Category: Downtown Sequim

My funny valentine

Whimsy Park, which I showed you yesterday, has a small area called the Sequim Friendship Garden. A group of Sequim artists populates the garden with hand-painted rocks and tiles. I think it’s an outgrowth of Sequim Rocks, which I’ve told you about here and here.

The sign says, “Need a rock. Take a rock. To help you thru today. Have a rock, leave a rock to send it on its way.”

Many of the painters try to encourage a positive message, be it on a tile or lettered on a painted rock. Painted rocks are also randomly left around town. They brighten the day of people who unexpectedly discover these little gifts. A painted heart rock above came home with me.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Back to Whimsy Park

I showed you Whimsy Park several years ago here when it was just getting started. I dropped by recently with a mission I’ll tell you about tomorrow.

Since I first showed it to you in 2017 the landscaping has matured. A formerly bare portion of the wall shown above now has a neutral backing for a small stage that hosts occasional live entertainment. Small trees are beginning to mature though late on a winter’s day I didn’t photograph them.

Interesting characters overlook the scene.

This little park is on East Washington Street in downtown Sequim next to Jose’s Famous Salsa restaurant.

Here in our backyard

The Jamestown Medical Center, above, is run by our local Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe which has many successful ventures here, including a golf course, casino, restaurants, and construction businesses. A hotel is under construction. This summer the Tribe announced that they purchased land in Sequim’s downtown and plan to build a regional healing center for people addicted to opiods. Like many places in the U.S., drugs are a problem in this region. But siting a treatment center in Sequim has ignited a firestorm of controversy and opposition. It certainly doesn’t look like it will calm down anytime soon.

International dining

We’re a small town but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a small international dining district…next door to McDonald’s.

A rough count: We’ve got three Mexican, two Thai, at least four Chinese, and a couple of teriyaki restaurants. I’ve been spoiled by ethnic restaurants in California, but that’s another story.

More from downtown

Here’s another “after hours” shot, this time of one of our sort-of shopping malls. This little mall is near our Penney’s store. There’s a kitchen shop, spa, a shoe shop, candle store, and a cafe nestled in here.

And one of the newest tenants is Sweet Spot, which I’ve shown you before. Make your choice from six different frozen yogurts and a vast array of toppings. It’s a perfect place to come after an arduous photo shoot. Or just when it’s time for a pick-me-up.

The other side of the street

Yesterday I showed you the other side of West Washington Street, the north side. Much of this shot is taken up by an auto parts store that’s under the grey overhang. To its right, in the green building, used to be Doodlebugs, a terrific craft store that, sadly, closed last summer. The building is for sale.

Further east of Doodlebugs is a store with nice home decor and one of three lavender shops within steps of each other. Further on is a bible store and a coffee shop.

There’s more to Sequim than this part of our downtown. I’ll show some of it as I have a chance to snap more shots this summer.