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Art spotting in Port Angeles

Spend the day exploring the natural and manmade art in the area

Art installation in City Pier parking lot. Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

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It is hard to compete with the natural beauty that surrounds the town of Port Angeles. Everywhere you turn, there is a stunning view of either the Olympic Mountains or the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Throw in the Ediz Hook and the port, and it is really remarkable. Competing on the manmade side are local artists, who have filled the town with art installations. The collection is impressive throughout the downtown area. 

Start your day with a stroll or drive to Ediz Hook. If you choose to walk, follow the Olympic Discovery Trail out to the west from Port Angeles. The round-trip trek is about three miles. If you drive, go past the Port Angeles paper mill and out onto the hook. There are plenty of spots to park, or you can drive all the way to the end at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles. From here you can see the entire town, the Coho Ferry and the Olympic Mountains from one spot. It is a pretty incredible experience. The birds are plentiful and fun to watch. If you are lucky, you may see a seal or whale. It is a popular place to look for sea glass. There are lots of cats that live among the rocks, and they are well fed by locals with a soft spot for kitties. Insider tip: There is a small base exchange at the Coast Guard Station if you have a military identification card.

Head back into town for lunch. Kokopelli Grill is a great spot for lunch and wine. There is an extensive wine list with local wineries such as Camaraderie Cellars and Yakima Valley wines and options from as far afield as France. Kokopelli also specializes in seasonal sangrias made fresh in-house. The food is fresh seafood and locally-sourced beef served with a Southwest flair. I never made it past the appetizers after I saw Dungeness Crab and Wild American Shrimp Campeche, a dish filled with layers of crab and house-made salsas topped with jumbo shrimp. There is more than enough to share -- although you won't want to. Insider tip: Head upstairs and grab a seat in the upstairs lounge where they serve lunch and you have a great view of the downtown waterfront.

Kokopelli Grill, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 4- 8 p.m., Sunday, 203 E. Front St., Port Angeles, 360.457.6040, kokopelli-grill.com

After lunch, make your way over to the Feiro Marine Life Center. This fun little place has tanks filled with sea life from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is fascinating to watch the volunteers hand-feed the sea urchins. There are also touch tanks with the always-popular hermit crabs. The City Pier is right next to the Feiro in the heart of downtown. Make sure to climb the observation tower for some great views.

Feiro Marine Life Center, noon to 5 p.m., daily, 315 N. Lincoln St., Port Angeles, 360.417.6254, feiromarinelifecenter.org

Now that you've had your fill of the city's natural beauty, begin art spotting downtown. Start with the octopus sculpture in the City Pier parking lot. There are plenty of shops, galleries and vintage stores to keep you busy. Keep an eye out for art as it pops up in surprising places, such as next to the Dairy Queen.

Finish your day at the Webster's Woods Art Park located next to the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. Stroll the trails while keeping an eye out for the art installations. It is a unique experience and a nice end to a day filled with art. The Fine Arts Center is also worth a stop if open.

Fine Arts Center, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday-Sunday; Webster's Woods Art Park, dawn to dusk, daily, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles, 360.457.3532, pafac.org

For more information visit: VisitPortAngeles.com.

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