers to gather our oysters. Yum...................

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Another beautiful weekend in paradise

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:51:00 GMT

It's Friday again and all weather reports indicate another beautiful weekend. Folks are starting to get out of the city and drive to our wonderful and unique corner of the world. Our office is located just off Highway 101 in Brinnon so we know when the traffic is picking up.

The committee working on Shrimpfest says it's full steam ahead. So plan your Memorial day trip to Hood Canal soon. It's an easy drive from Seattle by taking the Edmonds Kingston ferry or the Bainbridge Island boat. Either way you cross over the Hood Canal bridge then south on Highway 101 into Brinnon.

The fisherman tell me the fish are biting. You know fisherman. I get to find out tonight by trying some of that fresh Blackmouth Hood Canal Salmon. Yummmmm........ PS, Last weekend I had fresh Hood Canal oysters.

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Memorial Day weekend in Brinnon

Windermere Vacation Rentals — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 07:24:00 GMT

Just a reminder to book your Memorial Day weekend now. Shrimpfest is a celebration in Brinnon that brings in the festival goers. Our little town fills up, we even have traffic control! This year the dates are May 24 & 25. For more information on Shrimpfest go to www.emeraldtowns.org.

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