A Cozy Stop in Sekiu, Washington

Sekiu turned out to be one of our favorite surprises while traveling, all because we didn’t plan / book ahead. Even though we know we shouldn’t, sometimes winging it works out fairly well!

Sekiu, WA, is better known as a summer destination which brings in visitors with its kayaking, birdwatching, diving and (of course) fishing for salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish.

Even with all these things to do outside, it’s still a tiny fishing village with just 56 residents.

We spent three days in Sekiu (pronounced seek-you) from late July to early August, using it as our home base to explore the far western corner of the Olympic Peninsula.

This little town was even recently listed as Airbnb’s #1 ‘America Off-the-Map‘ destination.

If you’re after a quiet, laid-back place to kick back and relax, Sekiu will be a perfect fit.

Places to Stay in Sekiu

Sekiu sits right along the Strait of Juan de Fuca where, from across the water, you can see Canada. There’s something to be said for relaxing on vacation, but Sekiu slowed us down more than we had been in a long time (not just on this trip, but in general).

Our Airbnb was just steps from the bay, so every morning, we’d pull back the curtains and watch the fishermen heading out, their boats gliding across the still water while clouds drifted over the mountains.

The weather during our August stay was about as perfect as it gets. The mornings were cool in the 50s, and afternoons and evenings stayed mild in the upper 70s.

It also wasn’t nearly as wet and damp as the western side of the Olympic Peninsula, especially compared to when we stayed at Mossquatch Resort near Forks and visited places like Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach or First Beach in La Push.

Sekiu Weather

We stayed in an Airbnb, but there are plenty of other places to stay around Sekiu, too, like Van Riper’s Resort, Curley’s Resort & Dive Center, and Mason’s Olson Resort, just to name a few. If you’re just exploring the area, there are also lodging options in Neah Bay on the Makah Indian Reservation, though it’s about a 30-minute drive from Sekiu.

Dining By the Sekiu Bay

Sekiu isn’t really known for having many food options, but it does have one gem: By the Bay Cafe. We could never really figure out their hours (it really seemed like they were open whenever you needed them to be).

On our first night in town, we got in around 11 pm after a long drive and were starving. We didn’t expect anything to be open, so we were shocked when they offered to make us dinner. It was such a kind gesture, and the burgers they cooked were delicious.

The menu was surprisingly big, too, including burgers, sandwiches, chicken strips and salads, plus some great breakfast options like their French toast (highly recommended) and pancakes.

The cafe itself felt like the center of everything in Sekiu. Locals would stop in for coffee, fishermen would come in and talk about their day and the entire place (with everyone in it) always felt welcoming, relaxed and the conversations felt intentional.

They even ask the ‘By the Bay faithful’ on Facebook what hours they should keep during the winter, which tells you a lot about the place and the community.

We saw that laid-back vibe firsthand when a family came in clearly stressed and in a hurry looking for a quick meal. When they complained about the wait, the waitress just said, ‘You’ve got the rest of the day.’

That really summed up Sekiu to us. After being there for a few days, we stopped feeling the need to rush, too.

If you’re up for a 30-minute drive to Neah Bay, we’d recommend checking out Linda’s Woodfired Kitchen and Calvin’s Crab House.

Laundry Options in Sekiu

Our Airbnb didn’t have laundry on-site and we weren’t too sure where to go at first. Turns out, there aren’t any laundromats in Sekiu. After asking a few locals, they pointed us to Mason’s Olson Resort, where you can use the washers and dryers for $2.00 per load each. Problem solved!

The Night Sky in Sekiu

Sekiu’s location out on the western edge of Washington means there’s barely any light pollution. If you drive just a bit out of town (somewhere between Sekiu and Neah Bay) you can get really clear views of the stars. There’s hardly any traffic either, so we didn’t have to worry about headlights while taking a couple astrophotography photos.

Coming from Alabama, we don’t get many chances to see the aurora borealis, so when we heard there was a chance while we were here, we had to try. We drove out to Shipwreck Point, about 12 minutes west of Sekiu.

The aurora was incredible (though hard to see with the naked eye) and the stars were beautiful. We even caught a few shooting stars while we were out there!

Close to A Lot More Than You’d Expect

Sekiu is the perfect place to relax and also works as a great home base to explore the northwest corner of Olympic. Within 45 minutes you can be hiking out to Shi Shi Beach, standing at Cape Flattery whale watching, or exploring around Neah Bay and learning more about the Makah Tribe at the museum.

Is Sekiu Worth Visiting?

Sekiu ended up being a really good base for all the places we explored during the day, then came back somewhere quiet. Sekiu honestly surprised us with its quiet, relaxing charm (and years later, we still talk about it all the time).

If you’re looking for somewhere slower paces, with a lot to do nearby, this is a really good option.. We’d absolutely come back and can’t wait to visit again!