In case you’ve missed the fairly obvious funk I’ve been in lately, let me tell you, the PNW weather has been a drag lately, and I’ve been in a funk. A deep one. Ryan and I committed a long time ago to make the best of every duty station though, and we’re doing our very best to stick to that mentality even when the weather and work tempo tries to bring us down. Part of doing that means getting out. Traveling. Exploring. Doing things that make the ordinary a little more tolerable. So, while training for my marathon in October, I decided to look for some races that might get us out around the region to explore a bit more. Enter the Elwha Bridge race and our quick Airbnb stay in Port Angeles.
I signed up to run my first 10k by the Elwha River as part of the season as part of the Run the Peninsula series. Located in the Olympic peninsula region – a place we’ve yet to explore – I decided this would be the perfect place to start my running season. So, we booked a super cute little farm stay, packed up the kids on Friday after school, and drove the 2.5 hours from JBLM to Port Angeles. Spoiler alert – the weather was frightful. The winds were intense, it was intermittently gusty and rainy, and I wasn’t sure I even wanted to do the run anymore, but we did want to get away.
The farm was adorable. With sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, easy access to the Olympic Discovery Trail nearby, cozy and rustic farm quarters, and more, it delivered in spades. Honestly, I wish we’d had more than just a night there because it was a breath of fresh air – literally. There is something about being able to drive away from the city and find yourself again in the middle of nowhere. And for the kids? This was heaven.
Established more than 100 years ago, the 60-acre Finn Hall Farm offers rustic charm, a working farm atmosphere, endless hospitality, and views that will quite literally take your breath away. We like to seek out little flats like our quick Airbnb stay in Port Angeles, simply because they offer more space and creature comforts than their hotel counterparts. Plus, one of the added benefits of our stay was that the kids could explore beyond the cute two-bedroom space. Though the weather was less than ideal for us (I mean, it is the middle of winter), we had a blast exploring the refurbished caboose onsite, taking a peek at the crooked house, and sipping hot cocoa while the wind howled outside.
We promised ourselves when we left , as well as the owners who were as lovely as can be, that we’d be back, and we definitely plan to return. There’s a petite orchard on the property that begs to be visited, a fire pit that needs to be used (by us, obviously), and board games that will make for a fun, lazy evening. We also want to go back to take a bit more time exploring the Port Angeles and Sequim regions, as Finn Hall Farm is conveniently located between the two. We also want to go back to explore and learn more of the original tribes of the Olympic Peninsula region, as their art and influence there are strong.
And yes, my friends. I did run. I put on my big girl pants, laced up my shoes, braved the wind, and ran my first 10k of the season – and in two years – then headed back for a much-needed warm shower. JBLM friends, if you’re hoping to visit the Port Angeles area, I highly recommend you check out Finn Hall Farm (you’ll love it!)
