Callaway Rentals at Port Ludlow Golf Club

Looking to try out new clubs? Port Ludlow Golf Club has you covered. The Pro Shop is now offering Callaway rentals. The rentals include Callaway XR Irons, Hybrids, Fairway woods, and a Driver. 

The rental costs $40 and includes a sleeve of golf balls. Choose from a variety of sets - ladies, left handed, regular flex, and stiff flex sets. Reserve ahead of time by calling the Pro Shop at 360-437-0272 and see you on the greens!

Chimacum Valley Farm Tasting Tour

As Front Desk Representatives, we frequently send visitors on the Farm Package Tasting Tour. When guests check-in, they are given a large basket and Farm Bucks vouchers to spend at three local farms and Finnriver Cidery. After meeting with one of The Fireside’s chefs, their selections are whisked away to be transformed into a special, multi-course tasting menu. Last Tuesday, my coworker Lisa and I had the chance to experience the magic for ourselves.

Our first stop was SpringRain Farm and Orchard. A walking tour of this farm is available with advanced notice, but we were happily content with the farm stand. Lemon cucumbers were a fun find and a new experience for Lisa. SpringRain also makes jam, and the plum-rhubarb blend caught our attention.

We couldn’t miss the “Bonkers for Broccoli” sign outside Red Dog Farm. Convenient bags were available, along with fresh green beans, stalks of rhubarb, colorful purple potatoes, strawberries, and bunches of basil. Red Dog Farm also carries Mystery Bay goat cheese, a farmstead chevre with a creamy tangy flavor.

Finnriver Cidery is a unique and inspiring place, with a farm, orchards, special events, and a cozy tasting room. We were expertly guided to the limited release Crew Selection Sidra. With its blend of organic bittersweet cider fruit and organic dessert fruit, the Spanish style Sidra has briny notes, a gentle bubble, and a nutty taste. We also had to pick up a basket of Finnriver’s famous blueberries on our way out.

With our basket overflowing, we returned to the Inn to meet with Chefs Aaron and Chris. Two hours later, Lisa and I came back to a delightful seven-course dinner. Each dish was unique and utilized the full assortment we’d brought back, along with a few of their specialties. Our wonderful server Wendy detailed the ingredients as she brought out each course. 

The menu featured:

Crab Cake Starter with Lemon Cucumber, Tomatoes, and a Goat Cheese Topper

Warm Purple Potato Salad with Pickled Lemon Cucumber, Green Beans, Red Onion, and Cider-Basil Vinaigrette

Tiger Shrimp in a Creamy Bacon Vinaigrette with Fresh Green Beans

 Raspberry Granita 

Jidori Chicken with Rhubarb Compote, Oven Roasted Broccoli and a Balsamic Reduction

Spring Greens with Cider Vinaigrette and Currants

Napoleon with Fresh Lemon Curd and Fresh Berries for dessert

The meal was an absolute delight, and we ran out of ways to describe how delicious each dish was! This area abounds with farm fresh produce, meat, and fruit, and The Inn’s Farm Package Tasting Tour is the perfect way to experience the bounty. The chefs’ creativity and expertise, a beautiful setting, and excellent service made this an experience to savor.

To learn more or book the Farm Dinner Package, please call
360-437-7000.

Washington Wine Month

August is one of our favorite months in Port Ludlow – summer is in high gear, visitors and locals alike are enjoying the Golf Club, Marina, and the Port Ludlow trails, and blackberries are falling off the vines ready to be eaten on the spot or baked into a special treat.

Another reason we love August is because it is Washington Wine Month. 

There are many fantastic Washington wines which makes it so much fun to celebrate what our great state offers in terms of viniculture. The wine list at The Fireside includes many Washington wines, including hyper local wineries like Lullaby Winery and Christina James in Port Townsend and Wind Rose Cellars in Sequim. 

The Fireside is celebrating Washington Wine Month by selling select Washington wines at 25% off. Click here to view the wines included in the special and perhaps stop by The Fireside to enjoy a glass or two out on the veranda.

Just in time for Washington Wine Month, The Resort at Port Ludlow and The Fireside have been acknowledged for their wine program by both Wine Spectator and Touring & Tasting – Pacific Northwest Magazine. Congratulations to The Fireside team for their hard work and dedication to The Resort’s wine program.

Wine Spectator awarded The Fireside a Best of Award of Excellence. This award is given to restaurants that have wine lists of 350+ wines, superior presentation, vintage depth, and excellent selection across several wine regions. Click here to read the press release.

Touring & Tasting – Pacific Northwest Magazine named The Resort at Port Ludlow a Gold Medal Accommodation. The Resort is only one of 10 resorts, inns, and hotels in wine country or feeder markets nationally to have received Gold Medal Accommodation. Click here to read the press release. 

As August continues, how will you be celebrating the vineyards and vintners who continue to create unique blends and exceptional, award-winning Washington wines? What are your favorite Washington wines? 

Adventures from a Leadership Retreat

Recently we hosted a Leadership Retreat for a company and their experience was flawless. Sarah Hanke was their Sales Manager and this is her recap of the event...
  

"As seen in the new video of Port Ludlow (see video below), groups have come to The Resort at Port Ludlow to re-live their childhood by working hard and playing harder.  

We want to share the tale of our last three days with a group that came to us last December to plan their summer retreat.

Their adventure began downtown Seattle as they boarded one of Kenmore Air's seaplanes. After flying for 15 minutes, they landed right in front of what was to become their home for the next three days. As they flew in for their landing our sales team and their meeting planner took pictures and waited eagerly to see their faces. Once they dis-embarked the plane their faces did not disappoint. Filled with excitement, wonder, and sheer terror, they were amazed at the scenery surrounding them.

This was the first adventure of many to come. After check in and settling into their guest rooms, each with a fireplace and jetted tub, they began the night with a team building pasta cooking class. It was immediately a competition and the team captains picked individual co-workers to join their team in creating homemade pasta. Following the class, the group enjoyed an Italian themed tasting menu, featuring the same type of pasta that was previously made. After dinner, the night ended with much laughter as they again competed in a team game of Cranium in the living room atmosphere of the Marina Room.

The next morning began with a focused meeting in the Andrews Suite. This room features a fireplace, couches and sofa chairs along with conference tables to create a relaxed comfortable atmosphere for groups less than twelve. By early afternoon they were done with their hard work and ready for some fun. Most of them participated in the whale watching experience, while others enjoyed quiet time and spa services. As they were traveling to the boat, many questions and emotions became apparent as some had never been whale watching before. Once they saw the boat and received their boarding passes their faces again turned to excitement. The experience was a once in a lifetime moment where they had whales breaching, spy hopping and hanging out close to the boat. The waters were smooth as glass and the whales did not disappoint. On their journey back to the resort all they could talk about were the pictures that they got and their new favorite whale "Blackberry, J27." The day finished with a relaxing night in the Marina Room with another tasting menu featuring local seafood and produce that the Fireside gets daily.

The next morning, they woke up to a quick meeting and breakfast, followed by a pottery class where they worked together to create an animal or object. After using their imagination to create different things, they detailed a tumbler mug so that it could be a take away to remember their three days of fun, and some work, in Port Ludlow. The ending of this three day adventure could not have been more perfect. We all said good bye as they boarded the seaplane that was painted as an ORCA!

Interested in hosting your group event or retreat at the Resort? Call the Sales Team at 360.437.7040

Sailing the Nautilus III

The Nautilus III is now moored in the Port Ludlow Marina and some of the staff had the opportunity to experience an evening on the water with Captain Karen MacDonald - and what a wonderful time it was. 

The Nautilus III is a beautiful wooden hull sailboat that was built in 1948. The boat was recently donated to the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend by a woman who could no longer take care of the boat but wanted to ensure that the Nautilus III would be well cared for and enjoyed by many. 

Our group boarded the Nautilus III at 5:30pm and sailed off into Ludlow Bay. The beauty of the 67 year old boat, the water, and the views of The Resort and its surroundings evoked a feeling of serenity. The two hour sail was peaceful and relaxing and the time flew by. It was such a beautiful evening we sat outside on the aft of the Nautilus III but inside the boat is equipped with a small kitchen, bathroom, and indoor seating.

Captain Karen has a background in educating people of all ages how to sail and has been sailing professionally for 13 years. Aboard the Nautilus III you have the choice to learn and help the Captain with tasks like raising the sails or you can sit back and enjoy the ride. Our group wanted to learn more about sailing so Captain Karen taught us a few tips and tricks. We enjoyed learning about how wind direction affects the speed of the boat, tacking, and more.

We had a blast exploring the boat and I couldn't help myself from walking to the bow of the boat and snapping a few pictures. It was the perfect summer activity and I am already longing to be back aboard the Nautilus III. We moored in the Port Ludlow Marina at 7:30 and I couldn't believe it had been two hours already. 

If you have the chance this summer to sail on the Nautilus III, I couldn't recommend it more. Whether it is for a leisurely cruise or as a team building activity, you will enjoy your time on the boat and on the water.

The six person sailboat is available for charter for a two hour sail on Thursday and Saturday evenings at 5:30 pm in addition to Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm. The Nautilus III can be privately chartered upon request. 

Select wines and food are available for purchase at the Fireside Restaurant to take out on the boat. Contact the Fireside Restaurant before your sailing time to arrange at 360-437-7412.

For more information about chartered sails aboard the Nautilus III please contact The Port Ludlow Resort at 360-437-7000.

A Day Excursion to Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent

In Port Ludlow we are incredibly lucky to have 26 miles of maintained trails to hike, explore, and make memories on. With trails in both the woodlands and waterfronts varying difficulties and lengths, there’s a trail for everyone. 

Two of Port Ludlow’s most popular trails are Ludlow Falls – a ½ mile interpretive, looped trail to a waterfall and Beach Loop Trail – located at the Inn and continuing onto the beach with views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

Many people visit the Port Ludlow and the Olympic Peninsula with the intent to make a trip to Olympic National Park and Forest.

Olympic National Park is a jewel of the peninsula. The park is over 922,651 acres and homes the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the only temperate rainforests in the United States and one of the park's most popular places. Learn more about Olympic National Park here.

One of our favorite spots to visit in Olympic National Park is Lake Crescent. The 10,000 year-old, glacially created lake is a breathtaking place where old growth conifer and maple trees reign over manicured trails and the turquoise hue of the lake is intoxicating. Native American legend describes the lake as being created when an upset mountain spirit angered by the warring Klallam and Quileute tribes hurled a boulder at the warriors killing them all and damming the river, thus forming Lake Crescent.

The drive to Lake Crescent is just shy of an hour and a half from Port Ludlow making a hiking or boating excursion at the lake a great day drip. Rent kayaks at the lake or hike one of the many trails.

The most popular trail at Lake Crescent is the portion of Barnes Creek Trail that leads to Marymere Falls, an old growth forest that leads to a 90 foot waterfall. The 1.5 mile looped trial has two vantage points of the falls. The hike is enjoyable and visually stunning. I couldn't stop myself from snapping pictures of the vast room systems and mossy trees that adorn the trail. 

The trail begins at Storm King Ranger Station and continues onto a trail lined with moss and ferns. As you continue down the trail you will cross several bridges and climb a couple sets of stairs with steep stairs to reach the picturesque Marymere Falls. People of all ages hike to Marymere Falls but it is worth noting that if stairs and inclines aren't for you Moments in Time trail might be a better choice.

Marymere Falls

Lake Crescent is a seemingly magical place encompassed by trees with views of the lake as far as you can see. Whether you choose to hike, boat, or enjoy the views you're guaranteed to treasure your time in the Olympic National Forest.

The Totem Pole Restoration is Complete

This year the Totem Pole at Burner Point at The Resort at Port Ludlow is celebrating its 20th anniversary and a recent restoration has restored the totem pole to its original glory. The restoration was completed in large part to the community of Port Ludlow and the Totem Pole Fund.

The totem pole stands 40 feet high and overlooks Port Ludlow Bay. It was carved by artist David Boxley, a Tsimshian carver from Metlakatla, Alaska, in 1995. The lumber for the totem pole came from a 720-year-old, western red cedar which blew over just south of the Hoh Rain Forest.

Boxley completed the restoration that lasted from May 4th through May 8th. Wood for new wings and a paint job refreshed the 20 year old community icon. Pacific Western Timbers, who originally provided the wood used to carve the totem pole, donated the lumber to replace the old wings.

We would be remiss without giving a big thanks to our wonderful community and those involved with Totem Pole Fund which supported the project to completion - especially Dorothy Kimble, Barbara Adams, Bonnie Lambton, Sally Hirschman, and Claudia Avicola.

Curious about what the different figures on the totem pole represent?  The six figures – the eagle, the bear, the two men with locked arms, the lumberman, the beaver, and the six interlocking figures, represent the history of Port Ludlow.

The top figure is an eagle which is reflective of the area before human habitation.

The bear, the second figure, portrays the ancestors of the local S’Klallam tribe.

The two men with locked arms, on the third figure, are Andrew Jackson Pope and Frederic Talbot who owned the sawmill in Port Ludlow that was in operation from 1852 to 1935.

The fourth figure, the lumberman, portrays the era of the Port Ludlow sawmill.

The beaver is representative of the building phase of Pope Resources, now Westharbor Homes.

The base of the totem pole has the six interlocking figures which represents the people and community of Port Ludlow.

To honor the restoration of the Totem Pole a potlatch celebration will be held on July 4th.

To attend the potlatch celebration please call the
Fireside Restaurant at 360-437-7412 to make your reservation.