Port Angeles is a laid-back town set at the doorstep of Olympic National Park, home to hiking in lush coastal rainforests and whale watching in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Twilight fans will be in their element in Port Angeles, which served as a key filming location for the saga.

Things to do

Olympic National Park is one of America's most beautiful wilderness areas. You can hike in snow-dusted mountains, gaze up at 1,000-year-old cedar trees and cool off in shimmering glacier lakes. Watch for Roosevelt elk grazing in flower-strewn alpine meadows. On the coast you'll find colourful tidepools teeming with sea life.

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Centre showcases works from professional artists across the peninsula. It's set in Webster's Woods, an open-air nature-inspired sculpture garden with sweeping views over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Port Angeles is one of the Pacific Northwest's premier whale-watching destinations. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a fantastic place to spot breaching humpbacks, as well as resident and transient pods of orcas. You can also get up close with barking elephant seals, playful Steller sea lions and curious sea otters.

Part of the George Washington Inn and Estate, the Washington Lavender Farm is set on four hectares of oceanfront land. Tours offer a unique chance to stroll in fields of purple lavender and stock up on handmade lavender products at the farm store.

Getting around

Port Angeles is easy to explore on foot, especially around the lively harbourside district. Rental cars are best for exploring the Olympic Peninsula. Port Angeles has ferries to Vancouver Island and local buses to Seattle.