July 19, 2025 - Driving from Alaska to Maryland
Pacific Beaches, Olympia NP
Leaving the Hoh Rain Forest, we got back on Highway 101 and headed southwest to the coast.    Highway 101 runs along the coast for only about 11 miles.  There are a number of accessible beaches along this portion, as shown by the map below.
   
We stopped at the first beach we saw which was named Ruby Beach.  There was ample parking.  You follow a short trail through the woods down to the beach.
   
Ruby Beach was unique in that an unbelievable amount of driftwood -- big logs -- lay on the beach.
   
Driftwood -- perfect for making little shelters.
   
Now on the beach.
   
Walking north.
   
The beach is protected by stone cliffs topped by pine trees.
   
 
   
 
   
The other amazing thing about this beach was the aquatic wildlife.  I've never seen starfish like this before outside an acquarium.
   
 
   
Looking north.
   
 
   
Why is there so much driftwood here?
   
People have made shelters out of the driftwood.
   
Looking south.
   
I would have loved this beach as a kid!
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Lynnette finds a safe place.
   
Climbing back up to the parking lot.
   
We drove south on Highway 101 a few miles and stopped at Beach #4 (I think).  Again, we had to hike a short distance through a draw to the beach.
   
Good to know.
   
This beach had almost no driftwood.
   
But it did have this Bald Eagle who liked to hang out at waters edge.
   
Looking south down the beach.
   
 
   
Looking north up the beach.
   
This beach had rocks at water edge and lots of tide pools.
   
 
   
The pictures don't show it to well but there was lots of sealife in the tidal pools.
   
Notice the big starfish at waters edge.
   
Green sea anemone.
   
 
   
Walking up the trail back to the parking lot.
   
Departing Beach Number Four, we stayed on Highway 101 which quickly turned east then south, and took us to Hoquium, Washington where we spent the night at the Shiny Motel.
   
The Shiny Motel was an excellent stay.  It was inexpensive, had ample parking, the room was clean, but most of all, the owner Jackie was most friendly and social.  She gave us recommendations on where to eat in Hoquiam and we talked about strategies for getting in to the Hoh Rain Forest.  Compare that to our stay in Forks where the young woman who checked us in hardly said a word and we never saw her again afterwards.  The Shiny Hotel gets great reviews and it's because they know how to run a business.
   
 
   
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