Every tourist destination has its attractions. However, because every tourist is different, these attractions have greater or lesser value. In this series Gary gives his reasons for traveling to a particular place. Hopefully some of his thoughts will entice you to consider adding this particular location to your itinerary. The entire series is being categorized under the heading, “Spotlights.” However, you may find more about these locations in the archives of this website, under headings such as, “Great Places,” “Things to Do in,” “Best of,” “Top 10” and “Places of a Lifetime.” In addition, “Walking Tours” of many of these destinations may be available for purchase on the website for the low price of $1.49 each.
Olympic National Park is one of America’s most diverse national parks. Visitors can choose between mountain scenery (Hurricane Ridge), seashores (Ruby and other beaches), and temperate rain forest (Hoh Rain Forest). The juxtaposition of three (3) extremely different types of ecosystems is the park’s defining feature. The park occupies the majority of the Olympic Peninsula, across Puget Sound from Seattle. Be sure to include Olympic National Park in any northwestern USA itinerary for at least the following reasons:
1. Hurricane Ridge offers alpine meadows and glorious mountain scenery as well as numerous hiking opportunities for visitors.
2. The eerie beauty of moss-covered trees is evident in the Hoh Rain Forest. Take the Hall of Mosses Trail for a great introduction into this unusual biome.
3. Pristine beaches with offshore sea stacks are characteristic of the northern Pacific shoreline, exemplified by Ruby Beach.