Country roads and convenience in Port Angeles East
Located along the rugged coast of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles East is the smaller, more rural neighbor of Port Angeles. “People are coming here for the natural beauty,” says Trisha Parker, a broker with Port Angeles Realty Inc., who has sold in the area for about a decade. “It’s a mecca for outdoor recreation activities.” Adventurers can take the ferry to Canada via the Strait of Juan de Fuca or explore Olympic National Park to the south. Highway 101 cuts through town, providing accessibility to nearby cities and a place for commercial development.
Recreation on the mountains, water and lowlands
The Olympic Peninsula is a natural playground for outdoor enthusiasts. The 74-mile Olympic Discovery Trail runs along the coast, providing a designated path for bikers and hikers through the evergreen trees. The area is just north of Olympic National Park, a nearly 1,450-square-mile expanse with campgrounds, trails and peaks, including Hurricane Ridge. It offers opportunities for backpacking, paddling on the many reservoirs and snowshoeing in the winter. Residents can head next door to the Port Angeles City Pier to fish and crab or relax on Hollywood Beach. Port Angeles also has public parks with playgrounds, athletic facilities and the Olympic Peninsula YMCA. When the weather gets in the way of outdoor adventures, locals can catch a movie at Deer Park Cinema.
Private residential communities and housing on rural roads
The housing market consists of manufactured homes and single-family ranch-styles, bungalows and contemporaries. Lots become more densely packed with proximity to the highway. On the outskirts, properties often have enough space for horse facilities, barns and cattle farms, backed by Olympic Mountain views. Manufactured homes can start at $40,000 for small, older units, while larger options on multiple acres may reach $600,000. Single-family houses typically sell between $300,000 and $650,000, though buyers will find outliers on both ends of the range. Alternative living options include 55-plus communities and the Four Seasons Ranch, a private neighborhood with a pool and golf course on the northeast side of town.
Stores, restaurants and services off Highway 101
Most commercial development in Port Angeles East surrounds Highway 101. Drivers will pass by numerous car dealerships, small shopping centers and big-box stores, like Walmart and Safeway. There’s a push to shop locally in Port Angeles, and Swain’s General Store covers a wide range of everyday needs from plants to clothing. “It’s been around for decades, and they have everything,” Parker says. “Their slogan is literally ‘Swain’s Has Everything.’” The area also has several popular restaurants, including Traylor’s, a long-standing spot for nearly 70 years known for its seafood, steak and American classics. Bean Me Up Coffee and Higher Grounds Espresso are drive-throughs for specialty drinks and breakfast foods, and Priscilla’s Cruise In Café serves comfort food in a retro diner setting.
School choice within the Port Angeles School District
Children may begin their education at Roosevelt Elementary, which scores a C-plus from Niche. Stevens Middle and Port Angeles High earn B ratings. Students may apply to any school within the district through the school choice program. High schoolers can take career and technical education courses in various business and health care fields.
Medical care and transportation via car, bus and ferry
Highway 101 is the main thoroughfare on the peninsula and heads toward Seattle, 80 miles southeast. Buses through the Clallam Transit System stop along the highway, and travelers can take the Black Ball Ferry Line from Port Angeles to Victoria, Canada. Residents don’t have to travel far for health care, as the Olympic Medical Center is within 3 miles.
