Tag: Washington State

  • Hood Canal North Regional Beat — Bald Eagle Kayak Season in Brinnon

    Hood Canal North Regional Beat — Bald Eagle Kayak Season in Brinnon

    Spring is eagle season along Hood Canal North! 🦅 Right now through June, Hood Canal Adventures in Brinnon is running their Bald Eagle Viewing Kayak Tours — and the sightings are extraordinary. The annual sculpin spawn draws eagles to the water’s edge in massive numbers at low tide, with guides routinely spotting 40 to 60 bald eagles at once, and some days over 100 perched along the banks and overhanging trees. This is one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles in western Washington, quietly unfolding on the jade-green waters of Hood Canal.

    If you’re craving more intertidal magic, Hood Canal Adventures also runs Tide Pool Exploration tours with an on-water marine biologist — paddle out at low tide to find sea stars, nudibranchs, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, and crab in the rocky shallows. Their Dosewallips Estuary Kayak Tour takes you deep into the 1,000-acre wildlife delta at Dosewallips State Park, where elk sightings are surprisingly common. Spring is the sweet spot to experience Hood Canal North — book at hoodcanaladventures.com or find their full listing at explorehoodcanal.com.

    Hood Canal Adventures Tours (April–June)

    • Bald Eagle Viewing Kayak Tour: 2.5 hours. Pacific midshipman sculpin spawning season draws 40–100+ bald eagles to the shoreline. Runs April through June.
    • Tide Pool Exploration: 2.5 hours with a marine biologist guide. Sea stars, nudibranchs, anemones, and crab at low tide.
    • Dosewallips Estuary Kayak Tour: Paddle into the 1,000-acre wildlife delta at Dosewallips State Park. Elk sightings common.
    • Oyster Shucking & Kayaking Tour: Combines paddling with hands-on oyster education.
    • Location: 306146 Hwy 101 N, Brinnon, WA | (360) 301-6310
    • Book at: hoodcanaladventures.com
  • What Is CERB? How Washington State’s Economic Development Loan Program Helped Bring Olympic Mountain Ice Cream to the Port of Shelton

    What Is CERB? How Washington State’s Economic Development Loan Program Helped Bring Olympic Mountain Ice Cream to the Port of Shelton

    When the Port of Shelton Commission approved a $1.75 million loan to renovate a warehouse for Olympic Mountain Ice Cream, the financing came from a state program that most Mason County business owners have never heard of — but probably should know about.

    The Community Economic Revitalization Board, or CERB, is one of Washington State’s primary tools for funding the kind of infrastructure investment that keeps local manufacturers in rural communities instead of relocating to cheaper or better-served markets.

    What Is CERB?

    CERB is a Washington State program administered by the Department of Commerce. It provides low-interest loans and grants to public entities — port districts, counties, cities, public development authorities — for infrastructure projects tied to private sector job creation.

    The key word is “public entities.” CERB does not lend money directly to private businesses. Instead, a public partner (like the Port of Shelton) takes on the CERB debt, builds or improves an asset, and then makes that asset available to a private company under lease terms designed to be economically accessible. The private company commits to creating a specified number of jobs in exchange.

    It’s a leveraged model: $1.75 million in state money, paired with at least $1 million in private investment from Olympic Mountain Ice Cream, creates a $2.75 million project that the company likely couldn’t finance on its own — and that the private capital markets wouldn’t fund in a rural county without a public partner at the table.

    Why the Port of Shelton Was the Right Vehicle

    The Port of Shelton, established in 1948, is a public port district with statutory authority to promote economic development. Its assets include Sanderson Field, a general aviation airport and 1,200-acre industrial park, and the Johns Prairie Industrial Park. The Port can issue CERB applications on behalf of projects that meet the program’s job-creation and public benefit criteria.

    In the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream case, the mechanics are straightforward: the Port received the CERB loan, renovated its warehouse building at 130 West Corporate Drive to meet the company’s production and retail requirements, and executed a lease with Olympic Mountain Ice Cream. The lease terms are structured to be affordable for the company while generating revenue that helps the Port service the CERB debt.

    The 17-job commitment is not goodwill — it’s a contract obligation tied to the CERB financing. The state tracks job creation outcomes for CERB-funded projects, and the Port is responsible for ensuring the commitments are met.

    What This Means for Other Mason County Businesses

    The CERB program exists throughout Washington State, and Mason County has public partners — the Port of Shelton, Mason County government, Mason County Economic Development Council — that can sponsor applications for eligible projects.

    If you run a Mason County business that needs facility improvements, infrastructure investment, or expanded production capacity that would create jobs, the path to CERB financing runs through those public entities, not through a bank. The Mason County EDC at masonedc.org is the right starting point for businesses exploring whether their project could qualify.

    CERB is not the only state economic development tool available — the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority (WEDFA), the Rural Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund, and various USDA programs also operate in Mason County. But CERB is specifically well-suited to the kind of port-anchored industrial development the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream project represents.

    The Bigger Picture: Mason County’s Economic Development Momentum

    The Olympic Mountain Ice Cream expansion is happening in the same year that the SR-3 Belfair Bypass received $48.3 million in state transportation funding and PUD 3 is completing fiber buildouts reaching hundreds of additional homes. The three investments are unrelated but collectively signal a county that is attracting public capital investment at a rate that will shape its economic trajectory for years.

    For businesses considering a Mason County location or expansion, that infrastructure context — roads, fiber, industrial space at public ports — is worth paying attention to.

    Full expansion details: Olympic Mountain Ice Cream’s New Port of Shelton Facility — Complete Coverage

    Related infrastructure: PUD 3 fiber is reaching 680+ Cloquallum homes — what gigabit internet means for Mason County businesses

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does CERB stand for and who administers it in Washington State?

    CERB stands for Community Economic Revitalization Board. It is administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce and provides low-interest financing to public entities for economic development infrastructure projects that create private-sector jobs.

    Can a private Mason County business apply for CERB funding directly?

    No. CERB loans and grants go to public entities — port districts, cities, counties, and similar government bodies — not directly to private businesses. A private business benefits from CERB through a partnership with a public entity that sponsors the project and owns the improved facility, which it then makes available to the business through a lease.

    How do I find out if my Mason County business project could qualify for CERB-backed financing?

    Contact the Mason County Economic Development Council at masonedc.org or the Port of Shelton directly. These organizations work with the Washington State Department of Commerce on CERB applications and can help determine whether your project meets the program criteria — particularly the job-creation requirements that anchor CERB eligibility.

    How much was the CERB loan for the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream project?

    The Port of Shelton received a $1.75 million CERB loan for the warehouse renovation. Olympic Mountain Ice Cream committed to at least $1 million in private investment alongside the state financing, for a total project investment of approximately $2.75 million.


  • South Coast & Grays Harbor Spring Guide: Razor Clams, Gray Whales & the Quinault Rain Forest

    South Coast & Grays Harbor Spring Guide: Razor Clams, Gray Whales & the Quinault Rain Forest

    There are three very good reasons to point your car toward Grays Harbor this spring.

    Razor Clamming at Twin Harbors & Mocrocks

    Twin Harbors and Mocrocks beaches are open for razor clamming — one of the most reliable and accessible clamming spots on the Washington coast, just south of Westport. Low tides in the morning make for prime digging conditions. Grab your license (the 2026–27 recreational fishing license is required starting April 1), a clam gun, and a bucket. Always verify current openings with WDFW before heading out, as schedules can shift based on marine biotoxin monitoring.

    Gray Whale Migration from Westport Light

    April is peak gray whale migration season on the Washington coast, running from March through early May. Westport is one of the best places in the state to watch them. Head to Westport Light State Park — the tallest lighthouse in Washington — and scan the horizon for spouts. On a calm spring day you might spot 10–25 whales, with surfacing every 5–15 minutes during peak hours. Charter whale watch trips run from the Westport Marina if you want to get closer to the action. Westport Light State Park is an official stop on the Washington Whale Trail.

    The Quinault Rain Forest in Spring

    The Quinault Rain Forest is in its most magical spring form right now. The cedar bogs along the Rain Forest Loop Trail are bursting with skunk cabbage in vivid gold and green, snowmelt is feeding the waterfalls, and the mosses are electric after months of winter rain. The Quinault Rain Forest Loop Trail is accessible — though some sections may have flooding, and returning via South Shore Road is an option if needed.

    Lake Quinault Lodge has been welcoming guests since 1926. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay for dinner and wake up to mist on the lake. Always check current road and trail conditions at NPS.gov/olym before heading into the backcountry.

    Plan Your Visit

    Grays Harbor doesn’t always get the spotlight, but in spring it’s putting on a show. The combination of razor clamming, whale watching, and old-growth rainforest hiking makes for one of the most diverse single-day itineraries on the Olympic Peninsula. Give yourself a full day — or better yet, a long weekend.

    Sources: WDFW, experiencewestport.com, westportwa.com, NPS.gov/olym, GraysHarborTalk, hikeoftheweek.com

  • Washington’s New E-Bike Rebate Program Is Open Now — Olympic Peninsula Residents Can Apply

    Washington’s New E-Bike Rebate Program Is Open Now — Olympic Peninsula Residents Can Apply

    Washington E-Bike Rebate: Washington state residents age 16 and older can apply for a $300 or $1,200 e-bike rebate. The program runs from March 30, 2026 through March 29, 2027. Monthly random selections began April 13, 2026. In Jefferson County, households earning at or below $59,238 qualify for the higher $1,200 rebate.

    Washington’s E-Bike Rebate Program Is Live — Here’s How to Apply

    If you’ve been thinking about getting an e-bike for exploring the Olympic Peninsula, Washington just made it a lot more affordable. The state’s new e-bike rebate program opened on March 30, 2026, and the first monthly drawing of applicants began today, April 13.

    Washington residents age 16 and older can apply for a $300 rebate toward the purchase of a qualifying e-bike. Lower-income households can receive a $1,200 rebate. Rebates are applied at participating bike shops at the time of purchase.

    How the Program Works

    You only need to submit one application to be considered for all monthly drawings through March 2027. Each month, the program randomly selects applicants from the pool. If selected, you receive a rebate to use at a participating bike shop toward a qualifying e-bike model.

    The rebates cover all three classes of e-bike and are designed to reduce — though not necessarily eliminate — the upfront cost. E-bikes typically range from around $1,000 to well over $5,000 depending on the model.

    Who Qualifies for the $1,200 Rebate?

    To qualify for the higher $1,200 rebate, your household income must be at or below 80 percent of the median income for your county. In Jefferson County, that threshold is $59,238. Income thresholds differ by county — check the program’s application for your specific county’s limit.

    For the standard $300 rebate, you just need to be a Washington resident age 16 or older with a working email address. No income verification required.

    Why E-Bikes Make Sense on the Olympic Peninsula

    The Olympic Peninsula has no shortage of bike-friendly roads and trails, and e-bikes extend how far and how comfortably you can ride — especially on hilly terrain or longer routes. Port Townsend, Sequim, and the Dungeness Spit area all have established cycling infrastructure. For local commuters, e-bikes are an increasingly practical option given gas prices in the region.

    How to Apply

    The application is available through Washington state. You only need to submit once to be entered in all monthly drawings. The program runs through March 29, 2027. For details and to apply, search “Washington e-bike rebate” at the Washington State Department of Commerce or Transportation website.

    Frequently Asked Questions: Washington E-Bike Rebate 2026

    How much is Washington’s e-bike rebate?

    $300 for most Washington residents age 16+. $1,200 for households at or below 80% of county median income. In Jefferson County, that income threshold is $59,238.

    How do I apply for the Washington e-bike rebate?

    Submit one application through the Washington state program — you’ll be entered in monthly random drawings through March 2027. Search “Washington e-bike rebate” at the state commerce or transportation website.

    When do the monthly drawings happen?

    Monthly selections began April 13, 2026. The program runs through March 29, 2027.

    What types of e-bikes qualify?

    All three classes of e-bike qualify. The rebate is applied at participating bike shops at the time of purchase.

  • Planning a Trip Around the Olympic Loop This Summer? Here’s What WSDOT Has on US 101

    Planning a Trip Around the Olympic Loop This Summer? Here’s What WSDOT Has on US 101

    2026 construction season: WSDOT has multiple active work zones on US 101 and connecting state routes around the Olympic Peninsula this year. Most are part of a long-running fish barrier removal program. Expect reduced speeds, shifted lanes, and occasional one-way alternating traffic at several locations. Plan extra travel time.

    Driving the Olympic Loop in 2026? Here’s What WSDOT Wants You to Know

    If your summer plans include a drive around the Olympic Loop — or a trip to the Hoh Rain Forest, the coast, or Hood Canal — you’ll be navigating some construction zones this season. WSDOT has multiple active projects on US 101 and connecting routes across Jefferson, Clallam, and Grays Harbor counties in 2026.

    The good news: WSDOT is keeping traffic moving through all work zones. The practical advice: leave early, check the WSDOT app before you go, and don’t count on maintaining highway speeds at every stretch.

    Active Work Zones on US 101 — What to Expect Where

    Near Port Angeles — Lees and Ennis Creeks

    On US 101 just outside Port Angeles, fish barrier removal work at Lees Creek and Ennis Creek is ongoing through summer 2026. The speed limit is reduced from 40 mph to 25 mph through both work zones. Travelers will see shifted lanes. No daytime lane reductions at these sites — nighttime lane closures happen between 7 PM and the early morning hours.

    Near Ruby Beach — Milepost 165

    One-way alternating traffic controlled by a signal is in place at milepost 165 near the Olympic National Park Ruby Beach entrance. This is an ongoing erosion repair on the highway shoulder following December 2025 winter storms. WSDOT is monitoring conditions and scheduling a permanent repair.

    South of Forks — Jefferson/Clallam County Line

    A fish passage work zone south of Forks at the Jefferson-Clallam county line remains in place through the end of 2026. This is part of the Coastal 29 fish barrier correction project that has been running on the peninsula since 2023.

    SR 116 — Chimacum Creek Closure Coming This Summer

    On State Route 116, a culvert replacement at Chimacum Creek is scheduled to begin after the July 4 holiday weekend in summer 2026. This will include a longer-term road closure with a signed detour via State Route 19, Irondale Road, and Chimacum Road. Travelers heading to Port Hadlock and beyond should plan accordingly.

    Hood Canal Bridge — SR 104

    In late spring and summer 2026, travelers using the Hood Canal Bridge (SR 104) will see overnight closures from 11 PM to 4 AM as preservation work continues on the bridge’s shock absorbers and center lock system. Short maintenance openings lasting 30–40 minutes may occur during daytime hours. Check the Hood Canal Bridge status page at wsdot.wa.gov before crossing.

    Tips for Driving the Peninsula This Summer

    • Download the WSDOT app for real-time traffic, closures, and ferry updates
    • Check engage.wsdot.wa.gov/olympic-peninsula-construction for the full project map
    • Build in extra time at known work zones, especially on US 101 near Port Angeles and south of Forks
    • For ferry planning, make reservations early on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route

    Frequently Asked Questions: US 101 Olympic Peninsula Construction 2026

    Where are the main construction zones on US 101 on the Olympic Peninsula in 2026?

    Key areas: Lees and Ennis Creeks near Port Angeles (25 mph reduced speed, shifted lanes); milepost 165 near Ruby Beach (one-way alternating traffic); south of Forks near the Jefferson-Clallam county line (ongoing through end of 2026).

    Is the Hood Canal Bridge open in 2026?

    Yes, but expect overnight closures from 11 PM to 4 AM in late spring and summer 2026 for preservation work. Check wsdot.wa.gov for current status before crossing.

    Why is WSDOT doing so much construction on US 101?

    Most projects are part of a court-ordered statewide fish barrier removal program, replacing outdated culverts under highways that block salmon migration. The “Coastal 29” project has been correcting 29 barrier sites along US 101 and SR 109 since 2023.

    Where can I check current Olympic Peninsula road conditions?

    Use the WSDOT app, visit wsdot.wa.gov, or check engage.wsdot.wa.gov/olympic-peninsula-construction for the full project map.

  • Four Olympic Peninsula Campgrounds Face Closure After State Budget Cuts

    Four Olympic Peninsula Campgrounds Face Closure After State Budget Cuts

    What’s happening: Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Washington’s new state operating budget on April 1, 2026. The budget cuts forced the Department of Natural Resources to plan closures or service reductions at up to 19 recreation sites statewide. Four Olympic Peninsula campgrounds are on the preliminary list. The DNR’s final closure list has not yet been released.

    Four Olympic Peninsula Campgrounds Are on the DNR Closure List

    If you’re planning a camping trip to the Olympic Peninsula this spring or summer, check ahead before you go. Washington’s new state budget, signed April 1 by Gov. Bob Ferguson, has triggered plans to close or reduce services at multiple campgrounds managed by the Department of Natural Resources — and four sites on the Olympic Peninsula are on the preliminary list.

    The four Olympic Peninsula campgrounds identified for potential closure are:

    • Anderson Lake — Jefferson County
    • Bear Creek — along the Sol Duc River, Clallam County
    • Hoh Oxbow — on the Hoh River
    • Lyre River — near Joyce, Clallam County

    These are DNR-managed sites, not Olympic National Park campgrounds. The DNR’s Courtney James told local media that the final list of impacted sites will be released in the near future. Some sites may see full closures while others face partial or seasonal service reductions.

    What the Budget Cuts Mean on the Ground

    The DNR, Washington State Parks, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife all took significant hits in the new budget. Beyond full campground closures, the DNR has warned that even sites that remain open will feel the effects: slower storm damage recovery, less trail and bathroom maintenance, reduced staffing, and more trash on trails.

    The DNR’s statement put it plainly: “Visitors to Washington public lands should expect less trail and bathroom maintenance and slower response to things like storm damage and downed trees.”

    What This Means for Olympic Peninsula Visitors

    The Olympic Peninsula draws visitors from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond each summer. DNR campgrounds at sites like Bear Creek and Lyre River provide lower-cost, first-come first-served camping that complements the Olympic National Park campground system — which operates separately and is not affected by these state budget decisions.

    Before heading out, check the DNR’s recreation alerts page at dnr.wa.gov/OlympicPeninsula for the latest updates on site status. The final closure list is expected before summer season begins.

    Frequently Asked Questions: Olympic Peninsula DNR Campground Closures

    Which Olympic Peninsula campgrounds might close in 2026?

    Four DNR-managed sites are on the preliminary list: Anderson Lake (Jefferson County), Bear Creek (Sol Duc River, Clallam County), Hoh Oxbow (Hoh River), and Lyre River (near Joyce, Clallam County). The final list has not yet been released.

    Are Olympic National Park campgrounds affected?

    No. These closures affect DNR-managed campgrounds only, not campgrounds inside Olympic National Park, which operates under the National Park Service.

    When will the final DNR closure list be released?

    The DNR has said the final list of impacted sites will be released “in the near future.” Check dnr.wa.gov/OlympicPeninsula for updates.

    Why are the campgrounds closing?

    Washington’s new state operating budget, signed April 1, 2026, significantly cut funding for the DNR, Washington State Parks, and Department of Fish and Wildlife recreation programs.

  • Earthquake Swarm Off Washington Coast: No Threat to Everett, Experts Say

    Earthquake Swarm Off Washington Coast: No Threat to Everett, Experts Say

    What happened: Starting around midnight on April 12, a swarm of more than 18 earthquakes struck the Juan de Fuca Ridge, roughly 250 miles off the Washington coast. The largest reached magnitude 4.2. Experts say the swarm poses no threat to people on land in the Pacific Northwest, including Everett.

    Earthquake Swarm Off Washington Coast: What Everett Residents Need to Know

    An active swarm of earthquakes struck far off the Washington coast this weekend, but seismologists say there is no cause for concern for people in Everett or anywhere else on land in the Pacific Northwest.

    The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) reported that since around midnight on April 12, more than 18 earthquakes were detected at the Juan de Fuca Ridge — a tectonic spreading center located approximately 250 miles offshore of Washington state. The largest quake in the swarm reached magnitude 4.2.

    Why This Is Not a Land Threat

    The PNSN was clear in its assessment: the earthquakes are not located anywhere near the Cascadia Subduction Zone — the fault system that scientists watch most closely for potential large earthquake risk to the Pacific Northwest coast.

    The quakes are also not at the Axial Seamount Volcano, an undersea volcano that has received attention in recent years due to predictions that it may be nearing an eruption. Axial Seamount eruptions are entirely underwater and do not pose a surface threat.

    Earthquake swarms at the Juan de Fuca Ridge are a natural and relatively common occurrence. The ridge is a mid-ocean spreading center where tectonic plates are gradually moving apart — a process that generates seismic activity regularly.

    What Is the Juan de Fuca Ridge?

    The Juan de Fuca Ridge is an underwater tectonic boundary roughly 250 miles west of the Washington and Oregon coasts. It’s part of the system that also creates the Juan de Fuca Plate — the relatively small tectonic plate that subducts (slides under) the North American Plate along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. However, earthquake activity at the ridge itself, far offshore, does not translate into risk for the Seattle-Everett metro area.

    Should Everett Residents Be Concerned?

    No. This swarm is a distant, offshore geological event. However, it’s always a reasonable time to review your household earthquake preparedness — the Cascadia Subduction Zone remains a long-term seismic risk for the Pacific Northwest, and preparedness is something every Snohomish County household should maintain regardless of what’s happening offshore.

    The Washington Emergency Management Division recommends keeping at least three days of emergency supplies on hand, including water, food, and a first aid kit. Snohomish County’s emergency management resources are available at snohomishcountywa.gov.

    Frequently Asked Questions: Washington Earthquake Swarm

    Is the earthquake swarm off Washington a threat to Everett?

    No. The swarm is approximately 250 miles offshore at the Juan de Fuca Ridge, far from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Experts at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network say there is no threat to people on land.

    How many earthquakes were in the swarm?

    More than 18 earthquakes were recorded as of noon on April 12, 2026, with the largest reaching magnitude 4.2.

    What is the Juan de Fuca Ridge?

    An underwater tectonic spreading center about 250 miles off the Washington coast where the Juan de Fuca Plate and Pacific Plate are gradually moving apart. Seismic activity here is normal and does not indicate risk to coastal communities.

    Is this related to the Cascadia Subduction Zone?

    No. The PNSN confirmed the quakes are not near the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is the fault system that poses the main long-term seismic risk to the Pacific Northwest.

    Should I update my earthquake preparedness?

    It’s always a good idea. The Washington Emergency Management Division recommends keeping at least three days of emergency supplies at home — water, food, flashlight, first aid kit, and important documents.

  • Tide and Timber: Union, WA — The Olympic Peninsula Place That Wins Every Argument

    Tide and Timber: Union, WA — The Olympic Peninsula Place That Wins Every Argument

    The people who know the Olympic Peninsula best will tell you it is not one thing. It is a rainforest dripping into the Hoh. It is the Strait of Juan de Fuca with its freight traffic and its harbor seals. It is the Pacific coast at Kalaloch, and the mountain meadows at Hurricane Ridge, and the river valleys that cut down from the Olympics toward the water. It is also — though some will debate this, right up until they visit — Union, Washington, at the southernmost hook of Hood Canal.

    What this video captures is Union in its essential form: the light on the water, the timber closing in from every rise, the quiet that settles over the canal on a still afternoon. The song you are hearing is called Tide and Timber, and it was written for places exactly like this.

    Why People Leave the City for the Hood Canal

    On any weekend you can find people on the road from Seattle who are not heading to the mountains and not heading to the coast — they are heading to the canal. From Portland, the drive is longer but the pull is the same. From elsewhere in the world, the pull is more mysterious, the product of some article read years ago or a friend’s description that never quite left the back of the mind.

    They find Hood Canal and follow it south, and the further south they go the quieter it gets, until they reach Union and the road curves and the water opens up and they understand why the drive was worth it. The Hood Canal here is at its most intimate — narrow enough to feel like a river, tidal enough to remind you it connects to the ocean, surrounded by hills that catch the last light of the afternoon in a way that makes even seasoned travelers stop the car.

    The Music Scene That Nobody Talks About

    Union has open mics that draw musicians from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond — people who came to visit the canal and stayed, or who drove out from Seattle looking for a different room to play. The quality is serious. The community is real. On the right night, in the right room, you will hear something that stays with you the way that the best live music does: unexpectedly, completely, in a way that makes the venue and the town and the landscape around it all part of the same experience.

    This is not an accident. Union attracts a certain kind of person who values authenticity over spectacle, who can hear the difference between a musician playing for attention and a musician playing because the song demands it. The tide and the timber have a way of sorting people out.

    Union Belongs on the List

    The debate about whether Union counts as Olympic Peninsula is a small debate in the end. Geography has its arguments, and they are not uninteresting. But anyone who has driven the Olympic Loop and skipped Union has missed something — not a footnote, but a chapter. The hook of Hood Canal is where the peninsula gathers itself before the water widens back toward Puget Sound, and Union sits at that gathering point like a town that knows exactly what it is.

    The best lists of remarkable places on the Olympic Peninsula include Union. Not reluctantly, as a runner-up, but with the full weight of what the place actually is: a waterfront community at the intersection of the tidal canal, the old-growth timber, and a music scene that could hold its own anywhere. Come for the view. Stay for the song.

    Plan Your Visit

    Union is roughly 25 miles southwest of Belfair on Highway 106, along the southern shore of Hood Canal. The drive from Seattle takes about two hours and is worth every minute of it. Combine it with a visit to Twanoh State Park just to the east, or continue west along the canal toward Hoodsport and the trailheads into the Olympics. However you approach it, leave more time than you think you need.

    📱 Watch & Share on Facebook

    Copy the link below and paste it into a new Facebook post — Facebook will pull the video in automatically so your friends can watch it directly in their feed.

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  • Tide and Timber: A Watch Page for Union, WA — Where the Music Never Really Stops

    Tide and Timber: A Watch Page for Union, WA — Where the Music Never Really Stops

    There is a place on the hook of Hood Canal where the land folds into the water like it has always meant to, where the timber stands close enough to the tide that you can smell both at once. That place is Union, Washington — and people come from everywhere to find it.

    They come from Seattle, leaving the steel and glass behind for a two-hour drive that deposits them somewhere that feels older and quieter and more honest than the city they left. They come from Portland. They come from across the country and from corners of the world that have never heard of Mason County. And when they arrive in Union, they tend to stay longer than they planned.

    The Best Live Music You Have Never Heard Of

    The open mics in Union are the kind of thing that travel writers should be writing about but somehow aren’t. On any given night you might be sitting next to someone who just drove down from Bainbridge or rode in from Bremerton, and the person up front playing guitar learned their craft in Nashville or New Orleans or Oslo — and ended up in Union because Union has a way of pulling people in and holding them there.

    There is something about the scale of the place. The Hood Canal narrowing to its southern reach, the Olympics rising to the west, the water sitting still on calm evenings while someone plays a song that was written somewhere else but sounds completely at home here. The local music community in Union is deep and serious and generous, full of working musicians who have played real stages and chose this life at the edge of the canal anyway.

    Tide and Timber — the song carrying this video — was recorded in that spirit. Listen to it as you watch the water move and the light change, and it will tell you everything you need to know about why this place matters.

    Union and the Olympic Peninsula Question

    You will hear people say Union is not part of the Olympic Peninsula. It comes up often enough to be its own small tradition — the argument that the Hood Canal is the eastern edge of the peninsula, and that Union, sitting at the canal’s southern hook, does not technically qualify.

    It is the kind of argument that dissolves the moment you visit. Drive into Union from any direction and you are surrounded by the same ancient forest, the same mountains catching clouds to the west, the same tidal rhythms that define everything to the north and west of it. The Hood Canal is not a boundary here — it is an artery. The peninsula breathes through it.

    Every argument that Union does not belong on a list of remarkable Olympic Peninsula destinations loses its footing once you have sat by that water at dusk, or stood in a room while a musician played to thirty people like it was the most important show of their life. The honest lists include Union. The good ones lead with it.

    When to Go

    Union rewards every season. Spring brings the rhododendrons and the first serious fishing traffic on the canal. Summer fills the waterfront and the open mics draw bigger crowds. Fall turns the hillsides amber and the oyster season comes into its own. Winter is quieter and colder and more honest, the kind of season that shows you what a place is actually made of.

    If you are planning a loop of Hood Canal — Hoodsport, Lake Cushman, the Skokomish Valley, and back out through Belfair — do not let Union be a waypoint. Let it be a destination. The music will still be playing when you get there.

    📱 Watch & Share on Facebook

    Copy the link below and paste it into a new Facebook post — Facebook will pull the video in automatically so your friends can watch it directly in their feed.

    🔗 https://tygartmedia.com/tide-and-timber-union-wa-watch-page-mason-county/

    The video is hosted right here on this page. No YouTube account needed — just share the link.

  • Hood Canal South: Hama Hama Oyster Rama Returns April 18–19 After Seven-Year Hiatus — Exploring Olympic Peninsula

    Hood Canal South: Hama Hama Oyster Rama Returns April 18–19 After Seven-Year Hiatus — Exploring Olympic Peninsula

    Two weeks from now, one of Hood Canal’s most beloved celebrations makes its long-awaited return — and it’s worth circling on your calendar right now.

    The Hama Hama Oyster Rama is back on April 18 and 19, noon–6pm both days, at Hama Hama’s legendary beach farm in Lilliwaup, WA — after a seven-year hiatus since 2019. This is a genuine tidal celebration: guided tours with intertidal ecologists and oyster growers, u-pick oysters and clams straight from the Hood Canal flats, a Shuckathalon shucking competition, live music, local beer and wine, kids’ activities, and food vendors showcasing the best of Hood Canal’s incredible seafood culture. Ticket proceeds benefit the Hood Canal Education Foundation and local charities.

    Entrance tickets are $45 for adults (16+), with kids 15 and under free. If you want to harvest your own shellfish to take home, the u-pick pass is $85 and includes 3 dozen oysters plus 3 lbs of clams. These events sell out — if you’re planning to go, get your tickets now.

    Hama Hama Oyster Rama Details

    • Dates: April 18–19, 2026 — noon to 6 PM both days
    • Location: Hama Hama Oyster Farm, 35846 N US Hwy 101, Lilliwaup, WA 98555 (Mason County, Hood Canal)
    • Tickets: $45 adults (16+) | Kids 15 and under free | U-pick pass $85 (3 doz oysters + 3 lbs clams)
    • Activities: Intertidal ecology tours, u-pick shellfish, Shuckathalon competition, live music, beer/wine, kids’ activities, food vendors
    • Charity: Proceeds benefit Hood Canal Education Foundation and local charities
    • Tickets: hamahamaoysters.com | Event listing: explorehoodcanal.com

    Sources: hamahamaoysters.com, explorehoodcanal.com, KING5 Evening coverage