However, most of our guests want to get out and see some of the special places while visiting the Olympic Peninsula. With that thought in mind, we have provided web links to many places and yet it is just a few of the many sights and wonders of our beautiful Peninsula. Please email us for more extensive information about things to do, special events, and weekend Festivals on the Olympic Peninsula and Beaver's Pond Retreat.   Contact us by phone or email for our list with contacts, URL's and phone numbers.

Fishing: Our pond has Cutthroat trout and our guests are encouraged to try their skill at catching them. However, since the pond is limited in size, we request that you use barb less hooks and no bait. It is also "catch and release".  The pond is like lake fishing and is a great place to practice Fly Fishing.  We have a flat bottomed rowboat with oars for your use.

Family Adventures: The Olympic Peninsula is a special place and there are lots of things for great family outings. Kids and families love The Olympic Game Farm in Sequim, and Troll Haven is a 'drive by' treat for children of all ages. At Ludlow Bay Marina you can rent a boat, kayak, bike, or hire a captain and his boat for a truly unique day adventure and fond memories. Get your fishing or shell fish license and go clamming nearby for your dinner. There are many places to hike, picnic or, enjoy a campfire in your private fire ring.  Beaver's Pond Retreat is a special place to build memories of hot dogs and s'mores while singing around the camp fire.

Hiking: The  Peninsula has over 1000 miles of hiking trails on the Peninsula and 600 acres of hiking a 1/4 of a mile from our property.  My favorite morning hike is to the waterfalls in Port Ludlow. With groomed trails it is beautifully maintained and all the local vegetation is marked with identifying tags.  It's a nice trip for younger hikers, only about 1/2 mile in length it is 1.5 miles from our door.  The Timberton Loop trail is about 5 miles and not to strenuous.   It will take you through a variety of topography and have spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains, Mount Baker, and Mount Rainier. The Loop follows a combination of logging roads, golf access roads and back country walking paths.  Don't be surprised to see deer, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, and many other types of wildlife on your walks.

Golf: The Port Ludlow Golf Course, a world class facility and is only 2 miles from Beaver's Pond Retreat. Also not far away is the Chevy Chase Golf Course, the oldest operating course in Washington that has been updated for your golfing pleasure. A third course is also located in Port Townsend. If you are into golfing getaways, what better place to stay with 3 courses within 12 miles?

Music: The Olympic Music Festival's Concert in a Barn is held just down the road. They have great chamber music on weekends from June to September and are usually sold out in advance. These music festivals are wonderful and provide a variety of programs for your enjoyment.  Sit in the Barn or picnic out on the hillside where the music is piped outside. Visit Port Ludlow's annual Music on the Green. Another great music opportunity is through Centrum, based in Port Townsend. URL's and phone numbers are listed on our to do email

Plays - Theaters : There are several small theaters in the area offering a variety of locally produced live performances. Several movie theaters are also close by including the Wagon Wheel Drive In which is a local family affair that always shows double features. . And you can always find a variety of live music and quiet jazz. Or enjoy a number of cultural museums, galleries, specialty gardens, and art exhibits.

Port Ludlow and The Olympic Peninsula:  Beaver's Pond Retreat is at the "front door" to the Olympic Peninsula and the Olympic National Park. Here you will find hiking trails, restaurants, museums, farmers markets, lavender farms, historic forts, beaches, bays, numerous coves and antique shops nearby. Some of our local restaurants and cafes include: The Halfway House, The Village Baker, The Harbor Master, Logger's Landing, Snug Harbor/Hood Canal Seafood, Whistling Oyster, Twana Road House, Nemo's, Scampi and Halibut, The Spruce Goose, Chimacum Cafe, and The Ajax Cafe. The specialty bakeries and coffee houses are amazing.   Below you will find more restaurants found on the Olympic Peninsula that have web sites for you to browse.

Port Ludlow welcomes you as you cross the Hood Canal Floating Bridge and enter a region rich in outdoor activities, it is a residential and recreational community built up around the shores of Ludlow Bay. The natural environment and developed facilities offer hikes on wooded trails and paths, dig for clams and oysters along the beaches, drive through scenic countryside, bicycle and jog. For water lovers, there is a marina as well as boat launches for sailing, power boating, fishing, wind surfing and kayaking. Bike and Kayak Rentals are available.

At the corner of Oak Bay Road and Paradise Bay Road lies the commercial hub of Port Ludlow with a grocery-gas store, casual dining, banks with ATM's, a Day spa, art gallery and gift shop, a beauty salon, post office and other professional services. Port Ludlow hosts a premier 27 hole championship golf course, featuring three distinct and challenging nines: Tide, Timber and Trail. Each course is artfully carved and sculptured out of dense forest with no two holes playing alike. Here is a golfer's paradise, where deer roam, cedar stumps emerge from water hazards and wild flowers explode in a riot of spring colors. Port Ludlow is close to playgrounds, parks and the excellent Chimacum School District. Restaurants, fire service, dental, chiropractic, dental and medical aid are also available within the community. 

Larger grocery stores, major shopping malls, doctors, dentists, hospitals, churches, art galleries and entertainment are all within a 15-to- 30 minute drive. 

A great first day is to hike Ludlow Falls, have a home made breakfast at Snug Harbor Café and then take a cruise around Ludlow Bay on the Ginger Snap, a 1919 Casino Launch. If you prefer the wind on your face sailboats or motor boats can be chartered.

Side Trips from Port Ludlow

The Olympic National forest has over 200 miles of trails and some cane enjoyed year-round, just 1/2 hour from Port Ludlow right outside Quilcene, located on Highway 101 along the shores of Hood Canal. Drive or hike to Mount Walker, 2804' above sea level, the only peak facing Puget Sound that has a road to its summit and spectacular North and South viewpoints.

Port Hadlock, a few miles north of Port Ludlow, is a business and commercial area with a wide variety of stores and professional services. It is the access to Indian Island and Marrowstone Island, home to Fort Flagler State Park and the world famous Wooden Boat School. The Nordland General Store is a must see on Marrowstone Island, rent kayaks or come for the Polar Bear Dip in January.  Email me for a list of other annual events.

The Dungeness Spit, a National Wildlife Refuge for crabs, clams, oysters, shellfish, and birds, is about a half hour to the north. At the Olympic Game Farm, not far from the spit, you can see tigers, rhinos, bear, buffalo, elk and other animals in a preserve environment. Port Angeles, the largest city on the North Olympic Peninsula, 40 miles north of Port Ludlow it is a busy harbor, ferries going to and from Victoria it is also the entrance to Hurricane Ridge where glacier-covered peaks, sub alpine tundra, and steep river valleys of the Olympic Mountains await you. Historic Port Gamble, site of a Victorian-era lumber mill, museum and general store, is a 15 minute drive from Port Ludlow.  Farther south is Bloedel Reserve, 150 acres of natural woodlands and gardens with over two miles of trails. 

Special Calendar Events Happening

Things To Do:

Great Day Trips Include

The Pacific Coast to visit Rialto Beach & Ruby Beach (see the Haystacks)

The Hoh Rain Forest is a fabulous experience

Sol Duc Hot Springs is warm and inviting

Hurricane Ridge offers spectacular views of the Olympics, Canada, the straits of Juan de Fuca and Seattle Area

It is a popular place for winter sports such as skiing, snowshoeing and snow boarding.

Victoria BC is a wonderful day trip and a fun city to visit.  I highly recommend the BUG ZOO.

Sequim in July is blazing in purple as it hosts the annual Lavender Festival.

Whidbey Island is a short ferry ride away with

Deception Pass, Langley, Coupeville which are all beautiful any time of year

A day trip to Seattle is full with a visit to the Famous Pikes Market, Pioneer Square

The Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle underground, a Mariner's Game

The Olympic Music Festival - Chamber Music in the Barn - World Renowned Artists -

Take a picnic for yourselves & Don't' forget the carrots to feed the Donkeys.

(Request a Day Trip Planner by e-mail) for more detailed information

Links To Area Information

Visitors Guide to Olympic Peninsula

Ferries
Victoria Express - Passenger Ferry
Coho Ferry - Passenger and Auto Ferry
Washington State Ferries

Beaver's Pond Retreat is a Great Base Camp to Explore all the Olympic Peninsula's

Hidden Treasures

2010 Events

Great Spring / Summer Events & Experiences Not To Be Missed

Port Townsend's Uptown Farmers Market Every Saturday May 2 thru Nov 21, 9:30 AM 1:30 PM

Port Townsend's Uptown Farmers Market Every Wednesday June 10 - Sept 3o 3:30PM - 6:30PM

Port Ludlow Farmers Market Every Friday May thru Sept - 9AM - 2PM

Kingston Farmers Market Every Saturdays May 2 thru Oct. 10 - 9AM - 2PM

Olympic Music Festival in the Barn - Every Sat & Sun Late June thru late Sept - 2 PM

Finnriver Cider Tours and Tasting of Artisan Hard Cider, Wine & Spirits

34th Annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival - September 11 - 12th, 2010

Sequim Lavender Festival - July 16, 17 & 18th - 2010

Jefferson County Fair - A Family Event - August 13 - 15th, 2010

2nd Annual Olympic Peninsula - Fiber Farm Tour   10AM - 4 PM  - September 18 and 19, 2010

2010 -  34th Annual Wooden Boat Festival - Sept.  10th -12th

For three days, the Victorian Seaport of Port Townsend is thoroughly energized with boat enthusiasts from around the world. Learn skills from masters of the art or simply admire the beautiful wooden boats.

Port Townsend Film Festival

PORT TOWNSEND FILM FESTIVAL:

A film lover's block party celebrating great films and filmmakers. Indoor and outdoor venues show nearly 40 features, documentaries and short films. Enjoy Beautiful Olympic -summer days & nights.

27th Kinetic Sculpture Race

KINETIC SKLUPTURE RACE:

Extreme kinetic kraziness komplete with kourt and kween.

A race that is truly unique and fun for all. (Sunglasses required for this web site)

Art - Artists and Gallery Information

There are many artists of all forms in the area:  paintings, sculpture, media experiments,

photos and more.  15 art galleries along with art in many restaurants and shops. The Michael Berman Photography Studio is on a 17 acre property just down the road where you can view fine art and beautiful Marine Photography from around the world.

Michael Berman Photography

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Forest

Dining

All cuisines are available on the Peninsula - Menu guides are available in your cottages

One local restaurant even delivers everything on the menu to Beaver's Pond after 5PM

Recreation in the Local Area

Waterfalls of the Olympic Peninsula

Olympic Music Festival - An Event not to Be Missed - Music in The Barn
Centrum - a Cultural Enrichment for Artists, Workshops, Events in Music, Theater and Film
Web Cams of the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Game Farm - Get Face to Face with wild Animals
Olympic Raft and Kayak Rentals in the Olympic National Park

Kayak and Bike Rentals of the West Side of the Olympic Peninsula in Port Angeles

Kayak Rentals East Side of the Olympic Peninsula in Port Townsend

Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports - Snowshoe, Ski, Snow board, Sledding Fun

Dungeness Spit Lighthouse

Dungeness Spit Schoolhouse

Seven Cedars Casino

Fort Worden State Park, Museum, Conference Center, Cantina, Bunkers and Beaches

Old Fort Townsend Park and Trails

Fort Flagler Bunkers, Museum and Beaches

Olympic National Park

Really Big Trees of the Olympic Forest  PDF file

Even Bigger than at Beaver's Pond Retreat

Olympic National Forest Washington State

Horseback Riding along the Hoh River

360-327-3611

Birding on the Olympic Peninsula

Guide to Bird watching on the Olympic Peninsula

Lavender / Herb Farms & Gardens

Lavender Growers

Sequim Lavender Festival

Purple Haze Lavender Farm

Whitney Gardens

Jardin du Soleil Lavender

Lost Mountain Lavender Farm

Olympic Lavender Farm

Cutting Garden

Oliver's Lavender and Herb Farm

Cedarbrook Herb Farm

Graysmarsh Berry Farm

Nash's Organic Produce Farm

Gym / Aquatic Center

Sequim Swim

Biking Trails / Rentals

Olympic Discovery Trail

Bikes Rentals

Museum & Science Centers

Marine and Science Center

Jefferson County Historical Museum

Makah Indian Tribe Museum

Hiking Trails

Day Hikes Olympic National Forest

Sol Duc Hot Springs

Hiking Info for the Olympic National Park

Olympic National Forest Ranger Stations

Boat Rentals/Rides/Whale Watching

Whale Watching with Puget Sound Express

Port Ludlow Sail or Motor Boat Charters

Olympic Raft and Kayak

Farmer's Markets

Where everything is locally grown, raised, caught and made

Port Ludlow Farmer's Market

Every Friday from May 1 thru September 25

Port Townsend Uptown Farmer's Markets

Every Saturday from May 2 thru November 21

Every Wednesday June 10 thru Sept 30

Sequim Farmer's Market

Every Saturday late May thru September

Port Gamble Farmer's Market

Every Sunday April thru September

Kingston Farmer's Market

Every Saturday April thru Mid October 11

Poulsbo Farmer's Market

Saturday April thru Mid October 11

Airport / Local

Jefferson County International Airport

Port Townsend Airplane Museum

Golf Courses

Golf Port Townsend - Chevy Chase Course

Golf Port Ludlow Resort

Wineries

Winery Loop of the Olympic Peninsula

Camaraderie Cellars
Black Diamond Winery
Olympic Cellars
FairWinds Winery
Sorensen Cellars

Whidbey Island Winery
Bainbridge Island Winery
Eleven Winery

Greenbank Cellars

Web Cams around the Olympic Peninsula

Port Townsend Airport

Hood Canal Bridge

Downtown Port Townsend

Purple Haze Lavender Farm Sequim

Olympic Peninsula Web Cams

National Weather Service

NOAA

Horse Boarding

Hunters Pony Farm 

Real Estate Agents

If you are looking for Professionalism and Integrity

Kevin Hunter of Admiralty

Terry Smith of Remax

  Maps

Olympic Peninsula Map - Sites - Highways - Towns

Map Quest Assistance

Olympic Peninsula Map

Maps of the Olympic Peninsula

Event Calendars for Port Ludlow and Surrounding Areas

Please check these calendar links for updates & more Information

Port Townsend Event Calendar

http://www.ptguide.com/calendar/index.htm  

Just 15 to 20 minutes north of Beaver's Pond on Hwy. 20

Kitsap County Event Calendar

http://www.visitkitsap.com/events/default.asp?  

Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Kingston

Olympic Peninsula Event Calendar

http://www.peninsulaevents.com 

Movie Theaters

Wheel In - Drive In - An Old Fashioned Family Experience with Double Features

The Rose Theater - You'll wish it was in your Neighborhood

  Phone for Hood Canal Ranger Station / Olympic National Forest: 360-765-2200

Note:  There are many antique, second hand and thrift stores on the Peninsula they can be found in the phone book upon arrival.  However, I can not seem to find any web sites about them.

(Perhaps web sites are too modern for "antique" stores to be a part of )

Restaurants:  Too numerous to mention but you can find every type of cuisine you desire

within a few miles of Beaver's Pond Retreat.  Just ask for our personal favorites.

Visit our weekly online newspaper The Leader Online   

Before you go, don't forget to BOOKMARK us so you can find your way back.