The Olympic Culinary Adventure Route Provides New Ways to Explore Washington's Olympic Peninsula

(I-TravelNewswire.Com, July 17, 2012 ) Port Angeles, Wash.- A “trip to bountiful” may recall the 1953 televised play by Albert Horton Foote, Jr., subsequently adapted for stage and screen, about an elderly woman who yearns to return to her roots in the small Texas town of Bountiful. But here in the Pacific Northwest, the phrase is taking on a whole new meaning! Winding through four Olympic Peninsula counties, the Olympic Culinary Adventure route leads foodies on a trip to bountiful in the true sense of the word, to a region alive with farms, produce stands, fisheries, creameries, bakeries, wineries, cideries and authentic farm-to-table experiences. With the weather warming as we head into summer, now is a great time to take your taste buds on tour!

A project of the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau, the Jefferson County Tourism Coordinating Council and the Olympic Culinary Loop Association, the Olympic Culinary Adventure is designed to put culinary travelers in touch with the people who grow, harvest, catch and serve fresh Olympic Coast cuisine. With a rich Native American heritage, pioneering farm families, and a new group of young farmers putting down roots, the Olympic Peninsula is a fascinating area to explore. The cuisine reflects the diverse microclimates, coastal proximity, and history of the region. Farm-to-table experiences are everywhere offering sustainable locally-grown and foraged fruits, vegetables, herbs and berries, the freshest local seafood, artisan cheeses and breads, and handcrafted wines, beers and hard ciders.

Each of 30 destinations along the self-guided Olympic Culinary Adventure tour route -- from the Hama Hama Seafood Store in Lilliwaup to Finnriver Farm & Cidery in Chimacum; Mt. Townsend Creamery in Port Townsend to the Alder Wood Bistro in Sequim; Harbinger Winery & Brew House in Port Angeles to the Olympic Peninsula Dining Room at historic Lake Crescent Lodge; and the Creekside Restaurant at Kalaloch Lodge to the Grays Harbor Farmers Market -- offers a true “sense of place.” Travelers can talk to producers and find out how they make their cheeses, wines and other food products or ask a chef who creates delicious dishes from locally sourced ingredients about what’s in season. Stopping at a local festival while en route, such as Sequim’s upcoming Lavender Weekend, July 20-22, is an opportunity to learn about the history and heritage of the area.

About: The Olympic Peninsula is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by the Hood Canal, on the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and anchored by the Olympic Mountains. There is no other place in America that matches the diversity in terrain and weather in such a compact physical area. You’ll find lakes, waterfalls, rivers, valleys, mountains, beaches and rainforest.

Exploring the Olympic Culinary Adventure route in several trips ensures the opportunity to enjoy a variety of foods in season, to try different kinds of outdoor excursions, to experience seasonal events and activities, and to absorb the natural scenic beauty in different light.

Download your Olympic Culinary Adventure route map at www.olympicpeninsula.org and get started on your own trip to bountiful!

Diane Schostak, Executive Director

Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau

(360) 452-8552

(360) 640-1538 Cell

diane.schostak@gmail.com

Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau

Amy Shadell

970-568-7423

Amy@adventuremedianews.com

Source: EmailWire.Com