Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park // Honeymoon Road Trip Pt. 3
Out of all the days during our honeymoon, this one was our favorite. Neither of us had ever been to Olympic National Park before, and honestly I don’t think we knew what to expect. With little to no expectations, we arrived in the park to find towering mountains covered in wildlife.
We drove up Hurricane Ridge before even checking into our hotel, and immediately fell in love. The winding road was filled with fog, keeping each new bend a surprise until the last minute. The sides of the road were filled with wildflowers and waterfalls, and more than once we spotted a deer enjoying a floral treat. At first we thought that was a rare sighting, as is the case in other locations and parks. However, as we reached the top of Hurricane Ridge, we realized that the deer are everywhere and not much bothered by tourists. As they grazed, framed by towering mountain peaks and fields of flowers, Steve and I stood rooted to the spot, taking in the grandeur.
At the top of Hurricane Ridge, there is a visitor center/gift shop. As the one at the base of the park was closed, we popped into this one to see if we could find a few souvenirs. We ended up coming out with more than we’d planned and truly cherish each piece. After we had filled our shopping bag, we took a walk around the trail at the top of the ridge—it felt like we had the park to ourselves, although the parking lot was still fairly full. With mountains and deer in every direction, we never wanted to leave. However, soon our bellies made it known that it was time for dinner, so we drove back into town for some food and rest. We had a big day ahead of us, after all, and needed our sleep!
Photos by me and my husband Steve
