Sequim sits on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula, on a broad plain between the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is famous for its climate: lying in the rain shadow of the Olympics, it receives far less rain than Seattle or the rainforests on the west side of the peninsula. That dry, sunny microclimate made it a farming centre, and today it is known for its lavender fields, which bloom in July and fill the air with fragrance.
The Dungeness Spit, just north of town, is one of the longest natural sand spits in the world, curving out into the strait with a lighthouse near its tip. The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge protects the spit and its birdlife. Inland, the Olympic Mountains rise steeply, and Hurricane Ridge, reached from Port Angeles to the west, offers a famous mountain road climbing to alpine meadows with views across the range.
The riding around Sequim combines coastal roads, farmland and access to the mountains. US 101 is the main route, running through town and around the peninsula, and it can be busy in summer. Smaller roads lead to the coast and into the foothills, and the run towards Port Townsend or Port Angeles offers pleasant scenery. Watch for deer and elk on the roads.
Sequim has all services, including fuel, food and coffee. As a start and finish point, it is ideal: sunny, scenic and a gateway to the wild landscapes of the Olympic Peninsula.